TLPSO 07

chapter no 7:

 A Secret Pact for Two

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Ever since that confrontation in the clubroom, the relationship between me and Rei Kirishima had been in a strange state of balance.
When our eyes met in class, he no longer glared at me with open hostility like before. Instead, his gaze had become complicated — as if he wanted to say something, yet had already given up.

(So… my words really did reach him.)
Feeling that faint sense of progress, I decided it was time to make my next move.

After school, in the quiet classroom bathed in sunset light, most students had already gone home. I walked up to Rei, who was packing his things to leave.
“Kirishima-kun.”
When I called out to him, his shoulders twitched in surprise, and he turned around with an expression that said he couldn’t be bothered.
“…What is it?”
“I have a little proposal.”
I smiled mischievously and held out an imaginary document — something I had just made up in my head.

“Title: ‘The Ice Prince — A Thorough Investigation!’ I’d like your cooperation for the Newspaper Club’s top-secret feature interview!”
“…Huh?”
He stared at me like I’d just started speaking another language.
“Are you seriously saying this…?”

“Of course I am.”
I nodded earnestly.
“But don’t worry — it’s not for publication. It’s a private interview, just for me. In return, I’ll take your greatest secret to the grave.”
“…So, you’re basically taking me hostage.”
“Don’t make it sound so bad! It’s a mutually beneficial give-and-take — a pact, if you will.”
I grinned. In exchange for keeping his secret, I’d earn the right to learn more about his true self. A perfect plan.

Rei folded his arms and stared at me in silence for a while.
I could tell he was thinking hard.
If he refused, there was no telling when or where this strange girl might spill his past. But agreeing to such a ridiculous idea also rubbed him the wrong way. That inner conflict etched a deep crease between his beautiful brows.

“…Fine.”
After a long pause, he sighed deeply, as if giving in.
“But I have conditions.”
“Oh? Let’s hear them!”
“One — no weird questions. Two — don’t make a scene during the interview. Three — tell no one. Not even Yuto.”
“Deal! Contract sealed, Your Highness!”
When I cheered, he turned bright red and shouted:

“Stop calling me ‘Your Highness’!”

His reaction made my heart tighten a little.
The thick wall of ice around his heart was slowly, but surely, starting to melt. And that change — it made me so happy I could burst.

“Well then, to commemorate our pact, how about we start Interview No. 1 right away?”
“…Huh?”
“This Sunday — are you free?”
“Wha—!? Don’t get carried away!”

My bold “interview request” was instantly shot down with his loud, “Are you stupid or what!?”

But that was fine.
We now shared a secret — bound by a strange little contract.
Our comical, thrilling, and surely bittersweet story… was only just beginning.