Most guys would dream of a girl like Ayaka Tenshi approaching them out of the blue. Perfect grades, ice-cold beauty, and legs longer than my attention span in math class. She wasn't just a 10—she was a final boss-level 10 with extra cutscene animations.
But I knew better.
When someone that high on the food chain starts talking to someone like me, there are only three explanations:
They're about to ask for a favor.
They're gathering blackmail material.
Or they've been curiously observing you since yesterday's system-assisted confidence burst.
I was hoping for #1. I was prepared for #3.
"Reiji," she said, voice even, lips tight.
"Yes, Miss Perfect?" I replied smoothly, slouching against the classroom wall like I had all the time in the world.
Her eyebrow twitched. Score one for me.
"Can we… talk?" she asked, glancing around. "Privately."
A few students around us paused mid-sip of their overpriced vending machine drinks. One guy started choking. Another whispered "No way!" like this was a K-drama scene.
I pushed off the wall and gave her a subtle smirk. "Lead the way."
[School Courtyard – Behind the Old Music Room]
Classic confession spot. Secluded, quiet, out of the wind. Too cliché to be romantic. Just romantic enough to cause misunderstandings.
She folded her arms as we stopped walking.
"I need advice," she said, almost choking on the words.
I blinked. "I charge by the minute."
She rolled her eyes. "Serious question. There's… someone I like."
Bullshit.
Even without the system, I knew this was bait.
Ayaka Tenshi, queen of turning boys down politely but firmly, didn't ask anyone for advice. Let alone someone who was a ghost until yesterday.
The Flirt Academy phone buzzed in my pocket:
[NEW MISSION]: Shift the power dynamic. Make her look to you for emotional authority.Tip: Redirect the question. Be subtly in control.
Alright. Let's dance.
"Someone you like, huh?" I said, tapping my chin. "And what makes you think I'm the right person to ask?"
"You seemed... different yesterday," she said carefully. "Confident. Detached. It was interesting."
I chuckled. "You make it sound like I evolved into a new Pokémon form."
"No," she said, deadpan. "More like a bug finally learning how to fly."
Touché.
"Well," I said, flashing a smirk, "let's pretend for a moment that I'm this emotional guru. What's your actual question?"
She hesitated. That hesitation was gold.
"...How do I know if a guy likes me?"
Oh, this girl. This absolute queen of the obvious game.
"You want the truth?" I asked.
"Yes."
I leaned in just slightly. Close enough to enter her personal space, not close enough to make her step back.
"If you have to ask," I said slowly, "he probably doesn't."
That landed.
Her pupils flared, just a bit. The classic "wait, did he just roast me or teach me something?" look.
"But…" I added, "you can make him like you."
She raised an eyebrow.
"People don't fall in love by accident," I continued, channeling Lesson 2. "They fall into patterns. You hijack those patterns, you own their emotions."
"And you know this… how?"
"I study," I said smoothly. "And I experiment."
She stared at me like I had just confessed to being a Bond villain.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]Emotional Control Level with Target: Ayaka Tenshi – 18%Progressing toward Curiosity → Confusion → Obsession
Good. Now seal it.
"Tell you what," I said. "I'll help you. We'll treat it like a social experiment."
"And in return?"
I gave her the laziest shrug I could. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That if you fall in love with me instead… you don't blame the professor."
[Later | Flirt Academy App Interface]
Back in my room, I stared at the system screen, which now looked more like a dating simulator than a self-help guide.
GIRL 01: AYAKA TENSHIStatus: CuriousEmotional Hook: "Seeks understanding and control"Next Mission: Create a moment of vulnerability. Reward: Bonus Lesson Unlock.
Hmm.
That might take some setup.
But the emotional hook part was gold.
She wasn't looking for love. She was looking for predictability in chaos. That's what made her tick.
And I could give it to her—right before shaking it all up again.
[The Next Day | Classroom 2-B | Before Lunch]
I waited for her to approach.
But someone else got to me first.
"Reiji!"
Ah. Mina Kurosaki.
Short hair. Tomboy energy. Former childhood friend, now occasional desk neighbor and queen of unfiltered sarcasm.
"What's up, Kurosaki?" I asked.
"You okay? You've been acting like… cooler than usual. Like, 10% more main character-y."
I grinned. "I'm going through puberty. Late bloomer."
She snorted. "Whatever. Anyway, I need your help."
Oh?
"See, there's this guy I'm thinking of asking out…"
I leaned back. "Let me guess. His name starts with R and ends in -eiji?"
Her face went red. Then she punched my arm — way harder than necessary.
"Jerk. You wish."
[SYSTEM ALERT: NEW TARGET DETECTED]MINA KUROSAKIStatus: Unacknowledged FeelingsEmotional Hook: Comfort → Jealousy → Desire
Two targets now?
This might get complicated.
But complicated… was fun.
"Alright," I said. "Serious question. You want help asking this mystery guy out?"
She looked away. "Maybe…"
"Then rule one: You don't treat him like your buddy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," I said, lowering my voice just enough, "guys don't fall for the girl who's too easy to talk to. They fall for the girl who talks to everyone else except them."
"Wow. That's toxic."
"But it works."
She looked at me sideways. "Have you been reading those weird Reddit forums again?"
"Worse. I've been taking notes."
[System Buzz]
Mission Completed: Mina InteractionProgress: 12%Status: Mild Confusion
Two down. Who's next?
[After School | Rooftop | Surprise Visit]
I was heading up for my usual alone time when I saw her.
Yue Kanzaki.
Tall, silver hair, headphones over her ears, leaning against the fencing like an anime illustration come to life.
"Didn't expect you up here," I said.
She looked at me like I was beneath her — which, fair.
"I wanted silence," she replied.
"Guess I ruined that."
She didn't respond.
SYSTEM ALERT:GIRL 03 DETECTEDYue KanzakiEmotional Hook: Challenge → Intrigue → Control Transfer
Oho. A queen who wants to be dethroned.
Interesting.
"So," I said, walking to the fence beside her, "you like being alone, huh?"
She glanced at me. "I like being around people who don't try too hard."
"I never try. I always succeed."
She actually laughed. Like, short and sharp, but still — Yue laughed.
SYSTEM UPDATE: Yue – Progress 6%Status: Intrigued
This was going way too well.
[Back in My Room | That Night]
The phone vibrated again.
Flirt Academy – Weekly Bonus Challenge:"Make Three Girls Dream About You Within 5 Days."Progress: 2/3Reward: Major Upgrade – Emotional Looping TechniquePenalty: All Relationships Reset to 0
Dream about me?
That was next-level.
And I was just cocky enough to believe I could do it.
But first…
I opened Ayaka's chat window and typed something simple:
"You ever wonder what you'd be like if you stopped pretending you had everything figured out?"
Seen.
Typing...
Then silence.
No reply.
Not yet.
But she would.
They all would.
Because now, I wasn't chasing love.
I was controlling it.