All eyes were still on Ryan, as if he were a newly discovered exotic animal in the middle of the jungle. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, some discreet, others not so much. In a matter of seconds, he had become the most talked-about guy in school.
And the reason?
Well… apparently, he was dating the Ice Princess.
A feat many had attempted, but all had failed.
"Ahrrr…"
Ryan let out a long sigh as he walked down the hallway, hands stuffed in his uniform pockets, his gaze slightly lowered.
"Damn… I expected some commotion, but not on this level. It feels like I just declared war on the entire male population of the school."
The classroom had turned into utter chaos after the earlier scene. Shouts, exasperation, collective disillusionment. Things only calmed down when the teacher arrived, but even so, Ryan could still feel the burning stares on his back.
"Rika, at least, didn't seem to care…" he mumbled.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, the screen reflecting his still somewhat dazed expression.
"As for Yuno… Well, she hasn't spoken to me since. Jealousy? No fucking way. I'm sure she's just being unbearable as always."
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden memory—Alya's bright blue eyes fixed on him, her little face flushed, but her lips forming a satisfied smile. Not out of embarrassment, not out of uncertainty. She was proud.
Proud to be by his side.
As much as he wanted to be with her now, Alya had to go to the Student Council room to sort out some matters. As for Ryan…
"Hiii ❤️, I want you to come to room 2-A on the third floor during the break, I have a BIIIIG surprise for you heheheeee~ (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)"
Ryan blinked as he reread Masha's message.
He narrowed his eyes, reflecting.
"I… don't remember giving her my number. But I bet Alya gave it to her."
He looked up, facing the staircase ahead. With a lazy movement, he rested his hand on the railing as he climbed the steps at a slow pace.
"A big surprise, huh? If I had to guess… I'd say she got a room for our club. Which would be pretty impressive, considering it's been less than two hours since she went looking for it."
As he climbed, the midday light flooded the third-floor hallway through the wide windows. Golden beams spread across the waxed wooden floor, creating a soft glow in the environment.
It was then that he saw her.
At the end of the hallway, leaning against the large window, a slender silhouette seemed framed by the warm sunlight.
Masha.
The golden rays highlighted her long, slightly wavy hair, which moved gently with the breeze coming through the gaps. The strands shone like hand-sculpted golden silk.
Upon seeing him, she tilted her head with a radiant smile.
"Ah! There you are, Masachika-kun! I was getting anxious, wondering when you would show up!"
A rebellious strand of hair atop her head fluttered slightly, adding a charming touch to her presence.
The elegant, well-fitting school uniform enhanced her graceful figure. The deep red details contrasted with the impeccable white fabric, and the golden buttons on the skirt subtly shimmered with every slight movement she made.
Ryan approached, a small smile appearing on his lips.
"I came as soon as I saw your message. After all, I'm quite curious, you know…"
His eyes wandered for a moment, capturing the way the sunbeams bathed her.
Masha looked… angelic.
It wasn't just beauty—there was something about her in that moment that made the world around seem like a mere backdrop.
Perhaps it was the warm glow in her eyes. Or the delicate smile playing on her lips, as if holding a gentle secret from the world.
Ryan felt a pang of guilt creep into his chest.
"Shit… This is the kind of scene straight out of a light novel—the exact moment the protagonist realizes there's something special about her. Something fate seemed determined to make shine just for him…"
He clenched his teeth.
"Or, in this case, just for me…"
And it was at that moment that tons of guilt piled onto his shoulders as he screamed in his mind.
"BUT DAMMIT, I'M DATING HER SISTER! WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THIS!? FOCUS, RYAN! FOCUS!"
Before he could process further, Masha suddenly grabbed his arm, intertwining her fingers around it with almost childish enthusiasm.
"I worked really haaard to get something special for you! So, at the very least, I demand a little pampering for it!"
Ryan felt his breath catch.
"Okay… It's going to be hard to stay focused." He thought.
Masha, without letting go of his arm, started pulling him towards the room, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I know you have big ambitions for our club, so I chose carefully… There are still a few things to arrange, but I hope you like it."
Her face flushed slightly as she said this, her gaze momentarily averting, as if fearing he wouldn't like the surprise.
Ryan let out a short laugh before replying, his tone excited.
"I'm sure I won't be disappointed!"
And, indeed, there was no way he could be disappointed.
But perhaps he had more to worry about than just the club room…
Masha held the doorknob for a brief moment, her lips curving into a smile full of anticipation before finally opening the door.
What was revealed before Ryan practically made his brain freeze.
A gigantic room stretched out before him, lit by large windows that cast a warm glow on the well-polished wooden floor. Some chairs were stacked in the corner, along with sturdy cabinets and cleaning supplies left somewhat carelessly. The empty space was vast enough for any kind of setup he wanted to build there.
