Chapter 16: A New Transfer Student Showed Up. And She Called Me “Kaito-Kun”…

I thought the Harem Olympics were the peak of my suffering.

I was wrong.

Because the moment I walked into class, 10 minutes late, half-awake, and 100% emotionally scarred…

She was standing there.

At the front of the room.

Smiling.

"Nice to meet you, everyone! I'm Akari Mizuno. I just transferred here from Tokyo."

She paused. Looked right at me.

Eyes locked.

And then—

She smiled brighter.

"Ah. Kaito-kun. Long time no see."

The entire classroom exploded.

---

Rewind: Who is Akari Mizuno?

My childhood friend

Moved away in 6th grade

Used to call me "her future husband" as a joke

I thought she forgot about me

Apparently not.

Because now she was sitting next to me, acting like we were still in grade school.

---

Current Situation: Tension Level – Nuclear

Yuna leaned across her desk. "Kaito. Who is she."

Riko narrowed her eyes. "She's lying, right? You don't know her."

Airi pulled out her emergency dossier file and began flipping pages furiously.

"I thought you said I was your first stalker," Yuna added.

"I NEVER SAID THAT."

Akari just smiled at me like she was winning.

"You got taller," she said sweetly. "And cuter."

I died.

---

Lunch Break – The Harem Briefing

We gathered behind the school.

Riko crossed her arms. "She's not joining the group."

Yuna: "We should exile her."

Airi: "I can fabricate evidence."

Kaito (me): "Can I leave my own life?"

Reina appeared from the shadows.

"New competitor confirmed. I'll update the leaderboard."

"THERE'S STILL A LEADERBOARD?!"

"Always."

---

After School – Alone with Akari

We ended up walking home together.

Totally not on purpose. Definitely not because she waited.

She smiled. "So. You've got girls now."

"I wouldn't call it that."

"I would."

Silence.

Then—

"You remember our promise?"

I blinked. "What promise?"

She stopped walking.

"Back in 5th grade. You said if I didn't find a boyfriend by the time I came back… we'd date."

"…I said that?"

She stepped closer.

Eyes playful. Voice soft.

"You did. So… do I qualify?"

I choked on my own soul.

And from across the street…

I saw all three girls watching.

Yuna: shocked

Riko: shaking

Airi: writing "MURDER PLAN V2" in her phone

I'm going to die.

Again.