---
Ren Kisaragi made a plan.
Not a complicated one. Just three rules:
> 1. Speak less than 10 words per hour.
2. Always stand behind taller people.
3. Move so quietly that even doors forget he exists.
The goal? Become a background character.
Because in Vanguard Academy, standing out was dangerous. Attention meant pressure. Clubs, rivals, crazy challenges, public rankings… all things Ren wanted no part of.
He wasn't lazy. He wasn't scared. He was just tired of being noticed.
---
At lunch, he sat at the least popular table—next to the vending machines that made weird noises. He ate plain rice. He kept his eyes on the tray. He barely moved.
The result?
A group of students walked by and whispered:
"Hey, who's that guy?"
"I don't know. He's always… there. Just sitting."
"Creepy. Maybe he's an assassin?"
Ren sighed. I literally just exist.
---
In class, the teacher gave a hard problem:
> "Design a basic anti-gravity blueprint."
Everyone started brainstorming. Ren pretended to be confused and doodled a cat.
But the cat drawing accidentally solved the angle of propulsion.
The teacher paused.
"…Interesting. Very subtle."
He got +5 points.
Ren silently banged his head on the desk.
---
After class, Mina Sakamoto caught up with him.
"Still pretending to be average?" she asked.
Ren blinked slowly. "I'm just… existing."
Mina narrowed her eyes. "You give off weird NPC energy. It's suspicious."
He shrugged. Background character mode: activated.
---
But his biggest problem came that evening.
A new challenge appeared:
> CHALLENGE 003: FAKE DATING SIMULATION
Teams of two. Pretend to be couples.
Earn points for "believability."
Highest score wins.
Participation is mandatory.
Ren froze.
Absolutely not. Romance? Public attention? Fake dating?! This was his worst nightmare.
He looked around for an escape route—and saw Aria Chen sprinting toward him in slow-motion, holding a heart-shaped sign.
"No," Ren said, already backing away.
"Yes," Aria shouted. "We're winning this, partner!"
"I'm allergic to romance."
"Too bad! I already signed us up as Team 'Emotionally Confused'!"
Ren wanted to melt into the floor.
---
The next day, he and Aria stood in front of the judges.
Aria was waving, full of energy. Ren was standing behind her like a distant tree. His only contribution was holding a flower. Backwards.
The judges watched in confusion.
"...Are you two even trying?"
Aria giggled. "He's just shy."
Ren looked down and said nothing.
Then one of the judges gasped. "Wait… that's kind of realistic. The awkward body language… the quiet presence… the mysterious aura… Is this some kind of slow-burn romance?"
Another judge wiped a tear. "It's so deep."
Ren: What? I'm just trying to disappear!
They won third place.
---
Challenge Results:
> Fake Dating Challenge – Team "Emotionally Confused": 3rd Place
+10 Points
Ren Kisaragi: Now Rank #198
---
Back in his room, Ren crossed out one line on his plan:
> ❌ Move like a ghost → [Results in mysterious romantic aura??]
He added a new rule:
> ✔ Avoid Aria Chen at all costs.
His AI assistant chimed in:
> "New message from Mina:
'You're either a genius or a lucky weirdo. I'm watching you.'"
Ren buried his head in a pillow again.
---