Chapter 40: The Probe

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Probe

Shion’s monologue, POV

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The groups gathered near the ferris-wheel. The group had a little misunderstanding, the tense was subtle but rather calm than usually.

I witnessed the fall out, seeing the details slight behavior patterns and expressions of everyone present.

Aki worried and confused, Oota worried but panicking from the outburst Junpai had led out, Inosuki worried but a lingering calmness was visible to me.

Nanami was getting close to the wrong person, this could hurt more people than necessary.

It didn’t stop there, she was getting subtly attached to Oota. Her interactions with him said something I wasn’t comfortable with.

I hate it.

I hate this, his not hers but mine.

No one else.

She should have took a hint of what she was doing.

Doesn’t she already have Junpai for herself?

I’m too clouded by this feelings. I can’t help myself but think malicious thoughts about her. Every the less I remained positive on the surface.

"There’s still time left though" Mataguchi muttered walking from behind.

"Read the room, man" Aki replied irritated.

The day was almost coming to an end, I should just endure for a bit longer.

"...."

I watched as the group matches forward. They had been quite for a while now, but things were still progressing further.

I noticed Nanami occasionally turning to Oota while we were hanging out earlier. Oota seemed to have noticed her actions too.

She’s been a bother to Oota.

She’ll regret making me feel this way, my heart..aches.

I keep remembering their interactions.

It suddenly became harder to breath.

It hurts

It hurts

It hurts

IT HURTS

"That looks fun" I uttered.

"Nanami, the Ferris wheel!" I added while Nanami immediately turned to me completely, I came to halt.

"Hmm? Wait, who with the what now?" She muttered, placing her wordings wrongly for a brief confusion. She wasn’t paying attention to me when I was talking I presume.

"I don’t like this tense atmosphere, it would be a good idea if we take a break to rest for a bit from each other" I added.

" what do you think Junpai?" I shifted my gaze on Junpai. His fright still lingering underneath his calm face.

"R-right, I guess you are right" he accepted before turning to Nanami. " is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, I think it’s a great idea" she said, she slowly took my hand with a sense of a gentle touch, leading the way.

While we walked further, I took out my phone. I wasn’t casually browsing my phone. I calculated the exact length of the Ferris wheel ride, setting a silent timer to trigger a fake text notification alarm precisely when we reached the peak.

She was smiling for some reason, like she was actually having fun.

Bitch.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked.

"Just happy been near you like this" she immediately replied. I couldn’t tell if she was misdirecting my question or just straight up answering another question.

I noticed the silence cameras at the extreme end of every corner. So she couldn’t lie.

We reached our destination, without saying a word.

The heavy steel door of the Ferris wheel pod clicked shut with a definitive, mechanical thud.

Instantly, the ambient roar of Tokyo Dome City, the screams from the rollercoasters, the upbeat plaza music, the hum of the crowd was reduced to a muted, distant vibration.

The pod swung slightly as it began its slow, vertical ascent, lifting us into the open sky.

It was quiet between us but she was looking positive.

I sat on the plush bench, smoothing down the pleats of my skirt with a calm, deliberate rhythm. Opposite me, Nanami sat perfectly poised, her hands resting elegantly on her lap along with her phone, the cream-colored sundress draping neatly around her.

For the first few moments, the silence was comfortable, standard for two acquaintances adjusting to an enclosed space.

Then a sudden, beep sounded from my phone. Nanami eyes shifted to me for a moment.

I checked my phone seeing it was the notification alarm I had setup from earlier.

I used that moment to set a timer for a voice record length in addition, so it would go off at a specific time length.

I had isolated Nanami before, after deducing Inosuki was going to take action. But he couldn’t do it immediately because of the situation and timing.

So I helped him.

It was a huge success in my part but a failing mark for him. Junpai current state was all I needed.

"The view from here really is beautiful," Nanami began, her voice carrying that same soft, melodic warmth she had shown all morning. She looked out the panoramic glass window at the sprawling Tokyo skyline.

