Upon hearing Guest's voice, he let out a loud sigh, clearly audible. It was as if he were saying, 'Don't talk to me.' After sighing, Ness looked at Guest with an expression of pure annoyance. His eyes were completely devoid of emotion, making his disappointment painfully obvious. He spoke while glaring at Guest.

"...What? Could you not talk to me?"

He shot a glance at Kaisei and the others, as if communicating through eye contact alone. Before, he would have shouted Guest's name and run over the moment he spotted them. The contrast was so extreme he looked like a different person.

The air in the hallway froze for a moment. Surrounding students stopped in their tracks, stealing glances at the scene. The rumor that 3SKM hated Guest had already spread through the grade, but seeing it in person made the drop in temperature palpable.

Receiving Ness's gaze, Yusei grimaced overtly. He remained leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, sparing only a glance for Guest.

"Ah... seriously, you can't read the room at all, can you?"

He scratched the back of his head roughly and pointedly looked away. It was impossible to believe this was the same guy who used to run up like a puppy, shouting 'Oh, it's Guest!'

Kaisei was the only one who didn't respond immediately. His red eyes caught Guest's face for a second, but what surfaced wasn't confusion or anger—it was pure indifference. Tucking his long bangs behind his ear, he whispered something to Ness.

"......Let's go. Being here is just a waste of time."

With that, he turned on his heel. The three backs grew distant. Not one of them looked back.