Unraveled Ties-Chapter 33: The First Lesson Begins

Reiji leaned against the table in the clubroom, arms crossed, watching as Sena sat across from him with a look of absolute confidence. She had been strangely insistent about helping him with this whole "love" thing, and he still wasn't entirely sure why he went along with it.

He sighed. "So? What's the plan?"

Sena smirked. "We start with the basics. First—eye contact."

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Reiji blinked. "That's it?"

"Don't underestimate it," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "Most guys can't even look the girl they like in the eyes for more than a few seconds."

Reiji scoffed. "That sounds dumb."

"Then prove it."

Sena straightened in her seat and met his gaze head-on. Her violet eyes were sharp and unwavering, filled with the same confidence she always carried.

Reiji sighed, locking eyes with her.

At first, it was easy. He wasn't nervous—why would he be? This was just Sena, someone he had bickered with more than anyone else.

But as the seconds stretched on, something strange happened.

He became aware of how intensely she was staring at him. How close they were. The way her expression subtly shifted, her lashes flickering ever so slightly, the faint hint of amusement in her eyes.

His heartbeat picked up.

Wait—what?

Reiji broke eye contact, clicking his tongue in frustration.

Sena smirked. "You lost."

"Tch. That was just—"

"—a fluke?" She leaned back, clearly enjoying herself. "That's what they all say."

Reiji rubbed his temple. "This is stupid."

Sena chuckled. "That's what I thought at first, too. But it works. If you want to be able to handle confessing to someone, you need to start with the basics."

Reiji frowned, still skeptical. "And you know all of this because...?"

She shrugged. "Because I know myself. I know I like girls, so something like this is nothing to me. It's impossible for me to fall for a guy, so I can teach you without any weird feelings getting in the way."

Her confidence was absolute.

And for some reason, that annoyed him.

"Then why don't we do it again?" Reiji said, surprising even himself.

Sena raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

He leaned forward. "You're acting like this is so easy. I'll prove I can do it."

Sena smirked. "Alright, then. Round two."

—

Five Minutes Later...

Reiji clenched his fist under the table.

He had lost. Again.

Sena tilted her head. "So? Want to admit defeat now?"

Reiji scowled. "No."

She chuckled. "Good. Because we're doing this every day until you get it right."

Reiji groaned. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

—

Later That Night – At Home

Reiji sat on the couch, absentmindedly staring at his phone. His mind kept replaying the events from earlier.

He didn't want to admit it, but he had never really thought about how important things like eye contact were. It seemed so simple, but the moment he was forced to focus on it, his heart had reacted in a way he didn't expect.

And then there was Sena.

She was ridiculously good at this. Unshaken, confident, and completely unaffected. He couldn't help but admire that about her, even if it annoyed him.

"You're spacing out."

Reiji glanced up to see Misaki standing over him, smirking.

"I'm just tired," he muttered.

"Uh-huh. You've been like that since dinner," she teased. "Haru even asked if you were sick."

Reiji glanced over at his younger brother, who was busy playing with his toys in the corner of the room.

"I'm fine," he said.

Misaki sat down next to him, nudging his shoulder. "Girl problems?"

Reiji sighed. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because it's obvious."

Reiji shook his head. "It's not like that."

Misaki smirked. "Sure, sure."

He groaned, standing up. "I'm going to bed."

Misaki chuckled. "Good night, *lover boy*."

Reiji ignored her, heading to his room.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind drifted back to Sena again.

Tomorrow, they'd do the same thing. Again and again.

He clenched his fist.

He wouldn't lose next time.