TLPSO 03

Episode 3:

The Observation Diary Begins

The perfect ace’s face… and the unguarded expression of a boy I saw in the corner of the gym.

After discovering that extreme duality in Rei Kirishima, my curiosity could no longer be stopped by anyone.

The next day, on my way home from school, I stopped by a stationery store and bought a brand-new notebook. On the cover, with a little flutter in my chest, I wrote these words:

—“Rei Kirishima Observation Diary.”

On the very first page, I recorded what I had witnessed in the gym the day before.
“When showered with cheers from the girls, his movements stiffen.”
“When alone, he lets out a deep sigh with a completely exhausted look.”
(Hehe, how interesting…!)

Just imagining what kind of secrets this notebook would soon hold made my heart race with excitement.

Once I began my observations in earnest, his daily life turned out to be a treasure trove of contrasts.

Before morning homeroom, a group of girls surrounded his desk, greeting him with bright voices—“Good morning, Kirishima-kun!”
He replied coolly, “…Ah,” eyes fixed on his textbook—the perfect Prince of Ice.
But from my seat, I could see under his desk: the hem of his blazer was clenched tightly in his hand.
(He’s nervous…!)
I immediately jotted it down in my notebook:
Observation Record #2: When surrounded by girls, he maintains a calm façade but grips his clothing to endure it.

Third period, Classical Literature.
He was called on by the teacher and read the passage smoothly in that low, steady voice of his. The girls in class were all entranced again. When he finished and returned to his seat, he remained perfectly composed—except for one tiny thing: his walking pace had quickened slightly, as if trying to escape everyone’s admiring gazes.
Observation Record #3: After being in the spotlight, he shows a tendency to leave the scene as quickly as possible.

It was the same when walking down the hall between classes. When a group of girls came from the opposite direction, he quietly shifted to the side—almost blending into the wall—waiting for them to pass.
(Could it be… he’s bad with girls? Or maybe even afraid of them?)

The cruel scribbles I’d seen in that old photo album came to mind. Perhaps his experiences back in middle school were what made him this way.
Thinking that, the “interesting” contrast I’d once found amusing now started to feel… a little endearing.

After school, I sat alone in the clubroom, rereading my now densely filled “Observation Diary.” I couldn’t stop grinning.
The clumsy, timid, and deeply human side hidden beneath that perfect mask—
In this entire school, I was probably the only one who knew about it.
That thought gave me a secret thrill—a mix of pride and the excitement of sharing a hidden secret.

“…Hey.”
A low voice suddenly called out, and my shoulders jumped.
I looked up, and there he was—Rei Kirishima—apparently back at his seat, staring at me with a suspicious expression.
It seemed my goofy smile had been perfectly visible from where he sat.

“What are you grinning about?”
“Eh!? N-no reason at all!”
I hurriedly snapped my notebook shut and forced a smile.

That slightly puzzled look on his beautiful face—furrowed brows and all—
That too, became part of my observation.

(Oh no… this is way too fun!)

And just like that, my secret scoop hunt began in earnest—without anyone knowing.