Airi Wants To Be Paired Together

(Third Person's POV)

The clatter of cups and murmur of conversation filled Palette Cafe as Class D gathered to discuss their strategy for the Paper Shuffle Test. Ayanokoji remained silent, observing as Horikita unraveled the exam's key mechanic – the pairing system.

Horikita's analysis was sharp. She divided Class D into four academic tiers: high, high-mid, low-mid, and low. Each group had ten students.

Top performers like Horikita, Hirata, and Kushida found themselves in the high tier, tasked with forming study groups for the lower tiers.

Based on his mid-term results, Ayanokoji found himself in the high-mid group. Karuizawa and Sakura, unsurprisingly, landed in the low-tier group.

(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)

As the group dispersed after finalizing the strategy, Sakura lingered. A curious glint in her eyes caught my attention. "Ayanokoji-kun," she chirped, "mind if I walk with you for a bit?"

Surprise flickered across the faces of Karuizawa, Horikita, Kushida, and even Hirata. It wasn't a common request. Yet, no objections were voiced as we fell into step.

As we strolled away from the cafe, Sakura initiated the conversation. "So, about the Paper Shuffle…" she started hesitantly. "I was hoping… maybe we could be paired together?"

An eyebrow quirked upwards. This was an unexpected request. My usual poker face remained unreadable.

"Why the sudden interest?" I asked, my voice devoid of any warmth.

A pout formed on her lips. It's because of that 'no PDA' rule you set," she stated, a hint of bitterness tingling her voice. "We never get to spend time together during school hours. I just want to… be around you more, without raising any suspicions."

Her reasoning wasn't without merit. "And you believe being paired in the Paper Shuffle provides a cover for that?"

She nodded eagerly. "Exactly! We can pretend I need tutoring, and then we can spend time together studying… without anyone questioning it."

A faint amusement flickered within me. She wasn't as simple as she appeared. This ploy displayed a surprising level of strategic thinking.

"There's a simpler way to ensure we're paired," I said after a moment's consideration.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really? How?"

"On the day of the pre-exam quiz," I explained, "answer exactly three questions correctly. No more, no less."

A wide smile spread across her face. "Three questions! Got it!" she exclaimed, her voice bouncing with excitement.

"Then," I continued, "leave the rest to me." The specifics of the manipulation, the calculations required, were unnecessary details for her to know.

"Thank you so much, Ayanokoji-kun!" she gushed, her voice barely a whisper. "I owe you one. How about I come to your room tonight to… thank you properly?"

I offered a subtle nod, acknowledging her suggestion without revealing any emotions. With that, we continued our walk, returning to our respective dorms in comfortable silence.

Sakura's request was a minor complication, but within the grand scheme of things, a manageable one. Her desire for closeness was predictable, but her method of achieving it was surprisingly cunning and bold.

~~

The clock struck eleven as a soft knock echoed through my dorm room. A faint smile played on my lips as I opened the door to reveal Sakura, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Airi," I greeted, my voice as neutral as ever.

"Kiyotaka!" she chirped, stepping inside and closing the door softly behind her. The playful glint in her eyes spoke volumes about her intentions.

We wasted no time with pleasantries. "You mentioned thanking me," I said, my voice flat.

"Indeed," she replied, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "And I'm a woman of my word."

Before I could respond, she began to undress, her movements fluid and practiced. A flicker of amusement crossed my mind. She was certainly eager.

Once she stood before me, clad only in a lacy bra and a hint of moonlight, I closed the distance between us. My touch was firm, assessing, tinged with raw emotion that often accompanies physical intimacy.

Her body responded instinctively, a shiver running down her spine as my fingers grazed her bare skin. She leaned into my touch, her lips brushing against my ear.

"Yes, Kiyotaka…I love it," she breathed, her voice husky with desire.

There was no need for pretense this time. We moved in sync, a well-oiled machine driven by a common goal, to satiate our carnal desires.

The hours melted away as we explored each other, my movements calculated, hers fueled by a mix of desire and the thrill of forbidden intimacy.

As dawn approached, we finally reached a state of exhausted satisfaction. Sakura collapsed onto the bed, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

"That was incredible," she murmured, her voice laced with sleepiness.

"Indeed," I replied, my voice devoid of any warmth. There were pleasures to be found in this physical intimacy.

