My Seatmate is a Master (14) - Kairi

'Shira might still be mad about me and Fina spending time together. Maybe she saw us sharing the same earphones and Fina talking about lots of things that she liked.'

Kiba sighed as he stared at the peaceful streets of the early morning. He was still thinking about why Shira suddenly distanced herself from him. It made his heart unbalanced, but he knew that there were boundaries he couldn't cross casually. 

'I thought being friendly and respectful to others would yield good results all the time. But I guess the thing between Shira and me can't be just ordinary friends. There's something special between us, but neither I nor she are too afraid to confront each other.'

When Kiba's class assembled for another day of school, a new student entered the room. Kiba's eyes widened in astonishment as he recognized the young man who had just walked in. It was his cousin, Kairi.

'Why did he come? Wasn't he so busy with his career that he rarely appeared in classes? And why did he transfer here where it's close to the home he left?'

Kairi had been something of a black sheep in the family, pursuing his dreams of becoming a professional esports player and distancing himself from the rest of the relatives, who were more focused on traditional careers. His sudden arrival in Kiba's class was a shock, and Kiba could hardly believe his eyes.

'Does grandfather know that he is back? But why has he not visited the main house?' Kiba glanced in his brother's direction, but he also saw that his brother was unaware of his cousin's sudden comeback. 'Even my brother did not get the news of his return.'

Kairi's arrival sparked whispers among the students. The homeroom teacher introduced him to the class. The girls in front felt so dreamy that they looked like salivating dumbheads. 

"He looks so handsome!"

"Ah! I remember him!"

"Do you recognize him?"

"That's right! Before he got famous in the esports circle, he was once a student from the school closest to ours! He is also Hiro's cousin."

"What? He is Hiro's cousin?"

"That's right! My cousin used to be on the same soccer team with him. Their team and Hiro's team met in a friendly match in middle school! My cousin even still uses the picture after the match in his social media account as a cover!"

"That's so cool!"

"That means everyone in the Hiro's family are good looking?"

Kairi took a seat, looking a bit out of place but with a determined glint in his eye. Kiba couldn't help but wonder what had brought his cousin back into the fold and how their family would react to this unexpected reunion.

Kairi took the seat in front of Shira, and after a moment of silence, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small box of chocolates. He turned around, extended the box toward Shira, and said, "Hey, thanks for helping me out yesterday. This is a token of my appreciation."

Shira accepted the box of chocolates with a polite smile. "You're welcome. It was nothing, really. I also haven't thanked you enough for saving me. If it was not for me, you wouldn't have an accident."

Kairi grinned, looking genuinely grateful. "Still, not everyone would offer to help a stranger like that. It means a lot to me. By the way, I'm Kairi, and you are...?"

Shira introduced herself, and they engaged in a friendly conversation, getting to know each other better. As they chatted, Kairi's initial reserved demeanor seemed to melt away, and Shira found herself drawn into a surprisingly pleasant conversation with her new classmate. But she was still cautious, 'Even with the stars twinkling in his eyes, the smell of danger still lingered around him.'

Unbeknownst to them, the exchange was observed by some of their classmates, who couldn't help but feel intrigued by this sudden connection between Shira and Kairi. Shira heard whispers about them, but she didn't care at all.

[Milady, we have not expected this mysterious character to follow you even in school.]

"Lemolemo, have you also felt that he was targeting me? Simple conversations with him weren't simple at all. I feel like he already knows me. Can you look for photos of his younger self and the real Shira?"

[I will try my best, Milady.]

During the break, Kiba couldn't resist winking at Shira, his expression clearly asking her how she knew his cousin. Shira tried to keep a straight face and shrugged nonchalantly in response as if it were merely a coincidence.

Kiba thought, 'Why is she so uncooperative lately? Did something happen between them that I didn't know of? And what accident were they talking about earlier that she earned my cousin's hard-to-get thanks?'

Kairi spent the break time with Shira, sharing stories about his decision to transfer to their school and the world of esports. "Esports is my passion..."

"You must be very happy when you joined the team. But education is also equally important, I'm glad you decided to go back to school, Kairi."

"If not for going back, I wouldn't meet you, Shira. It must be destined for us to meet..."

"Yeah." Shira found it all quite fascinating, and they got along well.

As they laughed and talked, Kiba couldn't help but notice from a distance how Shira seemed to be enjoying her time with his cousin. Hiro, who happened to pass by and see the scene, was also taken by surprise, not having expected to see his cousin in the same school.

"How did he get here?" Hiro asked Kiba.

"I don't know, too. I haven't even heard a single news from him since ages ago..." Kiba answered with a bad face. Hiro nodded and went to his friends, leaving Kiba as he watched the scene unfold. 

Kiba thought, 'Why does he want to take Shira away from me?' The dynamics between the three of them were shifting, and Kiba couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy as he watched Shira bond with Kairi. It was a change that he hadn't anticipated, and it left him feeling somewhat left out in their interactions.

In the evening, before the class ended, Shira and Lemolemo had their telepathic conversation. "Can you help me verify Kairi's background and the places he's ventured recently?"

[I can, Milady. But may I ask why?]

Shira hesitated for a moment. "I just want to be sure that he's not a potential threat. Because somehow, I feel like he is involved in the death cases of those victims. I can't explain it, but there's something about him that makes me feel threatened."

Lemolemo didn't question further and agreed to Shira's request. He began his investigation into Kairi's background and activities, all while remaining discreet to avoid arousing suspicion. Shira, feeling uneasy about the sudden appearance of Kairi, wanted to ensure her safety and the safety of those around her.

Lemolemo reported back to Shira with the information he had uncovered. [Milady, I've checked Kairi's recent activities. He has indeed been to several places where those accidents and deaths occurred.]

Shira's heart raced, and she asked, "Could this be a coincidence?"

[It is possible, Milady, but the frequency and timing of his visits to these locations are rather unusual.]

Shira contemplated the information and responded, "We need to gather more evidence and information about Kairi. Keep a close watch on him, but don't let him notice that you are peeping. We shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. Aside from that, he might also feel your presence."

[Understood, Milady. I'll continue to monitor his movements discreetly.]

As Shira considered the implications, she couldn't help but feel a troubling sense of doubt and anxiety about Kairi's existence in her life. "Kiba, I need to accompany Kairi for a walk, so I might not be able to join you."

Kiba wanted to reason with Shira and stop her from going with Kairi but had no guts to do so. Kiba watched as Shira and Kairi continued their tour around the campus, leaving him feeling left out and somewhat hurt. He had always been close to Shira, and seeing her bond with Kairi made him uneasy.

Shira noticed Kiba's downcast expression and decided to talk to him. She approached him and said, "Kiba, I think it's better if you head home first today. Kairi and I need to discuss some things related to his transfer."

Kiba's disappointment was clear in his voice as he responded, "Alright, Shira. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."

Shira felt a pang of guilt but believed it was necessary for her investigation. As Kiba walked away, she couldn't help but worry about how he was taking the situation.

Shira continued to walk alongside Kairi, showing him the various spots around the school while her mind wandered elsewhere. She decided to have another telepathic conversation with Lemolemo.

[Milady, are you sure you want the Villain to be left out like this?] Lemolemo's voice echoed in her mind.

Shira sighed, feeling the weight of her decisions. "I know it's hard on him, Lemolemo. But right now, my main priority is the investigation. I need to find out the truth behind those cases."

Lemolemo responded with understanding, [I see, Milady. But please consider his feelings as well.]

Shira knew Lemolemo was right, and it weighed on her conscience. She couldn't help but worry about Kiba, who had become such an important friend to her.