The next few days passed in a blur of excitement and nervousness. I spent every lunch hour with Erika and her friends, trying to fit into a world I never thought I would be a part of. I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, but Erika always included me in their conversations, making me feel a little more at ease.

One afternoon, as we all crowded around a table in the cafeteria, Erika leaned over and whispered, "Okay, Ryota-kun, we need to make our plan for the school event!" Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and I found myself getting caught up in her excitement.

"Right," I replied, trying to sound confident. "What do you have in mind?"

Hana, a bubbly girl with short black hair and a bright smile, chimed in. "We should practice some couple-y stuff! You know, hold hands, act cute! It'll make it more believable."

I chuckled nervously. "Hold hands? Are you serious?"

Erika nodded eagerly. "It will look natural if we act like a real couple. Plus, it'll help keep the other girls off my back."

Mika, a more reserved girl with glasses, smirked. "Just don't overdo it, or you'll end up actually falling for each other."

The thought made me blush. I shook my head. "No way! It's just acting."

Natsumi, the quiet girl I had a crush on, was sitting a little further down the table. She kept glancing at me and Hana as we talked, and I wondered what she was thinking. I wished I could get to know her better, but whenever I tried to talk to her, the words felt stuck in my throat.

"Okay, let's try it!" Erika declared, breaking my thoughts. She reached over and grabbed my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine. My heart raced. This was real – well, almost.

"Now smile!" she said.

I forced a grin, feeling awkward and yet strangely happy.

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The next few days were filled with rehearsals. We held hands in the hallways, laughed together, and exchanged playful teasing. I found myself enjoying Erika's company more than I expected, but my mind kept drifting to Natsumi. Was I really just pretending, or was there a chance for something more?

The day of the school event arrived faster than I anticipated. I put on my best clothes, a simple button-up shirt that I hoped would impress. My heart raced as I headed to school, thinking about what was to come.

As we entered the school gym, decorated with colorful banners and lights, I felt both excited and nervous. A crowd of students was gathered, chatting and laughing, but my focus was on Erika. She looked stunning in a bright dress, catching everyone's attention as we walked in together, hand in hand.

"Let's just act natural," she whispered, glancing at the many eyes on us. I nodded, trying to ease the tension inside me.

But my gaze lingered on Natsumi, who was standing at the refreshment table with Akira, the new transfer student. They were laughing, and Natsumi looked genuinely happy. A knot twisted in my stomach. I had agreed to this whole charade, but now I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

As the night unfolded, I found myself pulled in different directions. Erika pulled me into games, and we took pictures with our friends. But I couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to be with Natsumi.

During a break, I excused myself and headed toward the refreshment table. Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and walked up to Natsumi.

"Hey, Natsumi!" I said, trying to sound casual.

"Hey, Ryota!" she replied, a smile spreading across her face.

"Uh, I'm just here… getting some punch," I stammered. "How have you been?"

Natsumi smiled, but I could see a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. "I've been good! Just enjoying the event. What about you?"

Before I could answer, I noticed Akira stepping closer. "Ryota, right? Nice to see you hanging out with Erika!" Akira said, flashing me a friendly grin but his tone was slightly challenging.

I felt a surge of anxiety wash over me. "Yeah, we're just… practicing for a project," I mumbled, unsure of how to explain our pretend relationship.

"Looks fun," Akira replied, then turned to Natsumi. "Ready to get back to it?"

Natsumi nodded, but just before she went, she glanced back at me. "Maybe we can hang out sometime, Ryota. I'd like to get to know you better."

My heart raced. "Sure! I'd like that."

As Natsumi walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of happiness and confusion. Here I was, pretending to be something I wasn't with Erika, but my heart was drawn to Natsumi. What was I getting myself into? The night was just beginning, and I could already feel the web of feelings tightening around me.