Yuzuki's guid to pretending you're rich.

The sharp thwack of a volleyball echoed through the school gym.

A clean spike—straight down.

No one even tried to block it.

All eyes turned to the boy with the crimson hair.

Renji Kurosawa.

His short, sharp red hair spiked up slightly with sweat. His intense eyes gave the impression of a beast always on edge.

His tall frame and naturally glaring expression made even the third years nervous.

“That guy’s terrifying…”

“Even the teachers flinch when he walks past.”

“They say he once knocked out a gang of delinquents behind the school building!”

Rumors swirled around him like flies—none confirmed, but no one dared to ask.

Many students had given him a nickname.

“The Yakuza of Shinomiya High.”

—

Another ball flew into the air.

“Renji! One more!”

He didn’t answer.

He just jumped—slam.

Point scored.

Renji sat at the edge of the gym, wiping the sweat from his brow with a towel.

He didn’t smile. He never did.

His teammate Takamura Riku, a loudmouth second-year, nudged him with his elbow.

“Yo, Renji. You won’t believe what I saw today.”

“…What?”

“Some guy in Class A talking to Haruna-san. Real close too.”

Renji glanced sideways. “…Talking?”

“Yeah, talking. Sharing books. Laughing. Real lovey-dovey vibes, man.”

Renji froze mid-wipe.

Another teammate leaned in, smirking.

“You better confess soon, or that guy’s gonna steal your girl.”

Renji didn’t respond. His grip on the towel tightened, but he stayed silent.

“Come on, should we teach him a lesson?”

“Just enough to scare him off.”

Renji stood up.

“Break’s over,” he muttered and tossed the towel onto the bench.

The group walked down the hallway in a casual V-formation—intimidating without meaning to be.

Everyone moved aside.

Then—bump!

A third-year student rushed around the corner and slammed right into Renji’s shoulder.

“Oi! Watch where you’re go—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

His face turned pale.

He looked up… and met Renji Kurosawa’s deadpan glare.

The third-year dropped to his knees instantly.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see you! Please don’t hurt me! I’ve got a little brother and sister—I’m all they have!”

The hallway fell silent.

Students nearby stared wide-eyed.

“Look… it’s the Yakuza…”

“Isn’t that Renji Kurosawa?”

“He’s bullying a third-year again…”

“Didn’t he put someone in the hospital last year?!”

Renji didn’t say a word.

He just stared coldly…

...then walked past the boy without a sound.

The third-year collapsed in relief.

“I’m alive…”

—

The vending machines outside the old gym clinked and hissed as students lined up for their favorite after-practice drinks.

A click, a thud, and a cold can of black coffee rolled out.

Shouta Ayan pulled it from the machine, popped it open, and leaned casually against a nearby bench. He took a quiet sip, eyes drifting across the courtyard like he was a background character from some European indie film.

Cool. Quiet. Mysterious.

Then came Renji Kurosawa.

With his usual squad of tall, loud, athletic guys stomping behind him like a sports anime entrance.

The tall red-haired volleyball ace walked with hands in his pockets and an expression that could kill mosquitoes on sight.

“Man, that spike earlier was fire,” one guy said.

“Oi, Renji, what do you want to drink?”

“Give me that orange soda,” Renji mumbled.

“I swear, that’s basically sugar syrup—"

But one of them, Kaito, was ahead of the group, and he stopped mid-step.

“…Huh? No way.”

He turned slowly, eyes locking on Shouta.

The guy standing alone, casually drinking coffee like he had no idea the school Yakuza was 10 feet away.

Kaito spun around to the others and whispered, loud enough to hear:

“That’s him. That’s the guy who’s been talking to Haruna-san.”

Renji blinked.

“…Really?”

Kaito nodded fast. “I saw him near the stairs yesterday. Tall, chill… weird vibe. Total competition.”

Renji’s eyebrow twitched.

Without a word, he started walking toward Shouta.

The entire group froze.

“…O-Oi?”

“Kurosawa’s moving in…”

“Oh man, they’re totally gonna fight!”

“Grab your phones—no, wait, don’t, we’ll die!”

Renji’s heavy steps echoed on the pavement.

Shouta looked up slowly, mid-sip.

Their eyes met.

Everyone held their breath.

Renji stopped right in front of him.

He towered over Shouta—or rather, tried to.

But now that they were face to face… they were the exact same height.

Dead even.

Renji narrowed his eyes.

“I need to talk to you.”

Shouta blinked, wiped his mouth with his sleeve calmly.

“…Alright.”

