The sun was barely up, and Class 3-E was already bustling with its usual chaos. Ryu leaned against a desk, half-heartedly attempting to focus on the class lecture.
Suddenly, a voice cut through his thoughts.
"Ahhh, we couldn't assassinate Koro-Sensei today either!" Rinka groaned, slouching in her chair.
"Don't worry, we'll get him eventually," Rio Nakamura said from her seat across the room, her voice confident, but with an unmistakable hint of mischief.
Ryu glanced up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caught the playful gleam in her aqua-blue eyes. Rio always had this way of balancing her eccentric, almost flippant behavior with sharp intelligence. But there was something else to her—an unpredictable energy that made her stand out even more.
"By the way, Ryu," Rio continued, her tone shifting ever so slightly, "what's your type?"
Ryu blinked, caught off guard. "My type?" he repeated, unsure whether she was being serious or just teasing him like she did with everyone else.
Rinka, seated nearby, groaned in frustration. "Rio, can't you leave him alone for one second?"
But Rio didn't seem to care. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Ryu, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Come on, spill it. I'm curious."
Ryu hesitated, his thoughts racing as the class around them seemed to fade. There was a part of him that wanted to brush it off, but something about Rio's persistent curiosity—combined with the strange way his heart was fluttering—made it impossible to dismiss.
"I don't know…" he started slowly, his gaze meeting hers. "Maybe someone who isn't afraid to be themselves."
Rio's expression softened just slightly, the teasing glint still in her eyes, but now with an underlying sincerity. She shifted her seat, leaning in a little closer. "So, someone who isn't afraid to be a little mischievous?"
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Mischievous, huh?"
Rio's lips curled into a smile that made Ryu's heart skip a beat. "You know, like you."
Before Ryu could respond, the class bell rang, signaling the start of another chaotic day. But Rio wasn't done. As everyone gathered their things, she slid out of her seat, making her way over to him.
"Hey, Ryu," she said casually, but there was a seriousness behind her words now. "How about you and I go grab dinner together today? Just the two of us?"
Ryu blinked, surprised by her forwardness. His heart raced a little faster, but he tried to stay cool. "A date?"
Rio smirked, crossing her arms. "Well, if that's what you want to call it, sure."
Rinka, who had been listening from the other side of the room, immediately perked up. "Wait, what? A date?" She shot Rio a teasing grin. "Oh, this I gotta see."
Rio shot a glance at Rinka, who was watching the exchange with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Rinka, stop," she muttered, though there was a half-smile playing on his lips. She didn't want Rio to get that close to Ryu.
Ryu raised an eyebrow at Rinka's interruption. "What, you want to join us? You know, if you're that interested, you can come too," she teased.
Rio rolled her eyes. "Fine, then"
As the bell rang again, signaling the start of class, the three of them fell into a comfortable silence—though the atmosphere between Ryu and Rio had shifted.
There was an undeniable spark between them, and as they left the classroom together later that day, Ryu couldn't help but wonder how this playful flirtation would turn out.
—
Later that day,
As the sun began to set, Ryu, Rio, and Rinka found themselves at a quaint, upscale restaurant in the heart of the city. Rio, dressed in a stylish outfit that accentuated her strawberry blonde hair and aqua-blue eyes, walked confidently ahead, her heels clicking on the pavement.
Rinka, in a more subdued yet elegant dress, followed closely, her sharp brown eyes observing the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Upon entering the restaurant, they were greeted by the soft glow of dim lighting and the aroma of exquisite cuisine. Rio, ever the socialite, immediately took charge, charming the host with her quick wit and securing them a prime table by the window.
"I've always wondered," Rio said, leaning in with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "what it would be like if we actually managed to assassinate Koro-sensei. Do you think our lives would change dramatically?"
Rinka raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. "I think it would depend on how we handled the aftermath. We've grown so much as a class under his guidance. Without him, we might struggle to find our direction. And, personally, I don't hate him"
Ryu nodded, reflecting on their experiences. "That's true. Koro-sensei pushed us to our limits, but he also taught us the value of teamwork and perseverance. I'm not sure we'd be the same people without him."
Rio chuckled. "And yet, here we are, trying to kill him every day. It's quite the paradox, isn't it?"
Rinka smiled slightly, a rare sight that hinted at her softer side. "It's because we care about him, despite everything. He's more than just a target to us."
The conversation shifted to their personal aspirations and dreams. Rio talked about her desire to become a diplomat or interpreter, using her exceptional English skills to bridge cultural gaps. Rinka discussed her passion for jazz dance and her plans to help Ryunosuke Chiba set up his own architectural business.
Ryu listened intently, fascinated by the depth of their interests and the complexity of their personalities. "I never knew you were into jazz dance, Rinka," he said, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.
Rinka's expression softened further, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "It's something I've always loved. It helps me clear my mind and focus."
Rio jumped in, her voice filled with excitement. "And I've always wanted to try it Maybe we can have a dance session together sometime?"
The evening was filled with these kinds of exchanges, each of them sharing stories, laughter, and moments of vulnerability. As the night wore on, the connection between them grew stronger, a bond forged not just through their shared experiences in Class 3-E but also through their individual quirks and passions.
As they finished their dessert and prepared to leave, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Rio leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. "This has been one of the best nights I've had in a long time. Thanks, guys."
Rinka nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a warmth that was not often seen. "I couldn't agree more. Let's do this again soon."
Rio, with her characteristic wit and charm, began to share a story about her past, one that revealed a deeper side to her personality. "When I was in elementary school, I was always the smartest kid in the room," she said, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and melancholy. "But it was lonely. I longed to be normal, to fit in. So, when I got to middle school, I decided to shirk off my studies and just be like everyone else."
Rinka listened intently, her expression empathetic. "I can understand that," she said softly. "I was always the reliable one, the one everyone depended on. But it left me little space to focus on my own studies, and that's how I ended up in Class 3-E."