Ema Aizawa's Outrageous School Romantic Comedy ~Devil's Smile Falls in Love~ - The weirdo in the next seat and the small miracle in the library

The day after the opening ceremony. The classroom was buzzing from the morning on. There was just one reason. Today was the day for seat changes. Looking at the seating chart posted on the blackboard, the whole class was restless. The very back seat by the window—everyone knew that was the prime spot in this classroom. "Yesssssss!! I did ittttt!!" Kazama Riku's shout echoed through the classroom. "So loud! And why are YOU sitting next to me?!" Ema instinctively looked at the seat next to hers. Riku was staring at the seating chart and then at Ema, back and forth, as if looking at something unbelievable. "It's fate! God was on my side after all!" Riku spread both arms wide and looked up at the heavens dramatically. His slightly droopy eyes narrowed in triumph. "It's just a coincidence. God wasn't listening to your wishes or anything." "No, he was listening. He definitely was. My prayers reached the heavens." "Stop saying creepy things!" Ema said that and glared at Riku. But for some reason, she felt strangely unsettled. Her chest felt fidgety, and she couldn't breathe properly. (This is definitely a cold.) Ema secretly took a deep breath. The classmates around them were already starting to get used to these two's noisy exchanges. A few girls giggled, and the boys jeered with amusement. Laughter spread throughout the classroom. Kurose Hayato sat quietly in the second row from the window, opening his textbook. Expressionless, he seemed to have no interest at all in the commotion. "It's just a seat change. Why are you all getting so worked up?" He muttered quietly, not directed at anyone in particular. Just as he'd declared, Riku planted himself in the seat right in front of Ema's. The very back by the window was Ema, and in front of her was Riku. "Now I can crush you every single day!" Riku turned around and gave Ema a thumbs up. "Which mouth is saying that? Did you forget you lost the taiyaki speed-eating contest yesterday?" "I told you, taiyaki doesn't count!" "Yeah, yeah." Just then, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom. The noisy classroom gradually quieted down. Riku turned to face forward. But to Ema, his back somehow looked proud. (What a weirdo.) Ema muttered in her heart. Class began. Classical literature. The spring sunlight streaming through the window was so pleasant that Ema was starting to doze off. That's when it happened. She heard a small *clink*. Looking down, an eraser had fallen on the floor. It was Riku's eraser. On his desk, there was another eraser. Which meant he had dropped it on purpose. (What is that guy doing...) As Ema wondered, Riku, without turning around, wiggled his fingers under his desk. Apparently, he wanted her to pick up the eraser. (You dropped it yourself!) Ema tried to ignore him. But Riku kept wiggling his fingers persistently. With no other choice, Ema bent down to pick up the eraser. That was the moment. Riku's hand moved with unbelievable speed. While holding down his own eraser on his desk so it wouldn't fall, he tried to quickly snatch away the eraser Ema was reaching for. But. Ema's fingers were far faster than Riku's hand. Before she knew it, Ema had pinned the eraser to the floor with just her index finger. Riku's hand had swiped through empty air. "—Huh?" Riku made a strange sound. Without a word, Ema picked up the eraser and placed it on Riku's desk. She deliberately made a loud *thud*. "...Why are you so damn strong?!" Riku shouted as he turned around. "Kazama! We're in the middle of class!" The teacher's angry yell flew at him. "Ah, sorry." Riku apologized obediently. But his face didn't look sorry at all. "Go stand in the hallway." Told by the teacher, Riku stood up. He walked out into the hallway through the back door of the classroom. That's when it happened. Riku turned back toward Ema and flashed a mischievous grin. "I'm definitely winning next time." Saying that, he gave a thumbs up. And then he left the classroom. (What is with that guy...) Ema sighed in exasperation. But. For some reason, her chest felt warmer than before. (He really is a weirdo.) Ema muttered that in her heart and turned her eyes back to the blackboard. Lunch break came. Riku was standing in front of Ema's desk as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Next is a pencil stacking showdown." "Huh?" "How many pencils can you stack on your desk. The one whose stack collapses first loses." "That sounds fun! I'll take you on!" Ema bit immediately. There was no way she wouldn't take on something called a challenge. The two faced each other across their desks and picked up their pencils. "I've got three pencils. You?" "Four!" "Alright, we stack at the same time. Ready, go!" Riku gave the signal. A moment of silence. The two began stacking their pencils simultaneously. Riku was cautious, checking each one carefully. Ema was unhesitating, with flowing speed. When she finished stacking the fourth one, Ema's pencil tower was beautifully stable, like a pyramid. Meanwhile, on Riku's side. The moment he tried to place the third one, he lost his balance. *Clatter.* Pencils scattered across the desk. "Hehe, I win!" Ema did a victory pose. "Damn iiiit! Why do you have such good balance?!" "It's the difference in athletic ability." "But my athletic ability shouldn't be that bad either..." Riku slumped over his desk. He didn't move for a while. Ema started to get a little worried. "...Are you, maybe, feeling down?" "I'm not." Riku lifted his face. That face, for some reason, was smiling. "I'm not. Not at all. If anything, I'm having a ton of fun." Riku straightened up from the desk and looked straight at Ema. "You really are hilarious!" At those words, Ema was speechless. It was the first time she'd seen someone so happy after losing. (He really is a weirdo.) But that "weirdness," for some reason, felt just a little bit comfortable. After school, the library was wrapped in silence. