"Tha.... That's not what it looks like ," Kai stammered

Michael raised an eyebrow skeptically, glancing back at the incriminating image. "Oh, really?" he countered, "Because it looks pretty clear to me."

"You're gonna have a hard time convincing anyone," he remarked, his gaze fixed on Kai.

"How did you even get that photo anyway " Kai pressed, "Did you follow me?"

"What? Follow you? No, Fuck No," Micheal replied emphatically. "Do you honestly believe that going on a date with one of the most popular—and prettiest—girls in school wouldn't attract attention? This photo is everywhere."

"Come to think of it there were a lot of people in the Cafe" Kai thought "

And for God's Sake It was not a Date!!! " Kai retorted" The place was full and she was the only person sitting alone I didn't ev-"

"Bro, that's not the point," Michael interjected, cutting him off.

"Huh?" Kai looked at Michael, puzzled.

"What actually happened and what people think happened are completely different things," Michael explained patiently. "People love gossip, and the rumors are already starting to spread. If this isn't cleared up, you'll be considered a potential suitor. And trust me, that is NOT a good thing."

Kai's eyes widened in alarm. "A potential what?"

Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair."Listen, Kai, you need to understand the situation here," Michael began, his tone grave. "Rebecca isn't just any girl. She's a Chronoa." "The Chronoas have connections, power, and influence that go far beyond what you or I can imagine. Countless people have their eyes set on her, not just for who she is, but for what her family represents.These individuals will stop at nothing to remove any obstacles in their path, including other suitors like yourself."

"So in other words if you don't clear this up.. You're screwed Man".

A sense of unease settled over Kai as he realized the implications of Michael's words. "Okay, this is bad"

He lowered himself onto one of the beds, his legs feeling weak as he processed all the events that led to this unfortunate situation.

"All I wanted was some damn lunch," Kai muttered with a resigned look.

"Hey, maybe I'm overreacting," Michael stated, trying to comfort his depressed-looking roommate.

"It might not be that bad. By Monday, everyone will probably have forgotten about it already," Michael assured Kai with a confident smile.

"I mean, how bad can it be?"

*******

Monday arrived as classes and classes were about resume, however there was trending topic that overshadowed the usual routine.

Whispers and murmurs swirled throughout the corridors, fueled by the infamous photo of Kai and Rebecca.

"Hey did you see the pic of Kai and Rebecca? "

"Oh my God, they looked soo good together I'm so jealous "

" The people at the cafe that day said they were all over each other, they are definitely a couple"

" I mean, who could blame her? Kai is so hot "

"The bad boy stealing the ice queen's heart? That's straight out of a light novel!!"

The gossip spread like wildfire, making its way through the student body. it became hard to discern reality from fiction. Yet, amidst the storm of rumors, Rebecca remained as calm as ever quietly seated at her desk as if unaffected by the entire thing

Students hesitated to approach her, uncertain of how to broach the subject or what response they might receive. Instead, they resorted to spinning their own tales, weaving narratives of Kai and Rebecca's supposed romance with vivid imagination.

Stolen story; please report.

Just as the chatter reached its peak, Mr. Yu entered the classroom, his presence immediately commanding attention. "Settle down, everyone," he declared, effectively silencing the ongoing discussions.

"Before we proceed, I have some important news to share." But before Mr. Yu could continue, his words were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Kai and Michael, both standing awkwardly at the entrance of the classroom.

"Mr. Blackwell, Mr. Balogun, it's a pleasure to have you join us... albeit a bit late," Mr. Yu remarked, his smile carrying a hint of warning that made Michael swallow a mouthful of saliva.

"Apologies, sir. Rough night," Kai replied, his tone sheepish as he glanced at Michael, who nodded in agreement

"I see. Take your seats, gentlemen. We're about to discuss something important," Mr. Yu instructed, his tone firm as he added

"And let's make sure this tardiness doesn't become a habit, shall we?"

