Chapter 18: They All Snapped. Reina Made an Exam About It. I’m Failing Life.

First period started like normal.

Then Reina stepped up to the podium with a projector, a laser pointer, and a grin that screamed "I enjoy pain."

She clicked the remote.

> SECOND SEMESTER HAREM PLACEMENT TEST

Everyone blinked.

She adjusted her glasses like a villainess.

> "Each girl will take a written, emotional, and practical exam to determine who currently holds the highest romantic compatibility score with Kaito Tenma."

> "You will be ranked. Publicly. Immediately."

I raised my hand. "Can I drop out of my own life?"

"No."

---

Phase 1: Written Test (aka Emotional Suicide)

Questions included:

"What's Kaito's favorite flavor of ice cream?"

"If Kaito was crying, what would you do first?"

"Write a 10-line love letter without using the word 'love.'"

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how much would you sacrifice for him? Explain."

Yuna finished in 10 minutes.

Riko glared at every page like it insulted her.

Airi pulled out a fountain pen, a second pen, and a back-up pen.

Akari?

She smiled and wrote like she was reciting a poem from memory.

I was scared.

---

Phase 2: Practical Test (aka Touch and Die)

Each girl had to do something "romantically impactful" to me.

With Reina and the entire class watching.

---

Yuna's Turn:

She sat next to me. Put a hand on my thigh.

Whispered in my ear:

> "You've never called me cute before. Try it once. I'll behave. Maybe."

My soul combusted.

---

Riko's Turn:

She handed me a lunchbox, looked me dead in the eye and said:

> "Don't die before eating it. You matter. More than I'm ready to admit."

Then turned and left.

The room gasped.

---

Airi's Turn:

She pulled out a photo of me sleeping, placed it on my desk, and said:

> "You're most beautiful when you don't know I'm watching. I treasure that version of you the most."

I short-circuited.

---

Akari's Turn:

She simply leaned in and rested her forehead against mine.

No words.

Just eye contact. Soft. Serious.

Then she whispered,

> "You were always mine first."

I forgot how to breathe.

---

Phase 3: Score Reveal

Reina stood at the board.

Announced the final tallies like an Olympic ceremony.

> 4th Place: Yuna Hoshigawa – "Dangerous charm. High risk. Still chaotic."

3rd Place: Airi Yukishiro – "Terrifying. But oddly romantic. Scored bonus points for trauma."

2nd Place: Riko Hanazawa – "Peak tsundere development. Emotional honesty detected."

1st Place: Akari Mizuno – "High consistency. Childhood bond. Lethal execution."

Reina turned to me.

"You now belong to Akari. Temporarily."

"WAIT WHAT?!"

Akari just smiled and took my arm like a trophy.

The other girls?

They all looked like they were done playing nice.