Rumors

Episode 4: “Rumors”

The episode opens with a shot of Renji walking through the crowded hallway, clutching his notebook tightly to his chest. He can hear the whispers. His name mixed with hers. He keeps his head down, but the words still hit him like arrows.

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Background Students (whispering):

“Hey, isn’t that the library nerd?”

“Yeah, I heard Hikari Momose’s been hanging out with him after school…”

“No way, seriously? Why would she be with him?”

“Maybe he’s helping her cheat or something.”

“…Or maybe he’s her boyfriend?!”Renji Aozora

(stiffens, nearly trips over his own feet, muttering under his breath)

“…Boyfriend?! N-no, that’s ridiculous…”

He ducks into the classroom, sliding into his seat. He dares a glance across the room—Hikari is already there, leaning against her desk, laughing with her friends like nothing’s wrong. A magazine with her photo is open on the desk, her friends fawning over it.

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Renji (inner monologue):

“She… doesn’t even look bothered. Maybe she hasn’t heard the rumors yet. That’s good. I don’t want to drag her down because of me.”

Later that day, Renji sneaks into the library again, hoping for peace. But of course—bracelets jingle, strawberry perfume fills the air, and Hikari plops into the seat next to him like always.

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Hikari Momose

(cheerfully)

“Yo, sensei! You look like you just saw a ghost. What’s up with that gloomy face?”

Renji

(fidgeting, voice low)

“M-Momose-san… maybe you shouldn’t come here so often. People are… starting to talk.”Hikari

(blinks, then tilts her head with a sly grin)

“Talk? You mean the rumors? That I’ve been hanging out with a nerdy manga boy?”

Renji

(hunches, mortified)

“…Y-you heard.”

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Hikari

(leans forward across the desk, resting her chin on her hands, smirking)

“Of course I did. Half the school’s buzzing about it. Some of ‘em even asked me straight up if you were my boyfriend.”

Renji

(nearly falling out of his chair, whisper-shouting)

“W-what did you tell them?!”

---

Hikari

(grinning wider, eyes mischievous)

“I said, ‘Maybe he is. What about it?’”

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Renji

(completely frozen, glasses sliding down his nose)

“………Eh?!”Hikari

(giggles, flicking his forehead)

“Relax, sensei. I don’t care what they say. People talk about me all the time anyway. If it’s not my hair, it’s my skirt, or my nails, or my modeling. They’ll get bored and move on.”

then, softer, eyes glinting

“…Unless it bothers you that people think we’re close.”

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Renji

(blushing, looking away)

“I-I just don’t want to hurt your reputation. You’re… popular. Beautiful. You don’t need people thinking you’re wasting time with someone like me.”

Hikari

(quiet for a beat, then laughs, tossing her hair)

“Ha! You’re so dumb sometimes. Don’t you get it, Glasses-kun? If I didn’t want to hang out with you… I wouldn’t.”

leans close again, grin widening

“And honestly? Let ‘em talk. Kinda fun seeing their shocked faces when the ‘queen gyaru’ sticks with the bookworm.”

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Renji stares at her, stunned. Hikari beams at him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The scene cuts to the classroom the next day: more whispers, more stares—but Hikari links her arm through Renji’s in the hallway without hesitation, smirking proudly at the gossipers.Renji (inner monologue, blushing furiously):

“…She really doesn’t care… Does that mean… I actually matter to her?”

they walking down the hallway together—her confident and radiant, him flustered but secretly smiling.

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