For a few seconds, Ryan just took in the scene, eyes wide. And then, as if his mind had finally processed what he was seeing, he let out the only comment that truly did the situation justice:
"HOLY SHIT!"
The exclamation echoed through the room, his voice loaded with pure shock and excitement. His mouth remained slightly open, eyebrows arched as he slowly turned to absorb every detail of the place.
Masha, who until then had been watching his reaction with a touch of nervousness, let out a shy giggle, distractedly fiddling with a strand of hair. Her voice came out soft, almost hesitant:
"So… Do you like it?"
Ryan blinked a few times, trying to gather his thoughts.
"Masha… This class is…" He spun on his heels once more, now with an enthusiastic glint in his eyes. "Perfect! It's huge, well-lit… We can divide the sections perfectly!"
He was already starting to mentally map out the areas: a corner for meetings, another for planning, maybe even a more relaxed section for brainstorming and socializing.
Masha, satisfied with his response, brought a hand to her chin, adopting a thoughtful tone before commenting, as if dropping a piece of information of little importance:
"Well… About that… I remembered you mentioned the club would have several subdivisions, so…"
Ryan stopped immediately, his attention snapping back to her.
"Wait… There's more!?"
She leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice like a little girl telling a forbidden secret.
"...The two classes next door are ours too."
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Ryan remained silent, processing what he had just heard. He blinked. Twice. His brain rebooted. And then…
"Masha…" He exhaled slowly. "Isn't… Isn't this an abuse of your power as a Student Council member?"
Masha blinked innocently before showing a mischievous little smile and sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Of course not~"
Ryan felt a direct hit to his chest.
"CRITICAL HIT!" He thought, squeezing his eyes shut.
He needed a second to regulate his breathing.
"Shit, I need to stay focused! If I let my guard down now, I'll end up signing my own death sentence without even realizing it! I can't forget I can't turn back time for now, so no funny business, Ryan!"
But before he could organize his thoughts, a shiver ran up his spine.
Suddenly, the atmosphere seemed to grow colder.
A drawn-out tone, heavy with a dark weight, reverberated behind them, resonating like a death sentence whispered on the wind.
"Hello… Masachika Kuze-kyuuun…"
Every hair on Ryan's body stood on end instantly.
"I'm fuckup."
The mere presence of that voice sent a chill down his spine like a blade of ice.
"I've lived through dangerous moments… I've faced life-threatening situations… But nothing—NOTHING—compares to the pure terror I'm feeling right now." He thought with an overly theatrical inner voice.
Soft footsteps echoed on the waxed floor. Rhythmic. Slow. Like a predator approaching its prey.
He felt cold sweat trickle down the back of his neck before mustering all his courage and turning around slowly.
The figure awaiting him there was none other than…
Yuki.
Ryan forced a smile, the kind someone would give upon encountering a wild bear in the forest and trying to look friendly.
"Hiii… Yuki… How nice to see you…"
Each word came out carefully controlled, his expression molded into a mask of serenity.
But Yuki's eyes… Ah, those eyes. They were half-closed, cold and sharp as blades, assessing him from head to toe as if analyzing exactly where she would deliver the fatal blow.
She walked unhurriedly until she stood directly in front of him. Her posture was impeccable, but her shoulders carried an almost invisible tension.
"Masachika Kuze…"
Ryan blinked.
"She called me by my full name."
"SHE NEVER CALLS ME THAT!" He thought, like a strategist trying to predict his opponent's next move.
His breathing grew shallower. This wasn't a good sign.
Yuki tilted her head slightly to the side, which should have been an innocent gesture, but at that moment, looked more like the movement of a possessed doll in a horror movie.
"Some rumors have reached my desk…"
Ryan swallowed hard.
"Oh really? This school is full of gossips, isn't it…" Ryan said with a sarcastic smile.
"So, out of sheer curiosity…" she continued, her tone calm yet laced with venomous sweetness. "I decided to hunt you down to clear up these doubts… personally."
Ryan's brain activated emergency mode.
"I've been interrogated by the police. I've faced supernatural creatures. But nothing—NOTHING—has been as terrifying as this moment… I never imagined my cute sister… could have such an aura." He thought with a deep voice in his mind, as if mentally narrating his own documentary.
He felt her gaze pierce him like blades of ice.
"If I don't choose my words with the utmost caution… I'll die right here." He was really being dramatic in his mind.
Masha, beside him, looked ready to let out an amused giggle at the situation. As if watching a particularly interesting show.
And Ryan?
Well… He just wanted to survive the next five minutes.
__________________
Find these offers on Patreon: patreon.com/ErisNoSeraph
🎯 The Goal: Reach 20 Patreon Supporters (any tier counts!) 📈 Current Status: 4 / 10 supporters (Thank you! ❤️)
🎁 The Reward: Once we hit 20 supporters, daily chapters return right here on Webnovel! 🎉 📖 Every 100 PowerStones OR 5 Reviews = 1 EXTRA CHAPTER!