The classroom buzzed.
It had been 24 hours since Asuka Kamishiro dropped her now-legendary "harem problem" line, and the school group chats were melting.
Some said she was bold.
Some said she was insane.
Ren said nothing.
Because when chaos fights chaos, the safest place is nowhere.
That morning, Asuka walked in late.
No apology.
She strolled to her seat next to Ren, tossed him a canned coffee, and winked.
"You looked dead. I like my men alive."
Ren nearly short-circuited.
Two rows behind, Rika's pencil snapped in half.
Lunch.
It was supposed to be a peaceful bento session.
Until Asuka sat in Rika's usual spot beside Ren.
Rika stood there, arms crossed.
"That's my seat."
Asuka didn't move.
"Oh? I thought seats weren't owned. What are you, a cat marking territory?"
Ren froze.
Yui choked on rice.
Haruka didn't blink.
Emi put down her chopsticks.
Mei… slowly pulled out her book, pretending to read but watching everything.
Rika's smile didn't falter.
But it sharpened.
"You think being loud and hot makes you interesting. That's cute."
"You think being flirty and chaotic makes you original. That's delusional."
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a spork.
Ren whispered, "Please don't fight over me."
They both turned to him.
"Shut up," they said in perfect sync.
After school—
Asuka cornered Ren by the shoe lockers.
"Tell me something, Ren.""Y-Yeah?""If I said I liked you… what would you do?"
He blinked.
"Panic."
She laughed. "Good. You're not boring."
Then she leaned in.
Not a kiss. Not even a touch.
Just a whisper.
"I'm not here to make friends, Ren. I'm here to win."
Meanwhile…
Back in the classroom, Rika was still sitting at her desk.
Quiet.
For once.
She stared at her reflection in her phone screen.
Then whispered to herself:
"She wants war?"
"She just got one."