*"A heart-pounding reality show where love-hungry high school girls must uncover the truth among handsome liars—can they find real love this season? Tune in every Wednesday at 8 PM for Don't Be Fooled by the Wolf!"*
As the opening jingle faded, the camera cut to host Yokozawa Natsuko's cheerful face—and beside her, Kitagawa Ryo, now a three-time veteran commentator.
"Welcome back to Don't Be Fooled by the Wolf! I'm your host, Yokozawa Natsuko."
"And I'm Ryo, returning as your commentator."
Dressed differently from previous episodes, Ryo wore a light gray sleeveless sweater over a crisp white shirt and neatly knotted tie—the very image of a high school heartthrob. His mere presence conjured sunlit fields, summer breezes, and every cliché of youth.
[PURE BOY ENERGY OVERLOAD!!!]
[JUST PUT HIM IN THE MAIN CAST ALREADY, I BEG.]
Ruby peeked at her brother lounging beside her, engrossed in a book. At home, he'd rolled up his sleeves haphazardly, his white shirt half-untucked. Sensing her gaze, he glanced up:
"What?"
That effortless, sunbeam smile still disarmed her after all these years. Silently, Ruby tapped a like on the exploding comment section.
"Nothing."
"Ah, watching Wolf?" Ryo leaned over, unfazed by his little sister's age-inappropriate viewing habits. He knew her too well—she'd only tuned in for him. "The outfit was the director's idea. Honestly, I've barely worn a high school uniform."
Having grown up in the entertainment industry, Ryo had attended art schools sporadically at best. Yet no institution would deny credentials to rising stars—his diplomas arrived like clockwork.
"It suited you, though."
Ruby nodded approvingly, about to rewind for a frame-by-frame outfit analysis—when another familiar voice chimed in.
"Hello! I'm this week's special guest commentator, Hoshino Ai. Nice to meet you!"
The camera panned right to reveal Ai in a high school girl's uniform: white sweater, red ribbon, blue pleated skirt, radiating youthful energy.
"Tch. Overaged JK," Ruby mentally scoffed.
To maximize Ryo's star power, Wolf had introduced a rotating guest commentator slot this season. Thanks to Saitou Ichigo and Takiguchi Katsuya's maneuvering, Ai's appearance seemed perfectly coincidental—just another interchangeable female guest.
Most dating-show fans saw the gimmick as forced. Commentary chemistry couldn't be faked—past female guests had either derailed conversations or stared at Ryo like starstruck fangirls, leaving audiences disappointed.
After Yokozawa summarized Ai's background, she feigned surprise: "Oh? Ai-chan trained at LALALAI Theatre too? So you and Ryo know each other?"
"We do. When Ai left, our director Kindaichi nearly coughed up blood," Ryo deadpanned, then added smoothly, "But it's been a while."
"Yep, yep!"
Their performance—ex-colleagues catching up—fooled everyone. Ai's fans flooded comments with her idol history; Ryo's stans screenshot his angles. Only a handful noted how well their uniforms paired.
After recaps, Ryo resignedly raised his index finger. The iconic catchphrase was meant to rotate, but after his first delivery went viral as a meme, the duty became permanently his.
(So much for watching Ai whisper Don't be fooled by the Wolf all mysterious-like.)
As he recited the line with thinly veiled this-is-overtime energy, he caught Ai stifling giggles in his periphery. He shook his head imperceptibly.
Though this moment would later be endlessly dissected by their shippers, most viewers now focused on the main show.
Many of Ryo's fans had become Wolf regulars—it was, after all, a top-tier production with elite casts.
This episode opened with a classic double-date: Contestants #1 and #3 (male), #2 and #3 (female) at a café. Mid-meal, Male #3 posed a question:
"If you were eating with someone you liked, where would you want them to sit?"
"If we were dating, I'd want her beside me," Male #1 answered instantly, lips quirking shyly.
The screen froze, cutting back to the commentators.
"Ryo, you've insisted since Episode 1 that Male #1's the Wolf. Thoughts on his answer?" Yokozawa lobbed the question.
"My stance hasn't changed. His reply is suspicious. Personally, I'd always choose sitting opposite someone I like."
Now a Wolf veteran, Ryo elaborated smoothly: "Dining is semi-private. Many people—myself included—feel uneasy eating while being watched. Willingly facing someone, eating comfortably? That is trust."
He capped it with playful flair: "Besides, sitting across lets you admire them and conveniently wipe sauce off their lips."
Ruby could already envision the fanfics tonight: candlelit dinners, Ryo leaning forward with a napkin, tenderly—
(Ugh. I used to hate these illogical fluff pieces… but some writers just get it.)
Inspired, Ruby fetched ice cream, deliberately smudging some on her lips before flopping beside Ryo. "Onii-chan, I can't finish this."
"Leave it. I'll have it later."
Turning a page, Ryo noticed the mess and swiped his thumb along her jawline, chuckling. "You're too old for this."
Ruby's pulse spiked—(Now lick your finger!)—but Ryo just wiped them both clean with a tissue.
Still, it was enough.
She'd always sat across from him at meals.
Her triumph evaporated seconds later.
"I actually agree with Male #1," Ai interjected. "If you like someone, wouldn't you want more contact? Sitting side by side feels natural."
She gestured animatedly: "Facing someone feels… distant? Like you're monitoring their reactions. Sitting together signals closeness—arms brushing, knees touching…"
Ruby's mind flashed to Ai's last visit—
Onscreen, Ai grinned, flashing a peace sign.
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