Nova_Verse

Ryo Takahashi, a broke high schooler with a silver tongue, thought he had pulled off the perfect scam—conning a Yakuza boss out of a small fortune. Unfortunately, his gambling addiction and a rigged crane game drained his winnings in less than a week. Instead of getting “dealt with,” the boss gave him a new job: hide a runaway ninja princess in his house… or else.

Help! My Fake Cousin is a Ninja Princess

The next morning, Ryo sat at his desk, enjoying the rare moment of peace before school started. That peace ended immediately when Haruka, his childhood friend, plopped down next to him with an exasperated sigh.

Haruka (smirking): "Ryo, you know… sometimes a girl wishes a guy would notice things."

Ryo (raising an eyebrow): "Notice what?"

Haruka (leaning in slightly): "Like… when a girl likes him."

Ryo blinked. Then blinked again.

Ryo: "Yeah, I bet that must be tough for someone out there."

Haruka (eye twitching): "That 'someone' is you, idiot."

Ryo: "Me? Oh, nah. No girl likes me. I'm broke."

Haruka: "I WILL LITERALLY STRANGLE YOU."

Across the room, Ayane was watching. Her eye twitched. She gripped her pencil so hard it snapped in half.

Ayane (muttering): "Oh? So she thinks she can just flirt with my Ryo?"

At lunch, Ryo sat down with Haruka, completely unaware of how determined she had become.

Haruka (smirking): "Hey, Ryo, do you remember that time we played 'house' as kids?"

Ryo: "Oh yeah, you always made me be the dog."

Haruka: "A-Anyway! You once said if we weren't married by the time we turned 20, we should just marry each other, right?"

Ryo: "Oh yeah, I did say that. Good thing I'll be rich by then and can marry for money instead."

Haruka (slamming her hands on the table): "HOW ARE YOU THIS DENSE?!"

From a nearby table, Ayane was watching. The vein on her forehead bulged. She calmly set down her chopsticks and smiled.

Ayane (dangerous whisper): "Oh, Ryo, dear cousin… you're in for it tonight."

That night, Ryo stretched his arms and let out a satisfied sigh.

Ryo: "Man, what a peaceful day. Time to get some sleep."

Ayane (suddenly behind him): "Oh, Ryo~"

Ryo: "...I don't like the way you just said my name."

Before he could react, Ayane deftly flipped him onto the floor, locking him in a painful submission hold.

Ryo (groaning): "WHY?!"

Ayane (smiling sweetly): "Because, dear cousin, you need to learn when a girl is interested in you."

Ryo: "WHY DOES THIS LESSON INVOLVE PAIN?!"

Ayane: "Because you deserve it~"

She tightened her grip.

Ryo: "OKAY! OKAY! I'LL PAY MORE ATTENTION! JUST LET ME LIIIIVE—"

And so, that night, Ryo learned nothing.

But his bruises told a different story.

Clueless Ryo and a Very Jealous Ninja