"B-but Kentaro, I want-" Serica began, her voice trembling with hesitation. But she cut herself short. There was a reason behind Kentaro's declaration; she could see it in his eyes, and if this was what it took to fix Tenka's strange, mysterious huff, then so be it. She was willing to sacrifice her chance to perform with Kentaro.

Aria's lips parted in shock, though deep down she'd already suspected this outcome. She remained quiet, her hands folding neatly against her lap.

Tenka, however, froze. Her eyes flew wide open, her entire face turning crimson in a rush of heat.

"What!? SHUT UP, JACKASS! THAT'S THE LEAST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW!" she roared, hurling a pillow across the room with the force of a cannonball.

Kentaro didn't dodge. He let the pillow slap against his face and slide down to the floor. And when it did, Tenka caught something she didn't expect: the corners of his mouth tugged upward into a knowing smirk.

Like he'd figured her out.

"I knew it," Kentaro said, his tone maddeningly calm. "At first, I didn't believe it, but it seems I was right." His smirk grew as he tapped the floor with his toes. "Listen, Tenka, if you just said you wanted to play the role, I would've said yes, y'know. And besides… since when did you want to be an actress?"

He tilted his head, eyebrows arched with confusion.

Her blood boiled. "SHUT UPPPPP!" she bellowed, springing to her feet. Her leg cocked back, heel angled for a devastating kick.

Kentaro's eyes widened in horror. He knew the damage that was coming, the legendary "special kick" that would leave his ribs begging for mercy come morning.

His eyes flew open as he watched the blur of her foot launch towards him. "IF ONLY SHOGO were HERE!" he cried, shutting his eyes and bracing for impact.

"Stop! Tenka!"

A sharp voice cut through the air.

Kentaro cracked one eye open. There was no pain, no sudden flight across the room. Inches away from him, Tenka's foot trembled mid-air, frozen in place.

And standing between them, arms outstretched in a protective stance, was Serica.

"Listen!" she shouted, her tone unusually firm. "There's no point fighting over this. If you're not going to take the role, then I will!"

"Nggh…" Tenka lowered her leg, her glare locking onto Serica. She expected a joke, a pout, some flirtatious remark, something to lighten the mood. But Serica's face was dead serious, her eyes blazing with conviction.

"Kentaro's being nice," Serica continued, voice steady. "He'd choose you over us three anyway. So please, take some time to think before rushing into something rash… something you'll regret."

Tenka's lips pressed together in a hard line. For a moment, she looked ready to snap back. But then, she exhaled through her nose, arms folding over her chest. "Whatever," she muttered, almost sulking.

Kentaro wiped the sweat from his brow and sank into the couch, relief making his shoulders sag. Serica slipped down beside him, a living barrier between the two. Tenka remained rigid, her arms crossed, her gaze locked on some invisible point ahead.

There was silence for a couple of seconds. Serica gave Kentaro a small smile as she sat in the middle, fidgeting with her finger. "Well," Tenka finally said, breaking the silence, voice clipped, "we know what she wants. But why did Shaula give us this absurd offer? That's the real mystery. There must be something more behind this. It's unusual."

Kentaro scratched his cheek, brow furrowed. "Yeah, maybe… but maybe it's just as simple as her loving the drama. You heard her; she said she loved acting. Maybe this is just her idea of fun with some stakes."

His words hung hollow in the air.

Tenka didn't answer. She leaned back into her chair, crimson eyes narrowed in thought. Shaula's "proposition" gnawed at her. Nothing about it sat right. Why Kentaro? Why now? Would she really take Rin's word at face value? How did she even know Rin? The questions stacked higher and higher, forming a wall Tenka couldn't climb.

Before she could voice a thought, the sound of a door hinge creaking snapped everyone's attention to the front of the apartment.

The door opened slowly, and there stood an unexpected figure.

A long white lab coat brushed past her knees, the faint lamplight glinting off her glasses. Blonde hair tied back into a neat ponytail swayed as she stepped inside, and her pale blue eyes scanned the group like a hawk measuring prey.

"Haruka?!" Kentaro blurted, springing to his feet.

The analyst adjusted her crooked glasses with a practised push. "Hello, Ren. Long time no see," she replied flatly.

Aria, noticing Kentaro's unusual reaction, blinked, then whispered to Serica, "Is… is it bad she's here?"

Serica tilted her head, frowning. "No, but… I've never seen her visit Kentaro's apartment. This feels… wrong somehow." Her gaze flickered toward Kentaro with suspicion.

"Umm, well, I thought being in person was better," Haruka explained as if reading their minds.

Tenka rose from her seat, nodding firmly. "Agreed. I was about to suggest we move this discussion to Halcyon HQ. But we might as well settle it now."

Haruka approached with deliberate steps, eventually perching on the couch's armrest beside Kentaro. She pulled out her tablet, the screen casting a pale glow over her sharp features.

"From what I've analysed," she began, tapping at data streams, "Shaula is very much into you, Kentaro. To put it bluntly, she likes you."

