Chapter 13
Weekend karaoke was supposed to be harmless.
That was the lie Ike sold everyone with the confidence of a man who had never once planned something harmless in his life.
"We need bonding," Ike declared outside the karaoke room, one fist raised like he was about to lead a revolution instead of rent a room with cheap snacks and a song tablet. "Class D bonding."
Yamauchi nodded beside him. "Exactly. Ayanokōji joined late, so we need to welcome him properly."
Sudo crossed his arms, looking at the karaoke sign with suspicion. "Why karaoke though?"
"Because it has food, games, drinks, and soundproof walls," Yamauchi said.
Hirata smiled awkwardly. "Please don't say soundproof walls like that's important."
Kiyotaka stood beside them with his usual faint smile, hands relaxed at his sides. "Is this really just karaoke?"
Ike and Yamauchi looked at each other.
Sudo looked away.
Hirata sighed.
Kiyotaka's smile curved slightly. "That answers it."
The door behind them opened before Ike could defend himself.
Kei stepped in first, arms folded, expression already annoyed.
Maya followed with brighter energy, though her eyes immediately found Kiyotaka and stayed there for half a second too long.
Chiaki walked in beside them, calm and observant, carrying the expression of someone who had come not for karaoke, but for evidence.
Kei looked at the boys. "Why does this feel suspicious?"
Ike placed a hand over his chest. "Karuizawa, we invited everyone out of pure friendship."
Chiaki raised an eyebrow. "That sounded rehearsed."
"It was heartfelt."
"It was rehearsed," Hirata corrected gently.
Maya slipped closer to Kiyotaka, hugging a small bag to her side. The repaired penguin plush was peeking out from it, one crooked eye visible like a tiny witness under protection.
"Kiyotaka-kun, are you singing today?"
"Maybe."
Maya smiled. "That means yes."
"It means maybe."
"You say maybe when you don't want people to prepare."
Chiaki's eyes moved between them. "You two have gotten comfortable."
Maya's cheeks warmed. "W-we're classmates."
Kei gave her a sideways glance. "You're holding that penguin like it's a royal hostage."
Maya clutched the bag closer. "He has trauma."
Kiyotaka looked at the plush. "He also has suspicious eyes."
Maya pouted instantly. "Don't start."
Kei stared at them, then looked away with a huff. "Whatever. Let's just go inside."
Kiyotaka noticed the faint tension behind her voice.
Kei was irritated, but not only by Maya.
There was another name hiding in the back of her mind. Ren Aikawa. The Star Athlete. The Crown Hearts boy whose attention had once felt safe because it came with popularity, clean smiles, and the kind of easy admiration Kei knew how to understand.
Kiyotaka said nothing.
Not yet.
The room was large enough for everyone to sit comfortably, with a long couch, a low table filled with snacks, two microphones, a karaoke tablet, and a stack of party cards Yamauchi had apparently brought because he believed chaos required tools.
The first hour was almost normal.
Sudo sang too loudly and with absolute confidence, which made everyone laugh because his voice treated rhythm like an optional suggestion.
Hirata sang well enough that even Ike and Yamauchi admitted defeat.
Maya chose a cheerful song and ended up laughing halfway through because the penguin plush kept sliding out of her bag and staring at her like a disappointed manager.
Kiyotaka watched more than he sang.
That was his mistake.
Or maybe Ike's opportunity.
After the first round of songs, Yamauchi slammed a deck of cards onto the table.
"Truth or dare."
Kei's eyes narrowed. "Absolutely not."
Ike grinned. "Too late. The room has accepted."
"The room did not vote."
Sudo leaned back. "Sounds fun."
Hirata looked mildly worried. "Let's keep it normal."
Kiyotaka sat near the edge of the couch, one arm resting behind him. "Define normal."
Nobody answered.
Chiaki smiled faintly. "This will be entertaining."
Kei sat down across from Kiyotaka, looking like she had already decided to survive through anger alone. Maya sat near Kiyotaka's side, pretending not to watch Kei too closely. Chiaki sat beside Kei, which was unfortunate for Kei because Chiaki had the quiet patience of a sniper.
The first few turns were tame.
Sudo had to sing a children's song seriously. Yamauchi had to call himself "ANHS's hidden romantic genius" in the hallway, which made two passing students back away slowly. Hirata chose truth and answered honestly enough that everyone lost interest because kindness had no scandal value.
