As Gaio let out a resigned "Mm," the car fell into an eerie silence. The only sound was the soft rustle of tires rolling over the pavement.
Kitagawa nestled against Gaio's shoulder, soaking in the faint warmth radiating from him on one side and the icy chill that seemed to freeze the air on the other. Inside, her inner self was practically doing a victory dance, arms akimbo. She deliberately rubbed her cheek against Gaio's shoulder, letting out a contented sigh. "Mmm, this is so much better." Her eyes flicked triumphantly toward Kaguya Shinomiya's direction.
Kaguya sat with impeccable posture, like a perfectly sculpted ice statue of a beauty. Her signature smile was back in place, its curve precise, her gaze calmly fixed on the back of the front seat, as if utterly indifferent to everything around her.
But beneath that facade, a storm was raging.
A strawberry mark!
That glaring red mark burned into her retinas like a brand. That blonde vixen… Marin Kitagawa!
She actually… they actually…?!
A sour, stinging sensation she'd never felt before mixed with a tidal wave of fury, crashing wildly within the elegant shell she called her composure. Her hands, neatly folded in her lap, had nails digging into the expensive silk of her skirt.
Take him back!
Yes, take him back. Gaio was supposed to be her territory!
Back in the first two years of high school, Gaio—before his memories awakened—was just a quiet, sensitive boy. With his parents often away on business, he was reserved, almost invisible, a mixed-race teen with a touch of melancholy and an unapproachable air. Kitagawa? Sure, they were in the same class, but with her modeling career and obsessive cosplay hobby, she was a well-known beauty who rarely showed up at school.
Until… that third-year school festival.
Kaguya vividly remembered the moment that silver-haired boy with wild, striking hair stepped onto the stage. The entire crowd fell silent in an instant.
It wasn't just the change in hair color. It was as if the sharpness of Enma's blade and the blazing heat of Ryujin Jakka had reshaped him, transforming him completely! His once-soft features turned sharp and profound, exuding an almost magnetic, otherworldly charm.
When he opened his mouth and sang Against the Light, its soul-piercing intensity and his near-perfectly handsome profile set the entire auditorium ablaze with excitement! From backstage, Kaguya watched, her hands clutching the event schedule, tightening with every second.
That silver-haired boy didn't just ignite the passion of the entire school—he melted the "hard shell" of her poised, ladylike persona.
From that moment, Gaio became the school's biggest sensation, even scouted to become a massively popular idol star. Whenever he returned to school, the hallways and classrooms buzzed with girls surrounding him, chattering excitedly, their faces full of adoration.
Kaguya cleverly used her position as student council president to her advantage. Whenever Gaio was at school, she'd rope him into student council duties or find ways to interact with him during various school events. When they discussed issues, his expression softened—not cold, but warm—his gentle words and perfectly timed gestures making her feelings for him grow stronger. Their relationship visibly deepened.
Every time they were together, Kaguya meticulously maintained her refined, elegant demeanor, convinced that when the time was right, Gaio would surely confess to her.
But fate played a cruel joke.
On a sunny day under the campus cherry blossom trees, Marin Kitagawa's bell-like voice rang out: "Gaio, I like you! Be my boyfriend!"
That sudden confession left Kaguya frozen in place. She watched as Gaio, momentarily stunned, then smiled gently and nodded in agreement.
In that moment, Kaguya's world collapsed. All her hopes shattered, and she became the loser left behind by love.
Inside the car, Kaguya's nails dug deeper into her skirt as she recalled those memories, her knuckles whitening from the pressure.
"This time, I'll take Tian-kun back."
The car pulled up smoothly at the school gate. Kitagawa hopped out like an excited fawn, turning back to stick out her tongue playfully at the car, her blonde hair glinting in the sunlight.
Gaio followed at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets. His black school blazer hung open casually, revealing a crisp white shirt underneath. He glanced up at the school gate—the gold-plated sign of Higashitsu Musashi University gleamed coldly in the morning light.
This school was like a fusion of the University of Tokyo and Musashi University from Gaio's previous world, the top-ranked university in this world's Neon Country. Thankfully, it was a comprehensive university with a program for performing arts, which allowed Kitagawa, with her modeling career and striking looks, to enroll.
(The school is purely fictional, no need to overthink it—everything serves the story.)
Otherwise, with her academic struggles, she'd never have made it in.
"Tian-kun," Kaguya's voice came from behind.
She had somehow positioned herself to Gaio's right, keeping a perfectly measured social distance. "There's a student council meeting this afternoon…"
"Hey, hey!" Kitagawa suddenly squeezed in from the left, wrapping her arms around Gaio's. "My boyfriend's taking me car shopping after school, okay?" She emphasized "my" with a playful bite.
Students passing by the gate stole glances at them. This trio was just too eye-catching—a rising idol, the student council president, and the school's famous beauty. Any one of them alone would draw attention.
