Are all that matters.

=5=

Yume didn't notice it at all, but Nozomi was spreading rumours around about Yume. Rumours like how she's ranked the top without needing to study or that she cheats during exam. There were many other small rumours blooming from the original ones, but the list would've been too long for Nozomi to state if she were to state it. 

While the poison was being spread around the school with each and every student soaking it all up except the top 10, Subaru kept trying to talk to Yume, in hopes of being able to carry an actual conversation with her without it turning into an argument. 

It started off as a text, asking Yume if she was free. Of course, her response was always a 'no', she was busy studying and doing everything else to be occupied by her neighbour's text or the not-so-hot tea. 

Day after day, Subaru would continue to send a message. And response after response, Yume's patience began to drop, like a ticking bomb that was just waiting to explode. 

*ding*

"I swear, if that's Subaru texting me the same thing again. I will kill him." Yume muttered to herself as she settled her pen down and pick her phone up. 

As soon as her screen lit up, she threw her phone backwards without watching where it landed. She knew her phone wouldn't crack as soon as she heard a soft thud from her bed. 

She picked up her pen and continued writing, pretending as if the past few seconds never happened. 

~

"Yuuki Subaru!" Yume shouted at him in the middle of the school, trying to get his attention. 

Let's just settle this once and for all. 

Not to mention, the hallway was filled with students on the way to class (not that Yume cared). Now, she had everyone's attention, including Subaru. 

"Hm?" He asked nonchalantly, which only infuriated Yume even more. 

She walked up to him, a few steps away from him, "Why do you keep sending me messages?! If I say I'm not free, I'm. NOT. Free!"

"You're always studying, you're way ahead of schedule already, so why can't you just take a bit of time to hang out with me?" 

Yume deadpanned.

"You're bothering me with all these messages... just to hang out." Yume said with a are-you-serious face. 

"Yep." Subaru replied. 

"You're weird." 

"So is today still a no?" Subaru asked jokingly. 

It wouldn't hurt right?

"Just once. Just once alright? Stop bothering me after that." Yume sighed and gave in. 

I might as well just get it over with, so that I can get back to my normal life. 

"Okay, I'll text you when the time comes then." Subaru said with a beaming smile on his face and walked away. 

~

"Rumours will always do the thing." Nozomi said to herself, with a wicked smile on her face. 

She's been watching the student population act up as the rumours she started began spreading. She watched as each and every student lose their immunity to poison and soaked them all up like a sponge with water.

I hate you Nijino Yume. 

I can't believe you're here standing in my way once again. 

It was no secret to Nozomi, she would never try to deny it or cover it up to herself. She was extremely honest when it came to the hatred she holds against Yume. She loathed the fact that Subaru was always paying attention to Yume instead of her. 

She was like a child losing her first lollipop, she desperately wanted it back and she would do anything to dethrone Yume. 

Spreading rumours was just the start.  

[To be continued...]

Written on: 12 October 2019

Sorry for the short chapter, I ran out of time. I've been studying the whole week.

And.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Unfortunately, as much as I tried to finish planning and writing it, I couldn't. So this book has to go on a hiatus until 1 November 2019.

Next update: To be confirmed (For further updates based on the hiatus, please follow me on Instagram strawberry_ensemble. I will only update the confirmed date of the next update date here.)