The Marriage Examination had begun — a bizarre experiment designed to test not knowledge, but emotions.
Every student at Hikari High was paired with someone of the opposite gender and told to live together as "husband and wife" for three weeks. They would cook, clean, argue, reconcile — just like real couples. Points would be awarded secretly based on behavior, teamwork, and emotional compatibility. Hidden cameras were installed in every assigned cottage.
No one could cheat. No one could hide their real selves.
Mark and Larry were paired together — an unexpected combination. Both were proud, silent, and carried invisible walls around their hearts. On the first morning, they sat in their cottage, separated by awkward silence.
The air between them felt heavier than words.
Larry crossed her arms, finally breaking the stillness.
"Mark, we need to make some rules," she said sharply.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Rules? Why?
We're just pretending, right?"
"Don't act smart," Larry snapped. Her tone was sharp, but her eyes trembled slightly. "You think I didn't notice you trying to peek when I was bathing yesterday? I'll say this once — if you ever try something like that again, I'll show everyone your weakness."
Mark looked at her quietly. For a long second, he didn't say a word. Then he walked to the desk, picked up a small pin, and pricked his palm. A drop of blood appeared.
"I, Mark," he said calmly, his voice low but steady, "swear I'll never fall in love with you, nor will I ever harm you. Are you satisfied now?"
He turned away. "Now, please… let me be."
He left her standing there, eyes wide in disbelief, and locked himself inside his room.
When lunchtime came, Larry knocked gently. "Hey… come out and eat something," she said, her voice softer now.
"No thanks," Mark replied from inside. "I already ate. You go ahead."
The door clicked shut again.
She sighed. What a strange boy.
Moments later, his phone buzzed. It was Ooka — his best friend.
"Yo! Come out, man! Let's go out for a bit!"
Mark groaned. "Yeah, yeah, give me five minutes." He quickly changed into a blue shirt and gray pants, combed his hair, and opened the door.
Larry was waiting there. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Out," he said simply.
"Out?" she frowned. "You do realize this exam is graded, right? We have to act like a couple — or we'll fail!"
Mark sighed. "And what do you want me to do? Hug you in front of the camera?"
Larry leaned closer, lowering her voice. "There are hidden cameras everywhere. The school is watching, and we're getting points through the mobile app. Our score is still zero. If we don't act like a team, we'll get disqualified."
Before he could reply, Ooka began pounding on the door. "Hey, Mark! Are you alive in there or what?"
Mark rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, I'm going!"
Larry smirked, stepping aside. "Fine. But before you go…" she said teasingly, "give me a goodbye kiss."
Mark froze. His cheeks flushed pink. "W-What?
Larry crossed her arms. "You heard me. If you can't even act like a couple, what's the point of this exam?"
He hesitated, eyes darting nervously. Then, almost mechanically, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. It was short, clumsy — yet it made both hearts race wildly.
Without saying another word, Mark grabbed his bag and rushed out.
Ooka blinked when he saw him. "What took you so long, bro?"
"Don't ask," Mark muttered, trying to hide the redness on his face.
Meanwhile, Larry touched her lips in shock. "I didn't mean that kind of kiss," she whispered to herself, blushing deeply.
That night, Mark and Ooka went to a karaoke party. The room was filled with laughter, songs, and flashing lights. Mark, usually quiet and reserved, drank more than he should have.
By the time he stumbled back home, it was past nine. Larry was waiting by the door, arms crossed.
"Is this the time to come home?" she scolded. "You can't even walk properly!"
Mark chuckled drunkenly, waving his hand. "Relax… I'm fine…" Then he tripped over the carpet and collapsed on the floor.
Larry sighed. "First night of a fake marriage, and look at you. What a fool."
Despite her annoyance, she helped him up, guided him to bed, and covered him with a blanket.
As she was about to leave, she heard him mumble in his sleep.
"Papa… Mama… why did you leave me? Did you not love me? Then why did you even bring me into this world?"
Larry froze. Her heart ached. For the first time, she saw a side of Mark that no one else did — not the cold, sarcastic boy, but a child who had lost something precious. She quietly left the room, wiping her tears.
The next morning, the golden light of dawn filled the room. Mark was already awake, doing push-ups and jogging outside. His breath came out in small clouds of steam.
Larry walked out, still half-asleep. "You should rest," she said softly. "You drank too much last night."
Mark smiled faintly, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I'm fine. By the way… did I say something weird last night?"
Larry looked away. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't remember much," he said. "But if I did or said anything wrong, I'm sorry."
She shook her head gently. "Nothing happened. So stop apologizing."
Larry went to take a bath, and soon after, she prepared breakfast — butter stew and steamed rice. The aroma filled the small cottage.
When Mark sat down to eat, his eyes widened. "Whoa… this tastes amazing. Can I have some more?"
Larry's expression softened. "Of course," she said, serving him another bowl.
Mark smiled. "Thanks. You really cook well."
For a brief moment, the tension between them faded. It almost felt like a real home.
Larry looked down at her bowl, hiding a smile. "Thank you too, Mark… for at least appreciating my food."
They finished breakfast quietly and walked to school together.
When they checked the app later that day, a new notification appeared:
Points: 15
Reason: "Couple successfully shared their first kiss."
Larry's eyes widened as her face turned crimson. She quickly looked away.
Mark stared at the screen, expression unreadable. But deep inside, something warm began to stir — something he wasn't ready to name yet.
And though both of them pretended not to care, they knew one truth neither could ignore:
The fake marriage… was starting to feel a little too real.