If there's one thing I've learned since becoming an emotional energy source, it's that normal doesn't last.
I tried to pretend yesterday didn't happen. That a magical girl hadn't climbed into my room, lectured me about "heart-based energy," and declared she'd be dropping by for regular "synchronizations."
But deep down, I knew the peace wouldn't last.
And I was right.
Because the next morning, I walked into class and saw her.
Standing at the front of the room.
Wearing our school uniform.
With a smile that screamed, Yes, I'm doing this on purpose.
"Everyone, please welcome our new transfer student," the teacher said. "Her name is Rika Amamiya. She just moved to the city."
I froze in place. My brain short-circuited.
Transfer student? Transfer student?!
Rika turned to face the class with a perfectly innocent expression.
"Nice to meet you," she said sweetly. "I hope we can all get along."
Some guy in the back whispered, "Whoa, she's cute…"
Another added, "Totally idol-tier."
The girls murmured too. I heard "pretty" and "perfect skin" and even "does she model?"
I was too stunned to speak.
She didn't even glance at me.
Not once.
Like I was just some random student.
Which, technically, I was.
But then—
"Oh! Is that… Yuuta-kun?"
Rika pointed right at me.
"Ahaha! I didn't realize we were in the same class! What a coincidence!"
Every head in the room turned toward me like turrets on a battleship.
I could feel the pressure. The heat. The judgment.
Why was a beautiful transfer student casually calling me by name like we were already friends?!
Kana, who sat next to me, narrowed her eyes.
"Oh. You two know each other?" she asked, voice syrupy-sweet with a hint of threat.
I gulped.
Kana is my… well, it's complicated. We've been classmates since elementary school. She's smart, athletic, popular—and for some inexplicable reason, she actually talks to me.
She usually smiles a lot.
Right now, she wasn't.
"Y-Yeah," I stammered. "Kind of. We met… uh… by accident."
"Mmhm." Kana's smile tightened. "She seems very… at ease with you."
"I wouldn't say that," I lied. "I mean, she did fall on me, but—"
Great job, Yuuta. Lead with the part where she landed on you.
Kana raised an eyebrow. "She fell on you?"
I wanted to crawl into my desk and disappear.
"Yuuta-kun~!" Rika said, skipping over to the empty seat beside mine. "What luck! Looks like I'll be sitting here!"
"That seat belongs to—" I started.
"I changed it with the teacher," she said with a wink. "Said I wanted to sit next to someone familiar."
Kana looked like she was chewing glass.
"Oh," she said. "How fortunate."
And then, for the entire lesson, Rika leaned very close to me.
Too close.
Her elbow brushed mine. Our knees touched under the desk. At one point, she rested her chin on my shoulder while pretending to read my notes.
"Kana's watching," I whispered.
"I know," Rika whispered back.
"Why are you doing this?!"
"Because," she said with a sly grin, "your energy output increases when you're flustered."
I looked at her in horror.
"You're exploiting my stress."
"Don't make it weird."
I sank into my seat, praying for the bell to save me.
At lunch, things got worse.
Kana cornered me behind the vending machines.
"Explain."
I blinked. "Explain what?"
She crossed her arms. "You and Rika. What's going on?"
"N-Nothing," I said. "We just… met outside of school."
"Oh?" Her voice dripped sarcasm. "And how exactly did you two meet?"
"Accidentally. She fell on me."
"Literally?"
"Yes."
She stared at me like I was either the world's worst liar or the luckiest fool alive.
"Yuuta," she said, voice low. "Are you being blackmailed?"
"What?! No!"
"Hypnotized?"
"She's not a witch!"
Kana leaned closer.
"Then why is she acting like you're her boyfriend?"
My brain gave up. I exhaled.
"She's… um… expressive?"
Kana narrowed her eyes.
"You've never been expressive with anyone."
"I'm discovering new sides of myself."
She made a noise that could only be described as a tch.
Then she poked me in the chest.
Hard.
"You better not be doing anything stupid, Yuuta. You're not built for it."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She walked away, ponytail swishing behind her.
I felt like I'd just survived an interrogation.
And then—
"Jealousy," a voice whispered in my ear.
I jumped. "Rika?! How long have you been hiding there?!"
She appeared from behind the vending machine like a ninja with perfect timing.
"She likes you," Rika said smugly.
"No, she doesn't."
"She totally does."
"She really doesn't."
"She definitely does."
I covered my face with my hands.
"I can't deal with both of you today. Please reschedule your chaos."
"No can do," she said. "You're now a part of my synchronization cycle. I need a regular energy boost every 24 hours."
I looked at her like she was an alien requesting a fuel top-up.
"I am not a walking power outlet."
"Actually, that would be convenient."
"Rika!"
She giggled.
That afternoon, we had gym class.
I thought I could catch a break.
Instead, Rika showed up in athletic wear that fit... too well.
And Kana was in full-on rival mode.
We were doing a partner exercise—trust falls.
Naturally, Rika insisted on being my partner.
Naturally, Kana switched partners so she could join our group.
"Okay, Yuuta," Rika said sweetly, standing in front of me. "I'm going to fall. Try to catch me... emotionally."
"Please never say that again."
She fell.
I caught her.
A bit too well.
Our faces ended up very close.
"Nice catch," she whispered, eyes twinkling.
"Please get off."
"Not until I confirm the sync rate."
"Rika."
"Just a second—oooh~ yep. Emotional resonance confirmed."
"I'm resonating with embarrassment!"
Then—
THWAP.
Kana yanked Rika by the arm.
"My turn," she said, voice calm but clearly loaded.
Rika pouted. "Jealousy's a strong emotion, you know."
Kana ignored her and turned to me.
"Don't drop me."
And then she fell.
I caught her.
Less romantically.
But she held the position a little longer than necessary.
Then whispered:
"If you let her do that again, I'll let you hit the floor."
I swallowed.
Hard.
By the time the day ended, I was a wreck.
Emotionally fried.
Socially scorched.
And 100% convinced that if I died, it wouldn't be from a monster—it'd be from magical girl drama-induced cardiac arrest.
But just when I thought it was over, Rika appeared beside me as I packed up my bag.
"So," she said cheerfully, "ready for your after-school calibration?"
"What calibration?!"
She held up her phone. It displayed a pink icon flashing:Energy Low – Sync Suggested.
"You're at 46% compatibility today. I'll need a quick sync to stay fully charged tomorrow."
"I'm going to pass out."
"Don't worry," she said with a wink. "You'll get used to it."
Then she took my hand.
Not a kiss.
Not a hug.
Just a gentle squeeze.
Warm.
Comforting.
I blinked.
My heart did that annoying little skip again.
And for a moment, she wasn't teasing.
She was just smiling.
And I realized—
I might be in serious trouble.