Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World-Chapter 136: Target Confirmed.

"Target confirmed. Kentaro Takamiya in sight."

Kira's voice was little more than a whisper, lost in the early morning air as she crouched low on the rooftop opposite Kentaro's apartment. She adjusted her short jacket, the black fabric blending poorly against the daylight sky, but she didn't care. To her, this wasn't just observation; this was a mission. And missions required a uniform. Even if her uniform was basically a skirt, boots, and a fake moustache, she'd packed just in case.

Professionalism is about the vibe, she told herself firmly. If I look the part, I am the part.

The front door creaked open below. Kira's heart gave a small leap, anticipation bubbling. She leaned forward, ready to spring down with a dramatic "surprise" reunion, already rehearsing in her head how Kentaro would gasp her name, how he'd hold her hand and say he missed her.

Voices. Plural.

Kira froze, head whipping forward. It wasn't Kentaro alone. One by one, the girls filed out after him. Serica, Yura, Tenka, and finally...

Her eyes widened. The redhead.

"…Siren." The name hissed past Kira's lips like poison.

She gripped the edge of the roof until her knuckles whitened. "So that's where you've been hiding. Playing house with Kentaro, huh? Pretending to fit in, to act human…" Her chest tightened, anger mixing with unease. She remembered the report: 'Alberline, controls wth voice, cooperative.' But Kira had seen enough Alberlines to know better. Monsters didn't just… Smile and blend in.

Her own smile twisted. "Relax, Kira. Observation only. This is for the mission."

But when Serica casually looped her arm around Kentaro's and began chatting with him, Kira nearly leapt off the building right then and there. Ice Queen's days are numbered. Just one drop kick… No, no, professional, Kira. Professional.

She crouched, whispered into her imaginary comms.

"Target group leaving premises. Commence tailing."

There was no reply. Of course, there wasn't; she had no earpiece, no backup team. But that didn't stop her from signalling forward with a hand motion like she had an entire squad at her back.

The group moved on, and Kira followed, rolling across rooftops, ducking behind lamp posts, even donning her moustache-and-glasses disguise when they boarded the train. She caught her reflection in the window and gave herself a firm nod. Shogo would be proud.

Now seated one cart away from Kentaro, she leaned forward, eyes flicking constantly between Aria and the rest of the group. Kentaro looked tired, weighed down, but Aria? Aria radiated warmth, laughing softly, leaning in with those impossibly trusting eyes.

Kira's nails dug into her palm. No Alberline trusts this easily. This is a trick. A con. I'll expose you.

She needed a plan. Something simple to get Aria away from the others. Something subtle. Something genius.

Her answer: collapse like a dying grandma.

Kira stood abruptly, stumbled forward, then threw herself to the floor with a dramatic groan. "Ahhhh! Help me! My frail old body… So weak…!"

Everyone on the train turned.

Yura squinted. "Is… Is she doing the worm?"

Serica tilted her head. "No, I think it's some sort of… Ritual?"

Kira ignored them, clutching her chest, rolling slightly for effect. "If only… A kind young girl with… Red hair… Would help me…!"

There. Direct. Obvious. Foolproof.

A pause. Then soft footsteps approached.

Aria.

"Um… I'll help her."

Her voice was gentle, uncertain, and utterly devoid of suspicion. She knelt beside Kira, her brows creased in honest concern. "Are you okay, miss?"

Kira blinked up at her. That look… It wasn't fake. She was genuinely worried. No… Impossible. Nobody trusts this easily. Nobody.

She forced her voice to be raspy. "Yes, dear… If you could… Just help me up…"

Aria slipped her hands under Kira's arm and lifted. Kira nearly cursed; the ease with which she stood up made her act completely unconvincing.

"…Oops," she muttered. "Should've leaned harder."

Still, Aria smiled, bowing slightly. "I'm glad you're alright." She began to turn back toward Kentaro, but Kira snapped upright.

"Wait! Before you go… Please. Sit with me, just for a moment."

Aria hesitated, caught off guard, but Kira patted the seat firmly. The sway of the train nudged Aria forward, and with a tiny nod, she sat.

Kira adjusted her glasses disguise, studying her carefully. "First, please tell me your name. And tell me… Who is that boy to you?"

Aria blinked. "It's... Aria and the boy he's Kentaro?"

Kira's teeth clicked. "Ahh, Aria, I see Kentaro Takamiya. What is he to you?"

The Alberline's face softened instantly. A faint blush colored her cheeks. "He's… Someone special. The most important person in the world to me."

Kira's chest tightened. The way she said it wasn't calculated. It wasn't manipulative. It was… Sincere.

But Kira pressed on. "And why? Why is he important?"

Aria fidgeted with her skirt, searching for words. She couldn't say because I'm an Alberline he saved. Instead, she whispered, "He saved me. From people who wanted to hurt me. I don't know why he did, but… He made me feel safe. No one's ever done that before."

Kira studied her. No flicker of deception. Just pure, ridiculous, dangerous trust.

"…Heh." Kira leaned back, forcing a smirk. "You're naïve. People will use that kindness against you."

Aria tilted her head, smiling softly. "Maybe. But if I stop trusting people… I'll stop being me."

For a moment, Kira had no response. She stared at the girl, words stuck in her throat. Finally, she muttered, "…Interesting," and with that, Aria bowed slightly before heading back to Kentaro.

As she sat, she noticed something, "Wait, did she say Kentaro's full name?" Aria whispered.