Then Ike drew a dare card, looked at it, and grinned so widely that Kei immediately pointed at him.
"No."
"I didn't even say anything."
"I know your face."
Yamauchi leaned over, read the card, and nearly sparkled. "This is destiny."
Kei's expression darkened. "I'm leaving."
Sudo blocked the door with one arm. "Game rules."
Hirata gave him a look. "Sudo, don't block the door."
Sudo moved aside immediately. "Right."
Ike cleared his throat dramatically. "Ayanokōji."
Kiyotaka looked up.
"I dare you to hold Karuizawa's hand for thirty seconds."
The room fell into a silence so quick it felt rehearsed.
Kei's face turned red. "Hah? Why me?"
Yamauchi pointed at Kiyotaka like a sports commentator. "Because this is part of class bonding."
"That is not bonding!"
Chiaki leaned toward Kei. "Your face says otherwise."
"My face says I'm angry!"
"It says multiple things."
Maya hugged her bag tighter, eyes flicking to Kiyotaka's hand.
Kiyotaka looked at Kei.
"Do you want me to refuse?"
Kei froze because that was the annoying part. He gave her a way out in front of everyone, calmly enough that she could take it without losing face.
Which made refusing harder.
She crossed her arms and looked away. "It's just a stupid dare. Do whatever."
Kiyotaka stood and walked over to her.
Kei's heartbeat immediately became a traitor.
He sat beside her, close but not crowding her, and held out his hand.
Kei stared at it.
Ike whispered, "She's hesitating."
Yamauchi whispered back, "The atmosphere is working."
Kei snapped, "Shut up!"
Then she placed her hand in Kiyotaka's.
His fingers closed around hers.
Warm.
Steady.
Annoyingly natural.
Kei tried very hard to think of Ren.
Ren's bright smile. Ren's athlete energy. Ren's popularity. Ren's clean, public charm.
Then Kiyotaka's thumb moved lightly once against the side of her hand, and Ren vanished from her thoughts like someone had unplugged the entire Crown Hearts advertisement board.
Kei stiffened.
Kiyotaka leaned slightly closer, voice low enough that only she and Chiaki could hear clearly.
"You're tense, Kei."
Her eyes widened at the first-name address. "D-don't say it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're doing something."
"I'm only holding your hand."
"That's the problem!"
Chiaki covered her smile with one hand. "Interesting reaction."
Kei turned redder. "Don't observe me!"
Maya pouted from Kiyotaka's other side. "Thirty seconds is long."
Ike looked at the timer. "It's been twelve."
Maya's pout deepened. "Too long."
Kiyotaka glanced toward her. "You're counting?"
"I can read numbers."
Yamauchi clutched his chest. "Jealous Maya arc."
Maya's face went pink. "I'm not jealous!"
The penguin plush slipped farther out of her bag.
Sudo pointed at it. "The penguin is judging."
Maya shoved it back down. "He sees nothing."
The timer ended.
Kiyotaka released Kei's hand.
Kei immediately pulled it back and folded both hands in her lap, as if she needed to keep them from betraying her again.
Ike looked emotional. "Beautiful."
Kei threw a snack packet at him.
The game continued, but it had changed flavor.
Now the boys were hunting.
Every time Kiyotaka drew a card, Ike and Yamauchi leaned forward like gamblers watching the final race. Every time Kei drew one, Chiaki smiled just enough to make her nervous.
Then Yamauchi drew another dare.
He read it.
His grin became catastrophic.
"Kiyotaka, tell someone in this room they're beautiful."
Kei immediately stood halfway. "No."
Yamauchi blinked. "You don't even know who he'll choose."
"I know your agenda!"
Ike raised both hands. "Our agenda is friendship."
Chiaki looked at Kiyotaka. "Who will you choose?"
The room tilted toward him.
Maya tried not to look expectant.
Kei tried not to look nervous.
Hirata looked like he wanted to rescue everyone but couldn't find a polite way to disarm the room.
Kiyotaka's gaze moved slowly, then stopped on Kei.
Kei froze.
"Karuizawa Kei," he said.
Her face exploded red. "Why are you using my full name?"
"So there's no misunderstanding."
"That creates more misunderstanding!"
Kiyotaka smiled, faint and dangerous in the soft karaoke light.
