Kanade leaned against the wall, her laughter ringing through the hallway as she watched the two of them.
She had already figured out what had happened by Subaru and Ryu's reactions.
"You've got guts, Ryu! Proposing to Subaru like that? You must really like living on the edge."
Subaru's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
"It's not like that! He's just trying to make a joke out of a serious situation!"
Ryu raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Hey, it's a solid plan, right? Who wouldn't want a cute partner by their side?"
He glanced between Subaru and Kanade, trying to gauge their reactions.
Kanade pushed herself off the wall and walked over, her smile playful.
"You really think you can charm her just like that? Subaru isn't one to fall for a simple proposal, you know."
Ryu shrugged, still grinning.
"Well, you never know. Maybe it's the romantic type of tension we need in our lives. Isn't that what slice-of-life stories are about?"
"Romantic tension?" Kanade raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "More like comedic tension, at least for now. Subaru looks like she's about to explode"
She shot Ryu a teasing smile, and their eyes met again.
Subaru's glare returned with a vengeance. "I'm not going to explode! I'm just… trying to figure out what the heck you're talking about!"
She crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure while the two of them exchanged playful banter.
"You do realize that if you 'eliminate' me, you'd be missing out on a great partnership," Ryu added, trying to defuse the tension.
"I mean, come on! We could be a dynamic duo, fighting off villains or whatever crazy things happen in our lives!"
Subaru's expression turned bad. "You really think it could work like that?"
Kanade leaned in closer, grinning. "Oh, it could be fun! Just imagine the rumors flying around. Th 'handsome butler' turned 'bride' of Ryu? That'll get people talking!"
Ryu chuckled, enjoying the idea. "See? It's perfect! We could even have a cute wedding scene, maybe complete with unexpected twists!"
Subaru let out a frustrated sigh, trying to hold her ground. "This isn't about fun and games! I'm serious!"
"Oh, come on! You've got to admit, it's a pretty entertaining setup," Kanade said, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Besides, Ryu's not exactly a threat. He'd probably just trip over his own feet while trying to escape."
Ryu nodded emphatically. "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not dangerous! Just look at me!"
Subaru's glare softened for a moment, but she quickly shook her head, determined to stay resolute. "I still have to eliminate you. Just because you're funny doesn't mean I'll let you off the hook!"
Kanade leaned back, a mischievous smile on her face. "Alright, but if you're going to eliminate him, make it entertaining!
I want to see some flair! Maybe an epic duel followed by a dramatic confession?"
"Not helping!" Subaru exclaimed, exasperated.
Ryu's ridiculousness was starting to chip away at her anger, and Kanade's teasing was making it even harder to maintain her deadly demeanor.
"Just remember, I'm still very serious about this!" Subaru added, her tone less threatening now, as the three of them stood amidst the chaos of the school hallway, all caught up in the whirlwind of a slice-of-life drama that none of them had expected.
"Enough joking aside," Kanade said, her tone shifting slightly but still playful.
"Subaru, if you're serious about this, you need to keep it discreet. And Ryu… well, how about we make a deal?"
Ryu raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet wary. "What kind of deal?"
Kanade leaned in closer, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Here's the deal: if you manage to beat Subaru in this duel of skills, you get to marry her!
But if you lose, we can eliminate you—or at least, I'll make sure your life becomes a living hell!"
Subaru's eyes widened, caught between surprise and indignation. "What?! You can't just—"
"Very Well" Ryu replied easily.
Kanade nodded, clearly enjoying the banter. "Exactly! It's a win-win for me either way.
But just to make things interesting, let's make it multiple competitions. You two can face off in cooking, sports, trivia, and more!"
Subaru straightened, determination back in her eyes. "I don't like being bet on, but you're on! I won't go easy on you, Ryu. And you better keep up!"
Ryu smirked, feeling the adrenaline surge. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's see what you've got!"
"Alright, then," Kanade said, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "When do you two want to have this duel of skills? We can't let this excitement simmer for too long!"
Ryu laughed, "Well, I might just surprise you! I've been practicing my presentation skills thanks to my mom. You might find my dish has some unexpected flair!"
"Is that so?" Subaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "We'll see about that!"
Kanade clapped her hands, clearly enjoying the energy. "Tomorrow after school it is, then! I'll be the official judge, so you both better bring your A-game!"
"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's entertaining," Ryu replied, confidence bubbling inside him.
Subaru shot him a playful glare. "Entertaining isn't the goal! Winning is!"
"Right, right! Winning it is!" Ryu said, feigning seriousness. "But if I win, you owe me a nice dinner as my bride!"
Subaru's cheeks flushed again, and she huffed in annoyance, trying to regain her composure. "You keep dreaming! But first, you need to win!"
Subaru stormed off.
As Kanade stood beside Ryu, their eyes locked for a lingering moment.
Ryu smirked, the moment too good to resist. "Who knows? Maybe I'll end up with two brides."
Kanade raised an eyebrow, amused, but didn't deny the connection. "You'd better win first."
As she walked off, Ryu chuckled softly, his heart unexpectedly light.
With their plans set and the tension of competition in the air, the three of them parted ways, each feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation for what was to come.
As they walked down the bustling school hallways, the unexpected rivalry was only just beginning, setting the stage for an unforgettable showdown.