I stared at Louis, my brain completely short-circuiting. Had he asked me something important? Something about doing... something? With no one around? My imagination kicked into overdrive, filling my head with scenes from every romance manga I'd ever read."I... uh..." I tugged at my skirt hem, unable to form coherent words.

"You weren't listening at all, were you?" He leaned closer, eyes sparkling with amusement.

My throat went dry as the distance between us shrank. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might burst through my chest. His face was inches from mine. I squeezed my eyes shut, every nerve ending tingling. This is it. My first kiss. Just like in chapter three of Love Under the Cherry Blossoms when Kentaro-kun—

"Thank you. It's delicious."

"What?" Delicious, what's delicious? ME? Had it already happened and I didn't feel it? My eyes flew open to find Louis holding one of my octopus sausages, looking pleased.

"Oh... the bento." I forced out a weak laugh, wishing the roof would open up and swallow me whole. "It's nothing special, just convenience store stuff. I bet yours is—"

The words died in my throat when I saw his lunch. It looked like something out of a food magazine – perfectly arranged vegetables, golden-brown meat, everything placed with artistic precision.

"Wow," I whispered.

Louis chuckled. "What? Oh right, where are my manners? It's only fair I let you try mine. I made it myself, though I'm not great at Japanese cuisine yet."

He MADE this? My mind spun. He's too perfect. If he ever tasted my cooking... Oh god, I'd have to commit seppuku to restore my family's honor. Papa would never forgive me for shaming our ramen shop...

"Shizuka, you're spacing out again. Come back."

"Eh? What? No, I wasn't!"

His laugh made my stomach do backflips.

"So," he said, "what would you like to try first?"

I had to stop myself from drooling. I get to eat this amazing gourmet meat and be fed by Louis DEVEREUX himself, but then, my smile dropped as I remembered leaving my chopsticks behind in my rush to escape class.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I'm just a huge klutz. I forgot my chopsticks," I admitted.

"No problem. You can use mine. You're not a germaphobe, right?"

His chopsticks? The ones he just used? This totally counts as an indirect kiss! All the manga heroines say it counts!

Before I could even answer, he picked up a piece of beef. "Okay, Shizuka, say ahh."

I thought to myself, 'Omg, my whole body was hot as the sun. I was sweating from places I didn’t know you could sweat from.'

Just as I opened my mouth, laughter echoed from the stairwell. I froze. Someone was coming. That voice – Mayumi.

I jumped to my feet, clutching my bento like a shield. "Sorry, Devereux-kun, I have to go!" The words tumbled out as I backed away toward the corner of the rooftop.

Louis's face shifted. In one fluid motion, he moved to intercept Mayumi at the door. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart threatening to burst through my chest.

"Hey, Louis!" Mayumi's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Of course, I'd find the new transfer student having lunch on the rooftop by himself. Manga has really gone international."

"Just enjoying the view." His voice stayed casual, but I caught that slight edge—the way he positioned himself between her and where I hid.

"Hmm, is that so?"

I risked a peek. Mayumi bent down where Louis and I had been sitting, examining something. She straightened up with a theatrical hair flip and fixed Louis with a knowing smirk.

"You hotties and your charity cases," she said with an airy wave.

"Charity cases?" Louis's confusion seemed genuine.

"Nothing you have to worry your pretty head with." Her voice dripped honey again.

My shoulders sagged with relief as she sauntered away. Louis gathered his things, and before following her, he looked my way. He winked—both eyes closing in this adorable cat-like gesture—so subtle and graceful it made my heart skip.

I slid down the wall, my legs finally giving out. Sure, I was sad to see him go, but at least Mayumi hadn't caught us. If she'd seen us sharing lunch, sitting so close... I shuddered at the thought.

My hands still trembled, but I couldn't stop smiling. Lunch break is usually my second least favorite time of the day, second only to morning assembly, but today? Pure magic.

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It felt like something straight out of a manga. Actually, now that I think about it, it was almost exactly like Twilight Blossom, that canceled manga I used to read. What a shame it never finished—only a few volumes, and no conclusion. It even had a transfer student. I’m pretty sure I have a copy at home. Maybe I’ll read it again later.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sharp ring of the bell. Crap, the time! I scrambled to my feet, heart racing. Class was starting soon, and I hadn’t eaten a single bite—not my convenience store bento, or Louis’s mouthwatering homemade lunch.

I sprinted into class, sliding into my seat just as the bell rang. My eyes darted to Louis before I could stop myself. No teacher yet—thank god.

I reached into my bag for my supplies and froze. My stomach dropped. Where was it? My Banana Fish pencil case wasn't there. I frantically patted around my desk, hoping it had fallen nearby.

"Looking for something?"

That sugary-sweet voice made my skin crawl. I turned to find Mayumi standing over me, her lips curled in a predatory smile.

Before I could answer, she dangled my bright yellow pencil case in front of me. "Is this what you're looking for? This disgusting boy-love pencil case? The one you left on the rooftop? What were you doing there, fulfilling your 'Make-a-Wish kid' dream?"

The words tumbled out before I could stop them: "Wow, I'm impressed you know Banana Fish is a BL manga. I thought you hated that kind of stuff."

Mayumi's face flushed red. "I'm not here to bond with you, damn it! I know your little secret—that's what matters."

