Chapter 22: Hidden Layer

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Hidden Layer

Shion’s monologue, POV

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"Okay, this is where we part" Mataguchi said as he stopped moving.

My dorm was on the other side of the road, so I couldn’t execute him back home. Even though I want to, his like a baby brother of mine I have to look after.

"Okay, make sure to watch the road okay" I added I response.

"....."

He didn’t reply immediately but paused for a moment.

"Alright mom" he added.

"Your house is near by, though you might get soaked a bit" I uttered.

"A bit?" He muttered.

"Not sure"

"Well serves you well for not bringing an umbrella" I teased. He seemed so vulnerable though not visible but I just got a feeling he feel a but embarrassed right now.

"The weather report didn’t say anything about this" he responded.

"Well it’s not alway correct I guess. Want me to follow you? Like a but close to your dorm?" I added.

It wouldn’t be bad help him out but part of me want he to beg for it, yeah for teasing the hell out of me all through today.

"No.." Mataguchi answered, his eyes suddenly shifted away from me to the rain drops.

"It’s cold" he added.

"It would be improper for me to let a girl walk me home"

What’s with the smooth talk?

"Fine, if you say so. Your pride won’t let it, right?" I replied sighing, it sounded a bit stupid but yeah I guess that’s how boys are.

"Alright I should be on my way, don’t catch a cold on your way back okay" I added.

But he didn’t answer.

I bet he was thinking of something stupid. He always does.

I turned and walked away, he just stood there waving his hand as I continued to walk. I waved in response.

After few steps forward he began to walk forward to his own direction.

I shifted my eyes to the sky, for a moment I was thinking of letting my umbrella down.

Yeah I know it was childish but it suddenly came across my mind as fun.

Today was a bit exhausting on my part, it was tense and unsettling but I’m glad it worked out.

I took out my phone from my sweater pocket seeing i had received encrypted notifications from the school app ’Karafuguru’ .

It was a update on this semester’s SOAAD metrics.

Shion Nanase

Physical Ability: (pending...)

Intellectual Ability: (pending...)

Adaptability: (pending...)

Social/Class Standing: (pending...)

SOAAD: (pending...)/Previously: (C)

Class: 3D

(1st year)

Physical... probably average. Social? That one’s impossible to predict.

I see, so the SOAAD overall was still in processing. It kinda obvious the rankings are done by observing us for the next whole week.

"The absence of the teachers were normal but it was a bit suddenly for us first years since the teachers where to shoe and tell us important information about the school upcoming struggles and challenges.

Is this to test our adaptability? I don’t like it.

After further streets, I came close to my dorm. Well it does look like a normal house, two floors no less

​I walked up the stone steps to my house, the heavy rain drumming against the porch roof like a steady beat of fingers on wood. Opening the front door with a quiet click, I slipped inside, instantly cut off from the cold, wet wind outside.

​"I’m back," I called out automatically.

​The sound faded into the empty hall. No answer.

​I stood in the entryway for a second, my umbrella dripping onto the mat. The house had that distinct, quiet stillness of a place that was usually shared, but right now, I was the only one here. On the shoe rack by the door sat a second pair of sneakers not mine, slightly larger, tucked neatly to the side. A spare jacket hung on the coat rack near the wall, and on the kitchen counter deeper in the house, a half-empty mug from this morning was sitting right next to the sink.

Signs that someone else lived here, sure. But right now? It was just me and the silence.

​I kicked off my wet outdoor shoes, slipped into my indoor slippers, and made my way upstairs to my room.

​The moment I stepped across the threshold, I shut the door behind me, locked it, and let out a long, exhausted sigh. I dropped my bag onto the desk chair, flicked the light switch, and watched the room fill with warm, amber light. The storm outside kept beating against the windowpanes, but inside, it was warm.

​Without even changing out of my uniform sweater, I let my knees give out and face-planted directly into the middle of my bed.

​"Ughhhhh..."

​I buried my face straight into the pillow, letting out a muffled groan. My arms flailed out to the sides, clutching the blanket like a lifeline.

​Today was entirely too much. The drones, the rain, the SOAAD metrics pending on my phone... and Mataguchi. I had to consistently keep track of all of it. Not to mention the bet with Kinto-san, does he hate me that much?

​"You should be more honest... with yourself, Shiwogata-san."

​His voice echoed back in my head, flat and totally unbothered as usual.

