LOVE?-

Start From Chapter 2-

Before Reikou could react further 

SLAP!!

A sharp sound echoed through the canteen.

The entire room gasped.

Meiyu had slapped him.

Reikou stood there, stunned.

The boy who got slapped rub his cheek, his hands shaking.

“I-I Like you… why did you slap me?! Is this real love reword” he stammered.

"Iam also from A wealthy family i can keep you happy" he continues.

Meiyu’s cold voice cut through the tension.

 “Do you even know the meaning of real love?”

"Love is the things we can't buy by Money" Meiyu yelled.

“Real… love?” Reikou repeated the words in his mind.

The boy gritted his teeth. “You’ll regret this! Sittly girl I see you later” he spat before storming off.

Meiyu ignored him. As she turned to leave, her sharp emerald eyes met Reikou’s.

“Why your face looks like a Donkey. Give me a side.”

Reikou shocked and repeated*DONKEY*in his mind-

Reikou stepped aside quickly, still in shock.

Before the whispers could truly begin, the temperature in the canteen seemed to drop.

A black-suited figure stepped into the doorway, his silver-rimmed glasses catching the cafeteria light. It was Akihiro. He moved through the stunned crowd with swift, proprietary grace, heading directly for Meiyu.

“Miss Sazanami,” Akihiro’s voice was low, cutting through the remaining tension. “Protocol was breached. We need to discuss the immediate damage control for your display of your image”

Meiyu flinched a tiny, nearly invisible movement but her mask quickly hardened. “Understood, Akihiro. We’ll discuss it in the vehicle.”

As Meiyu followed the Handler toward the private exit, Akihiro paused, his cold eyes landing directly on Reikou.

Reikou felt the full weight of the Sazanami empire in that glare. It wasn't hatred; it was the clinical assessment of an obstacle.

Akihiro adjusted his cuff and spoke, not loudly, but with chilling clarity. “Keep your distance, students.  Protocol 1 demands a minimum separation of 0.5 meters from Miss Sazanami. Do not mistake curiosity for opportunity.”

He didn't wait for a reply, simply following Meiyu out.

Reikou stood rigid, the words ringing in his ears. Protocol 1: 0.5 Meters of Isolation. This wasn't a school rule; it was a personal challenge delivered by the gatekeeper.

Ryuuto finally broke the silence. He nudged Reikou. 

“Told you, right? She’s not the romantic type. And now her bodyguard is threatening you.”

Reikou gulped, but the shock was already giving way to determination. If Akihiro defined the rules, Reikou would define the game.

Reikou looked to Ryuuto and wishperd-

"She’s… different,"

As Reikou noticed ryuuto he wishperd in shocking-

"Why - What are you looking like this?"

Ryuuto rub his back of head and pointed his finger onto reikou and said "Sorry for a moment i thought How can a Donkey talks"

Reikou greend his teeths and give a punch in ryuuto face

TWACK! 

 Reikou and Ryuuto grabbed their food and searched for a table.

“Over here!” Ryuuto called.

Reikou followed him and saw a girl already sitting there. She rested her cheek on her hand, a gentle smile on her face as she enjoyed her meal.

“Hey, Shiori!” Ryuuto greeted.

She looked up and smiled. “Hmm? Oh, hello.”

Her short pink hair glowed under the lights, and her bright eyes sparkled like diamonds.

Reikou cleared his throat. “Ah—i’m—”

“No need to introduce yourself,” Shiori interrupted with a knowing smile.

“I already know you, Reikou Shion.”

Reikou blinked. “Huh?”

“I know all about your three rules.”

Shiori giggled. “I’m Shiori Lanfen. We’re in the same class.”

"Nice to meet you"

She held out her hand.

Reikou shook it hesitantly. “Nice to meet you…”

As they sat down to eat, Ryuuto suddenly smirked.

“So, Reikou… what’s next?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“You’re going to confess to Meiyu next, right?”

Reikou choked on his food. “WHAT?! WHO SAID THAT?!”

Shiori leaned in with a mischievous smile.

“Reikou… did you fall in love with Meiyu?”

“N-NO! I mean MAYBE?!”

“Ooooh~?” Shiori hummed, resting her chin on her hands.

“Come on, we’re friends. You can tell us,” she whispered playfully.

Reikou froze.

"ONE MORE FRIEND" his inner thought.

His heart pounded.

“I… I don’t know,” he admitted.

“But when I saw her for the first time…”

He closed his eyes.

And suddenly—

IMAGINE-

The world around him faded.

In his mind, he saw her.

Meiyu stood before him, silent, tilting her head slightly.

Her black, silky hair flowed like a whisper in the wind.

It felt as if the world had slowed down just for her.

"The way her hair moves… it’s like the wind itself is afraid to touch her."

He reached out.

Their fingers brushed.

"When I look into her eyes… I feel like I’m sinking."

She slowly raised a hand, touching his neck.

"Her presence… feels like heaven."

"I—I feel something I can’t explain."

"I’ve never felt this before."

"This is—"

"LOVE!"

Ryuuto’s loud voice snapped Reikou out of his thoughts.

"HUH?! AM I DREAMING AGAIN?!"

Reikou jolted upright, staring at them.

Shiori giggled.

Ryuuto smirked.

"So, tell us…"

Reikou took a deep breath.

"Love…"

He looked down at his hands.

"What is love?"

End of Chapter 3-