Chapter 138: Code Red - Meltdown in Progress

The sound of Kenji hitting the floor (again) is barely audible over the deafening roar of whispers, gasps, and frantic pointing that erupts throughout the classroom the instant Aiwa's lips leave mine. Time, which seemed to stop during the kiss, now snaps back with brutal, whiplash-inducing force.

Aiwa stands frozen for a split second, her face radiating heat like a furnace, her eyes wide with a mixture of "I did it!" triumph and "Oh god, what did I do?!" terror. Then, the full weight of her actions seems to crash down on her. She lets out a small, terrified squeak, whirls around, and bolts out of the classroom, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.

My brain is still attempting to reboot. Kiss. Aiwa. Lips. Public. Rina. Haruka. Oh god.

"HINAMATA RUI!" Rina's voice, no longer a quiet threat but a full-blown Valkyrie battle cry, shatters the remaining vestiges of my composure. She is on her feet, her chair knocked over, her face a mask of incandescent fury. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"I- SHE- IT WAS-" I stammer, utterly incapable of forming a coherent sentence.

Haruka is also standing now, her expression less furious and more… chillingly analytical. She looks at the doorway where Aiwa disappeared, then back at me, her eyes narrowed. "A public declaration," she murmurs, almost to herself. "Bold. Reckless. Emotionally driven. Interesting." She is already dissecting Aiwa's motives.

The rest of the class is in chaos. People are whispering frantically, phones are discreetly being aimed in my direction (presumably to capture my impending doom), and Mrs. Sato, our literature teacher, looks like she is seriously considering early retirement.

"Alright, settle down! Settle down!" Mrs. Sato attempts, her voice barely audible over the din. "The presentation is over! Hinamata-san, Ito-san, perhaps you should…"

But Rina is not listening. She takes a menacing step towards me. "You just stood there!" she accuses, poking me hard in the chest. "You let her kiss you! In front of everyone! Are you trying to humiliate me?!"

"I did not let her!" I protest, backing away. "It was a surprise attack! A lip-based ambush! I was unprepared!"

"He is right!" a groggy voice declares from the floor. Kenji is sitting up, rubbing his head, looking utterly dazed but somehow already processing the drama. "It was a swift and decisive maneuver! A tactical masterstroke in the battle for Rui's heart! Aiwa-chan fights dirty! I approve!"

"Nobody asked for your approval, Kenji!" Rina snaps, momentarily distracted.

This is my chance. Escape. Now.

"I need air," I announce, making a break for the door.

"Oh no you do not!" Rina lunges, grabbing the back of my shirt. Haruka, in a surprising display of teamwork, grabs my other arm. They are not letting me escape the interrogation.

"Class dismissed!" Mrs. Sato squeaks, clearly abandoning all hope of restoring order. The other students scramble to get out, eager to spread the gossip but not eager enough to get caught in the crossfire.

Within seconds, the classroom is empty except for our core group of lunatics. Me, trapped between Rina and Haruka. Miki and Hana hovering nervously near the door. And Kenji, who is now attempting to sketch the dramatic scene in his notebook.

"Okay," Miki says, stepping forward and adopting her 'crisis management' tone. "Deep breaths, everyone. Rina, Haruka, release Rui-kun before you tear his shirt."

They reluctantly let go, but continue to glare daggers at me.

"Now," Miki continues, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Let's analyze the situation objectively. Matsuki-san initiated non-consensual public mouth-to-mouth contact-"

"It was consensual!" Kenji pipes up. "I saw the look in Rui's eyes! He was frozen with romantic shock!"

"I was frozen with PANIC!" I yell.

"-after which," Miki continues, ignoring us both, "she fled the scene. Rina-san and Ito-san are experiencing heightened levels of jealousy and possessiveness. Rui-kun is experiencing… systemic failure."

"Accurate," I mutter.

"Clearly," Miki concludes, "Matsuki-san has significantly escalated the conflict. A response is required. However," she adds sternly, looking at Rina and Haruka, "said response must be strategic, not reactive. Physical violence and public screaming matches are counterproductive."

"But she KISSED him!" Rina protests, looking genuinely wounded underneath the anger.

"Yes," Miki agrees calmly. "A powerful, symbolic gesture. We need an equally powerful, symbolic counter-gesture. Something that reasserts your positions without resorting to base thuggery."

"Like… a better kiss?" Kenji suggests hopefully, waggling his eyebrows. Miki hits him with a textbook.

Haruka taps a finger against her chin, her analytical brain already whirring. "Or perhaps… a demonstration of superior value? Highlight Rui-kun's importance to our endeavors? Publicly claim his time and skills?"

"Ooh, good one!" Rina agrees, her competitive spirit overriding her fury for a moment. "We make him indispensable! We keep him so busy with us that he does not have time for shy, lip-attacking transfer students!"

They are already plotting. My brief moment of panic gives way to a familiar sense of dread. The kiss has not scared them off. It has just motivated them to double down on their own campaigns. My life is not going to get simpler. It is just going to get scheduled.