"You're beautiful."
Kei's mouth opened.
No words came out.
That was rare enough that even Sudo looked impressed.
Kiyotaka continued before anyone could laugh too loudly.
"Not because you try to look strong. You're beautiful because you keep standing even when you're scared someone will notice you shaking."
The room quieted.
Kei stared at him.
The compliment did not feel like a flirt line.
It felt worse.
It felt like he had reached behind all her practiced attitude, all the sharp little reactions she used as armor, and touched something she had not meant to show anyone.
Her thoughts tried to run toward Ren again, desperate for something familiar.
Ren was popular. Ren was easy to understand. Ren didn't look at her like this.
And that was exactly why the thought dissolved.
Kiyotaka's smile softened.
"Also, your angry face is memorable."
Kei snapped back to life. "You ruined it!"
Maya immediately leaned forward. "I agree. Her angry face is memorable."
Kei pointed at her. "You stay out of this."
Chiaki's smile grew. "Kei, you're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
"It's hot in here!"
Sudo looked at the air conditioner. "It's on sixteen."
Kei grabbed another snack packet.
Hirata gently moved the bowl out of her reach before the room suffered casualties.
Maya became dangerous after that.
Not openly.
Maya was too sweet to start a war in a karaoke room.
But every time a dare pushed Kiyotaka toward Kei, Maya's cheeks puffed slightly, and the penguin plush somehow appeared more often, as if she needed a witness for emotional injustice.
Chiaki noticed.
Of course she did.
"Maya," Chiaki said casually while Kei was still recovering from the compliment, "you've been looking at Kiyotaka's hand."
Maya stiffened. "I have not."
"You watched when he held Kei's."
"Anyone would look."
"Not with funeral eyes."
Maya hugged the penguin. "He was kidnapped by a dare."
Kiyotaka looked at her. "Was I?"
Maya glanced at him, then away. "You didn't resist."
"You wanted me to?"
Her cheeks flushed.
Yamauchi slapped the table. "He countered her."
Ike nodded solemnly. "Ayanokōji is farming reactions."
Hirata laughed softly despite himself. "That phrase is strange, but not inaccurate."
Kei, still red, looked at Maya. "Why are you acting jealous? You're the one who went to the arcade with him."
Maya's eyes widened. "That was different."
"How?"
"He won me a penguin."
"That makes it worse!"
Maya held up the plush slightly. "He needed a home."
Kei stared at the crooked penguin.
"It looks like it owes money."
Kiyotaka nodded. "I said something similar."
Maya gasped. "Don't team up against him!"
Chiaki leaned back, delighted. "This room is going to ruin every existing relationship chart."
The next dare came from Sudo, who had not fully understood the delicate social explosives in the room and therefore threw one with great sincerity.
"Ayanokōji," he said, squinting at the card, "sit beside Karuizawa for the next round."
Kei stood again. "Why does the universe hate me?"
Yamauchi grinned. "Because it supports us."
"Supports what?"
"Class bonding."
"If you say that one more time, I'm bonding my fist with your face."
Kiyotaka moved beside Kei again before the argument could grow legs.
Maya let out a tiny sound.
Chiaki heard it and smiled into her drink.
Kei sat stiffly as Kiyotaka settled beside her. Their shoulders did not touch, but the space between them was small enough that Kei became painfully aware of every breath.
Kiyotaka looked at the song tablet.
"What should we sing?"
Kei snapped her head toward him. "We?"
"The dare said next round. Karaoke has rounds."
Yamauchi whispered, "He found a loophole."
Ike whispered back, "No, he made it worse."
Kei crossed her arms. "I'm not singing a duet."
Kiyotaka looked at her with faint amusement. "Are you bad at singing?"
"No."
"Then you're afraid of singing with me?"
Her eyes sharpened. "I'm not afraid."
"That's good."
He selected a duet.
Kei stared at the screen.
"Wait, I didn't agree."
"You said you weren't afraid."
"That is not consent to musical warfare."
Hirata tried to hide his laugh behind his drink.
The song began.
Kei started reluctantly, voice tense at first. Kiyotaka came in after her, calm and smooth, not overpowering her but matching her just enough to make the song feel less like a joke and more like an accidental confession neither of them had signed.
Kei's voice steadied because of him.
That annoyed her.
It also made her chest warm.
