My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

At that moment, Izumi Kurose felt utterly useless.

Lately, whenever he thinks that all of this is fake and that Shiraishi Chire doesn't like him, he always feels an urge to cry.

I can manage to suppress this sadness in front of others, but when I'm alone, I can't help but cry.

It is because he deeply loves Shiraishi Chiren that he is in a dilemma and confused.

It's hard to forgive, and it's hard to separate.

To forcibly erase one's love for Shiraishi Chire would be as painful as tearing one's heart out of one's chest.

"call……"

After a long while, Izumi Kurose stopped crying, washed her face, and stepped out of the bath.

He returned to his room, dried his hair, and then sat by the window, lost in thought as usual.

There was nothing he could do; his mind was filled with thoughts of Shiraishi Chire, making it impossible for him to sleep or do anything.

Outside the window, no dark clouds were visible, and the bright moon shone with a cool, clear light.

As Izumi Kurose gazed at the moon, she couldn't help but reach out her hand, wanting to grasp the moon that seemed so close at hand.

But he could only cover it up; he couldn't catch it.

"How ironic..."

Kurose Izumi couldn't help but whisper.

This moon is just like their relationship all along.

It was so close, within reach, yet it felt as illusory as looking at flowers through a fog.

It seems like they've caught it, but that's not actually the case.

Her relationship with Shiraishi Chire is also like that.

They were so close, but when they realized it was all an illusion, it all shattered suddenly, leaving them utterly vulnerable.

Is this relationship too fragile?

No, it's just that the moon is too far away.

How can mortals land on the moon, touch it, and possess it?

It is aloof and superior, and will not be attached to any one person.

Kurose Izumi was just too naive, always believing in the existence of extraordinary encounters in the world.

Even now, he still clings to a sliver of hope.

The fact that she couldn't bear to break up with Shiraishi Chirei and completely sever ties is the best proof of that.

That night, Izumi Kurose had many random thoughts, some good and some bad.

It wasn't until late at night, when the bright moon was obscured by dark clouds, that he closed the window and went to bed.

—Say I'm going to sleep, but it's really just a change of scenery where I can space out and let my mind wander.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Imperial Palace, in an apartment in Jimbocho.

Shiraishi Chiren was also lying in bed, tossing and turning, occasionally picking up her phone to check it.

She stared at her chat box with Kurose Izumi, stubbornly waiting—even though she knew there would be no reply.

Because this is what she owes Kurose Izumi.

So no matter how long she waits, Shiraishi Chiren will keep waiting.

After that, she would follow Kurose Izumi like that, waiting for him to turn around and take one last look at her.

Even if it will be a long time.

Shiraishi Chiren is willing to wait, no matter how long.

"spring……"

Around three or four in the morning, Shiraishi Chiren, who was extremely sleepy, murmured something and drifted off to sleep.

"I really... know I was wrong."

"Forgive...my clumsiness...and my stubbornness."

She murmured, and a single, crystal-clear tear slid down her cheek.

Even when she was asleep, Shiraishi Chiren's face could not hide her sorrow and loneliness.

Unfortunately, this sentiment will no longer be acknowledged or believed.

The person who would gently wipe away her tears and say he would never leave her has gradually drifted away.

The distance between them was very, very far.

Far away—forever.

122. He was determined to destroy everything she had.

The next day, early in the morning.

Hirasawa Masato stood in front of Kurose Izumi's bedroom door, knocked, and called out, "Izumi? Are you awake?"

After calling out, he waited quietly, but received no response for a long time, so he turned and left.

"You went to bed very late again..."

Hirasawa Mabu muttered to himself as he returned to the main room. After absentmindedly finishing his breakfast, he picked up his schoolbag and went out.

Not long after he left, Kurose Izumi slowly opened her eyes in her bedroom in the Hirasawa mansion.

He looked exhausted, with bloodshot eyes, clearly indicating he hadn't slept well.

Kurose Izumi dragged her somewhat sluggish body out of bed, and as soon as she opened the door, she ran into Fengzi, who was guarding the doorway.

Good morning, young master.

"Good morning," Kurose Izumi said weakly.

"Didn't you get enough rest? Why don't you take a nap?" Fengzi looked at his face with concern.

"No need, I'll go to school after breakfast."

No matter what, you can't just not go to school, right?

Taking one day off is enough.

Sooner or later, Izumi Kurose will have to face Chire Shiraishi and meet her again.

"OK, all right."

Fengzi nodded slightly and led Kurose Izumi to the main room, instructing the other retainers to prepare breakfast.

"Young master, shall I take you there after we finish eating? That way it will save you some trouble, and you can rest a bit more in the car."

"...Okay, then I'll leave it to you."

After a brief conversation, Kurose Izumi slowly finished her breakfast and put on her school uniform, which had been ironed without a single wrinkle.

Then, he and his wife left Pyeongtaek and got into the car parked at the entrance.

During the journey, Izumi Kurose leaned back in the back seat and closed her eyes to rest.

Feng Zi drove the car very smoothly, without any bumps or undulations.

About twenty minutes later, the car drove up the cherry blossom slope and stopped at the entrance of Mingsheng High School.

Feng Zi turned around and called out softly, "Young Master, we've arrived."

"Okay, thank you for bringing me here. Goodbye."

After saying goodbye, Kurose Izumi picked up her schoolbag, got out of the car, and walked into the school gate.

Fengzi watched him until his figure disappeared from sight before turning away and driving away.

Kurose Izumi, who was being watched go, went to the shoe locker to change her shoes, turned her head to look at the corridor leading to the classroom, and hesitated to take a step.

At that moment, an impulse drove him to leave the school.

He wanted to move forward, to embrace and face everything, but he couldn't take a single step forward.

The people around him were walking forward nonchalantly, each with a smile on their face.

In that instant, Izumi Kurose was bewildered.

When Mingming walked in from the school gate, he was surrounded by other students who were also there to attend school.

Why did he feel so quiet along the way?

It was as if he were the only person there, in a deathly stillness.

"spring?"

As Kurose Izumi stood there bewildered and unable to take another step, a soft call suddenly came from behind her.

The soft call was tinged with disbelief, but also with joy.

The next moment, another call rang out.

"spring!"

This time, it was no longer a soft call, but rather an uncontrollable cheer.

But those two soft calls plunged Kurose Izumi into an abyss, leaving him bewildered.

He didn't even dare to turn around and look at the person he had always wanted to see, but dared not see.

Kurose Izumi clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and gently exhaled and then inhaled deeply.

Seeing this, Shiraishi Chiren, who was behind him, stopped in her tracks.

She waited quietly for Kurose Izumi to be mentally prepared so that he could turn back.

The wait is long.

Every second at this moment feels like a year.