Two days.
That's how long it had been since the Great Confession—the dramatic night at Ashford's mansion where Izumi stood up in front of billionaires, bodyguards, and a smiling Haruto… to tell Marina he loved her.
Two days, and not a single message from her.
Not a single call.
Not even a "good morning" text.
Izumi lay in bed, staring blankly at his ceiling. His phone rested on his chest, screen still blank. He had opened and closed the chat with Marina at least a hundred times, but… what could he even say?
"Hey, sorry I shouted my feelings in front of your entire family?"
Nah. That sounded way too pathetic.
---
At School – Day Three
The school hallway was louder than usual.
"…So are they like, really dating?"
"I heard he proposed or something!"
"No way. He was crying, wasn't he? So romantic—like an anime finale!"
Izumi dragged himself into the classroom, trying to look as invisible as humanly possible.
But the moment he walked in, the air stopped.
Everyone turned.
Eyes locked.
And then—
"…Yo."
That soft voice. That calm presence. The room parted like a wave.
Marina Ashford stepped into the room, perfect posture, icy elegance, blue eyes forward. Just like always.
She walked past him without a glance.
Izumi sat down.
Heart pounding.
"She didn't even look at me. Crap. Did I screw it up?"
"What should I do?"
"Man, I am cooked!'
---
After Class – Hallway Ambush
"Izumi," Marina's voice called.
He turned.
She was standing by the window, arms crossed, looking away.
"Umm…Can we talk?"
"Y-Yeah!"
They stood alone by the window.
Silence.
No one said anything for a full ten seconds.
Then, suddenly—
Marina: "So… I guess we're dating now, right?" looking away from his eyes.
Izumi: "Huh?! I guess... W-We are?!"
Marina: "You confessed in front of my entire bloodline. My father literally called it 'The Day of the Great Confession.' What else am I supposed to call this?"
She wasn't looking at him. Her face was slightly red.
Izumi blinked.
"…You didn't seem mad....or was you?"
Marina finally turned toward him.
"I wasn't. I was… just surprised. That's all."
"…So you're okay with it?" he asked, nervous.
She stepped forward.
Took his hand.
"I said 'yes,' didn't I?" she passes a great smile on him.
---
Hallway Drama – First Official Walk
They began walking side-by-side.
Heads turned instantly.
Whispers flew.
"THAT'S THEM!"
"OH MY GOD, THEY'RE ACTUALLY HOLDING HANDS!"
Then—
Niko burst out of a classroom with a banner that read: "FIRST OFFICIAL COUPLE WALK – SEASON ONE."
Behind him, Ren leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed.
"…Tch. Finally grew a backbone."
Anzu and Yuki popped up on either side of Izumi.
Anzu: "Look at you, Casanova!"
Yuki: "She's really holding your hand. Wild."
Marina glared at them all.
They scattered like pigeons.
Marina: "CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THE NONSENSE!"
Izumi: "PLEASE STOP IT'S EMBARRASSING!"
---
Anime Club Room – Quiet After the Storm
The anime club room was unusually peaceful.
Niko, for once, didn't say a word. She simply peeked at them from behind a bookshelf, scribbling notes into a dramatic-looking journal labeled "Shoujo Master Plan."
Marina sat on the couch. Izumi beside her.
She suddenly leaned on his shoulder.
"Don't overthink everything, Izumi," she murmured. "Just stay with me, like this… for a while."
He nodded, quietly stunned.
Her fingers brushed against his. Then held them.
---
Outside the room, Hana was trying to sneak in with a phone to record them. She was promptly caught by Marina's bodyguard.
"Denied," the man whispered like a ninja, pushing her back.
"Ugh, let me in! I'm his sister!"