Halfway through, their lines overlapped. Kiyotaka turned slightly toward her as he sang, eyes resting on her face like the room had dimmed around her.
Kei missed one word.
Yamauchi nearly fell off the couch.
Chiaki whispered, "Caught."
Maya quietly squeezed the penguin's head.
By the end, everyone clapped.
Kei looked away, red-faced. "That was horrible."
Kiyotaka looked at the score.
"Eighty-nine."
"I meant emotionally horrible."
"That isn't on the scoring system."
"It should be."
Chiaki leaned toward her. "You looked happy."
Kei glared. "I looked like I was being held hostage by a microphone."
Maya muttered, "At least you got a duet."
Kei caught it.
The two girls looked at each other.
For a second, the room smelled like incoming rivalry.
Kiyotaka leaned back slightly and smiled.
"You can choose the next song, Maya."
Maya turned toward him so quickly the penguin nearly fell from her lap.
"I can?"
"Yes."
Kei stared. "You're balancing them."
Kiyotaka looked at her. "Should I not?"
Chiaki laughed softly. "He admitted strategy without admitting anything."
Maya chose something cheerful, but the boys turned it into a group song before she could object. Sudo sang too loudly again. Ike invented choreography nobody requested. Yamauchi tried to harmonize and created something closer to a warning siren. Hirata carried the melody like a tired saint.
Kiyotaka joined in just enough to make everyone cheer when he actually sang a full line.
Kei pretended not to watch.
Maya watched openly.
Chiaki watched both of them watching him and looked like she was about to write a field report titled Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and the Collapse of Female Composure During Recreational Activities.
After the song ended, the room settled into snacks and drinks.
Kei reached for a cup at the same time as Kiyotaka.
Their fingers brushed.
She froze.
He picked up the cup and handed it to her.
"For you."
Kei stared at it like it contained poison.
"Why are you being smooth about water?"
"It's juice."
"That's not the point."
"Do you want it?"
She took it with a red face. "Obviously."
Maya leaned across the table. "Kiyotaka-kun, I'm thirsty too."
Kei turned to her. "You have a drink."
"It's almost empty."
"It's half full."
"That's almost empty emotionally."
Kiyotaka picked up another drink and placed it in front of Maya.
Maya smiled brightly. "Thank you."
Kei muttered, "Spoiled."
Maya hugged the penguin with one arm. "Cared for."
Kei's eyebrow twitched.
Chiaki quietly whispered, "Maya wins that exchange."
Kei hissed, "No one asked you."
Kiyotaka looked at Kei's drink.
"You haven't opened yours."
Kei blinked.
He reached over, took it gently, opened it, and handed it back.
The gesture was simple.
Too simple.
That was exactly why Kei's brain stopped functioning for a second.
"There," he said.
Kei took it.
Her fingers brushed his again.
She looked away sharply. "I could've done that."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"You were busy being annoyed."
Maya giggled.
Chiaki looked pleased.
Ike whispered to Yamauchi, "He's courting with beverage assistance."
Yamauchi nodded. "Advanced technique."
Hirata looked at Kiyotaka, then at Kei, then smiled in that gentle way of his that somehow made Kei feel even more exposed.
Kei took a sip of juice and tried very hard not to think about how Ren never noticed little things like that.
Kiyotaka did.
That was the problem.
The final truth-or-dare card of the afternoon landed in Hirata's hand.
He read it and looked mildly troubled.
"Maybe we should skip this one."
Ike lunged across the table. "No skipping."
Yamauchi grabbed the card first and read it aloud.
"Truth: say who in this room you would trust to protect you."
The room quieted.
Kei rolled her eyes. "That's too serious."
Maya looked down at the penguin.
Sudo scratched the side of his head. "Protect from what?"
"Anything," Hirata said softly.
Yamauchi grinned at first, then saw the way the atmosphere changed and wisely shut up for once.
The card had landed near Kei, so everyone looked at her.
Kei stiffened.
"Why me?"
"Because it's your turn," Chiaki said.
Kei's fingers tightened around her drink.
A familiar answer appeared first in her mind. Ren. That was the expected kind of answer. Popular, athletic, clean, admired. Someone who looked like he belonged in that role.
Then she remembered Kiyotaka holding her hand earlier, calm enough to make her panic and safe enough to make the panic feel strangely soft. She remembered the duet, the drink, the compliment that had found the scared part of her and refused to laugh at it.