He stood.

Now both stood tall, eyes locked, no fear, no flinching.

One of the volleyball guys muttered behind them,

“Okay, it’s happening—fight! fight! fight!”

But instead—

Renji frowned slightly, looked Shouta up and down.

“…I heard you’re from abroad.”

Shouta nodded. “Yeah. A few places.”

Renji stared another moment… then nodded once.

“…I see.”

And he turned… and walked away.

Everyone stood frozen.

“…HUH?!”

“Wait, that’s it?!”

“I thought you were gonna punch him or something!!”

“Did… Did Renji just lose a fight with eye contact?”

As Renji walked back, he grabbed his can of orange soda, cracked it open—

And hissed when the fizz burst out and splashed on his hand.

“ARGH—Too much pressure…”

He stared at his wet sleeve and muttered:

“This is why I drink water…”

The group stared in silence.

Kaito leaned over to another guy.

“Renji is so scary… yet so tragically uncool.”

—

The sun dipped behind the buildings as school ended, casting long shadows down the quiet street.

As Yuzuki Haruna returned home, she gritted her teeth.

“He’s probably already there… playing video games with Shin like nothing happened.”

Sure enough—

She opened the flower shop door and heard laughter from the living room upstairs.

“I knew it,” she muttered. “It’s time.”

In the living room, Shouta sat cross-legged, controller in hand, casually playing with Shin.

“Got him! Level cleared!” Shin cheered.

Shouta gave a small smile. “You’re getting better.”

Just then—click.

Yuzuki entered the room, arms crossed like a noble lady with a grudge.

“Shouta-kun,” she said, voice serious, “I have a deal to propose.”

Shouta paused the game. “A… deal?”

Yuzuki nodded, eyes blazing with determination.

“You’re struggling with Japanese, right? Well—I’ll help you. I’ll tutor you in reading, writing, and comprehension.”

Shouta blinked. “That would actually be… really helpful.”

“BUT,” she said, pointing a dramatic finger in the air, “in return—you do something for me.”

“…Do something?”

Yuzuki was on her knees, hands clutched in desperation.

“Please, please let me borrow your apartment! Just for one day!”

Shouta raised an eyebrow. “…My apartment?”

Yuzuki looked up, face red.

“I told everyone at school I’m rich and live in a luxury apartment! And have a fluffy purebred dog! I can’t let Miyako and Kanazaki come to my actual house—what if they find out I lied?! They’ll roast me alive!”

Shouta now understood everything.

The drama. The photos. The fake posts.

“…You shouldn’t lie to your friends,” he said plainly.

“I know! But it’s too late!”

“Just ONE DAY! I promise I’ll tell them the truth eventually! Maybe. Someday. Probably.”

Just then, Shin, still holding his controller, chimed in innocently:

“You really shouldn’t lie to your friends, sis.”

Yuzuki turned slowly to her little brother.

Her eyes—dark. Void. Eternal.

“…Shut. Up.”

A chill ran down Shin’s spine.

“O-Oh! I-I think Mom’s calling me! Byeee!”

He vanished into the hallway like a cartoon smoke cloud.

Shouta blinked at the scene, then sighed.

“You’re really hopeless, aren’t you?”

Yuzuki gave him a pitiful, sparkling gaze.

“So you’ll help me?”

Shouta rubbed the back of his neck.

“…Fine. Just one day. But you owe me extra Japanese practice for this.”

“Deal!” Yuzuki leapt to her feet. “Shouta-kun, you are now my hero!”

“You mean, my landlord.”

—

Later that evening, Shouta led Yuzuki up the elevator of the luxury apartment building.

The doors slid open to his floor, and Yuzuki followed him eagerly, practically sparkling with anticipation.

This is it. The holy palace I’ve dreamed of. This is what I pretended to have for months... and now I’m finally standing in it for real.

The door unlocked with a click, and they stepped inside.

“Whoa…”

Yuzuki’s eyes widened.

Everything was exactly how she’d imagined: clean wooden floors, soft ambient lighting, a well-furnished modern interior, a warm living room with organized bookshelves, and a large open kitchen.

“This place is unreal… It’s like stepping into a lifestyle magazine…”

She turned around with excitement and dramatic tears in her eyes.

“I could cry. This is perfect! I’ll totally be able to convince Miyako and Kanazaki—"

GROWL.

Yuzuki froze.

Out from the hallway came a fluffy white blur—small, angry, and stomping with purpose.

“W-White?!”

Shouta’s Samoyed, tail raised and ears alert, stared daggers at her.