She looked back at Kira, who was still sitting there looking at the floor, but before she was going to go over and ask about her connection to Kentaro, the man they'd been talking about tapped her shoulders and began to ask what had happened.

The train slowed. The group rose, heading toward campus. Kira sat frozen, Aria's words echoing in her head, until she realised she was being left behind. She tore off the disguise, muttering to herself as she hurried after them.

"Don't get pulled in. She's still an Alberline. No matter how kind she sounds." She muttered.

She smiles too easily. Talks too openly. No one's that trusting unless they're hiding something…

When Kentaro and the girls left, Kira followed, blending into crowds, ducking behind walls, slipping into the flow of students pouring onto campus. Every time someone gave her a weird look, she lifted her chin higher. They don't know I'm undercover. Professionalism, Kira. Professionalism.

Up ahead, she spotted Kentaro. But before she could close the distance, Tenka's friends swarmed him. Her eyes widened. Kentaro and Tenka were being pulled into a classroom by one of the girls, separated from the Alberlines.

"This is my chance," Kira whispered, peeling off her disguise. No time for moustaches or glasses now. She straightened her posture and strode through the hall, her face calm, emotionless, the perfect picture of "Nothing suspicious here."

Students still gave her strange looks, probably because she'd been crouching by a wall for five straight minutes, but she ignored them.

She passed Yura. Then Aria tilted her head as if trying to place her face. Kira didn't flinch.

But Serica noticed. And Serica moved.

"Stop right there, Kira!" she barked, stepping forward, arms spread wide like a human barricade. Her glare could have cut glass.

"Tsch. What is it, homewrecker?" Kira snapped back.

Serica's lips curled. "Get away from Kentaro. I know what you're trying to do."

Annoyance flared in Kira's chest. She clicked her tongue. "Listen, I'm just going to class. Why hang around Kentaro right now when I can just wait… And have him all to myself?" She smirked.

Serica faltered, clearly out of words, before folding her arms and stepping aside. "Tsch. Fine. Whatever. Just don't go near him."

"Fool," Kira muttered with a victorious smile, brushing past her.

But the moment her foot touched the ground again, the classroom door swung open.

Kentaro and Tenka stepped out.

"Kentaro!" Kira's eyes went wide as she tried to run forward.

But Serica blocked her again, arms out like a goalkeeper.

"Move, homewrecker!" Kira snarled, trying to shove past.

"No! I'm going to Kentaro first! Go away!" Serica snapped back, equally fierce.

The clash froze instantly.

Because a voice rang down the hall.

A voice Kira didn't recognise.

But Serica did.

Her body stiffened, her eyes widening.

"Who is that?" Kira asked, lowering her arms, watching as a girl in a green headband strolled toward them with an easy, taunting smile.

"Um… New transfer student," Serica muttered quickly, though her wide eyes betrayed her unease.

Kira narrowed her gaze. "And what does she want with my husband?"

"First, he's not your husband." Serica grit her teeth. "Second… She challenged Kentaro. To a 'battle of the plays.' Or whatever."

Kira blinked. "…Battle of the play?"

"Yep. We're doing a play for the festival. Didn't you, oh right. You've been gone."

"And the play is…?" Kira asked, heart beginning to race. Please let it be Sleeping Beauty. Please let it be the kiss scene.

Serica's shoulders slumped. "Sleeping Beauty. But Tenka's the princess. Kentaro's the prince."

The words hit like a dagger.

"AHHHH!" Kira cried, dropping to her knees dramatically.

"Kira?!" Serica crouched beside her.

"How could this be?!" Kira wailed, clutching her chest. "The one thing I wanted… To lock lips with Kentaro… Stolen from me by fate itself! Such a cruel, cruel world!"

Serica's eyes softened. She gently placed a hand on Kira's shoulder. "…I understand. Truly. The world is cruel to people like us."

The two of them sat there, sulking on the floor like tragic actresses in a soap opera.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Yura's voice cut in.

Both girls turned toward her at the same time. Their faces, contorted in melodramatic grief, made Yura grimace.

"We want Kentaro to kiss us…" They both moaned in unison, voices dragging like dying spirits. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Yura froze. "…What the hell?"

While the three of them bickered, Shaula had already skipped into the classroom, leaving only Kentaro and Tenka behind in the hall.

Serica shot up immediately. "What happened?!"

Kentaro gave a quick explanation, at least, of what he was willing to share whilst Kira was with them, but he turned to her anyway. "Hello, Kira. It's been a while-NGH!"

He didn't finish. Kira launched forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. "I'm glad you're okay," she whispered into his chest.

Kentaro smiled, patting her head gently. "I'm happy you're safe too, Kira."

The glares of every girl around him burned into his back, but he ignored them. For a moment, Kira stayed pressed against him, a weight lifted off her shoulders. Then she reluctantly stepped away.

"We're about to be late for class," she said softly.

Kentaro smiled at her. "I'll see you later?"

Her heart fluttered. She nodded. "Text me when you can."

And just like that, she slipped into the classroom.

The second the door shut, Serica, Yura, and Aria pounced on Kentaro.

"KENTARO! What's texting?!" They shouted in unison.

Kentaro staggered back, eyebrows twitching, eyes darting to Tenka like a drowning man begging for help.

Tenka sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "…We should give them phones."

And so Kentaro launched into a tired, half-serious lecture on texting while the girls' eyes sparkled with excitement at their new way of talking to him. Shaula's ominous words hung in the back of his mind, but the others? They were too busy imagining emojis and spam messages.

For Kentaro, this was just another morning in his "normal" life.