Ryo walked into class, rubbing the sore spots from last night''s ''lesson'' courtesy of Ayane. He just wanted a normal day.


    That hope died instantly when he saw the seating chart.


    His usual spot? Gone.


    And now? He was sitting next to Ayane.


    Ryo (blinking): "Wait. What?"


    Haruka (narrowing eyes): "Wait. WHAT?!"


    Misaki (adjusting her hair): "Curious. Very curious."


    Ryo (turning to Ayane, suspiciously): "Ayane… did you do something?"


    Ayane simply smiled sweetly.


    Ayane: "Oh, don''t be silly, dear cousin. I just had a friendly chat with the principal."


    Ryo: "A friendly chat? What kind of friendly chat makes a principal rearrange the entire classroom?"


    Ayane tilted her head, innocence oozing from her expression.


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    Ayane: "He was very… persuaded by my reasoning."


    In the teacher''s office, the principal still trembled, recalling the moment cold steel touched his throat.


    Principal (whispering to himself): "T-Takahashi-kun is safest next to her… Yes… safest…"


    With Haruka and Misaki glaring from across the room, Ayane took her new position as Ryo''s guardian very seriously.


    First Attack: Haruka''s ''Accidental'' Brush-Up


    Haruka (stretching, leaning toward Ryo): "Oops! My hand slipped—"


    Ayane (smiling, but moving Ryo''s chair back): "Oh my, be careful, Haruka-chan~"


    Haruka (gritting teeth): "You…!"


    Second Attack: Misaki''s Mysterious Note


    A neatly folded letter landed on Ryo''s desk.


    Misaki (smiling from across the room): "It''s a little secret~"


    Before Ryo could even unfold it, Ayane had already snatched it and shredded it into tiny pieces.


    Ayane (smiling sweetly): "Oops. My hand slipped~"


    Misaki: "..."


    Ryo: "Can someone explain why I''m the one suffering?!"


    At the end of the day, Ryo felt like a hostage being protected by a bodyguard he never asked for.


    Haruka (arms crossed): "This is cheating."


    Misaki (sipping tea): "Indeed. Highly unsportsmanlike."


    Ayane simply smirked and leaned against Ryo''s desk.


    Ayane: "I just want to make sure dear cousin doesn''t fall into bad company."


    Ryo (deadpan): "I AM the bad company."


    As the girls continued their battle of glares, Ryo slumped forward.


    Ryo: "This school isn''t big enough for all of us…"