---
Kota stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
Airi, sitting calmly at the window, didn't react. She simply opened her book and returned to reading as if the chaos of the day didn't concern her.
Emika laughed awkwardly. "Heh… you two really don't get along, huh?"
Suddenly, the clubroom door creaked open again.
A girl walked in, one hand on her hip, her eyes sharp. She let out a loud, annoyed "Tch."
Kota turned. "Huh?"
The girl looked away, clearly frustrated. "I can't believe I'm doing this…"
Her reddish-brown hair shimmered under the light as she flicked it over her shoulder in a dramatic move.
"My name is Rina Amakuze."
Kota raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but no one asked for that."
Whap!
"Ow—!" he yelped as Emika hit his shoulder.
"Don't be rude!"
Rina's cheeks flushed. She turned away again. "I-I know that! I just wanted to… introduce myself properly…"
Emika quickly jumped in, both hands raised in a welcoming gesture. "Nice to meet you! I'm Emika Solara, and this rude guy here is Kota Shinryu." She pointed playfully at Kota. "And that girl sitting there is Airi Kazehana."
Rina gave a slow nod and walked to an empty seat, sitting stiffly.
"So… what brings you to the Service Club?" Emika asked cheerfully.
Rina inhaled deeply. "I… I want to ask my crush out."
Her voice wavered, and her cheeks burned red.
Emika's eyes sparkled. "Waaah! That's so cute!" she clapped her hands. "So who's the lucky guy?"
Rina hesitated, then mumbled, "Kael Aratake…"
Emika gasped. "I've heard of him! He's in Class B, right? Really calm and cool…"
Kota groaned, laying his head on the desk. "Ugh. Love… so dramatic."
Airi closed her book and leaned forward slightly. "So… how can we help?"
"I-I don't know if he's single…" Rina said quickly, her eyes squeezed shut. "And I'm way too nervous to even talk to him!"
A beat of silence.
"I see," Airi said calmly. "You don't want to confess unless you're sure he's not dating someone. That way you won't get rejected."
Rina nodded.
Airi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Have you ever talked to him directly?"
"…No. I get too nervous talking to guys…"
Then suddenly, her voice rose in volume as her embarrassment exploded out:
"I'VE NEVER TALKED TO A GUY BEFORE!!"
The room went silent.
Emika blinked, stunned. "Wait, really?"
Rina looked away, saying nothing more.
Airi sighed. "So… why do you like him?"
Rina nervously poked her fingers together. "U-uh… I liked him since childhood…"
---
🌸 Flashback – Years Ago
A younger Rina hid behind a wall, peeking around the corner.
Kael Aratake, back then just a scruffy kid with messy brown hair, was laughing and playing with his friends. He held a stick like it was a sword, pretending to be a hero.
Suddenly, a dog started barking at a stray cat near the playground.
The cat hissed, and the dog lunged.
Kael dropped the stick and ran.
"Go! Shoo!" he yelled, waving his arms.
The dog stopped, barked one last time, and ran away.
Kael knelt beside the frightened cat. "You okay?"
The cat swiped at him and cut his hand, but he just smiled, patting it gently.
"You're brave too, huh?"
One of his friends gasped. "Whoa, Kael! You're like a real hero!"
From her hiding place, Rina watched with wide eyes, her heart pounding.
---
📘 Back to Present – Clubroom
"…That's why I like him," Rina finished quietly.
Airi leaned back and sighed. "That's… surprisingly valid."
She then turned to Kota. "Hey, Kota."
He looked up groggily. "What now?"
"You're going to be Rina's boyfriend. For two days."
Kota bolted upright. "HUH?!"
Rina's mouth dropped open. "W-What?!"
Airi looked unfazed. "You're nervous talking to boys, right?"
"…Yeah."
"Then date this boy for two days. Practice. If you get used to being around a guy, maybe talking to Kael won't feel so impossible."
Rina looked like her soul left her body.
Kota waved his arms in protest. "Hold on, don't I get a say in this?!"
Airi ignored him. "And if you're still too afraid by then, at least you'll have taken a step forward. Fear doesn't go away until you face it."
"But… but how do I even know if Kael is single?" Rina asked desperately.
"You'll find out eventually. But first—confidence. That's what matters."
She pointed right at Rina. "This is your mission, not just ours."
The room went quiet.
Kota sighed, rubbing his temples. "I literally just wanted to nap today…"
Emika leaned back, grinning. "Heh… Service Club's first romance case, huh?"
Kota groaned. "Why does this feel like a nightmare already?"
Airi opened her book again. "Because you're the only guy in this club. And now… you're the test subject."
Kota banged his head gently on the desk. "This school. This club. My life. Why me…"
Next Time: "Fake Love, Real Embarrassment."
--