The standard seating arrangement was boy, girl, boy, girl but exceptions did happen for one reason or another, this likely being one of them.
So no, they don’t go way back but they were also seatmates? Yuuki knitted his brow. I didn’t think much of their relationship at first but this piece of information, it changes everything. An intricate deductive web that would make Watson pale unraveled within Yuuki’s mind. A bloody, gruesome battle between the seatmate killer and the seatmate breaker has already broken out, and likely concluded as well. Judging by Rio’s demeanor, the victor was plain to see. She fell to the seatmate killer’s wrath, succumbing to her wicked charm. Such was the only reasonable conclusion. It appears the seatmate killer hunts both men and women alike.
“The dreaded seatmate killer...”
“Why are you giving me that face?” Yui feigned complete ignorance.
It was his first time seeing them together, so clearly, they didn’t spend much time in each other’s company.
Yuuki couldn’t help but imagine Rio being called upon to serve as Yui’s secret weapon. Yet another poor casualty. Rio was no doubt merely a pawn in the seatmate killer’s twisted games.
While Yuuki once feared meeting her gaze head on, he now looked at her with pity in his eyes.
“What’re you staring at? Got something to say?” She snarled, her voice strikingly colder than the one she addressed Yui with.
Of course I have something to say, but I can’t just tell Rio she’s under Yui’s influence, not with Yui around. Rio wouldn’t believe my words in her brainwashed state regardless. Yuuki fell deep into thought.
As if sensing something was about to go awry, Yui got up from her seat. “You’re making the scary face again, Rio!” She said as she got behind her and put her arms around Rio’s back, giving her a nice squeeze
“Nyuu?!” Rio let out the cry of an unidentified animal, her cheeks, her ears, her forehead turning pink in real time. “Y-Yui! G-Get off!”
“Relax, relax.” Yui the evil poked her head out, clinging to Rio’s back. “Look, Rio’s not scary, she’s moe!”
“And her face is as blushed as yours.”
“H-Huh? When have I ever blushed?”
“When haven’t you?”
“That’s just hot blood rushing through my veins. Double the power level!” Yui blabbered off some nonsense as she petted Rio’s head, playing with her hair. “Can’t get enough of that silky smooth goodness. I told her to grow it out, you know.”
“Can I try?”
“Stay away.”
I was just joking…
Yui brought her face toward Rio’s hair, sniffing it. “Mmm, what a lovely smell. Jealous yet?”
“Your smell is lovely too, Yui.”
“Pff!” Yui’s face instantly turned a shade of pink to rival Rio’s. “P-Perv! Watch out Rio, he’s got an odor fetish!”
“Why do you know what Yui smells like?” All the color suddenly drained from Rio’s flushed face, an aura so menacing you could almost hear the gogogo’s enveloping her.
Maybe I went just a little too far. Yuuki looked to Yui for help.
“What’re you looking at me for?! You brought this upon yourself!”
Yuuki had been abandoned.
Rio leaped in front of him, protectively bringing her hand out in front of Yui. “Oh, you’ve done it now. Also, what’s with those pity-filled eyes?” Her gaze was antagonistic, brimming with hatred.
Yui inserted herself between the two, frantically shaking her hands in front of Rio’s face. “Rio, you’re doing it again!”
“I don’t like the way he looks at me.”
“He’s a bit of an oddball, you see. Don’t just sit there Yuuki, apologize.”
“Sorry.”
“See? He’s a kind soul at heart. There, there, it’s okay.” Yui pretended to pat Yuuki’s head,
which only made Rio’s face twist even more.
She’s a wild one too... Having sworn to reform Yui, tending to her victims was part of Yuuki’s job. Introducing her to the other casualties might be beneficial.
Yuuki pointed toward the door, where Keitarou and Sonada were presumably spying on them. “Come with me. Your friends are there, waiting for you.”
“Huh?” Rio turned to the door, Keitarou and Sonada promptly taking cover like a bunch of veteran spies. “What friends?”
“The ones over...” Yuuki looked over, only to see Keitarou frantically beckoning him over.
They can sense her menacing aura all the way from there.
“Excuse me.”
A proper plan of action appears to be in order.
Yuuki hunched over, slipping past Yui and Rio, only to be greeted with, “Have you lost it?”
However, the duo promptly exchanged delighted glances.
“Did you see that? Man, what difference a single smile can make.”
“Indeed. She might hate our guts but that smile... certainly packs a punch. If utilized correctly in a carrot and stick approach, even I might bend to her will. She breaks her seatmate’s spirits, reducing them to thralldom; hence the seatmate breaker.”
“I see.” Yuuki nodded.
“Now hold on a second.” Keitarou frowned. “The seatmate breaker? You’re seriously trying to force that? What a talentless, stealing hack, right Yuuki?”
“I think it sounds cool. The seatmate breaker. Has a powerful ring to it, no?”
Keitarou fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose.
They exchanged banter, observing the two from a distance, when Rio suddenly turned their way, making a beeline straight toward them. “What are you staring at? You’re starting to get on my nerves.”
Rio gave each of them a firm glare, settling on Yuuki once more. Yuuki turned toward Sonada, diverting Rio’s gaze to him.
“It appears your luck has run its course, Rio Hanashiro.” The diversion attempt failed but Sonada jumped in front of Yuuki and began monologuing, so it worked out in the end. Sonada approached Rio, a bold smile on his face. “I believe this is our first time meeting? Yes, it is I, Kento Sonada.”
“Who?”
With one word she almost broke Sonada but he persisted nonetheless. “I understand it’s difficult to accept that standing before you is none other than the constant thorn in your side, the top of the grade.”
“Who? You’re in my way.”
Keitarou hastily dragged him out of the way as Sonada still refused to back down. “You heard the woman.”
“I understand it’s difficult to accept that no matter how much you struggle and weep, I’ll always be just out of reach, the top of the grade.”
“Top? You came in fifth last time. Just admit you’re nothing but a filthy otaku already.”
“No, you don’t understand, the seatmate killer threw me off my game! If you sum up all my grades from last year, I’m easily at the top!”
The grade’s top filthy otaku explained when, suddenly, Yui appeared.
“You okay, Rio?” Yui poked her head out from underneath Rio’s shoulder, pressing her body against Rio’s back.
Rio jumped, her stern expression softening. “I-I’m fine. They just got on my nerves a little.”
“Keep them in check, alright?” Yui gazed over everyone as she came in to diffuse the situation. Seemingly weak to Yui’s stare, Sonada and Keitarou looked away. “Okay, bathroom time! Wanna go for a quick piss, Rio?” Yui egged her on.
Rio’s face caught fire. “Y-Yui. How vulgar.”
“Ohoho. Care to join for a wee tinkle, Rio dear?”
“That’s not any better...” Rio wasn’t fully pleased but she went with Yui anyway.
As the two walked away, she shot them one last angry glare.
“Cut. It. Out.” Yui blocked her eyes off, throwing them a smile.
Yuuki found her smile fake, almost like she was forcing it. Keitarou and Sonada, meanwhile, were entranced with the seatmate killer’s smile.
“Not bad. Not bad at all.”
“Indeed. Two beauts, chumming it up.”
The two exchanged nods as they watched Yui and Rio leave.
Yuuki slipped away in their mental absence, finally free to visit the bathroom.