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, dyeing the spines of the books lined up on the shelves a golden color. The air was a little cold, and the faint scent of paper and ink drifted through the room. Shirosaki Kaede was reading a book in her usual seat by the window. It was her favorite spot. Her long silver hair shimmered softly in the light. Every time Kaede turned a page, she let out a small breath. It was a habit of hers when she was deeply immersed in the world of a book. (This scene is really wonderful...) Kaede murmured in her heart. In the story, the protagonist was finally finding their place to belong. That's when it happened. She felt a gaze on her. When she lifted her face from the book, Kurose Hayato was standing beyond the bookshelf. Expressionless as always. His black hair fell slightly over his eyes, and without seeming to care, he was staring intently in Kaede's direction. When their eyes met, Hayato awkwardly averted his gaze. But he didn't try to leave. (Again.) Kaede thought to herself. She had noticed three days ago that he had been watching her in the library. At first, it was scary. But there was nothing unpleasant about his gaze. It was just... eyes that seemed to be thinking about something, or hesitating, like that. (Maybe I should try talking to him...) Kaede had thought that many times. But she couldn't muster the courage. Today too, she probably wouldn't be able to talk to him. She thought so. But. (If it were Ema-chan, at a time like this, she'd probably go talk to him herself.) Her best friend's face came to mind. Ema, who hated to lose, was straightforward, and couldn't leave someone in trouble alone. Kaede took a small, deep breath. And then, she closed her book. "Um..." Her voice trembled a little. Hayato looked up as if startled. "If you'd like... would you like to read a book together?" Kaede made the best smile she could. Hayato stepped back. Silently, as if trying to run away. (Ah, maybe it's no good after all...) Just as Kaede was about to give up. She impulsively picked up a book that was on the desk. It was a different book from the one Kaede had been reading until just now—a Japanese fantasy novel. "This is the new book by that author you like, isn't it, Hayato-kun? I also love this author's books..." Hayato's movement stopped. His eyes were glued to the book's cover. "...You know about it." It was a small voice. "Yes. I borrowed it here last week and read it. I was so curious about the continuation that I came to borrow it again today, but it hasn't been returned yet..." Kaede was speaking a little fast. She was happy. She had found a common topic. Hayato was silent for a while. Then, he slowly walked over toward Kaede. And sat down in the seat next to her. "...That scene." Abruptly, Hayato spoke. "In chapter three, the lake scene." "That quiet, but incredibly tense part, right." Kaede's eyes lit up. "...Yeah." "I almost cried for the first time at that scene. Even without words, it conveyed so much..." Hayato's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised. "You're amazing." "Huh?" "You read properly." Saying that, Hayato relaxed his mouth just a tiny bit. It was such a small change that it could hardly be called a smile. But to Kaede, it seemed like proof that his heart had opened. "You too, Hayato-kun..." After that, the two quietly continued talking about their favorite books. Lowering their voices, turning pages slowly, like that. A gentle time flowed through the library. Watching that scene, secretly peeking from the library entrance, were two shadows. "Oi oi oi oi oi!" Riku thought he was keeping his voice down, but he wasn't keeping it down at all. "My best friend! That Hayato, who's silent and unfriendly and can't even make eye contact with girls! Is alone with a girl! Reading books!?" "You're so loud! Your voice is too loud!" Ema smacked Riku on the back with a *thwack*. "Ow! No, I mean, that's a miracle, right! Kaede-san is amazing!" "Of course she is. Kaede is my proud best friend." Ema puffed out her chest. But inside, she was surprised. Kaede, talking to someone on her own. And what's more, to that silent Hayato. (Kaede, you really gathered a lot of courage.) Ema's chest felt warmly full. That's when it happened. "I want to find someone I can sit next to soon too..." Riku muttered quietly. The moment she heard those words, Ema felt a sharp pang in her chest. The warmth from just a moment ago suddenly felt like it had turned into something cold. "...Weren't you supposed to be popular?" "I told you I've had 100 straight rejections! I'm not popular!" "But your face isn't bad, right?" When Ema said that, Riku's movements stopped completely. "...Huh? What did you just say?" "I said your face isn't bad! That's all! I didn't mean anything else by it!" Ema hurriedly made excuses. Her face felt hot. Riku had a blank look on his face, but soon grinned slyly. "Heeeh, so that's what you thought?" "Sh-shut up! I'm going home!" Ema smacked Riku on the head with all her might and ran away from the front of the library. Only the sound of Ema's sneakers echoed in the hallway. Her heart was loud. (What is this feeling...) Ema pressed tightly on her chest. That night. It was a time when the rooftop of Shionagi High School should have been empty. The school gate was already closed. Inside the school building was also pitch dark. But near the rooftop fence, there was a single figure. Her long black hair fluttering in the night wind, Honjou Akane stood alone, looking down at the city lights. The screen of the smartphone in her hand glowed white in the darkness. Displayed on it was a photo of Ema and Riku laughing together in the classroom. It seemed someone had secretly taken it today. "...Even though you're just trash that caught fire." Akane's voice was cold. But deep within that voice lurked a loneliness that even she herself didn't

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Episode 2

Name: Ema Aizawa's Outrageous School Romantic Comedy ~Devil's Smile Falls in Love~
Author: Novelia

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