Chapter 5: The Spicy and the Cold Girl

The morning on campus felt like any other day. I, Akira Motoyashu, arrived with a single purpose: to study. But it seemed today would be different.

As I took my first steps toward the library, I saw a girl with long black hair standing at the entrance, waiting for me. It was Reina Akamatsu.

"Good morning, Akira-san," she greeted me in her flat, expressionless voice.

"Morning," I replied curtly.

Without much more said, she turned and walked inside. I followed her. For some reason, I felt strange. Usually, if a girl were waiting for me, I'd immediately feel annoyed. But with Reina, it was different. She wasn't loud, wasn't trying to get my attention. She was just there, and her presence didn't bother me.

From a distance, in a corner of the hallway, Ayaka Shirogane saw everything. Her sharp eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wait, what was that?" she muttered, unable to accept what she saw. She watched as Akira, the ice man who always rejected her invitations, accepted Reina's without a second thought.

The fire of jealousy began to burn in her heart.

"Why her? Why is she able to get so close to Akira?!" she whispered, filled with emotion.

Nearby, two other students began to whisper to each other.

"Hey, isn't that Reina Akamatsu, the daughter of that famous doctor?"

"The one, you mean? I heard she's rejected a lot of guys. Even a famous model was turned down by her."

"She's really similar to Akira, isn't she? Cold and aloof."

Those words were like gasoline poured onto the flames of Ayaka's jealousy. Reina, the cold girl who also rejected many men, could now approach Akira. Ayaka refused to be outdone. She had to do something.

"I can do it too! I can be a bookworm too!" she resolved in her heart.

With a ridiculously spontaneous plan, Ayaka ran to the bookstore and bought the thickest, most complicated-looking law book she could find. She would pretend to be a bookworm, just like Reina, to win Akira's heart.

With the book in hand, she walked into the library full of confidence. She had already imagined a romantic scene where Akira would be surprised to see her there, and they would read books together.

But as soon as she entered, all her fantasies shattered.

In Akira's favorite corner, in a very strategic spot, she saw Reina and Akira sitting across from each other. Reina, with her flat expression, was pointing to something in her book, and Akira was nodding. They looked like... they were on an intellectual date.

Ayaka was stunned, intense jealousy burning through her body. Her face flushed, not from embarrassment, but from rage.

Meanwhile, Reina, who sensed a strange aura, turned her head. She saw Ayaka standing at the doorway with a very red face, holding a thick book with a trembling hand. Reina, with her characteristic confusion, simply stared at Ayaka with her cold gray eyes, not understanding what was happening.

"Who is she?" Reina whispered to Akira.

I knew this was the beginning of an even bigger chaos.