She leaned in close, her breath hot against my ear. "Listen here you little Country pumpkin, I've gotta admit, of all people in this school, in this whole city, you were the last one I thought would try playing this game with me. But no problem. I accept your challenge. And I'll crush your virgin ass."

The pencil case slammed onto my desk. Mayumi flashed me one last vicious smile before strutting away.

My hands trembled as I stared at the pencil case. Mayumi knew about Louis and me on the rooftop. This was bad. Really bad. But underneath my fear, a tiny spark flickered to life. She'd acknowledged me as competition. For the first time in my life, I wasn't just wallpaper anymore.

I couldn't focus on anything else for the rest of the day, torn between dread at what Mayumi might do and this strange new thrill of being seen as a rival.

After classes ended and people started heading to their clubs, I watched Kaito drag Louis off to check out the Judo club, my mind wandering to images of them wrestling, muscles tensing, sweat glistening... I shook my head violently. Get it together, Shizuka!

It was my turn to clean up the class—with Mayumi, of all people. But I knew she wasn’t going to help anyway, so I just started doing it myself. At least it gave me a reason to linger around the class, listen to their conversation, and wait for Kaito to bring Louis back.

While cleaning the windows my eyes wandered over to where Mayumi and her crew hung out at the back of class. Nami Kurosaki and Rika Shionome stuck to her sides like bodyguards—they're supposedly the second and third hottest girls in school, but honestly, that changes based on whatever skimpy outfit they decide to wear that day. They try so hard to be like Mayumi, but there's just something about her they can't copy, even when they hike up their skirts and throw themselves at every hot guy in the hallway.

I caught Nami whispering in Mayumi's ear, probably some juicy gossip about who's hooking up with who. That's just how things work with them—Mayumi gets first pick of all the hot guys, and her little followers get whatever's left. And today’s main attraction was Louis Devereux.

"What do you have planned for your night out with Louis?" Nami asked, twirling her purple-tipped hair.

"I'm going to take him to all the cool, romantic spots," Mayumi announced, her voice carrying across the room. "We’ll share a meal, and if I get 'too tired' to walk, he’ll have to carry me home. Maybe I’ll even stay the night—he does live alone, you know. He came here to ‘discover Japan,’ and I’m going to make sure he does it right—every inch of it.”

Her lackeys burst into laughter, Rika adding with a smirk, "Nice to meet you, Japan."

I froze. What does she mean by 'nice to meet you, Japan?' Oh no... does she mean Louis is going to discover her body?!

My brain short-circuited. The image of Mayumi—her perfect curves, her smug smile, her hands all over Louis—was seared into my mind. I shook my head violently, but it was no use. What was wrong with me?! Why did this fill me with equal parts dread and... excitement?

"Do you think he's ever popped his cherry?" Rika asked, leaning forward.

"Hard to imagine a French hottie like him being a virgin. The French did invent libertinism, after all—they're all about sharing."

Both lackeys cackled. "Well, you have to share with us too someday!"

Mayumi shook her head, smirking. "Sorry, girls, but this one isn’t for sharing. He’s mine alone."

Her gaze locked on me, challenge blazing in her eyes. “Hands off,” her smirk seemed to say.

She's really going to do it... What am I going to do? I don't actually mind if Louis had prior lovers. And even if he does it with her... it won't be that special, will it? No. No. NO. I can't give up this easily. I have to do something.

While my head was in shambles, I heard someone calling for me.

"Hey, you, Tanaka."

I spun around, nearly dropping my cleaning rag. Mayumi stood there, arms crossed.

What? When did she get up and stand that close to me? How long have I been standing in shock holding this cleaning rag, obviously not cleaning, but eavesdropping? Omg, I'm cooked.

"I think you've already done more than half the cleanup. You can scram; we'll finish the rest."

I blinked, certain I'd misheard. Mean girls like her didn't do cleanup duty—that was for background characters like me.

"What's wrong with you? It's just my turn. I'm not doing it for you. wipe that smile from your face," Mayumi snapped, her cheeks flushing as she took the cleaning rag out of my hand.

"What smile?" I glanced at my reflection in the window. There it was—a stupid grin plastered across my face. Was I actually happy she wasn't completely awful?

"Plus, I don't like having you eavesdropping on our conversation," she added. Her lackeys materialized beside her.

"Yeah, don't be a creep, dude," Rika said. "You heard her, go be lame somewhere else. Don't forget your stuff."

The words slipped out before I could stop them: "Wow, so considerate."

Rika's eyes narrowed. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No, no, I promise! It just came out," I stammered.

"See? I told you she has a way of getting on your nerves," Mayumi said.

Rika grabbed my shoulders, steering me toward the door while Nami scooped up my bag. They deposited me outside with my belongings, and Mayumi smirked. "Bye, loser. See ya tomorrow." The door clicked shut.

"See you tomorrow," I mumbled to the empty hallway.

An irritated screech erupted from inside, followed by Mayumi's voice: "Ughh, I can't win with that county pumpkin. She always has to say the most embarrassing things?"

I stood there, processing. Am I really that annoying? But wait—she can't win with me. I annoy her. I'm not powerless. I'll figure out a way to ruin her plans with Louis.