The next day at college, everything looked normal.
Students were walking around the campus, talking with friends, laughing, or heading to their classes. But there was one thing people were whispering about.
Renji.
Some students had seen an expensive sports car near the college gate yesterday, and someone claimed Renji was the one driving it.
"Did you really see him?"
"Yeah, but I don't believe it."
"There's no way he can afford that."
Not far away, Mika was standing with her friends.
She crossed her arms and said confidently, "There's no way Renji bought that car. He's been poor for years."
Her friend nodded. "Maybe he rented it just to look cool."
Another girl laughed. "Yeah, trying to act rich now."
Mika laughed with them, but deep down she still felt uneasy. The way Renji looked yesterday… he didn't seem like he was pretending.
Just then, Renji walked into the campus.
Some students immediately noticed him and started whispering again.
Renji ignored them. He walked calmly across the campus like nothing was happening.
But his eyes were searching for someone.
Soon he saw her.
Near the main building stood Ayame, the girl everyone called the campus goddess.
She was talking with her friends. Like always, some boys were secretly looking at her from a distance.
Ayame was famous in college. Not just because she was beautiful, but because she never showed interest in any guy.
Many boys had tried to get her number before.
Rich guys.
Popular seniors.
Even top students.
But she rejected all of them politely.
Renji looked at her for a moment.
Then he sighed quietly.
"Well… whatever."
He started walking toward her.
Some nearby students noticed.
"Wait… is Renji going to Ayame?"
"No way."
"He's definitely going to get rejected."
Renji stopped in front of her.
Ayame looked at him calmly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Renji said simply,
"Hey."
Ayame tilted her head slightly. "Yes?"
Renji scratched the back of his head a little.
"Can we exchange numbers?"
The students nearby almost froze.
"Did he really just ask that?"
Everyone expected Ayame to reject him like she always did.
But she looked at Renji quietly for a few seconds.
Then she said,
"Okay."
The students around them stared in shock.
"Wait… what?"
Ayame calmly took out her phone.
"Give me your number."
Even Renji looked a little surprised, but he quickly took out his phone.
They exchanged numbers.
Not far away, Mika saw everything.
Her eyes widened.
Yesterday she was telling everyone Renji was just pretending to be rich.
Now the campus goddess herself was exchanging numbers with him.
One of Mika's friends whispered, "Didn't you say Renji was a loser?"
Mika didn't answer.
Meanwhile, Ayame saved Renji's number and looked at him again.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"See you around, Renji."
Renji nodded.
"Yeah, see you."
Then he walked away like it wasn't a big deal.
But behind him, many students were still staring in disbelief.
Mika stood there silently, feeling something she didn't want to admit.
Jealousy.
Renji walked toward the parking area.
Just as he was about to leave the campus, his phone suddenly vibrated.
He frowned and looked at the screen.
A strange message appeared.
[Card System Activated]
Renji stopped walking.
"What…?"
Another message appeared on the screen.
[New Quest Issued]
Objective: Get closer to the Five College Goddesses.
Progress:
Ayame – Contact Established ✔
Reward: Special Card
Renji stared at the screen for a few seconds.
"…Five college goddesses?"
He slowly put his phone back in his pocket.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like things are about to get interesting."
To Be Continued…