The bell rang, signaling the end of another school day. Ethan lazily packed his things into his bag, ready to leave and head home.
The weight of his day, and everything that had transpired, hung over him like a dull ache, but he couldn't shake off the nagging thought of what had happened with Aria earlier.
A new challenge was on the horizon, one he hadn't expected. He quickly zipped his bag and stood up, his mind already far ahead, when a soft voice broke his thoughts.
"Ethan…"
He turned his head and saw Selene standing a few feet away from his desk.
There was a softness to her that he hadn't noticed before, her usual cold demeanor replaced with something unfamiliar—something almost shy. She seemed hesitant, her hands twisting together nervously.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, a stark contrast to the usual icy exterior she presented to the world.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Selene?"
His tone was casual, but a hint of amusement played at the edges of his words as he waited for her to speak.
She took a breath and stepped forward, her eyes avoiding his for a moment before she looked up at him, her voice softer than usual.
"I was wondering… if maybe you'd want to grab something to eat? After school, I mean. Just the two of us."
Her invitation was straightforward, but there was a nervous undertone to it, something that made Ethan pause. He couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
Selene, the untouchable girl, was inviting him out? He hadn't expected that, but then again, nothing about this world was ever predictable.
"Grab something to eat with you?" he repeated, leaning casually against his desk. "I didn't know you were into that kind of thing, Selene."
Her cheeks reddened further, and she quickly tried to recover. "I'm just offering. It's no big deal, really…"
Ethan could see the hesitation in her posture, the way her shoulders tensed as she waited for his response.
The way she was clearly trying to hide her nerves only made the whole situation more interesting. His lips twitched upward as he leaned in just slightly, making sure she could feel the weight of his presence.
"Right, no big deal," he said, the words almost dripping with playful mockery.
"It would be nice but I don't really have much time on my hands and I have somewhere to get to, maybe next time"
Selene blinked, clear disappointment displayed on her face. She was quiet for a moment, let out a gasp like she was about to speak but then her pride seemed to reassert itself.
"Okay...next time it is then" she said, her voice firmer now, though still with a slight tremor.
Selene stood frozen in place, her mouth opening and closing, the words she meant to speak hanging on her lips.
Before she could say anything more, Ethan turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, slipping out of the classroom with a casual, almost careless air.
As he stepped into the hallway, he couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction at how easily he'd left her wanting more. Selene was proud, and prideful people didn't beg. But maybe, just maybe, that was what made the challenge more interesting.
He walked down the corridor, already thinking about what he had to do next.
As Ethan walked toward the school gate, he noticed Aria standing by the entrance, casually leaning against the pillar. When their eyes met, she smirked, and he felt a spark of curiosity.
He walked up to her, hands in his pockets. "What are you doing here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Waiting for someone," Aria replied, her voice light, though her eyes gleamed with mischief. "And it's not you."
Ethan smirked, leaning casually against the pillar next to her. "Someone else? I can't imagine anyone else being worth your time."
Aria chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe I'm just seeing how long it takes for you to figure it out."
Ethan grinned. "Trouble's where I thrive. So, what's really going on?"
She looked at him with a more serious gaze. "About earlier, the Iron Fang guys? You should know they don't forget easily."
Ethan shrugged, unphased. "I'm not worried. They're nothing I can't handle."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "You really think so?"
"Why not? I don't back down from anything," he replied, his tone teasing but firm.
She laughed. "I see that." She paused, then added, "But you should be careful. You've got their attention now."
Ethan flashed her a confident grin.
"Good. I prefer to be noticed."
"Just don't get too cocky," she said, half-smiling. "Anyway, thanks for earlier. I'll take that as my warning."
"Anytime," he replied casually. "But don't expect me to get stuck in something I can't handle."
Aria gave him a final look, her smile softening just a bit. "Yeah, yeah. Just... don't get yourself killed."
Ethan chuckled as he turned to leave. "I'll be fine."
As Ethan turned to leave, a sudden screen materialized in front of him, the familiar system notification flashing across it. Before he could focus on reading the message, he collided with something solid, stumbling back a few steps.
He blinked and looked up, only to find himself face-to-chest with a towering figure. The guy was easily a head taller than Ethan, making even his 6-foot frame seem small.
The man's sharp gaze locked onto him, and for a moment, Ethan felt a wave of discomfort. It was an odd sensation, one that he quickly suppressed as he maintained eye contact, unwilling to show weakness.
The man broke the silence, his deep, dominant voice cutting through the air.
"My bad" he muttered, before brushing past Ethan and walking toward Aria.
Ethan watched them exchange pleasantries, their casual conversation making him feel like an outsider in the moment.
He stood there for a second, and as they moved on ahead, he couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. "I pray nothing gets me into trouble with a guy like that…"
Just as the words left his lips, the screen popped back up in front of him, the system notification demanding his attention.
[System notification]
[SSS Harem System New Task]
[Bed a girl]
[Target: Aria — Make her ask you for it]
Ethan froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. I wasn't even trying to start a fight with that guy, but here the system goes, throwing me straight into it.
With a sigh, he muttered to himself,
"Great. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated..."
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