So, yeah, I warned you, didn't I? If you're still here, it must mean you're itching to catch my syndrome. Bold move. Alright then, where should I begin this chaotic tale? Oh, I know—let's start with my family. Well, what's left of them, anyway.

You already know me—Riser Nafutori. I hail from the Nafutori family. You know, that ridiculously wealthy clan that keeps Japan's economy from crumbling. Yeah, we're that rich. By "we," I mean me, my grandmother, and my younger sister. As for my parents? Who knows? They might be lounging on a beach somewhere, or they're six feet under. Either way, one random day, boom! I became the head of the family.

And you know what that means, right? I get to spend the family fortune however I want! Oh, and, uh… all that "clan head responsibility" nonsense. Sure, I'm technically supposed to take care of my grandma and little sis, but come on—do I look like the responsible type? Haha, is this the part where you expected some tragic backstory? Sorry to disappoint, dear readers, but this isn't that kind of story.

We're filthy rich. I even give my grandma and sister allowances from their own money to make sure they don't go overboard. Women, am I right? (I'm joking. Mostly.)

Anyway, back to the story! Oh, wait—you probably want to know what I look like, don't you? Well, brace yourselves for the visual: I'm your classic Japanese guy, except I've got reddish-brown hair and red eyes. And yes, it's all natural—no dye, no contacts. Pretty cool, huh?

So, with that out of the way, let's get this story rolling.

I'm sure you're expecting something cliché, like me hiding my status as the heir of a ridiculously rich family while trying to live a "normal" high school life, right? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not my style. In fact, I'm not just any student—I'm the student council president. Yeah, yeah, predictable, I know. But here's the kicker: I pretty much run the entire school. And no, the teachers have no idea. (Alright, maybe that part is a little cliché, but what were you expecting?)

I was the king of this castle, the guy who did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without a single soul daring to question me. That was my life—until she showed up.

Enter Saori Dolorez.

If my life was a parade of easy victories, she was the little princess who decided to show up and rain all over it. Okay, fine, maybe she didn't exactly take over the school, but she sure tried. Saori wasn't just some ordinary girl—oh no. She was the type to make you forget how to breathe and then act like it was all your fault.

From the moment she walked into my school, I knew my days of carefree rule were over.

I think it all started when I actually bothered to show up for homeroom—my first time in two weeks, by the way. (And before you judge me, I am a good student. It's just… I can't stand the weirdo who sits next to me, Saiko Yoshino. But, hey, don't tell him I said that.)

That's when she walked in.

The moment the door opened, the entire room seemed to freeze as the teacher cleared his throat and motioned dramatically toward the new arrival.

"Alright, class, pay attention! We have a new student joining us today," he announced, his voice dripping with forced enthusiasm. "She's a foreign exchange student from Italy… Now, my dear, would you like to introduce yourself?"

I frowned. Who even talks like that? And why is he staring at her like a dog eyeing a steak? Scumbags truly are everywhere—even in schools.

"Nice to meet you all," she said, her voice smooth and confident, with absolutely no trace of an accent. That alone made my internal alarm bells ring.

Someone's lying about the Italy thing, I thought.

"My name is Saori Dolorez, and I hope we can all get along," she added, her tone polite but almost too polite, like she was trying to convince herself as much as us.

The teacher nodded eagerly, practically salivating. "Saori comes from a very prestigious family, so I expect all of you to make her feel very welcome," he said, dragging out the words in a way that made my skin crawl.

Oh great, he's a pervert.

"And now," he continued, with a slimy grin, "where should we have you sit? Hmm… oh yes! The seat next to Nafutori is free!"

The pause before his suggestion, combined with the way he was so clearly about to say something wildly inappropriate, was enough to make me groan internally.

Seriously? Who let this guy become a teacher?

"Hey there! I'm Riser Nafutori, also known as the student council president of this fine institution. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to ask me, okay?"

There it was—the textbook response everyone expects from a student council president. Polite, friendly, and totally fake.

"…"

Silence.

Instead of replying, she gave me the side-eye. Not just any side-eye—no, this was a criminally offensive side-eye. The kind of look that made me question my entire existence.

In that split second, I wasn't Riser Nafutori, head of the Nafutori family or ruler of this school. No. I was livestock. A lowly, insignificant lifeform under her sharp, judgmental gaze.

The teacher clapped his hands, commanding everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone, settle down! We have an important group project coming up, and I'm expecting great things from all of you!"

The class fell into a reluctant silence, though a few groans and whispers persisted.

"This project," he continued, smoothing his tie in an exaggerated manner, "is part of our school's initiative to foster cultural understanding and teamwork. It will be a significant portion of your grade, so pay attention. You'll be working in pairs to research and present on different aspects of cultural leadership. A topic I personally find fascinating, by the way."

The teacher's eyes scanned the room a little too eagerly, lingering on certain students a little too long, which earned a few uncomfortable shuffles in seats.

"Now, don't look so glum!" he exclaimed, grinning in a way that was somehow both cheerful and unsettling. "Think of this as a fun opportunity to get to know each other better. After all, education is about connection!"

"More like creepy obsession," someone muttered under their breath, earning a few chuckles.

The teacher didn't seem to notice—or pretended not to. He kept talking, his voice full of what he probably thought was charisma. "As for how the groups will be decided, I'll be pairing you up myself."

A collective groan rippled through the room.

"That's lame," one student said, leaning back in their chair.

"It's called teamwork, Takeshi," the teacher snapped, his tone still trying to sound jovial. "Now pipe down before I put you in detention with me after hours."

Raikou, sitting a few rows behind me, leaned over and whispered just loud enough for a few people to hear, "Pretty sure that's exactly what he wants."

The entire row burst out laughing.

"Quiet!" the teacher barked, his grin twitching slightly. He adjusted his glasses and straightened his back, putting on his most "authoritative" expression. "Let's begin pairing you up!"

He started calling out names, assigning people left and right, until the inevitable happened.

"And our new exchange student, Saori Dolorez…" His grin widened in a way that set off all kinds of alarm bells in my head. "You'll be paired with… ah, yes! Riser Nafutori!"

The class erupted in murmurs and chuckles.

"Of course," someone whispered.

"Good luck, Saori," another added, laughing under their breath.

I leaned back in my chair, shooting Saori a grin. "Guess it's fate, huh? Don't worry, I'll carry this project on my back."

She turned to me slowly, giving me the look. The same criminally offensive side-eye from earlier, as if I were the sole reason for global warming.

"Just stay out of my way," she said flatly, her tone sharp enough to cut through steel.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the teacher clapped his hands again, bringing the class back to order.

"Alright, everyone, get ready to start brainstorming with your partners! I expect great things from you all. Especially you, Riser," he added, flashing me a smile that made my skin crawl.

And just like that, my carefree reign over this school took its first real hit.