After Kai traveled through several flights of stairs and passed by various classrooms, he finally reached Reika's classroom. Eager to see her, he took a deep breath and prepared to look inside the room. But just as he was about to peer in, he accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, my bad, Senior Sister. Are you alright?" Kai quickly apologized.
"I'm fine, just a bit startled by your sudden appearance," the Senior Sister replied, her voice trembling slightly.
Feeling guilty, Kai apologizes once again. "Sorry to scare you, Senior Sister,"
And he continues, "Is Reika inside?" His heart races with anticipation as he asks.
With a slight nod, the Senior Sister points towards the classroom. "She's there."
Kai leans to the side, following her gaze. Through the space, he catches sight of Reika sitting at her desk, engrossed in her phone. Standing protectively in front of her is Lian Li, bravely guarding her from an intrusive guy who seems to be bothering them.
Kai's brows furrow when he recognizes the guy approaching Reika. It is her ex-boyfriend, the one he had spotted wearing the infamous green hat.
"Reika, why are you still ignoring me? The class is over. I promise I won't tease you or anything," the guy pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
Ignoring his plea, Reika continued to avert her gaze, her attention focused on her phone, as if waiting for an important message or call.
Infuriated with the absence of a reaction from Reika, he attempts to grab her hand. However, his attempt is swiftly and intimidatingly blocked by Lian Li, who stares at him with a chilling intensity.
"Try that again, and you'll regret it. I promise you a painful death," Lian Li threatened, her words laced with a cold, menacing tone.
The guy's heart raced as he stood there, his hand trembling in mid-air. He knew just how terrifying Lian Li could be - he had witnessed firsthand what happened to the last guy who tried his luck and ended up sprawled on the asphalt. But despite his fear, he couldn't ignore the intense desire that surged through him, fueled by the memory of Reika's passionate moans on the phone the night before.
"I... I just want to talk to her," he stammered, avoiding Lian Li's piercing gaze. He desperately hoped she would give them some time alone.
Before Lian Li could respond, a classmate at the door called out to Reika, interrupting the tense standoff.
"Reika, someone's looking for you," the classmate announced.
Upon hearing this, Reika, who had been strangely silent until now, suddenly lit up with excitement and a bright smile spread across her face when she spotted the handsome junior waiting for her. Without a second thought, she darted out of the room and flung herself into Kai's waiting arms.
The senior sister who had called Reika stood there in shocked disbelief as she watched the scene unfold. She glanced over at the guy still trapped inside the room by Lian Li and shook her head. She knew what kind of guy Reika's ex was, and when she saw Reika's happy face, which was far apart from when she's with that guy, she felt relieved. It's not that she cared for Reika or anything; it's just a waste for someone as fairy-like as Reika to fall victim to that kind of guy.
As the senior sister adjusted her glasses and took a closer look at Kai, a twinge of jealousy flickered within her. She couldn't help but feel envious that Reika had landed such a handsome guy who seemed to genuinely care for her.
Meanwhile, back in the room, the trapped guy strained his eyes, attempting to catch a glimpse of who had called Reika. But Lian Li stood firmly in his way, refusing to let him through. She was determined to prevent any confrontation between him and Kai, fearing that things might escalate into a fight.
Lian Li couldn't bear the thought of Kai getting into more trouble, especially since he was already involved with the first-year delinquent. She didn't want to add another complication to the mix. Even as her worry consumed her thoughts, she suddenly shook her head vigorously, snapping herself out of her own mental turmoil.
"What the hell am I worrying about that asshole for?" Lian Li muttered to herself, as if attempting to convince herself of how little he truly mattered.
"Y-you good?" the guy asked, pulling back when he sensed Lian Li's bad mood.
"Don't you dare try to follow us! Hmph!" Lian Li snapped as she marched outside, leaving the poor guy frozen in his tracks.
Outside, she sees Kai and Mae Ling hugging each other, showing their affection and how they missed each other. She sees how Kai is pampering Reika, making her feel happy for Reika, yet uncomfortable at the same time.
Shaking her head, Lian Li couldn't help but blame Kai for all this nonsense. "You guys were only apart for a few hours and now you're acting like you just came back from some epic long separation."
Reika, breaking free from Kai's embrace, glanced at Lian Li with mischief in her eyes. "Are you jealous?" she teased.
"W-wha-" Lian Li and the Senior Sister who is with them are both shocked by Reika's mischievous remark.
Lian Li has already seen this irritating face of Reika, but she still hasn't gotten used to it. On the other hand, this is the first time the Senior Sister who is with them has seen Reika like this. Different from the always shy and stuttering beauty, she was also intrigued by how Reika teases Lian Li.
'Hoh! Is this some kind of drama?' The Senior Sister thought as she fixed her glasses, her lips curled upward, and she looked at Lian Li's reaction.
Lips twitching, Lian Li found herself under the scrutiny of all eyes. "Why would I be jealous? Who in their right mind would be jealous of that guy?" Lian Li scoffed, jabbing a finger in Kai's direction.
Reika, matching Lian Li's finger pointing, quipped back, "Obviously, it's you."
"Reika! Cut it out! I'm not desperate enough to chase a guy who already has a girlfriend! Is that how you see me?" Lian Li snapped, her frustration reaching its peak.
Unable to handle the tension, Lian Li stormed off, leaving the three of them bewildered. Kai sighed, unsure of what to do. This was the first time he had seen Reika act so mischievously without him guiding her.