The moment Ayane stepped onto campus, chaos followed. Within hours, she had become the most popular girl in school. Her perfect act—sweet, polite, and effortlessly charming—had the entire student body wrapped around her finger.
But no one fell harder than Gouda Takeshi, the school's most feared delinquent.
A towering musclehead with scars from too many street fights, Gouda was known for making teachers cry and sending students to the nurse's office with just a glare.
Yet now?
He was blushing like a middle schooler in front of Ayane.
Gouda (grinning, flexing his arm): "So, Ayane-chan… you got a boyfriend?"
Ayane (tilting her head, smiling): "Oh my, why do you ask?"
Gouda: "Because from today onward, you belong to me."
Ryo, who had been minding his own business, nearly choked on his lunch.
Ryo: "Excuse me, WHAT?!"
Gouda slowly turned to look at Ryo, as if noticing him for the first time.
Gouda: "Oi. Who's this twig?"
Ayane giggled and looped her arm around Ryo's, pressing herself just close enough to make every guy in the room jealous.
Ayane: "Oh, didn't you know? He's my dear cousin~"
The words hit like a bomb.
The cafeteria erupted into shocked whispers.
"Wait, what?! That loser?!"
"How is Ryo related to a literal goddess?!"
"This must be a joke!"
But Gouda heard something entirely different.
Gouda: "Cousin, huh? Then that means…"
He cracked his knuckles, his grin widening into something dangerous.
Gouda: "If I wanna make Ayane mine… I gotta take you down first."
Ryo: "I BEG YOUR PARDON?!"
Ayane leaned in close, her breath warm against Ryo's ear.
Ayane (whispering, smirking): "If you win… I'll let you spank them~"
Ryo: "WH-WHAT?!"
Haruka (spitting out her drink): "PFFFFTTT—"
Misaki (dropping her fork in disgust): "Unbelievable."
The cafeteria fell into dead silence.
Ryo (internally screaming): "AYANE, WHY?!"
By the time the final bell rang, the entire school had already spread the news:
Ryo Takahashi vs. Gouda Takeshi
A fight for dominance, pride, and Ayane's heart.
Ryo: "WHO MADE THIS ABOUT HER HEART?!"
But his complaints didn't matter. The entire school gathered behind the gym, forming a tight circle around the "arena."
Gouda cracked his neck, towering over Ryo like a brick wall with fists.
Gouda: "Don't worry, I won't break you too bad. Just enough to prove I'm the only man strong enough for Ayane."
Ryo turned to Ayane, who stood off to the side, looking completely amused.
Ryo: "A little help here?!"
Ayane (smirking): "Oh, I believe in you, dear cousin~"
Ryo: "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
Gouda charged like a rhino, throwing a punch so hard that the wind alone almost knocked Ryo over.
Ryo dodged by sheer dumb luck, tripping over his own foot.
Gouda's punch missed, smashing into the wall so hard it cracked the brick.
The crowd gasped.
"Whoa! Ryo dodged that like a pro!"
"Is he secretly a martial artist?!"
Ryo, still face-first on the ground, lifted his head. "What the hell are they talking about? That was me falling on accident!"
Gouda growled and swung again. Ryo, in full survival mode, scrambled backward, flailing wildly.
Somehow, his flailing accidentally jabbed Gouda right in the throat.
Gouda (choking): "Ghhk—?!"
The huge delinquent staggered backward, gasping for air. The crowd exploded.
"Ryo countered him in one move!"
"That was insane!"
Ayane (clapping politely): "Ara~ how impressive."
Ryo, still on the floor, just stared. "No. No, that was NOT impressive. That was me trying NOT to die!"
But Gouda misunderstood everything.
He finally caught his breath and grinned.
Gouda: "Damn. You're tough. Guess I gotta try even harder!"
Ryo paled. "HOW IS HE STILL STANDING?!"
As Gouda lunged again, Ryo did the only thing he could think of: he threw his wallet at Gouda's face.
The impact wasn't strong. But when Gouda saw a single ¥100 bill flutter to the ground…
He froze.
His body shook.
Then, to everyone's shock… he bowed.
Gouda: "T-Takahashi… You're not just strong. You're a MAN OF WEALTH?!"
Ryo: "Wait, what? No, I'm broke—"
Gouda: "A TRUE ALPHA! STRONG IN BOTH FISTS AND FINANCE!"
Ryo: "I HAVE LITERALLY NO MONEY."
Gouda grabbed his hand and shook it firmly.
Gouda: "You win, man. I respect you. Ayane's all yours."
Ryo: "WHAT?! THAT'S NOT—"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Ayane smiled knowingly.
Haruka facepalmed.
Misaki stormed off, muttering about 'idiots.'
And just like that, Ryo Takahashi accidentally won his first school fight.
That night, still riding the high of his accidental victory, Ryo actually tried to claim his "reward."
Ryo (grinning): "Alright, Ayane. Time to keep your promise!"
Ayane smiled sweetly.
And then, without warning, she struck a precise pressure point on his neck.
Ryo: "Huh—" THUD.
Ryo collapsed, completely unconscious.
Ayane (smirking): "Nice try, Cousin~"
And with that, Ayane walked off, leaving Ryo drooling on the floor.