Kentaro's jaw slackened. "What…?"

Aria and Serica's eyes widened.

"Her heart rate spiked during your exchange," Haruka continued. "Matter-of-factly, in the way one might expect when speaking with someone they see as… a lover."

Serica puffed her cheeks. "Then why's she being such a jerk if she likes him?"

"Good question," Kentaro muttered. "So what? She tortures me because she has a crush?"

Haruka shook her head. "Unlikely. If anything, it could stem from insecurity, or perhaps something deeper. But the data doesn't explain why. It only confirms the attachment."

A heavy silence fell across the room. The kind where every tick of the clock felt like a hammer.

Tenka was the one to finally break it. Her voice was softer than before, but a sharp edge still cut through. "Whatever it is, we need to stay cautious. Especially with her threats. We can't take her words lightly."

Kentaro nodded grimly. "Yeah. She mentioned Serica, Aria, and Yura, but never explained why."

Aria's shoulders trembled. "Why us?" she whispered.

Haruka adjusted her glasses again, her expression unreadable. "We don't know. That's why we must keep close watch. With the commander," Her eyes flicked toward Tenka," as the lead role, she'll be positioned near you and Kentaro. If Shaula tries anything, she'll be there to stop it."

Tenka huffed, eyes averting. "Yeah, whatever."

"Actually, that's a brilliant idea, Haruka!" Kentaro said, raising his voice in sudden enthusiasm.

"Hehe, just doing my job," Haruka replied, lips curling into a smug grin.

"Don't push your luck," Tenka snapped.

"…Acknowledged." Haruka's expression went flat again, her voice drained of warmth.

"Scary…" Serica muttered, clutching her arms, watching Haruka's smile vanish instantly.

The awkward silence stretched again until Kentaro, desperate to shake it off, clapped his hands and stood tall.

"Right! Tomorrow we get started. Tachibana will handle the script, and with Tenka as our new princess, there won't be any delays!"

His words fell into a void.

"…Anyone?" Kentaro asked, glancing around. Aria and Serica offered small smiles, but their silence only made his forced enthusiasm more painful.

"K-Kentaro," Aria finally spoke, hesitant. "With Tenka as the princess… What about us?"

Kentaro opened his mouth but faltered. Before he could answer, Haruka stepped in.

"You, Serica, and Yura will handle backstage support. If necessary, you might take minor roles. But for now, it's best to keep you out of the spotlight." Her voice carried a strange motherly firmness.

Aria nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

"No fair!" Serica pouted, puffing out her cheeks.

"Come on, guys! Let's make this fun!" Kentaro said, trying to spread his optimism. His inner voice screamed otherwise: Why am I even acting chummy about this? I'm the lead actor. People will be staring at me.

Tenka rose to her feet, arms folded like an iron wall. "Ken. If you mess this up, I'll personally assign you Shogo's next punishment."

A chill shot down Kentaro's spine. He snapped into a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am!"

Finally, a small smirk curved Tenka's lips. "Good. We're counting on you. We can't afford to lose."

Kentaro beamed back, raising a fist. "And I'm counting on you too, Tenka! Please watch over me through this journey!"

The way he said it, overly dramatic, like some shōnen protagonist pledging himself, made Haruka snicker. The sound was contagious, and soon Aria and Serica laughed too.

Kentaro blinked, confused as their laughter filled the room. "Guys? What did I say?"

No one answered him.

By the time night fell, Haruka and Shogo (Who was lying on the floor outside where Kentaro had left him) had departed back to HQ through the door crossing, leaving only Kentaro and the Alberlines behind.

The apartment grew quiet again. Serica, Aria, and Tenka each settled into their places. But this time, it wasn't Serica or Aria curled up beside Kentaro.

It was Tenka.

Not beside him, thankfully, on the futon, neatly laid out on the floor.

The moonlight filtered through the curtains, painting pale silver streaks across the living room. Kentaro lay awake on the couch, staring at the ceiling. And somehow… he felt more uncomfortable now than he ever had with Serica or Aria pressed against him.

This silence wasn't comforting. It was heavy. Strange.

He glanced left. Tenka's dark hair spilt across her pillow, her body turned away from him. Was she asleep? He couldn't tell.

But one thing was certain: after everything Haruka had said, after Tenka's uncharacteristic huffs and silences…

Something about her felt more mysterious and more fragile: "Tenka being this so fixated on something other than the Alberlines is rare." Kentaro thought to himself as he stared at Tenka's back.

But before he could turn his head away from her back, Tenka turned around, her eyes shined in the moon light as they met his, her face, was low, almost sad like she was upset about something, Kentaro didn't shy away getting caught staring at her back, her face was giving him red flags there was something wrong, and as her freind Kentaro needed to find out.

But before he could open his mouth, Tenka had beaten him to the word.

"Ken... We need to talk."

There was an intensity in her voice that sent a jolt through him, tightening the knot of worry in his stomach. He could feel the weight of her words hanging in the air, thick with unspoken fears...

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