Kaguya's expression didn't falter. "It's just a routine meeting, it won't take long." She tilted her head slightly to look at Gaio, her lashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes. "It's about planning the school festival…"
"Oh! Speaking of the festival!" Kitagawa cut in, her red eyes sparkling. "Our club's doing a cosplay show. Boyfriend, wanna help out?" She stood on her tiptoes, whispering in his ear, "If you help, I'll give you a reward~."
Gaio's lips twitched. Was this little sun not even trying to be subtle anymore?
Kaguya's gaze darkened. She stepped forward half a step, pulling a gold-embossed invitation from her briefcase. "Tian-kun, my father hopes you'll attend next week's…"
"Wow! What a fancy invitation!" Kitagawa snatched it lightning-fast, flipping it over curiously. "Is this for that Shinomiya family banquet? I heard it's formal attire and all." She flashed a sly grin. "But, like, are you sure you want to invite us 'commoners' to a fancy place like that? I'm worried we can't keep up."
The surrounding students gasped. This was practically a declaration of war!
Kaguya finally cracked. A faint flush—born of anger—colored her pale cheeks. "Kitagawa-san," her voice remained elegant but dropped to icy depths, "the Shinomiya family isn't as lofty as you think! Especially since Tian-kun is…"
"I know, I know~!" Kitagawa waved her off, suddenly grabbing Gaio and bolting toward the school gate. "We're gonna be late! First period's with the devil professor!"
Gaio stumbled as she pulled him along, glancing back at the poised heiress standing still. Kaguya's knuckles were white around her small handbag, but her face had already regained its perfect smile—a smile that was, somehow, utterly chilling.
"Tian-kun," she said in a voice only the three of them could hear, "see you this afternoon."
Kitagawa stuck out her tongue and dragged Gaio faster.
They jogged until they rounded the corner of the academic building, out of sight of the gate and the figure in the dark skirt. Kitagawa screeched to a halt, letting go of Gaio's hand. She turned, her bright but slightly anxious face tilting up to meet his gaze.
The fierce, territorial energy she'd had at the gate popped like a balloon. Her ruby-red eyes flickered with unease. "Tian-kun," her voice softened, tinged with hesitation, "did I… just now, seem a bit… too much? Or maybe… too aggressive?"
Gaio stopped, looking down at her. Her golden hair was slightly messy from running, her cheeks flushed with a healthy glow, but those usually vibrant eyes now held a hint of worry.
This cautious, seeking-approval expression was such a contrast to the fierce little lioness who'd been staking her claim at the gate. Seeing her nervous yet hopeful look, the corner of Gaio's mouth curved up slightly.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached out, his warm hand gently landing on her fluffy blonde hair, like he was soothing a spooked kitten. He ruffled it casually but naturally.
"Seem like what?" His voice carried a lazy hint of amusement, like morning sunlight—gentle, not blazing. "Over-the-top? All bark, no bite?"
He paused, his fingers playing with a stray lock of her hair. "Nah, Marin."
Kitagawa flinched slightly under his touch but couldn't help looking up, hanging on to every nuance of his expression.
"Just now," Gaio's gaze locked onto her clear red eyes, his tone steady and certain, "you were just guarding what's yours."
There was no blame in his eyes—just understanding and an almost indulgent warmth.
"Guarding… what's mine?" Kitagawa blinked, the phrase rippling through her like a pebble dropped in a lake.
She mulled it over quietly, and the unease in her heart melted away like mist under sunlight. The phrase was blunt, almost childish, but it hit the nail on the head, capturing her deepest truth—she was protecting what mattered most to her! A spark of clarity and relief lit up her face.
The next second, she giggled, as if tickled by the phrase and soothed by his attitude. She flashed her sharp little canines, making a playful "rawr" face, as if to say, "Yup, mine!" Her radiant, sun-like smile bloomed again, banishing the last traces of her earlier nerves.
She was back to her vibrant self, even a bit smug from being validated. "Hehe!" She let out a satisfied hum, about to say something else when her nose twitched, like an alert puppy. She leaned in, sniffing hard near his sleeve, her face scrunching up in disgust. "Ugh! Tian-kun, you smell like that soy milk! So sweet and gross! Yuck!"
She fanned the air in front of her nose dramatically, as if the faint sweet scent was some kind of monster.
Gaio sniffed his sleeve, looking a bit helpless. "Do I? I don't smell anything."
"You do! Totally!" Kitagawa insisted, her red eyes glinting mischievously. "It's gotta be from Miss Shinomiya standing too close! C'mon, let's get to class and away from that cloying smell!"
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his wrist again—not dragging this time, but with an eager, triumphant energy, like she was reclaiming her territory. She pulled him toward the classroom.
As Gaio let her lead, his gaze drifted to the large glass windows of the academic building. Outside, near the gate, under the shade of a massive cherry blossom tree, a glimpse of a dark skirt hem flashed briefly before vanishing from sight.