STARLING

You came into class and quickly realized who exactly you were with. Huffing people who believed they should've been put higher, social butterflies, guys that were looking at girl's chests and rears for a bit too long it made you shudder until you saw him.

Kiyotaka was uneventful if it was a personification, his little introduction awkward and basic it didn't get the sparkling attention Kushida did.

Nonetheless you bargained with yourself and began getting closer to him. Both of you being the same sex meant similar dorm floors, necessities, and topics.

Or so you thought because as soon as you began talking about girls and whatever other manly icebreaker male friends chat about you realized he was doing more of the observing than the talking, you didn't exactly see him intrigued in any of the subjects.

He soon confessed after many questions from you that he didn't find the topics amusing or interesting to talk about, which stumped you because what did this guy like?

Upon further snooping (you stalked him and his activities with others, trying to piece the perfect personality for him, you did want to befriend him after all)

Which made you begin asking what books he likes and forcing yourself to seek knowledge in what he reads, or about chess and calligraphy

He acknowledged the attempt and what could he say, he was touched from the attempts and he reciprocated with his own acknowledgement of your likes. He saw this as an attempt to get closer to you and get you open up and reveal your cards. Just that.

Unfortunately it didn't work like that and you called him out quickly when he pried into your personal life when playing chess, himself as the teacher teaching you underhanded methods of changing the table.

"Kiyotaka, y'know whatever your trying to get on me won't work. I'm not as easy as Horikita is." You began, you've picked up on how he hovered over your personal activities asking where they began and how. "What makes you different from her and the others? You have your breaking point too." He spoke bluntly moving a pawn. "The same applies to you." You replied moving your rook and taking a bishop.

You were witness to Karuizawa falling in love with him. You felt bad for Hirata, after all the blonde guy was in your opinion handsome and a kind person, but you felt it in your heart that Karuizawa wasn't the one meant for him, meaning she also wasn't the one for Kiyotaka, but you would get flamed so you said nothing and kept your peace.

Seeing Kiyotaka was busy using Kei, you decided to start hanging out with Hirata. Kiyotaka being as observant as he was noticed and when he sat with Hirata began questioning him. About you, he was testing Hirata to see if your answer deviated from what you've said to him, or how you treated him. In response, you were different with Hirata, you picked up on his mannerisms and applied them to your conversations. Meaning you were an adapter than just one person.

He wondered what mask you adapted for him? Was is a false one to fill his loneliness? An odd clawing sensation was felt in his chest at the thought, something that he normally wouldn't feel upon thinking about someone playing a false part in his life, but the thought of you felt wrong like a miscalculation that shouldn't happen. Maybe it was the fear of you finding out about his past, yes, that should be the concern.

"I'll say this bluntly, you took it too far. Karuizawa isn't my friend but she's a person, and as much as a parasite she may be, she didn't deserve that. You put her in the line of fire—" You spoke as you two walked back to the male dorms, he was out late after his double date and you were just hungry for some Christmas snacks, and you bumped into each other.

You quickly noticed his manipulation escalated, Karuizawa basically got waterboarded by class C's enforcers.

"It was a necessary sacrifice, and everything ended up fine didn't it? She's well in health." Kiyotaka cut you off before you could continue to scold him. "She's nothing but a tool for the temporary while."

"Am I also a temporary while? Is that how everyone around is? What a bother it was then wasting our time." You replied slightly irritated. Last thing you wanted is your effort put forward for the honest friendship to be thrown away over a temporary arc for him.

"No, you actually have a sense of calling me out and not falling for any traps. For as long as I'm aware, you'll be by my side until graduation hopefully." He replied shaking his head and looking ahead, he didn't give you a reassuraring glance. He sounded certain of himself.

"You're a weird guy Kiyotaka, but thanks for calling me smart." You murmured as snow continued to fall.

SCENE

"CAN YOU WALK FASTER KIYOTAKA! IT'S COLD AS SHIT OUT HERE?!" "CUT! REWIND!" "FUCK!"