I tried to ignore her.
I really did.
Weights.
Focus.
Breathing.
Routine.
Down.
Up.
Down—
"…She's still watching," Mina whispered again.
"…I KNOW," I muttered.
She Doesn't Leave
Most times, Himiko Toga would show up, cause chaos, then disappear.
Not today.
She stayed.
Through Kirishima's set.
Through Denki almost dropping a weight on his foot.
Through Midoriya taking notes like this was some kind of scientific experiment.
And through all of mine.
Every rep.
Every breath.
Every movement.
Her eyes never left me.
"…This is getting weird," Kaito said under his breath.
"…It's BEEN weird," I replied.
The Tension Builds
I finished another set and sat up slowly.
Wiping sweat from my face.
Trying—failing—to ignore the fact that she was still right there.
"…You're not tired yet," she said softly.
"…I just finished a set."
She tilted her head.
"…Do another."
"…You're not my trainer."
Mina snorted.
"…She kind of is right now."
"DON'T ENCOURAGE HER—"
Closer… Again
I stood up from the bench.
Stretching slightly.
Rolling my shoulders.
That's when I noticed—
She was closer.
Not far.
Not across the room.
Right in front of me.
"…Toga," I said slowly.
"…Yeah~?"
"…Personal space."
She didn't move back.
Instead—
She stepped closer.
"…You smell like effort," she said, almost curious.
"…That is NOT a normal sentence."
Behind me—
Mina was barely holding it together.
No Time to React (Again)
I took a step back—
She followed.
I opened my mouth—
And then—
She reached up—
Placed a hand against my face—
And pulled me down slightly—
This Time… Longer
She kissed me again.
Not quick.
Not sudden.
Longer.
Long enough for my brain to actually try and process it—
…and completely fail.
System Shutdown (Again… But Worse)
Everything froze.
No portals.
No reactions.
No thoughts.
Just—
error.
And Then… She Leaves
She pulled back slowly.
Just enough to look at me.
Smiling.
"…You didn't run."
I didn't respond.
Couldn't.
"…I like that."
And just like before—
She stepped back—
Turned—
And vanished out the window.
Gone.
Silence… Then Explosion
"…OH MY—" Mina covered her mouth.
Kirishima's face was completely red.
"BRO—?!"
Denki screamed from across the gym:
"AGAIN?!"
Midoriya dropped his notebook.
"…That was significantly longer than the previous instance—"
"…I—"
I stood there.
Frozen.
"…I need—"
Pause.
"…a second."
Mina Does Not Let It Go
Mina immediately rushed over.
"REN—"
"…No."
"REN—"
"…No."
"REN SHE HELD YOUR FACE—"
"I KNOW—"
"She's not even hiding it anymore!"
"…I KNOW."
Kaito's Input
Kaito walked over, arms crossed.
"…Yeah, you're cooked."
"…I am NOT cooked."
"…She literally stopped by just to do that."
"…I HATE THIS CONVERSATION."
Ren's State
I rubbed my face again.
Still warm.
Still… not okay.
"…Why is this my life now?"
Denki ran over dramatically.
"BRO YOU ARE LIVING IN A ROMANCE ANIME—"
"IT IS NOT A ROMANCE—"
I looked toward the window.
Where she left.
"…She's getting more comfortable…"
Kaito nodded.
"…Yeah."
Midoriya added quietly:
"…And more attached."
I exhaled slowly.
"…That's not good."
But deep down—
I knew something had changed.
She wasn't just chasing anymore.
She was staying.
Getting closer.
And next time…
She might not leave so easily.