TONK! TONK! TONK!
The loud sound of fists knocking on desks echoed through the classroom.
"Huh…?"
Break time.
"Hey, Reikou! Let's go!"
Ryuuto threw his arm around Reikou's shoulder.
"Gweh—! What the hell are you doing?!" Reikou yelled. "Are you trying to break my shoulder today?!"
Ryuuto smirked. "Hahh! We're friends. Everything is fair in friendship!"
Reikou scoffed. "Oh yeah?"
THWACK!
Reikou punched Ryuuto hard in the face, sending him falling to the floor.
"Oww! What the hell?!" Ryuuto groaned, rubbing his head.
"You started it," Reikou shrugged.
"Oh?" Ryuuto smirked. "Then take this!"
THWACK!
Ryuuto punched Reikou's face just as hard.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Reikou shouted, rubbing his nose.
"Chill, we're friends. Everything is fair in friendship," Ryuuto grinned.
Reikou grabbed Ryuuto's collar. "You bastard—"
"You two want punishment during break time too?"
A cold voice cut through their chaos.
Both of them froze. Slowly, they turned their heads—
Mr. Yinglan was standing behind them, his piercing glare promising doom.
"Ehhh?!?!"
In perfect sync, Reikou and Ryuuto shot up, stood straight, and saluted him like soldiers.
Before Mr. Yinglan could say anything, they bolted down the hallway.
"He almost caught us again!" Ryuuto panted.
"Yeah!!" Reikou sighed in relief.
Ryuuto grinned. "Alright, let's go to the canteen."
"Hah… yeah, sure," Reikou sighed.
Then, he smirked.
"Wait—actually, let's do a challenge."
"A challenge?" Ryuuto raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! A race to the canteen. Loser treats the winner!"
Before Ryuuto could even process the words—
Reikou took off running.
"Oi! What a cheap way to get a free meal!!" Ryuuto yelled.
By the time Reikou reached the canteen, a crowd of students had gathered near the center of the room.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Ryuuto caught up and stood beside him, hands in his pockets.
Then—
A loud voice rang out.
"I-I like you!!!"
The whole canteen fell silent.
Reikou's eyes widened.
A boy was standing in front of Meiyu Sazanomi, his face burning red.
"Wha—"
Before Reikou could react—
SLAP!!
A sharp sound echoed through the canteen.
The entire room gasped.
Meiyu had slapped him.
Reikou stood there, stunned.
"The rumor was true…" he thought.
The boy who got slapped held his cheek, his hands shaking.
"I-I confessed to you… why did you slap me?! Is this real love reword" he stammered.
Meiyu's cold voice cut through the tension.
"Do you even know the meaning of real love?"
"Real… love?" Reikou repeated the words in his mind.
The boy gritted his teeth. "You'll regret this! Sittly girl I see you later" he spat before storming off.
Meiyu ignored him. As she turned to leave, her sharp emerald eyes met Reikou's.
"You. Pervert. Give me a side."
Reikou stepped aside quickly, still in shock.
"She's… different," he thought, watching her walk away.
The canteen remained silent for a few seconds—before the whispers started.
Ryuuto chuckled. "Told you, right? She's not the romantic type."
Reikou gulped.
Reikou and Ryuuto grabbed their food and searched for a table.
"Over here!" Ryuuto called.
Reikou followed him and saw a girl already sitting there. She rested her cheek on her hand, a gentle smile on her face as she enjoyed her meal.
"Hey, Shiori!" Ryuuto greeted.
She looked up and smiled. "Hmm? Oh, hello."
Her short pink hair glowed under the lights, and her bright eyes sparkled like diamonds.
Reikou cleared his throat. "Ah—i'm—"
"No need to introduce yourself," Shiori interrupted with a knowing smile.
"I already know you, Reikou Shion."
Reikou blinked. "Huh?"
"I know all about your three rules."
Shiori giggled. "I'm Shiori Lanfen. We're in the same class."
"Nice to meet you"
She held out her hand.
Reikou shook it hesitantly. "Nice to meet you…"
As they sat down to eat, Ryuuto suddenly smirked.
"So, Reikou… what's next?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're going to confess to Meiyu next, right?"
Reikou choked on his food. "WHAT?! WHO SAID THAT?!"
Shiori leaned in with a mischievous smile.
"Reikou… did you fall in love with Meiyu?"
"N-NO! I mean—MAYBE?!"
"Ooooh~?" Shiori hummed, resting her chin on her hands.
"Come on, we're friends. You can tell us," she whispered playfully.
Reikou froze.
"ONE MORE FRIEND" his inner thought.
His heart pounded.
"I… I don't know," he admitted.
"But when I saw her for the first time…"
He closed his eyes.
And suddenly—
IMAGINE-
He closed his eyes.
The world around him faded.
In his mind, he saw her.
Meiyu stood before him, silent, tilting her head slightly.
Her black, silky hair flowed like a whisper in the wind.
It felt as if the world had slowed down just for her.
"The way her hair moves… it's like the wind itself is afraid to touch her."
He reached out.
Their fingers brushed.
"When I look into her eyes… I feel like I'm sinking."
She slowly raised a hand, touching his neck.
"Her presence… feels like heaven."
"I—I feel something I can't explain."
"I've never felt this before."
"This is—"
"REAL LOVE!"
Ryuuto's loud voice snapped Reikou out of his thoughts.
"HUH?! AM I DREAMING AGAIN?!"
Reikou jolted upright, staring at them.
Shiori giggled.
Ryuuto smirked.
"So, tell us…"
Reikou took a deep breath.
"Real love…"
He looked down at his hands.
"What is real love?"