Chapter 1 – The Bet
I sat in my chair, motionless. The class buzzed with noise—students whispering, laughing, scribbling notes they'd forget tomorrow.
The teacher's voice was background noise. . My eyes drifted toward the window. Blue sky. Slight wind. Nothing special .
Minami sat two rows ahead, her back straight, posture perfect. She was taking notes again. Of course she was. Always fighting for the top spot. She was the type that believed hard work alone could beat talent. But she was wrong."
The bell rang. Signaling the end of class. Students stood, gathered in circles, and opened their bento boxes, gossiping away. I stayed in my seat, trying to eat.
That's when he approached me.
Kenta: "Yo, Kurosawa.
I didn't answer right away. Some people interpret silence as coolness. Others, as an invitation. Kenta was the latter.
Kenta: "Lunch break, bro! You always eat alone?"
Ren: "Yes, can I help you ?
Kenta: "Weirdo. Anyway, I've got something better than food—how about a bet?"
He had that grin. The kind that meant this idea would be stupid—but interesting.Not to me though.
Ren: "Depends on the bet."
Kenta: "We do rock-paper-scissors. If I win, you have to confess to the girl you like. If you win, I'll do whatever you want. Within reason."
Simple, pointless, random. That kind of challenge can be dangerous when someone underestimates it. But I wasn't interested in winning.
Ren: "Alright."
Kenta: "Let's go! Rock, paper, scissors—!"
Best of three. I lost. Whether it was intentional or not… even I wasn't sure.
Kenta: "Haha! Yes! Okay, name the girl."
Ren: "I don't really like someone.
Kenta:"You have to like someone,you are at that age and all.
Ren:"Fine I'll tell you.
Kenta:"I'm all ears.
Ren:"Minami Aoi.
His eyes widened.
Kenta: "You serious?! She's like, top-tier! Smart, cold, and totally untouchable!"
Ren: "So?"
Kenta: "You're really gonna do it?"
Ren: "I said I would."
I stood up, chair legs sliding softly against the floor. Nobody noticed. Perfect for not drawing attention.
Minami was walking alone down the hall, holding a book to her chest. Calm. Untouchable.
Ren: "Excuse me .
Minami: She stopped, Can I help you ?
Ren: "I need your help."
Minami: "That sounds suspicious already. What is it?"
Ren: "I lost a bet. I have to confess to someone. That someone is you."
A pause. Her expression didn't change. But I could tell she was not buying it.
Minami: "So it's a fake confession?
Ren: "Yes"
Minami: "And yet you still came to me with it. Why?"
Ren: "I'd rather be honest about the lie."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Ok how about tomorrow? I was surprised. That was something I didn't see often.
Ren:Ok
Minami: "Alright. "Then I want a favor .
Ren: "What?"
Minami: "Rival me. Academics. Sports. Class participation. I want someone to compete with."
I blinked once. A strange request. Maybe she was just bored. Or maybe she thought I could compete.
Ren: "Why me? I'm not good at sports, academics, or basically anything."
Minami: "That's exactly why. If someone like you starts to climb, people notice. It's more fun that way.
Ren: Huh?
I didn't care about rivaling her. But I did care about people's opinions on me.
Ren: "Fine.
Minami: She smirked—not out of curiosity but from joy ?"
"Minami:" "You're not the first I've challenged. "But you might be the first to actually take it seriously."
Ren: "We'll see."
I walked away, leaving her standing there. I didn't feel pride or regret. Just bored.
Later that day
I returned home to the usual quiet greetings. My parents were present, but distant. They asked nothing. I told nothing. It worked.
We ate dinner. Chicken and rice.
Afterwards, I went to the kitchen. No tea leaves. Again.
How inefficient.
I went to my room, shut the door, and sat at my desk. From the bottom drawer, I pulled out a a book.
Ren: "She wants a rival. I'll play along—for now."
The next evening
I stepped out of my room and headed down the street toward the convenience store. The air was cooler now, the sun dipping lower in the sky. I needed tea leaves. Simple. Efficient. Yet somehow, I found myself stepping into the convenience store like it was an escape from something more complicated than the obvious task at hand.
The store was familiar— the quietness was something else.refrigerators filling the space. I walked past the aisles, eyes scanning the shelves for the tea I liked. It was then that I spotted her.
Minami.
She was standing by the cold drink section, scanning the bottles with her brother. Her posture was exactly the same as it had been at school—straight, deliberate. She was talking to her brother, and though I couldn't hear the words, it was easy to see the familiarity in their exchange. A comfortable conversation.
I stood still for a moment, feeling the pull to remain unnoticed. So, I did what came naturally: I hid my presence .
I stepped into a nearby aisle, out of their line of sight, and carefully hid. Minami's brother had a more casual stance, a complete contrast to her rigidity. The two of them made a striking pair—her calculating, him laid-back.
"I didn't want to interrupt. There was no reason to; they were just family, after all."I turned my attention back to the tea section and grabbed what I needed. No need to complicate this.
