Aiko Miyazaki's arrival at Sakura High School caused quite a stir. Being a model, she was used to turning heads, but here, the attention was almost overwhelming. She transferred for reasons known only to her, but that didn't stop the students from speculating.

"Everyone, please welcome our new classmate, Aiko Miyazaki," the homeroom teacher announced. Aiko gave a polite bow, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall. She took her seat, feeling the eyes of her classmates on her.

Over the next few days, Aiko quickly made friends. Her friendly nature and genuine interest in others won her many admirers. Among her new friends was Yui, a cheerful girl who loved sharing the latest school gossip.

"Aiko, have you met everyone in our class yet?" Yui asked one day during lunch.

"Not really. It's hard to keep track of everyone," Aiko admitted, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Yui grinned. "I can help with that! Let's start with the basics. There's Kenji, the class president; he's super responsible. Then there's Mika and Sora, they're inseparable and always gossiping. Oh, and you should definitely stay away from Ren Asano."

Aiko's curiosity was piqued. "Why stay away from him?"

Yui's expression turned serious. "He doesn't have a good reputation. Just trust me on this one."

Aiko nodded, though Yui's warning only made her more curious about Ren.

A few days later, Aiko found herself in the washroom during a break. She overheard a conversation between two girls who were discussing Ren.

"I can't believe Haruka is dating Ren now. I thought she knew better," one girl said.

"Yeah, but you know his type. He only goes for girls who have just been rejected," the other replied.

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"But why do they always break up with him so quickly? It’s like a curse."

"Some say he cheats on them, others say he's too demanding. Especially about, you know, intimate stuff."

Aiko listened intently, trying to piece together the mystery. When she left the washroom, she found Yui and decided to ask her directly.

"Yui, can you tell me more about Ren Asano?" Aiko asked casually as they walked to their next class.

Yui sighed. "He's...complicated. People say a lot of things about him, but no one really knows the truth. Just be careful, okay?"

Aiko nodded, though Yui’s words only fueled her curiosity more.

One afternoon, Aiko found herself alone in the school library, and by chance, Ren was there too. She hesitated, but her curiosity got the better of her.

"Asano-san, can I ask you something?" Aiko began, her voice steady.

Ren looked up from his book, his eyes meeting hers. "Sure. What is it?"

"Why do you only date girls who have been rejected?" Aiko asked directly.

Ren's expression remained unchanged. "They're heartbroken and easy targets," he replied coldly.

Aiko's initial curiosity turned into disdain. She walked away, her mind filled with contempt for him. How could he take advantage of girls when they were most vulnerable?

Despite her negative impression, Aiko couldn't stop thinking about Ren. She continued to observe him and his new relationship with Haruka, a third-year student who had recently been rejected. Weeks passed, and contrary to the pattern, they were still dating after two months. This unexpected turn of events made Aiko even more curious.

One day, Aiko followed Ren and Haruka to a park. She watched from a distance as they sat on a bench, deep in conversation. Suddenly, Haruka burst into tears and ran away, leaving Ren sitting alone, looking exhausted.

Aiko lay in bed, her thoughts swirling around the events of the day. Ren's cold explanation of his dating habits and the scene at the park with Haruka left her restless. The rumors didn't add up to what she had witnessed.

Why did Haruka cry like that? What had Ren said to her?

As she stared at the ceiling, Aiko realized she couldn't ignore the mystery surrounding Ren Asano. Her curiosity had now turned into a determination to uncover the truth. There was more to him than the rumors suggested, and she was going to find out what it was.

Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would unravel secrets, challenge her perceptions, and lead her to unexpected discoveries about Ren—and herself. With a resolve to get to the bottom of the mystery, Aiko closed her eyes, already anticipating what tomorrow might bring.

Tomorrow, she would start piecing together the puzzle that was Ren Asano.