Note to self: standing up to the ultimate lifeforms of a reverse-harem otome game does wonders for your adrenaline, but it is absolute garbage for your survival rating.
The silence in the classroom was so thick you could have sliced it with an overpriced Youka Academy fountain pen.
Ren, the narcissistic corporate heir whose hair defied both gravity and basic physics, looked at me like I was a cockroach that had just demanded a seat at his boardroom table.
"Did you... just talk back to me?"
Ren's voice dropped an octave, dripping with the kind of wealthy offense usually reserved for when the yacht concierge forgets the organic limes.
"I believe I used words, yes,"
I muttered, my internal monologue screaming at me to shut up, but my fingers stubbornly refusing to let go of Haruka's hand.
It was just so soft.
Like a marshmallow that had been blessed by angels.
If I died right here, at least my sense of touch died happy.
"You're a dead man, trash,"
Kyo growled, stepping forward.
His knuckles actually made a cracking sound.
Who does that in real life? Is there a manual these guys read? Reversed Harem 101: How to Sound Aggressively Overbearing Before Lunch.
Before Kyo could flatten my NPC face into the linoleum, Itsuki the deceptively gentle student council president put a hand on Kyo's shoulder.
His smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Now, now. Let's not make a scene. But Korogane-san, was it? I suggest you remember your place. Haruka belongs to us."
Belongs? Excuse me, she is a human being, not a limited-edition anime figurine.
"Actually," a voice like breaking ice cut through the tension from the doorway,
"the only place anyone needs to remember right now is the classroom. The bell is about to ring."
I whipped my head around.
Shizuku Fuyumi
The silver-haired archery captain was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her uniform.
Her expression was completely blank, but her piercing blue eyes were locked dead on me.
Behind her, Kizari Shiori was fanning herself with a high-end lace fan, a tiny, amused smirk playing on her flawless lips.
"Tsk. Whatever. Let's go,"
Ren hissed, throwing me one last look that promised a very thorough, very cliché bullying subplot before turning on his heel.
The three of them swept out of the room like a localized boy-band hurricane.
The moment they vanished around the corner, the entire classroom exhaled.
"Kurogane-san..."
Haruka whimpered beside me.
I realized I was still clutching her hand like a lifeline.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!"
I blurted, instantly letting go and bowing so hard my forehead nearly hit the desk.
"I didn't mean to hold you hostage! Please don't report me to the student council, I don't think my health bar can take another interaction with those guys today."
Haruka's face flushed a deep, beautiful crimson.
She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, looking down at her shoes.
"No, it's not that! Thank you for saving me. No one has ever... stood up to them for me like that before."
Ding!
In my head, a massive, imaginary text box popped up: [HEROINE'S INTIMACY LEVEL: +50. YOU HAVE UNLOCKED: THE 'ACCIDENTAL PRINCE' TROPE!]
"I just... don't like seeing people forced into things,"
I said, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to play it cool while internally doing backflips.
"Anyway, we should probably sit down before the teacher—"
"Kurogane Mei."
A cold shadow fell over my desk. I froze. Slowly, I looked up.
Shizuku Fuyumi was standing right in front of me.
Up close, she didn't even look human.
Her skin was so pale it practically glowed, and she smelled faintly of winter rain and expensive shampoo.
"Y-Yes, Senpai?!" I squeaked, my brain instantly melting.
"You dropped this during your... performance,"
She held out a small, plastic object.
It was my official Youka Academy student ID card.
The photo on it was tragic—I looked like a startled meerkat.
"Oh! Thank you so much!"
I reached out to grab it, but instead of dropping it into my palm, Fuyumi held onto the edge of the plastic, forcing me to look up into her icy gaze.
"You're an interesting one, Kurogane-san,"
Fuyumi murmured, her voice dangerously quiet, meant only for my ears.
"Most people here are terrified of the hierarchy. But you didn't even look at them. You were looking at me."
Oh my god.
She noticed.
The hidden route mentor noticed me.
Beside her, Shiori chuckled, her golden hair shimmering under the classroom fluorescent lights.
"My, my, Fuyumi Don't scare the poor kitten. Though I must agree... it's been a very long time since someone caught my eye."
My heart wasn't just beating it was playing a heavy metal drum solo.
My hands were shaking.
I had starved to death in my past life just to see these two women on a digital screen, and now they were both standing over my desk, looking at me like I was a fascinating new species of bug.
"I... uh... I like archery!"
I blurted out, the most desperate, chaotic excuse my fried brain could construct.
"And traditional noble families! Big fan of both! Huge!"
Shiori laughed out loud, a musical, elegant sound that cured my residual exhaustion.
Fuyumi's lips twitched into the tiniest, almost imperceptible smile before she finally let go of my ID card.
"Is that so?"
Fuyumi said, turning toward the door as the final warning bell rang.
"Then I expect to see you at the archery range after school, Kurogane-san. Don't be late."
As the two background beauties walked away, Haruka leaned over my desk, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and a strange, sudden hint of jealousy.
"Kurogane-san... did you just get invited to the archery club by the school goddess?"
I stared at my ID card, my brain completely short-circuiting.
Dear diary: The good news is, the Yuri route is officially open.
The bad news is, I am 90% sure I am going to faint before fifth period.