Walking in the quiet garden path leading to the Venue, Mirai Mori strolled leisurely. A second-year in the Business Department, she was also the proud president of Sakura University's Journalism and Photography Club.
With the evening wind sweeping through her loose hair, she hugged her newest treasure tight to her chest—a Canon EOS R100.
"Finally! After busting my a** on those part-times, I got you," she whispered, eyes gleaming as she looked down at the camera.
She had worked for over a year, juggling two jobs while managing her grades, all for this sleek masterpiece. Her expression, proud and dreamy, suddenly sank into a pout.
"Sigh... Too bad there's nothing good to shoot these days. All this effort, and not a single scoop worth capturing."
Just as she sighed dramatically, her gaze locked onto a familiar figure under the soft glow of a lamppost. Mirai narrowed her eyes, and then her lips parted.
"No way... Hayato Arisaka?"
There he was, one of the most admired guys on campus, casually leaning against a tree, the moonlight shining on his flawless skin allowing it to shine, phone in hand, his blonde hair slightly tousled in the breeze like a scene from a drama. Her reporter instincts kicked in.
"If I can get an interview with him, or even a few pictures, it'll spike the views on the school board site. Maybe even go viral on I-Pipe!"
'He-he, all those girls are gonna wanna watch this, endlessly' Her heart filled with excitement, she could already see it in her mind, the post she's gonna share.
[ Another broken heart by Hayato Arisaka ]
But she understood those fangirls, how could she not when she was looking at that Greek statue looking body, with his blue eyes, and perfectly muscled inverted triangle body.
She quickly held her camera up, adjusting the lens. Her internal fangirl briefly tried to take over.
'Who wouldn't want a piece of that?' she thought, wiping her mouth when she realized she was staring a bit too dreamily.
"Focus, Mori! This is for journalism, not romance!"
As she debated internally, her eyes noticed another figure approaching Hayato—a girl. Short frame, oversized yellow hoodie, slightly trembling... Mirai's reporter brain clicked instantly.
"Oh-ho? A confession? Jackpot."
This wasn't new to Mirai, as the whole Campus knows of the number of girls that ask Hayato.
She raised the camera again, hands steady with anticipation.
'Yes, yes, come on... Just speak louder,' she muttered in her head.
Then, as if on cue:
"WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!"
The girl's voice rang out across the quiet garden. Mirai flinched slightly at the volume, but excitement surged in her veins.
'Boom! That's the headline!' she thought.
But before she could focus again, she heard the unexpected:
"Yes."
Her hands fumbled. The camera slipped but remained hanging from her neck strap.
'Wait. Did he just... say yes?'
Mirai blinked. The legendary Hayato Arisaka... accepting a random confession? Her jaw dropped.
By the time she fully processed what had happened, the girl had walked away, leaving a confused Hayato behind.
Mirai's stunned silence broke into a slow grin.
"This is gold."
*****
Back in the girls' dormitory, Sayu collapsed face-first into her pillow.
The soft sound of Rin's breathing filled the room—her best friend sound asleep, completely guilt-free after dragging her into the dare of the century.
Sayu groaned into the pillow. "Maybe I should demote her from best friend status..."
But then she turned her head slightly and peeked at Rin's peaceful sleeping face. Her glare softened.
"Urgh, why do you have to be cute when you're sleeping..."
Pulling her hoodie tighter, Sayu slipped under the blankets.
'Sigh... What a day,' she thought. 'I really need to get some Talisman to keep all this bad luck away.'
She closed her eyes, ready to escape from reality. But beside her, her phone kept vibrating with relentless notifications. Ding. Buzz. Ding. Again and again.
She ignored it.
'No drama till sunrise,' she prayed.
*****
Monday Morning. Sakura University's Boys' Dormitory.
Hans sat cross-legged on his bed, scrolling lazily through Ding-Dong videos with one hand, the other munching on cereal straight from the box. His roommate Clide suddenly burst in, excitement painted on his face.
"Hans! Dude! You gotta see this!"
Hans raised a brow, still groggy. "What now?"
Clide shoved his phone in Hans' face.
"It's trending on the campus board. Your girl made headlines!"
Hans blinked and stared at the screen.
[CONFESSION COME TRUE?! Hayato Arisaka says YES?!
Is the new girl really Hayato's girlfriend...read more⇲]
Below it, a still frame showed Sayu, in her yellow hoodie, mid-bow. The thumbnail practically screamed drama.
"Wha..."
Clide grinned. "They even have a video. Hayato Arisaka, accepting a random confession! That girl... isn't that your girlfriend? The one from orientation?"
Hans didn't respond. His fingers slowly scrolled through the comments.
[Is she really dating him?!]
[She came outta nowhere!]
[They actually look cute together ngl]
His expression didn't change, but his thumb paused.
"...Sayu."
Only he and God knew what was going through his mind.