And then—bark! bark! bark!

Yuzuki yelped and hid behind Shouta like a cartoon character clinging to a tree.

“D-Do something! He’s going to EAT me!”

Shouta, with his usual calm tone, gently grabbed White’s leash.

“You’re the one who wanted to borrow my life. This is part of it.”

“Not the death part!!”

White kept barking, although he quieted once Shouta scratched behind his ears.

Yuzuki peeked out cautiously.

“He really doesn’t like me…”

Shouta nodded. “Probably sees you as an intruder. Dogs are territorial.”

Yuzuki frowned. “Isn’t there any way I can make him like me?”

Shouta gave a very serious nod.

“I have a foolproof method.”

She blinked. “Really?”

“I lock you and White in a room together. When you come out, you're either friends… or you never come out.”

Yuzuki screamed.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! I don’t want to DIE in a fluffy prison!!”

Shouta ignored her drama and added, casually:

“White’s a Samoyed. Originally from Serbia. They’re bred to survive cold climates, that’s why their fur is thick. Protective by nature. Loyal. Suspicious of liars.”

He stared directly at her.

Yuzuki choked. “T-That was uncalled for!”

“Anyway, since you’re not brave enough for the ‘Room of Friendship’ method, I have a backup plan.”

—

 Later...

White sat alone on the living room rug, tail flicking.

Yuzuki approached cautiously from the kitchen, holding a bowl of dog food like it was a holy offering.

“O-Okay, White-kun… please don’t eat me.”

She gently placed the bowl in front of him and stepped back.

White sniffed it… and wagged his tail once.

Then twice.

Then dug in like he hadn’t eaten in days.

No barking. No growling.

Just crunching.

“H-He’s… eating?”

Shouta stood behind her with arms crossed.

“This plan always works.”

White licked the bowl clean, then looked up at Yuzuki with calm, wide eyes.

He padded over and nudged her leg.

“Can… Can I touch him?”

Shouta gave a slight nod.

Yuzuki raised her hand slowly… then gently patted White’s head.

He leaned into it.

She gasped.

“He’s… soft. And warm. And FLUFFY.”

Within seconds, she was down on the rug, burying her hands in his fur like it was the last pillow on Earth.

“You precious fluffy cloud of love—!!”

White barked softly, tail wagging.

Yuzuki hugged him like a plush toy.

Shouta watched in silence.

“Congratulations. You’ve won him over.”

“And he’s MINE now,” Yuzuki declared dramatically. “From this moment on… White belongs to me!”

—

Everyone at Shinomiya High knows Yuzuki Haruna.

Elegant. Adored. Envied.

She’s the kind of girl who walks through petals as if the world itself wants to romance her.

To the untrained eye, she’s just the “popular girl.”

To me…

She’s the beginning and the end. The reason I wake up. The reason I transferred into this class.

Yuzuki Haruna… the angel who descended to walk among peasants like us…

And I, Ayaka Kanazaki, have a mission.

A secret mission.

To infiltrate her home.

It all began with a whisper.

A casual comment from her friend Airi Miyako.

“I’m so excited to visit your place this weekend and meet your dog, Yuzuki~!”

I was three steps behind them—casually walking.

But inside? Fireworks.

Information had finally dropped.

So she’s finally letting someone into her kingdom?

Then… I’ll just invite myself in too.

Of course, I had to act normal. Play the part.

I shut the door behind me, bolted it, and turned slowly to face the wall.

A shrine.

Photos. Candid shots. School event pictures. Social media printouts.

Yuzuki eating, Yuzuki smile, Yuzuki sneezing, Yuzuki is everywhere…

Yuzuki Haruna, in all her glory, plastered across my walls like sacred relics.

My heart beat faster.

I whispered softly:

“I’m going to know everything about you, my love. Your favorite foods. Your true laugh. The color of your toothpaste…”

I walked up to the center photo—her school photo—and traced it with a single finger.

“Soon… I’ll be in your home.”

And then I remembered…

That day.

When she hugged me from behind.

So sudden. So close.

Her arms wrapping around me.

Her soft—

pressure.

Contact.

Blood.

I touched my nose reflexively.

It was heaven.

But I must never let her know. Not yet.

The world isn’t ready for the real me.

To everyone else, I’m just Ayaka—the slightly odd girl who tags along with the class rep.

But behind this smile… lies a girl with a dream.

And a growing folder titled:

“Haruna Observational Data — Confidential.”

Tommorow… I will enter her house.

And step into her world.

She won’t suspect a thing.