Chapter 8: I Woke Up to War. And All I Wanted Was Toast.

I opened my eyes to the smell of toast.

For a moment, I thought life was good.

Then I heard arguing. Loud. Female. Familiar.

I rolled over and saw…

Yuna. Airi. And Riko.In my room.At the same time.Screaming.

Five Minutes Earlier…

Yuna had let herself in (again).Airi had hacked the doorbell camera.Riko had "coincidentally" walked by with breakfast.

They met in the hallway.

It did not go well.

Now

I sat up in bed.

"…What's going on?"

Riko pointed a spoon at Airi. "She followed me here!"

Airi smiled sweetly. "I just sensed danger. Like a dog. Or a girlfriend."

Yuna popped toast in her mouth. "I live here, remember? Technically, this is my house."

"NO IT ISN'T!" I shouted.

Footsteps echoed.

A knock hit the door.

Before I could react, the door opened.

And in walked Reina Mikazuki, the student council president, holding a clipboard like she was about to evict us all.

She glanced around the room.

Four students.

Three girls.

One idiot.

"…This confirms everything," she said calmly. "Kaito Tenma, you are now officially on the school's High-Risk Romantic Activity Watchlist."

"THE WHAT?!"

She handed me a document with a photo of my face… looking extremely flustered.

Underneath was the heading:

"Subject: Tenma, Kaito. Suspected of Harem Formation."

"I AM NOT FORMING A HAREM!!"

"Mm," Reina said, scribbling. "That's what they all say."

The Breakfast Battle

Reina took a seat.

Yuna sat beside her.

Riko pulled up a chair.

Airi sat directly across from me, lunchbox already open.

All four girls locked eyes like it was a poker game.

And I was the pot.

"Which one of us," Yuna asked, biting toast, "do you like the most, Kaito?"

I choked.

"I—I like peace!"

"That's not an option," Airi said, already unwrapping something suspiciously heart-shaped.

Riko leaned forward, blushing but bold. "I've known him the longest. I should get priority."

"Oh?" Reina raised an eyebrow. "Seniority doesn't equal compatibility."

Yuna clapped. "Let's let him decide. C'mon, Kaito. Right here. Right now."

I wanted to jump out the window.

Instead, I stood up, hands shaking.

"I… I like—"

BOOM

The window literally exploded.

A soccer ball flew in and smacked me in the face.

I blacked out.

Later That Day – Nurse's Office

I woke up staring at the ceiling.

Bandaged.

Dizzy.

And somehow…

Handcuffed.

To someone else.

I turned my head slowly.

And saw Riko.

Also handcuffed.

Eyes wide.

Face redder than Mars.

"I swear," she whispered, "I didn't do this."

From outside the curtain, Yuna's voice called cheerfully—

"Oopsie~ I might've dropped the keys."

I'm never escaping.