"Those days are when you’re not likely to be interrupted?" I said, and he nodded.
"Club activities are usually outside lesson hours, but there’s two periods—Tuesday after lunch, or the last two periods on Friday, which can be used for anything from self-study to Club—you just can’t leave the school grounds. Pick a club that’s flexible about attendance. The nature appreciation club, or the library club, or most of the art ones. Once all of us have completed a challenge, you would score us on which was better. Put aside whichever of us you like more and focus just on the experience. Each first is worth ten points, second is six and third is four. After all the challenges are complete, we’ll total it up, and acknowledge the winner. Then ritually burn the book, and never speak of it again."
"Some of those steps didn’t exactly sound like they’re focused on my experience. Fantasy Costume?"
"I think the idea with that was picking something that made you feel…excited."
He smiled down at me, reminding me that we were standing quite close, and were very much alone. And yet, I didn’t have any real sense that he was likely to try something. If anything, this Rin Laurent seemed only vaguely amused by the situation.
"You don’t seem the type to get involved with a competition like this."
"Ah, well, this started because we overheard a girl talking about us—someone Kyou had gone out with, and I’d pursued briefly the year after. Last year she won a kiss from Bran in a fundraising auction at the school festival, and she was telling her friend that Bran was by far the best kisser. We spent a few days joking about that, but then Kyou said that we should get a definitive answer by blindfolding a volunteer." He shrugged. "We’re very competitive, and none of us would admit we would lose, and matters escalated. Besides…"
"Besides?"
He hesitated, then said: "A year ago Bran had a long-term relationship end. And he…stopped. Didn’t go to class. Didn’t play. Barely ate. For months. We’ve managed to get him showing up for class, and he’s eating, but he still hands in blank exam papers as often as not. Something about Kyou and I making an idiotic list of items for comparison sparked his imagination, and so we’re running with it."
"Sounds like you three have a lot of history."
"We share a great-grandfather," Rin said. "We grew up in the same neighbourhood. Same kindergarten, same schools, same excruciating family events. Same classes, same sports. Same absolute determination to be the one to win, every time, and if we lose, to win the next one." He frowned, glancing at the now empty picnic table. "The important thing is that Bran is finally interested in a new game."
"It’s definitely an original way to make sure someone passes their finals," I said, and was reminded of my own worries on that count.
"Well, I also want to prove my superiority," he said, and for a moment did make me feel a little dangerous.
"Will this place only be used by you three?" I asked, refusing to be flustered.
"No, we’ll occasionally invite other members of the council for meetings. And the gardeners and faculty both have a spare key. The faculty isn’t supposed to come in unannounced, though, and the gardeners usually do their mowing and trimming in the mornings. The access path runs straight past the main teachers' office windows, though, so they have a good idea who comes in and out—by the gate, at least."
"If we’re not going to have anything to do with each other outside this garden, what happens if plans change? Email?"
"Hm. Better not. I have sisters who snatch my phone. Look for something cat-related on the school forums for the moment. And I’ll also show you a secret of the garden."
He turned and headed into the summer house, pressing two places on the shelving above the desk. A small door opened to reveal an empty space.
"Only the senior council members know this is here. It’s where we’ll keep the book, especially after this early lesson in never leaving it about, even when we only think we’re leaving for a moment. We don’t have anything else of value in there." He closed the door, and had me try triggering the hidden latch. "We’ll put our screening results in here next Monday—presuming we can get results that quickly. And then—" He met my eyes. "Then it will be Tuesday and I will kiss you."
"You’re that confident of winning? Not to mention me agreeing?"
"Well, I find that I hope that you will. And I am at least confident of the first battle we three had agreed on."
"Well then," I said, deciding I did want to kiss him. "Good luck."
Two
The first period of my second day at Corascur, and the alphabet had set me up at a double desk in the dead centre of my new Home Room: 12-8. I’d arrived early, around the same time as my short blond desk mate, who introduced herself as Lania Nichols before being drawn off to the windows by friends to exclaim at being in the same form class.
Taking out my tablet, I explored the resources of the school website until a warning beep sounded over the intercom, about five minutes before the hour. The class quieted immediately, even though our teacher hadn’t yet arrived. Orientation had informed me that it was a strict rule of Corascur for the class to put itself in order when the warning sounded, and I reflected on the mixture of freedom and high expectation of my new school, and the likelihood of expulsion if caught indulging in sporting challenges in the student council’s private garden.
When Lania returned to our desk, I gave her a quick smile in return for her apologies, and glanced down at the picture currently displayed on my tablet.
"Are there no girls on the student council?"
"Six, including me," she said, and followed my gaze. "That’s just the executive. There’s ten people on the council this year. Even the Three Kings couldn’t manage everything Corascur gets into during the year."
"Three Kings?"
"No guesses why we call them that. They’ve had the title since they were new to the school. The early rumour was they were all royalty, but that’s not true. They’re just, well…" She flicked her fingers at the picture and said, almost disdainfully. "Resplendent."
The previous night I’d spent some time hunting through the school forums, and found plenty about these three boys. Rich, talented, smart. Considered equable when dealing with most people, but dangerous to cross. Inseparable. Above all, gorgeous.
The picture certainly showed them to advantage. Blazers buttoned and ties straight, they stood with Kyou at the forefront, arms folded and expression serious, with Rin and Bran a step back and to the sides. Rin was smiling with a gentle warmth that did not at all match the person I’d met, while Bran’s eyes were focused somewhere slightly above the camera, giving him the look of a mystic visionary. A sublime, otherworldly creature.
"So, they got in on their looks?" I asked, allowing a hint of disparagement to colour my voice.
"Oh, no. They’re the school’s top students as well. Not to mention excellent sportsmen, with a bucket of talent in the arts. They’re so overendowed with skills and graces they’re almost nauseating." Lania grinned. "Almost."
I remembered Kyou’s beautiful voice: Rin. It’s us.
"Better still, all of them are available this year," Lania continued. "Or, rather, word’s gone around that they’ve temporarily sworn off girls in favour of study. Naturally this has been interpreted as Open Season."
That was hardly surprising. I looked down at the picture again, conflicted. Despite my careless pose when Kyou first raised the idea, I still wasn’t sure I’d go through with it. It had never occurred to me to kiss someone I hadn’t established at least a friendship with, let alone try the rest of the things on that little numbered list.