The living room fell into sudden silence. The strange tension made both girls on the couch visibly uncomfortable.
"What's with you two?" Shin asked with a light smile.
Hinamori kept her head lowered, avoiding his gaze. "Nothing."
"Prez…" Rukia began, wanting to speak—but Hinamori grabbed her hand tightly. The strength in her grip silenced whatever Rukia had been about to say.
Shin glanced between the two of them. "You were about to say something?"
Rukia looked at Hinamori, still gripping her hand. The tension in Hinamori's body had suddenly slackened—she looked completely lost.
Rukia took a breath and said, "There's something I need to ask you, Prez."
Hinamori's eyes widened, panic blooming visibly across her face.
She released Rukia's hand without realizing it. Her composure unraveled.
Rukia, in turn, gripped her hand again and looked Shin directly in the eyes.
"You already know, don't you—that we both like you."
"…"
Silence.
Hinamori slowly raised her head. Shin nodded calmly. "I do."
"Then…" Rukia inhaled deeply. "Which one of us do you like?"
As soon as she asked it, she felt like the breath had been knocked from her lungs—but she held herself together, eyes fixed on Shin.
"…"
Not a sound in the room. The fading golden light from outside poured through the window, casting the three of them in a single, tangled shadow across the floor.
Shin answered: "I like you both."
The words hit them like a dropped blade.
Hinamori stood up suddenly, staring at him for a long moment, but no words came.
Rukia's brow twitched. "Prez, please… take this seriously."
She'd mustered everything to ask that question. She didn't want a half-hearted dodge or some shallow attempt to avoid hurting feelings.
She didn't want him thinking about how to preserve peace between friends. She wanted a real answer.
Shin turned his gaze toward her. Rukia felt her heart jolt under that look. Beside her, Hinamori gripped her hand tightly again.
Rukia lowered her eyes and spoke softly, "You already know what's going on between me and Momo. I know it's not healthy, and I'm tired of it too. No matter what the outcome is… I just want a clear answer. I'll accept it, whatever it is."
Whatever it is…
That line stabbed deep into Hinamori's heart. Like everything she'd done—every effort, every restraint—had been for nothing.
So easily said... how could you say it so easily?
Is what we had so meaningless to you?
Before Shin could answer, Hinamori cut in.
"When you say 'whatever the outcome'… does that include ending things with me?"
Rukia blinked. "That's not what I meant—"
"Then what did you mean?"
Rukia hesitated. "I meant… that I'll accept it if Shin chooses you."
Red welled up in Hinamori's eyes. "And if he does? What would you think of me then?"
"…"
Rukia fell silent.
She wanted to say, If Shin chooses you, I'll still be your friend.
But… could she really?
And if Shin chose her, could she say that to Momo without sounding arrogant?
Looking back, she realized she had put her relationship with Shin above her friendship with Momo—whether she intended to or not.
And she hated the way this had changed things. They used to be friends. But ever since Shin became part of the conversation, it had gotten awkward. Defensive. Competitive.
She didn't want that.
But now Shin was staring at her too, and Rukia's heart twisted.
How did we get here…?
Why did we put this all on him? What must he be thinking…?
She had no answers. No exit.
Then Shin finally spoke.
"Let me say something."
His voice drew their eyes to him again.
"You've both been drinking. You need to clear your heads."
He looked at them steadily. "As for this… 'agreement' between you two, I think it's time to end it."
The girls froze.
That agreement—he meant their so-called "fair competition."
Did that mean he'd made his choice?
They both held their breath.
Shin sighed. "I didn't think it would get to this point. Maybe that's my fault. But at this point, there's no meaning in dragging this out."
He paused, looked first at Hinamori, then at Rukia.
"I won't be in a relationship with either of you."
"…"
"…"
"I hope you can still be friends. As for me… if you still see me as your president, or your upperclassman, then let's just keep things like they were. If that's too awkward for you… I understand."
His expression remained calm.
But Hinamori and Rukia sat in stunned silence, unable to respond.
"It's getting late," Shin said gently. "You should both head home."
He turned and walked back into the kitchen.
Only then did the two girls glance at each other.
The sound of running water resumed in the kitchen.
Without a word, Hinamori stood and walked out the door.
Rukia remained, staring toward the kitchen.
Is he mad?
She didn't know when she left. Maybe because she couldn't bear to stay any longer.
Only on the way home did it sink in.
Did I ruin everything...?
A wave of regret and fear gnawed at her.
Back at Shin's house—
After both girls had gone, Shin stepped out of the kitchen.
He looked around at the untouched mess from the gathering.
He raised a hand. A pulse of reiryoku shimmered through the air—and in seconds, the room was clean again.
He stood there a moment, alone.
What a scumbag, he thought bitterly.