The next morning began like any other.
Ren walked into class, half-awake and still unsure what Haruka's words yesterday really meant.
But before he could sit down—
"Ren Takahashi-kun," said a calm voice behind him.
He turned slowly. Standing before him with her arms crossed, glasses perfectly aligned, and posture straighter than a ruler… was Emi Tachibana, the class president.
"Yes?" Ren asked cautiously.
"I need to speak with you. Privately."
Dead silence fell in the room. Even the flies seemed to stop buzzing.
They stood behind the school building.
It felt like a crime scene.
Emi adjusted her glasses, clearing her throat.
"I noticed your recent interactions with the new transfer student and Aizawa-san. They've become… emotionally expressive."
Ren blinked. "Is that a problem?"
"No. But it's… disrupting the class balance."
Ren looked utterly confused. "What balance?"
Emi sighed. "Never mind. That's not the point."
She looked around — once, twice — then leaned in and whispered, "Can I ask you something?"
Ren nodded.
She hesitated.
"…How did you do it?"
"Huh?"
"How did you make them like you?" she asked, her voice still level but slightly… flustered. "You don't stand out. You're not particularly handsome. You just… sit there."
Ren scratched his cheek. "I just… helped her with an umbrella. And Haruka's… always been like that."
Emi studied him for a moment. Then, unexpectedly…
She pouted.
Actually pouted.
"Unfair," she muttered. "I've been trying to act like a normal high school girl for months. I even wore lip balm yesterday. No one noticed."
Ren's brain froze. "Wait… you…?"
She suddenly looked horrified. "Forget what I said!"
"I—uh—"
"Forget it!" she barked, then spun around and marched away, red-faced.
Ren just stood there, stunned. The serious, perfect, sharp-tongued class president…
…had a cute side?
And apparently, she'd been trying to get his attention all along.
Meanwhile, in the classroom…
Haruka glared at Yui.
Yui quietly sipped her water, glancing sideways at Ren's desk.
In the back, Rika Minami — the quiet girl with dyed blue hair and huge headphones — chuckled while watching a live game stream.
She muttered under her breath:
"Tch… amateurs. He's already mine."
Ren Takahashi had no idea…
His everyday life was about to be anything but ordinary.