My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

At this moment, their world became blank, and the students passing by seemed to be non-existent.

Even if someone is standing there watching them.

After an unknown amount of time, Kurose Izumi finally turned her head very slowly to look at Shiraishi Chiren.

For a moment, both of them were stunned.

The awkwardness, confusion, and helplessness upon meeting were replaced by doubt and heartache.

'Qianlian, why do you look so sad?'

'Izumi, you've changed…'

Looking at Kurose Izumi, who looked tired and carried an inescapable sadness, Shiraishi Chiren felt her own bitterness rise to its peak.

—She's the one who made Kurose Izumi become like this.

And as Kurose Izumi's image was reflected in her eyes, Kurose Izumi's image was also reflected in her eyes.

Her pale, sallow face turned ashen, devoid of color, and there was an undeniable redness and swelling around her eyes…

Is that so?

It turns out that on every sleepless night, Shiraishi Chiren was also thinking about him.

But Izumi Kurose is already caught in a vicious cycle.

Even after seeing Shiraishi Chiren in this state, he still couldn't believe in Shiraishi Chiren's love, not even a little bit.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with complex emotions and sorrow, and neither of them spoke.

Thump—

After an unknown amount of time, the bell for the first class broke the silence.

Kurose Izumi gave Shiraishi Chire a deep, almost etched look, before turning and stepping forward.

He arrived at the door of Class 2-B, met Hirasawa Masato's astonished gaze, and walked to his seat.

Shiraishi Chiren followed closely behind and sat down beside him.

But she didn't speak; instead, she silently looked at the podium and blackboard, quietly waiting for the teacher to arrive.

The same applies to Izumi Kurose.

Their relationship seemed to have returned to square one.

Before everything happened, they were like this: apart from greeting each other when they came to class each day, they didn't communicate at all.

The situation is even more serious now than it was then.

They clearly love each other deeply, yet their relationship is so strained that they act as if they don't even know each other.

Is it unbearable?

It's naturally unbearable.

Kurose Izumi was already trying her best to suppress the urge to leave the classroom and escape to a secluded place.

He was also suppressing his desires, turning his gaze to Shiraishi Chiren, to see what her desires were like.

But the more he suppressed this impulse, the clearer Shiraishi Chiren's face became in his mind!

He couldn't forget the sight of Shiraishi Chiren he had just seen; she looked so sorrowful and dejected.

In the end, Kurose Izumi couldn't help but steal a glance at Shiraishi Chiren beside her.

Just then, Shiraishi Chiren also turned her gaze to him, and once their eyes met, they couldn't look away.

"sorry"

Shiraishi Chiren moved her cherry lips and silently uttered those three words.

After understanding what she meant, Kurose Izumi turned her head away and stopped looking at her.

After that, he didn't steal another glance at Shiraishi Chiren, but after that eye contact, his expression clearly darkened.

When get out of class ended, Hirasawa Shinbu, who had been suppressing his emotions, immediately went to Kurose Izumi's side and looked at Shiraishi Chiren as if she were a thief.

"Quan, come with me for a moment."

Although he was talking to Kurose Izumi, his eyes were constantly on Shiraishi Chiren, just in case she did something.

"Ah."

Kurose Izumi responded in a low voice, and together with Hirasawa Mabu, they walked out of the classroom to a secluded spot in the courtyard outside the teaching building.

Hirasawa Shinbu stood in front of the vending machine and asked, "Izumi, what would you like to drink?"

"Whatever."

"Alright, then have some mineral water." Hirasawa Shinbu put in a 500 yen coin and took two bottles of mineral water.

He then pulled Kurose Izumi to sit down on a nearby bench and handed her the water: "Why did you come to school without telling me?"

"I thought I'd come." Kurose Izumi replied absentmindedly, unscrewing the bottle cap and taking a sip of water.

The cool water rushed down my throat, slightly relieving the stickiness on my lips and the dryness in my throat.

During the previous class, Kurose Izumi's mind was filled with thoughts of Shiraishi Chire, and he didn't hear a word the teacher said.

There was no way around it; Shiraishi Chiren was sitting next to him, which made him pay attention.

Hirasawa Mabu looked at the dejected Kurose Izumi, opened his mouth, and hesitated several times before stopping himself from speaking.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Quan, I have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"

"Speak," Kurose Izumi replied weakly, her head bowed.

"How about... transferring schools?"

"Transfer...to a school?" Kurose Izumi's listless and tired eyes suddenly flickered slightly.

It's not that I'm interested in or agree with the proposal, but rather that I'm unwilling to accept it.

If he transfers schools, wouldn't that mean he never wants to see Shiraishi Chiren again?

What would Shiraishi Chiren think if she knew?

sad?

Or will they just give up?

After all, she doesn't love herself either, does she?

As she thought about these things, Izumi Kurose couldn't help but take another sip of water, trying to distract herself with some meaningless action.

But he suddenly discovered that the mineral water, which was normally tasteless, had suddenly become bitter.

"Izumi, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?" Hirasawa Shinbu, who had been observing Kurose Izumi's expression, panicked when he suddenly saw his sad look!

"I...I'm fine." Kurose Izumi shook her head, but her tone was full of disappointment, and her voice was slightly hoarse.

"Did I say something bad? I'm sorry, I..."

"No, it's my own problem," Kurose Izumi interrupted softly. "As for transferring schools... I'll think about it."

Perhaps transferring schools is indeed a good suggestion.

Escaping is shameful, but it can be useful.

Since meeting each other would be awkward, perhaps not meeting is a better choice.

Kurose Izumi casually raised her head, looked up at the blue sky through the lush green branches of the courtyard, and squinted slightly.

I have a feeling...

Since then, everything has become illusory and unsettling.

While the two were talking, Shiraishi Chiren stood quietly on the railing of the rooftop at the very top of the left side of the teaching building.

She looked at Kurose Izumi sitting under the green trees in the courtyard, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.

At one point, Shiraishi Chiren gripped the railing tightly.

"Hirasawa Masami, you're determined to destroy everything I have, aren't you?"

123. Please call me by your name.

During lunch break, Izumi Kurose and Masato Hirasawa went to the cafeteria for lunch together.

Tsuda Yoshi was also with them.

She had already taken a good spot and was waiting for the two of them.

"Tsuda!"

As soon as Hirasawa Shinbu entered the cafeteria, his gaze immediately locked onto the petite girl.

He couldn't hide his excitement, but then, as if remembering something, he quickly composed himself.

To this, Izumi Kurose smiled indifferently and said, "Why should you care about me? Just do what you want and don't upset Tsuda."

He wouldn't feel uncomfortable seeing his friends immersed in the joy of being in love.

“She won’t be upset!” Hirasawa Masato muttered. “Tsuda isn’t that kind of person.”

"You really are immersed in love." Kurose Izumi chuckled.

Hirasawa Mabu's current appearance is so similar to his past self; he too is trying his best to protect the person he loves.

"To protect the person you like..."

Kurose Izumi murmured, unable to avoid thinking about the scene during music class when Shiraishi Chire stood up against the whole class to protect him.

This kind of shoujo manga-like sentiment is irresistible not only to women but also to men.

But the things that were once beautiful and memorable, when recalled now, are all deadly poison.

"Quan, what's wrong? It's our turn."

Just as Kurose Izumi was about to succumb to grief, Hirasawa Mabu's voice rang out from beside him, bringing him back to his senses.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and said in a low voice, "It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of something."