"Junpai told me the park was nice, but seeing it like this is entirely different."

"Yeah, it’s not bad," i replied, offering a polite, casual smile that perfectly mirrored the standard social expectations of a high school girl.

Obviously, I wasn’t going to show her my other side.

"Junpai-senpai was incredibly hyped about today. Honestly, he was terrified he’d mess up the schedule and bore you." I added.

Nanami chuckled softly, a perfectly timed, endearing sound. "He shouldn’t worry so much. He’s very sweet."

The pod lifted higher, passing the tree line of the park.

Nanami smoothly shifted her gaze from the horizon, her light brown eyes settling on me. Her expression remained entirely pleasant, but the angle of her head tilted just a fraction. "Though, I have to admit, Shion-san... I was a bit surprised when you separated us at the gate. I assumed you and Oota-kun would want to ride together, given how close you two seem."

There it was. The opening probe.

I didn’t flinch. My eyes meet hers

"Oh, Oota needs some space today. He’s had a rough week. Besides, I wanted a chance to talk to you directly. Senior to junior."

"About Junpai?" Nanami asked, her smile widening just enough to project total openness.

"Or about something else?"

"Let’s start with Oota," i said, my tone dropping the cheerful baseline, shifting into something cool, precise, and entirely focused.

"When we took the group photo, you stared at him. Why?"

"Is that what this is?" She asked.

" you didn’t looked at him, not because you found him interesting, but you noticed didn’t you? What?"

Was she checking him out or something else?

Nanami’s eyelids fluttered slightly a microscopic tell of surprise before her professional grace absorbed the impact.

She let out a small, sympathetic sigh.

"You’re very protective of him, aren’t you? It’s admirable. But as a upperclassman, I simply notice when an underclassman looks like he’s carrying a heavy burden. I didn’t mean to pry."

"An underclassman?" I countered, my voice quiet but sharp as glass.

"I don’t see it that way."

"Not at all"

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees, trapping Nanami in a direct, unblinking gaze.

"You’re using Junpai," i stated flatly.

"You are not interested in him in anyway"

The smile on Nanami’s face didn’t drop, but the warmth vanished from it entirely.

She seemed sadden a bit. "That’s a very harsh conclusion to jump to, Shion-san. Junpai and I are seeing if we match."

" Relationships take time to understand."

"No," i said. The fuck you mean relationship and understanding?

You bitch..

"If you wanted to see if you matched, you wouldn’t accommodate his anxiety so perfectly." I countered.

"You mirror his pacing, you laugh at jokes you clearly find trivial, and and....gosh"

" you dress in a style that minimizes the social gap between you. Like really?"

I paused before adding.

"You are executing a simulation of a perfect girlfriend. But your eyes are completely vacant whenever he looks away."

"And you think anyone wouldn’t notice?...come on"

"..." Nanami didn’t say a word back.

"The trial was just a way to get close without actually been attached...cause you you don’t feel anything" I added. My voice getting low and malicious.

Nanami stayed completely still as the pod reached the halfway point of the orbit, suspended high above the ground.

"Even if that were true," Nanami said, her voice dropping its melodic lilt, becoming flat, measured, and quiet.

"social accommodation isn’t a crime. It keeps people happy. Junpai is enjoying himself. Why ruin his illusion?"

I’ve known you for like seven hours and this doesn’t sound like you.

"Because an illusion built always has a cost," i replied.

"You didn’t accept a trial date with a frantic, insecure underclassman like Junpai out of the goodness of your heart, did you?."

" You did it to gain access to our circle. More specifically, you wanted to get close to the Student Council infrastructure or....."

" You wanted to observe someone."

Oota

Nanami’s fingers tightened slightly against her sundress, the fabric wrinkling under her palm. For the first time, she felt the claustrophobia of the glass cabin.

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"I know I have no right to possess her. That’s what makes it worse, I want to anyway."

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