"Hey, I just finished recording my latest single — wanna hear it?" Leon Thzraneel exclaims as he approaches their table, balancing a lunch tray and his music player.

At the table sit Chris, Mia, and Zaira — along with Yuzu and Ren, the latter looking especially gloomy, his eyes glued to his phone.

"I’d only say yes to see what new form of torture you’ve come up with," Mia replies without mercy.

Chris and Zaira, on the other hand, agree enthusiastically. Partly out of curiosity to finally hear the rap Isabelle is so obsessed with, but mostly to humor Leon and lift his spirits after Mia’s blunt dismissal.

"You guys actually have good taste in music — unlike that nag Mia, who’s still stuck on my early, rough stuff from five years ago! I’ll give you a hint — it’s a love song dedicated to a very special woman!"

"I feel sorry for her already..." Mia mutters.

But Chris and Zaira don’t let Mia’s negativity get to them. They each take one earbud, and...

🎵🎵🎵

I wake up with that morning erection, thinking of you,

Your long platinum hair and your big boobs in view,

Isabelle Valakys, yeah you’re my inspiration,

when i lock in the bathroom, steady jerking off!

🎵🎵🎵

Nearly four full minutes of music, entirely dedicated to Isabelle — her boobs, and everything he’d love to do with them.

Chris nearly chokes on his lunch, while Zaira bursts into laughter so loud the entire cafeteria turns to stare at her.

"So? What do you think? It’s a song straight from the heart, dedicated to the only woman who’s ever believed in me. It’s thanks to her that I kept chasing my passion and became the talented rapper I am today — this is my way of thanking her! The moment I sign with that label, I’ll make sure this track gets played in every corner of the multiverse, so it can reach her wherever she is!"

"Well... I mean... it’s definitely a very... touching song... in more ways than one..." Chris says with an awkward smile.

Zaira, meanwhile, has gone from laughing herself to tears... to crying from sheer emotion.

"T-These... sniff... are the sweetest words I’ve ever heard in my life! Chris, why can’t you be this romantic for once?"

Chris shoots her a confused look.

"You want me to write you a song about how much I’d love to cum on your boobs?"

At those words, Mia nearly falls off her chair.

"L-Leon... you seriously wrote a song about Isabelle where you... say stuff like that?!"

"Of course! Want to hear it too? It’s a total hit!"

"If my interest in hearing it was already zero before, now that I know what it’s about, I wouldn’t listen to it even if my life depended on it!"

"You’re so mean..."

Yuzu can’t help but laugh as she watches them argue, but her expression shifts instantly the moment she meets Ren’s somber gaze. He’s been silent the entire time, staring at the black screen of his phone as if waiting for it to light up at any second.

"Big brother, what’s wrong? You were fine just half an hour ago, and now you look like you’re at a funeral... did something happen?"

He offers a strained smile.

"It’s nothing, little sis. Don’t worry. I’m just a bit concerned about a test we had this morning — you know how much Iris cares about us getting good grades. I don’t want to disappoint her, that’s all."

"I’m sure you did great, big brother — like always!"

"I really hope so."

After hearing him speak, the mood shifts — everyone grows noticeably more serious. Even Leon, though he keeps arguing about that questionable song as if nothing were wrong. Since they’re all in the same class, they know there was no test that morning. It’s obviously just an excuse to keep Yuzu from worrying — which means something far worse must be going on. So they play along.

When lunch break ends, the group heads toward the middle school next to the high school to walk Yuzu back.

"I know the way, you know. You don’t need to come," Ren says, his tone sharper than usual.

By now, it’s obvious to everyone that something serious has happened. Ren is visibly tense, and the way he’s acting — so far removed from the polite, composed boy they’ve known — only confirms it.

Even so, they keep following him all the way into the middle school, completely ignoring his protest.

As soon as Ren steps inside the middle school next to the high school a swarm of girls rushes out of their classrooms, admiring him and whispering from a safe distance.

"Yuzu Toya’s brother is so handsome!"

"Yeah, even if he’s always so serious. If I were in Yuzu’s place, I’d know how to make him smile..."

Those are the kinds of comments directed at Ren — but Mia and Zaira don’t go unnoticed either.

The moment word spreads that two gorgeous upperclass girls are walking through the halls, the boys flood the corridors as well.

"Those two have to be the bombshells who just transferred from New York — my brother told me, he’s in their class."

"Man, he’s so lucky getting to see them every day..."

Mia clicks her tongue, stepping into the middle of the group to avoid the stares.

Zaira, on the other hand, looks completely in her element — like a celebrity on the red carpet. She slows down just enough to drift behind the others, striking playful poses and blowing kisses to the boys who catch her attention.

"Zaira, cut it out — stop acting like an exhibitionist!" Mia snaps, grabbing her by the arm.

"What’s the problem? Some of them are actually pretty cute!"

"You’re unbelievable — they’re, what, twelve? Thirteen?"

"And? They won’t stay that age forever."

"You’re seriously the worst..."

Chris lets out a quiet laugh.

Zaira’s habit of flirting with anyone she finds attractive doesn’t bother him in the slightest. He knows exactly what she’s like — their relationship is purely physical, mixed with friendship. No romance, just sex. And that suits him just fine.

He can’t imagine being in a serious relationship with someone like her.

After walking Yuzu to her classroom, Ren crosses the courtyard that separates the middle school from the high school.

That’s when Zaira moves in. Being the one closest to him — and his cousin — Chris and Mia had insisted she be the one to figure out what’s bothering him.

Zaira hurries after him, and when she realizes he isn’t heading back to the high school but toward the exit, she follows him out into the street.