​"Honest? Honest?!" I flipped over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling, my face burning out of nowhere. I kicked my legs uselessly against the mattress. "What does that robotic, poker-faced idiot even know?! Acting like he’s got everything figured out just because he pulled off that little notebook stunt!"

​I squeezed my eyes shut, pulling a decorative pillow over my face to hide the ridiculous heat creeping up my neck.

​Sure, I was grateful. I really was. He actually came through and helped clear things up between me and Oota. But did he have to be so... so Mataguchi about it? Walking under the same umbrella, standing so close that I could literally feel the draft every time he took a step, it was impossible to stay composed. And then he had the nerve to drop that smooth line before leaving!

​"It would be improper for me to let a girl walk me home."

​"Stupid, arrogant, prideful President..." I mumbled into the pillow, biting my lower lip. "Saying stuff like that with a straight face. He’s totally doing it on purpose to throw me off!"

​I tossed the pillow aside and sat up, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. My cheeks felt hot, and when I caught a glimpse of myself in the vanity mirror across the room, I cringed. My face was flushed red, my hair was a bit frizzy from the rain, and I looked like an absolute mess.

​"Get a grip, Shion," I whispered to myself, slapping both hands against my cheeks to snap out of it.

​The weekend. Right. The amusement park.

​Just thinking about it made my stomach do a weird, fluttering flip.

​I pulled my phone out of my sweater pocket again, tapping the screen awake. I opened the chat log with Oota. The map pin he had dropped was sitting right there, clear as day.

​My thumb hovered over the screen. A tiny, foolish smile tried to break through on my face before I quickly forced my lips into a flat line.

​"It’s just a hangout," I muttered aloud to the empty room, trying to sound convincing. "It’s not a date. It’s definitely not a date."

​...But I wanted it to be. Or at least, I wanted Oota’s attention all to myself for once.

​Is that really so much to ask? I knew him first! I was the one who was supposed to be closer to him! But lately, it felt like Mataguchi had swept in out of nowhere, stealing all of Oota’s focus with just a couple of low-effort texts. It made my chest tighten in this annoying, petty way that I hated admitting out loud.

​Oota was always so bright, so genuine, so completely different from the shady, calculating atmosphere of this school. Being around him felt like taking a breath of fresh air.

​"If Mataguchi comes along..." I muttered, flopping back down sideways onto the bed and pulling the duvet over my head, "...he’s just going to take up all of Oota’s time talking about school stuff or whatever weird logical nonsense they discuss."

​I groaned again, rolling side to side inside my blanket cocoon.

​I didn’t want to share him. Not this weekend. I wanted to ride the Ferris wheel, grab snacks, and just talk to Oota without having to worry about anything.

​"Why does he have to be so popular with everyone?" I whispered into the dark warmth of the blanket.

​My heart did another little thud against my ribs as I imagined walking through the theme park gates, Oota smiling and turning around to call my name. Just the thought of him looking right at me not at Mataguchi, not at his phone, just me made my face burn all over again.

​"Agh! Stop it! This is embarrassing!"

​I threw the blanket off and sat up abruptly, my hair falling wildly over my shoulders. I glared at my phone resting on the mattress beside me as if it were the enemy.

​"I’m not jealous," I told the quiet room, pointing a finger at the screen. "I am not jealous of Mataguchi. I’m just... ensuring my social investment pays off. Yeah. That’s all it is."

​Even to my own ears, it sounded like the worst excuse in the world.

​Outside, a low rumble of thunder rolled through the night sky, softer now, distant. The heavy downpour was gradually settling into a steady, rhythmic drizzle.

​I let out one last long, dramatics sigh and leaned back against my headboard, pulling my legs up to rest my chin on my knees. I stared out the window at the flickering streetlights lining the distant campus boundary.

​Mataguchi was probably back at his own dorm by now, drenched or not. The SOAAD system was silently calculating our fates in the background. The school was hiding something with those drones, and the teachers were playing some kind of twisted game by vanishing on our very first week.

​Everything about this school was complicated, stressful, and fake.

​...Except for the weekend.

​I picked up my phone one more time, looking at the amusement park location pin. A subtle, soft smile finally escaped past my defenses, no matter how hard I tried to hold it back.

​"Just wait, Oota," I murmured softly, clutching the phone close to my chest as the rain continued to patter gently against the glass. "You won’t even be looking at Mataguchi by the time the day is over."

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"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."

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