Both Kai and Michael nodded in earnest, well aware of the consequences of crossing their elderly homeroom teacher.

perhaps they were the only people in this class who knew how terrifying Mr Yu truly was As they made their way to their seats, all eyes in the classroom seemed to be fixed on Kai.

the brief interaction with Mr Yu had temporarily made him forget about his present dilemma but the stares snapped him back to reality Kai glanced up to find source of his dilemma and was surprised see to that Rebecca was also looking at him,

For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked before she quickly looked away, Kai didn’t think too much of it as his was mind racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation.

Michael leaned in and whispered " Remember the plan right?, lay low and avoid adding fuel to the fire".

Kai nodded silently as he took his seat

"Now, as I was saying," Mr. Yu continued, finally able to regain control of the classroom, "you will all be participating in your first-ever special exams."

With a press of a button on a small remote, a projector flickered to life, casting a 3D image of a vast landscape onto the wall. The scene depicted several medieval-style buildings covering the terrain, with a river flowing through the landscape, neatly dividing it in two.

"Welcome to the War Games," Mr. Yu announced, his voice echoing through the classroom. The students' attention was immediately drawn to the captivating display before them.

"In this special exam, you will be divided into two teams, with each member carefully selected," Mr. Yu explained, gesturing toward the image projected on the wall. "Each team will be assigned one side of the terrain, divided by the river. And each team will have a designated leader—a king or queen, if you will—whose castle will serve as their headquarters

He paused, allowing the significance of the task to sink in among the students. "The objective of the mission is simple: eliminate as many enemies as you can before the exam is over or to eliminate their king or queen, The elimination of a King or Queen will lead to the instant failure of that team. Mr. Yu continued, his tone serious.

"Your performance in this exam will be graded, with points awarded for various achievements." He glanced around the room, ensuring that every student was paying attention. "You can earn points by taking out members of the opposing team, demonstrating strategic prowess, and exhibiting cooperation with your teammates," Mr. Yu elaborated.

"However, it's important to note that failure to follow the orders of your chosen leader, under any circumstances, will result in a significant deduction of points for both the individual and the team."

"Any questions?" Mr. Yu inquired, his gaze sweeping across the classroom, inviting inquiries from his students. Several hands shot up, eager to seek clarification on the upcoming event. Mr. Yu welcomed the curiosity, knowing that understanding the details of the challenge was crucial for their success.

A boy in glasses, his expression tinged with apprehension, voiced his concern. "When you say 'eliminate,' does that mean we're going to kill each other?"

Mr. Yu shook his head, immediately allaying the boy's fears. "No," he clarified. "The exam will take place virtually, using the V-pods provided by the school. Your mind will be fully engaged in the simulation, while your physical body remains safe and sound. Does that answer your question?"

The boy nodded gratefully, relieved to hear the reassurance. "Good, next question," Mr. Yu prompted, ready to address any further inquiries.

Damian raised his hand. "How will the team leaders be decided?" he asked "When the teams have been selected, the highest-ranked student on each team will be chosen as the king or queen,"

Mr. Yu explained, meeting Damian's gaze with a knowing look. Damian nodded with understanding, a glimmer of ambition flickering in his eyes.

As the second-highest-ranked student in the school, he knew there was a high chance he would be selected as a leader, a prospect that filled him with determination and excitement As the bell rang, interrupting Mr. Yu's speech, he sighed, acknowledging the end of the session.

"Well, it seems our time is up. I'm sure you all have questions," he remarked, scanning the room before continuing. "Rest assured, all the details regarding the special exam will be sent to you promptly. Be prepared for what lies ahead in the coming weeks." Just as he was about to exit the room

Mr. Yu paused, as if struck by a sudden thought. "Oh, one more thing," he added, capturing the attention of the students once again. "Keep in mind that a good performance in these special exams could potentially influence your standing in the school rankings. So, strive for excellence, and who knows, you might just find yourself climbing the ladder sooner than you think."

With that, he nodded to the class before finally stepping out of the room. As the realization dawned on Kai, he realized that this was moment, his opportunity to prove his worth, if he wanted to be number one he has to start with a bang.

the entire class entered an uproar as they began discussing about the war games

Lost in Contemplation Kai was oblivious to someone approaching him until the loud noise of the class gradually began to die down as figure walked by

"Kai" the figure called out, hearing his name he looked up to find Rebecca standing beside his desk

"Can I.... Can I talk to you in private? "