Ryu stretched his legs, his muscles relaxing after a long day, when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Issei.
"Hey, Ryu. Are you available? Me and the guys are going on a mixer. Want to come?"
Ryu's eyebrows twitched slightly. He and Issei hadn't talked much recently, so the sudden invitation was unexpected.
Ryu typed back, his fingers hovering over the keys. Why would Issei be asking me now?
Issei's next message popped up before Ryu could reply.
Ryu leaned back, piecing things together.
Issei wasn't just inviting him for fun.
He was banking on Ryu's presence to impress the girls, probably hoping that Ryu's appeal would get them to stay and, in turn, increase Issei's chances with at least one of them.
Typical Issei, Ryu thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. He could almost hear Issei's voice in his head, hoping to ride Ryu's coattails into the girls' favor.
However, he knew that it wasn't likely and was just a form of coping.
After all, it would just raise the girl's standards and Issei was assuming he would only go for one of them.
He's setting himself up for disappointment, Ryu thought, but he couldn't blame Issei entirely. Issei was just hoping for a shot, even if it meant bringing Ryu along to boost his odds.
Ryu's phone buzzed again.
"Dude, please come. I know it's short notice, but these girls are super cute! One of them was asking about you specifically. Help a brother out?"
Ryu raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. One of them asked about me? He wasn't surprised; it happened often enough that girls would ask about him through Issei. But he knew the outcome of the mixer was likely to leave Issei frustrated if he got overshadowed again.
Typing back, Ryu considered his options.
"You sure you want me there? You know how these things go."
Issei's response was almost instant.
"I'm sure! Trust me, bro, it'll be fun. Plus, with you there, I'll get more time to talk to the girls. You know, win them over with my charm while they're all distracted by your pretty face. 😜"
Ryu chuckled, shaking his head. Classic Issei. He appreciated the honesty, even if the plan wasn't foolproof.
He stared at his phone for a moment longer before making up his mind. Might as well go. It's been a while since I hung out with him, anyway.
"Alright, I'm in. When and where?"
Issei's excited reply came almost immediately.
"YESSSS!! We're meeting at 7, at that café near the park. You won't regret this, man!"
Ryu smiled slightly as he put his phone away. It would be interesting to see how this played out. Poor Issei, he thought. He doesn't realize that bringing me might complicate things more than help.
—
As Ryu arrived at the café, the sun had begun to set, casting a warm glow over the outdoor seating area. He spotted Issei waving enthusiastically from a table under a large umbrella, flanked by Matsuda and Motohama, both of whom were scanning the area with obvious anticipation.
"Ryu! Over here!" Issei called out, his voice a little too loud, attracting the attention of a few passersby. Ryu approached, rolling his eyes slightly but chuckling at Issei's enthusiasm.
"Glad you made it, man!" Issei continued, motioning for him to sit. "You'll love this place!"
As Ryu settled into his seat, he glanced around and spotted the girls seated nearby: Rui Tachibana, Kaguya Shinomiya, Mikoto Aiura, and Maki Zenin.
Most were all engaged in their own conversation, but Ryu noticed that their eyes flickered towards him, particularly Mikoto's, who looked intrigued.
Ryu was really curious how these girls met up.
"Hey, ladies! This is my friend Ryu!" Issei introduced, gesturing toward him with a grin. "He's the one I was telling you about."
"Hey there," Ryu said, offering a polite wave, his usual easygoing demeanor shining through despite the sudden attention.
Ryu made his way through the café, taking in the sight of the girls at the table.
Rui Tachibana sat with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable, while Kaguya Shinomiya exuded an air of sophistication, seemingly unimpressed by Issei's presence.
Mikoto Aiura was animated, laughing at Matsuda's latest attempt to flirt, although the laughter seemed more directed at the absurdity of his approach than genuine interest.
"Hey, you made it!" Issei grinned, gesturing for Ryu to join them. "These are the girls I was telling you about!"
"Ryu, right?" Mai Zenin said, leaning back in her chair with a casual, yet somewhat condescending, smirk. "I heard you were strong. I hope to fight one day"
Ryu chuckled, feeling the lighthearted teasing ease any nervousness. "I'll try my best, but no promises."
Mai rolled her eyes, watching as Matsuda leaned over to Kaguya, attempting to impress her with exaggerated stories about his "heroic" deeds. "So, Kaguya, did I ever tell you about the time I—"
"Not interested," Kaguya interrupted, her voice flat and dismissive as she sipped her drink.
Matsuda's face fell for a moment before he turned to Rui. "What about you, Rui? I hear you're really into—"
"Not interested," Rui shot back, her tone icy and blunt. She seemed determined to keep her distance from the boys, arms still crossed and gaze unwavering.
"Wow, harsh," Motohama muttered, but he quickly recovered, trying his luck with Mikoto. "So, Mikoto, how about a little game? I bet I could beat you at any challenge!"
"Um, let's see... How about rock-paper-scissors?" Motohama suggested, a bit flustered but still eager to impress her.
"Classic," Mikoto replied, stifling a laugh. "But I think we can do better than that. How about a little wager? Loser has to buy the winner dessert."
"Deal!" Motohama said, puffing out his chest as if he were already victorious. "And if I win, I get to ask you to do... a little something special for me!"
"Oh? Like what?" Mikoto raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious.
"Like... you know, some fun and games," Motohama grinned suggestively, his intentions clear.
Mikoto rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Good luck with that. You're going to need it."
"Alright, on three!" Mikoto said, her competitive spirit kicking in. "One... two... three!"
The two threw their hands out simultaneously. Motohama confidently displayed paper, but Mikoto's fist closed around it.
"Rock crushes paper! Looks like you're buying dessert!" she teased, her laughter ringing through the café.
"Darn it!" Motohama groaned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Guess I underestimated you."
Ryu couldn't help but smile at the lightheartedness of the moment. Mikoto clearly enjoyed the banter, while Motohama seemed blissfully unaware that he had just walked into a trap.
"Looks like someone's going to be disappointed," Mai said with a smirk, her arms crossed as she leaned back in her chair.
All the girls were slightly interested in Ryu.
"Do you want to play a game?" Mikoto asked Ryu. "We can have a little challenge of our own, you know, to see what you're made of."
Mai's smirk widened, arms crossed as she leaned back in her chair, clearly amused by the unfolding events.
Ryu guessed Mikoto was the one asking about him although he didn't know why.
Ryu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of game do you have in mind?"