I paid for the tea leaves and walked out of the store, the faint sound of their voices trailing behind me. I could feel the weight of the moment, but I didn't stop to analyze it further.It would be annoying.
When I got home, I set the tea leaves down on the counter, and after a few moments, I went to the kitchen to prepare the tea. I followed the process carefully,and I made it step by step.
Sitting at my desk, I poured the tea into a cup, and I took a sip.
But even as I drank the tea, my mind was elsewhere—on Minami, on her challenge, on how bothersome it would be.
---
The next day, the sun was bright, and the air was still cool—a normal day.. It was as if nothing happened.
I was thinking what to do with minami. . As usual, I prepared my breakfast and I sat down to eat.
I wondered if she really believed I could rival her. To her, this might have been a way to fill a void, an attempt to make things interesting. But for me, everything was a waste of time (not really). Every action I took was effortless .
---
At school
As I walked into the classroom, it felt as if the usual hum of voices was louder today. Maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it was just the realization that things were already starting to shift for the worse. The dynamic between me and Minami was the same, even if she challenged me.
Minami was already seated, pencil in hand, scribbling notes in that perfectly organized notebook of hers. Her posture was the same—nothing out of place. But there was a noticeable edge to her focus now, like she was waiting for something, anticipating it.
I took my seat, and tried to read. My role, for now, was to observe.
The first few minutes of class passed in silence. The teacher's voice carried on, but my attention was on Minami. She glanced up once, caught my gaze for a moment, and then looked away without a hint of recognition.
---
Lunch break
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. Chairs scraped, bags unzipped, laughter echoed across the room like static noise. I was bored. All my life trying to feel normal.
Minami stood up with her usual grace, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She didn't look my way, but I could tell she was aware of me—maybe warry?
Kenta sat down in the seat next to mine, a rice ball in one hand and a grin on his face.
Kenta: "So… how's your 'relationship' going, huh?"
Ren: "If it was a relationship, you wouldn't be the first person I'd tell."
He laughed, shaking his head. "That's cold.Seriously though, she didn't slap you or anything?"
Ren: "I haven't told her yet .
Kenta: " seriously?! Why?!"
Ren: "I didn't have the courage.
Kenta: "That's okay just do it as promised okay?
Ren:"Okay
He kept talking, and after a while he left.
---
After school – Convenience Store
I walked for some time , the sky a pale orange haze.
As I reached the corner, I slowed down.
There she was.
Minami.
She stood near the magazine rack outside the store, flipping through a travel brochure. Next to her was a boy—her brother, if I wasn't mistaken. He looked younger. Clean uniform, sharp eyes. But the way he stood behind her showed something else: distance.
I stepped back into the shadow of the wall, keeping my presence hidden. I wasn't afraid of being seen. I just didn't want unnecessary small talk.
Minami's brother: "Are you sure about this school?"
Minami: "It's alright .But no smart people.
Her voice was calm, but there was something beneath it — boredom.
After a few moments, they walked inside .
Then, I walked in.
I headed straight to the cold drinks session.
I paid for my drink and left.
At home
The house was quiet, as always. I greeted no one. No one greeted me.
I boiled the water, steeped the tea, and sat down at my desk.
Steam rose from the cup. I took a sip—warm, slightly bitter. Grounding.
In front of me were my notes. Math home work on top.
She wanted a rival?
Sounds boring.
Maybe I could pretend to be her rival.
Classroom – The Next Day
I arrived early. The classroom was nearly empty—just a few students whispering by the windows.
She walked in after me.
Our eyes met briefly.
She sat in her seat.
I stood, walked over, and stopped beside her desk.
Ren: "About yesterday…"
She looked up.
Minami: "Regretting it already?"
Ren : "No. But you were wrong."
Minami: "About?"
Ren: "You don't need a rival. Especially someone like me . I'm not good at basic things let alone becoming your rival.
She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing—annoyed and disappointment in her face.
Minami: "What makes you think you don't have a chance ?
Ren: Because I'm not talented, and I fail to see the point in trying to become better.
A pause.
She gave me a choice.
Minami: "Then be my assistant. You can let me know your decision by tomorrow.
I walked back to my seat without another word.
And just like that, the game moved forward—in my favor.
After School – Rooftop
The air was colder up here. Quieter, too. A rare escape from the chaos of the classroom.
I leaned against the fence,and I mindlessly waited .
Footsteps behind me. I didn't turn.
Minami: "You always come up here?"
Ren: "Nah not really.
She stood beside me, keeping a small distance.
Minami: "You said you're not good at anything. Is that true?
Ren: "Yes.
Minami:But you can try.
Ren:Sound boring.
Minami:"You don't have a lot of friends do you?
Ren:"do you ?
Minami:"Not many
Ren:"That's surprising.
Minami: "So what now? Are you going to start studying to beat me or accept my offer?
Ren: "we'll see
Minami: "okay
Ren: "Whichever is easier.
The wind picked up.
Minami: "Then I'll see you tomorrow .
Ren:"Bye
And she gave up on trying to pursue me on rivaling her any longer.