Chapter 45: Vultures and Fanboys

The chaos at our lunch table was a beautiful, shining beacon for a predator like Haruka. She saw her opportunity. As the lunch period was ending and we were still reeling from the aftershocks of Rina’s confession, she made her move.

She sauntered over to our table, a picture of grace and condescending pity. She completely ignored Rina, Miki, and Hana, her entire focus landing on me with the precision of a sniper.

"Rui-kun," she said, her voice dripping with a fake, syrupy concern. "I couldn't help but overhear. It sounds like you are in a very… complicated situation." She gave Rina a brief, withering glance. "It must be so difficult, dealing with such… intense family members. You seem like a man who is not afraid to break a few rules." Her tone was low, sultry, and unbelievably audacious. "I find that very… exciting."

Rina looked like she was about to spontaneously combust. A low growl emanated from her chest.

But before she could launch a verbal, or possibly physical, counter-attack, an unlikely hero stepped into the fray. Kenji, his brain having finally rebooted after the 'kiss' revelation, saw his chance. The goddesses were in conflict! A power vacuum had been created!

He stood up, puffing out his chest with a newfound, delusional confidence. He struck a pose, one hand on his hip, the other pointing dramatically at Haruka.

"Hime-Hime-sama!" he declared, his voice booming with the passion of a thousand fanboys. "While this poor man is tragically entangled in a web of forbidden sibling romance, allow me to present myself as a far superior alternative! I am Kenji Tanaka, a man of culture, passion, and unwavering devotion! Forget this conflicted hero! Choose me!"

Haruka stopped mid-flirt and turned to look at Kenji as if he was a piece of gum she had just scraped off the bottom of her shoe. Her face contorted into a mask of pure, unadulterated disgust.

"Get away from me, you pathetic little fanboy," she spit, not even trying to hide her contempt.

Kenji was heartbroken. He clutched his chest, a wounded look on his face. "But… my love is pure!"

"And your chances are zero," Miki muttered from the side, not bothering to hide her smirk.

"He is a lost cause, Kenji-kun," Hana added, patting his arm sympathetically. "Some mountains are not meant to be climbed."

Haruka ignored them all. She gave me one last, lingering look, a silent promise of future harassment, and then turned and walked away, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. Rina was fuming, her hands clenched into fists under the table. Kenji was in the throes of a dramatic, unrequited love-fueled despair. And I just wanted the sweet, sweet release of a meteor strike to end my suffering.