With a silent sigh, I rose from the bed and began to dress. As Sakura stared at me, I said to her, "You should head back to your dorm before anyone notices your absence."

She nodded sleepily, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. She once again wore her clothes that she had been wearing earlier and then left my dorm room, leaving me alone with the fading echoes of the night.

~~

The results of the pre-exam quiz were announced, and as planned, my score landed me precisely where I needed to be – paired with Sakura for the Paper Shuffle. A faint smirk played on my lips, hidden beneath my usual impassive expression.

The designated study groups were formed, with Hirata leading the morning session and Horikita taking charge after club activities.

A minor complication arose when Hasabe and Miyake, both exceptional students paired together for the exam, approached Horikita with scheduling issues. Their academic strengths overlapped significantly, creating a dilemma.

Predictably, Horikita delegated the task of sorting them out to Yukimura and me. I saw an opportunity. "Sakura could benefit from being part of this combined group as well," I stated flatly.

Horikita didn't object, likely recognizing the potential for a more efficient study session.

That evening, we found ourselves gathered at a cafe – Yukimura, Sakura, Hasabe, Miyake, and myself.

Yukimura, with his usual studious air, took the lead, analyzing everyone's strengths and weaknesses to craft a study plan that would maximize everyone's scores.

Sakura, seated beside me, radiated a constant, almost irritating, smile.

Covertly, beneath the table, her finger brushed playfully against my thigh.

I maintained a stoic expression, but my hand discreetly slipped beneath her shirt, finding the smooth skin of her waist.

A subtle jolt ran through her, but she did well to mask her reaction from the others. This little charade entertained a part of me, a reminder of the tangled web I weaved. The study session continued, the murmur of discussions filling the air.

Sakura, on the other hand, seemed less focused on the academic discussions. Throughout the session, a playful smile lingered on her face.

The others remained blissfully unaware of what Sakura, and I were doing as they were engrossed in listening to Yukimura's strategic plans.

~~

The study session finally reached its conclusion. Discussions wrapped up, leaving a comfortable silence as we each savored our ice cream cones. Haruka broke the quiet by suggesting we all switch to first names.

"It'll make things less formal," she chirped, a wide smile illuminating her face.

Sakura, predictably, was the first to jump on board.

"Great idea, Haruka! Call me Airi," she declared, her voice dripping with forced enthusiasm. It wasn't lost on me that her gaze darted towards me as she spoke.

I maintained my usual stoic expression.

The name exchange was a meaningless formality, but it served a purpose. "Haruka," I acknowledged, my voice flat.

"Akito, Keisei." Finally, my gaze settled on Sakura. "Airi," I stated, my tone devoid of any warmth.

The air crackled with unspoken tension, a subtle current only she and I could perceive.

The charade continued. We finished our ice cream, the playful tension simmering beneath the surface.

With the study session concluded and ice cream devoured, the group dispersed, each heading back to their respective dorms. Silence greeted me as I entered my room, a welcome respite from the day's social interaction. I sank onto the bed, allowing myself a moment of rest.

The quiet was shattered by a buzz from my phone. A message from Airi.

A single question: "Can I call you?"

Ignoring the text, I picked up the phone and dialed her number. The call connected quickly, Airi's surprised voice greeting me.

"Kiyotaka? I didn't expect you to call," she chirped, a hint of playfulness in her tone.

"Don't test me during the study group," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. It was a necessary reminder, a way to maintain control of the situation.

A playful pout entered her voice. "But you didn't tell me to stop…" she trailed off, a hint of accusation clinging to her words. "In fact, you seemed to enjoy it."

My hand instinctively reached up to rest on the pillow beside me, the memory of her milky skin against my fingertips still fresh. "It was merely to prevent further disruptions," I countered, my tone betraying none of the subtle arousal her actions had triggered.

A muffled giggle reached my ears. "Alright, alright," she conceded. "No more inappropriate touching in front of Keisei, Haruka, and Akito. Deal?"

That was the response I craved. A flicker of satisfaction sparked within me, quickly extinguished beneath my impassive facade.

"So," she continued, her voice taking on a suggestive tone, "how about a date as a reward for good behavior?"

The invitation hung in the air. Date.

My gaze flicked towards the window. The moon cast a pale glow on the room. Dates were a complication I hadn't anticipated.

"We'll see," I said finally, leaving the answer hanging in the air.

The conversation ended shortly after, and I was left alone with the quiet hum of the night.