Her thoughts stumbled.
Kiyotaka looked at her, expression calm.
"You don't need to answer seriously."
Kei's eyes flicked to him.
That irritated her.
Again, he had given her a way out.
Again, it made running harder.
She looked away, cheeks faintly pink.
"If I had to choose someone in this room..." Her voice lowered. "Probably Kiyotaka."
Maya's head lifted.
Ike and Yamauchi looked like they had just seen fireworks spell their names.
Sudo blinked. "Oh."
Hirata smiled gently.
Chiaki's expression softened into something teasing but not cruel.
Kei immediately snapped, "Don't misunderstand. He's weirdly calm and strong, that's all."
Kiyotaka looked at her.
"That's all?"
Her face warmed. "Yes."
"You sound uncertain."
"I am not uncertain."
"You hesitated."
"I was thinking!"
"About Ren?"
The room froze.
Kei's eyes widened.
Kiyotaka's voice remained soft, his smile faint and almost dangerous.
"Your expression changes when you compare people."
Kei stared at him, caught.
The name Ren sat between them like an old poster suddenly peeling off the wall.
Then Kiyotaka leaned slightly closer, not enough to corner her, only enough to make the room feel less relevant.
"You don't need to answer with someone you used to trust."
Kei's breath caught.
The words were gentle.
Too gentle.
They found the thought before she could hide it and quietly closed the door behind it.
For a moment, Ren felt distant.
Very distant.
Kei looked away first, face burning.
"You're really annoying."
Kiyotaka smiled.
"I've been told."
Maya puffed her cheeks. "That was too smooth."
Chiaki laughed. "Jealous again?"
Maya hugged the penguin. "I'm making an observation."
Kei pointed at her. "Stop looking so pleased every time he talks."
Maya pointed back. "Stop blushing every time he breathes."
Kei shot up. "I do not!"
Ike raised both hands. "Ladies, please, there is enough Ayanokōji for class morale."
Hirata covered his face.
Sudo looked at Ike like he had chosen death.
Kiyotaka's smile remained calm as the room erupted.
Chiaki leaned back, laughing softly into her cup.
"This might be the best karaoke trip we've ever had."
Hirata sighed, but he was smiling too. "It's certainly memorable."
Kiyotaka looked around the room.
Kei red-faced and furious.
Maya clutching her penguin like a jealous knight.
Ike and Yamauchi celebrating every romantic spark like they personally funded it.
Sudo confused but entertained.
Hirata trying to preserve civilization.
Chiaki recording everything with her eyes.
For a moment, the darkness of Project EDEN felt far away.
Not gone.
Never gone.
But quieter.
Kiyotaka picked up the microphone and selected a song without announcing it.
The opening melody filled the room.
Kei looked at him suspiciously. "What are you doing?"
"Singing."
"With who?"
Kiyotaka looked at her.
Then at Maya.
Then at the tablet.
"Everyone."
Ike cheered.
Yamauchi grabbed the second microphone.
Sudo complained that the key was too high.
Hirata laughed and joined anyway.
Maya stood with her penguin tucked safely on the couch.
Kei stood too after Chiaki nudged her hard enough to count as social violence.
The song began messy, loud, off-key in places, and bright in a way that had no place in ANHS's usual battlefield of pride and rankings.
Kiyotaka sang calmly in the center of it, his voice steady beneath the chaos.
Kei found herself singing beside him.
Maya sang from his other side.
The boys shouted half the chorus.
Chiaki laughed through one line.
And for one afternoon, Class D's karaoke room became a tiny pocket of warmth in a school built to turn every feeling into a weapon.
Kei glanced at Kiyotaka during the song.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
His smile tilted toward her, playful and quiet.
Her face warmed again, but this time she did not look away immediately.
Maya noticed and pouted, but she was smiling too.
The penguin sat on the couch, crooked-eyed and repaired, watching over the scene like a tiny guardian of terrible romantic decisions.
By the time the song ended, everyone was laughing.
Kei tried to pretend she wasn't.
Maya tried to pretend she wasn't jealous.
The boys tried to pretend they had planned this level of success.
Kiyotaka did not pretend anything.
He only smiled, dark and calm beneath the karaoke lights, while the room around him slowly became another place where the Crown Hearts' shine no longer reached.