A stupid cold shouldn't keep a fighter down. Right?

Wrong. It had been a week since she vanished from the halls of Kōryō — a week where she had spent the time bedridden, with Kaku begrudgingly giving her water and medicine at Hakubi's behest.

Prior to Renka's sudden disappearance, she had made the most of her transfer to Kenichi Shirahama's school. Shoving innocent bystanders out of the way at every opportunity to smother him with her oversized chesticles. Guys constantly whispering in the wake of these events, half-jealous of the gardener's plight, but half-terrified of the bodacious, obnoxious Chinese transfer student.

And then one day, she was gone. Much to Kenichi's relief, though he'd never particularly voice it. Thank god, sweet freedom. No more boobs in his face — a weird thing to not want, but still. He had enough on his plate to deal wi—

"She's back."

That was all Natsu Tanimoto said within earshot of Shirahama, who always insisted on walking alongside the faux prince in the hallways.

"Who's back, Tanimoto-kun?" inquired the gardener, sparing the blonde of his first name this time around. Nice.

"Sougetsu's niece."

Kenichi's carefree smile quickly dropped.

"Renka? … Oh, boy. Thanks for the warning. I'd better be prepared."

Palms sweaty, knees heavy, and already imagining himself caught up in yet another awkward circumstance that Miu will entirely misinterpret.

"Warning?" Tanimoto-kun asked for clarification, his memory of the relationship between cat and gardener rather fuzzy, thoughts entirely plagued by current events regarding Yami. Not that he particularly cared to find out the answer, of course.

"Mhm. She kinda likes me, and Miu tends to get really jealous when she's around," Kenichi continued with a simple breakdown of their toxic relationship, hands shoved in his pockets dejectedly. As if several boys at the school wouldn't want his dilemma.

As if cursing himself with the words he spoke, a pigtail-clad figure had now popped out from behind a corner, eyes zeroing in on the brunette fighter.

Tanimoto gave the poor boy a puzzling glare, wondering when he ever became popular with women.

"Sure—"

A pause.

"Do you feel that?"

"I do," Kenichi whimpered, slowly turning his head towards the sound of familiar bells…

Renka had teleported in by Kenichi's side, arms quickly clasping around his bicep.

"Kenichi, nyah!~ Funny running into you here! What a coincidence!"

Cue the flailing on Kenichi's part, and the blonde simply gave the girl a blank stare.

"R-Renka! Where did you come from?!" Kenichi whined, heart lodged deep within his throat.

"Silly! I was right here the whole time! Or did you not notice me somehow? I've really missed you! We haven't spent some quality time together in a while!"

The boobilicious assault moved from his upper arm to his face; Renka had forced him into a hug, his mien shoved straight into her chest. Nothing but muffled protests and a smug smile from the genki cat…

And Natsu eyed them with an icy expression.

"Hmph."

He had nothing more to say, spinning on his heel as he took his leave.

"Enjoy yourselves…"

It was only around then Renka noticed the blonde's presence, snootily glaring at his existence. It's that guy again; one whose true reputation eluded her. He was always seen hanging around Kenichi, and according to Kenichi's inner circle of friends, was supposed to be part of the purported Shinpaku Alliance. So he was a fighter too, right? She often caught him glaring at the history's mightiest disciple, possessing quite the sour mood... and yet...

… He's a total playboy, amassing an army of fangirls, tutoring them, eating their food, being reportedly the nicest guy around. None of that seems to match his current demeanor, but whatever.

"Why were you talking to him? Were you talking about me, Kenichi?" she inquired in a sing-song voice, keeping the brunette in a headlock.

"Y-yes, actually," Kenichi croaked, trying to establish eye contact with his rival to keep him from leaving him in the claws of the kitten, prone to being discovered by Miu. He might as well be dead after that.

Natsu stopped momentarily, speaking to Shirahama through pure telepathy derived from glares and puppy dog stares.

Tanimoto-kun, please...

Why should I?!

I'll owe you a favor… just help me out here, will ya?

Kenichi pleaded with his gaze, already getting dragged off. Renka continued to yammer on in the background—

"... whether or not it makes me look fat or pretty! I'm sure Miu won't mind at all—"

Tanimoto squinted.

Then keep your sister away from my home. Yami is becoming a bigger threat for her to be around.

I'll try, but it won't be that easy!

Kenichi was getting further and further—

Fine.

A rare glint of pity for the poor idiot had shone through the Hermit's icy persona.

You better run at full speed when she lets go.

The prince focused his killing intent towards the busty catgirl; her pupils narrowed in alarm, prompting her to drop Kenichi.

"GottagotrainsoI'llseeyoulaterbye!"

And he just… booked it. Nothing but a cloud of smoke. Luckily, Renka had already forgotten about him, verdant eyes glaring back to see who dared to challenge her to a fight.

… And it was just the blonde, now graciously smiling at a timid female student sporting double braids, who happened to be requesting his help with her math exam. That feeling of bloodlust was now entirely gone, replaced by this splendor and charm and—

"Hey! What's the big idea?!"

Renka had marched right up to the model student, prodding her finger into his chest.

"Ah, hello there," Prince Tanimoto feigned a clueless grin, internally vowing to remind Kenichi of his newfound debt for this favor. The poor braided student he spoke to had been cast aside, tears glimmering at the edge of her eyes. It had taken her all week to build up courage to speak to the prince…

"Don't give me that," Renka snarkily retorted, arms now akimbo on her hips.

"What?" His innocent demeanor persisted, the same girl once again trying to show her exam sheet to the boy. Izumi or whatever her name was. Renka hardly knew her and thus paid little attention.

"Please, Tanimoto-oji," Izumi pleaded—

And Renka promptly shoved her work aside, standing tall and proud in front of her soon-to-be nemesis. "Are you looking for a fight or not?! What's up with your sudden nice act?!"

"A-a fight?" A look of surprise washed over the gentle boy. "I'm not a fighter," his nervous voice carried through the hallway, overrun by eavesdroppers and peering students alike.

"Don't play stupid, pretty boy!" Her shrill voice rang out, far too loud for the current audience that had now begun to take notice of this preposterous event. Was the new girl seriously antagonizing their beloved prince?

"You and I both know who you are — so why do you want to fight me? I'll beat you up!"

"I don't want to fight," the prince dismissed her as he darted through the gathering crowd of girls, who hissed and booed at the transfer student, and even threw books in her direction.

Tanimoto-kun eventually managed to lose his new assailant in the crowd; he caught his breath in an empty hallway, attempting to soothe the inner rage that coursed within him. Shirahama. He'll kill him.

Aaand a light thud echoed behind him, bells jingling as she landed. A cursory glance upwards, and Tanimoto noted the open vent above his head.

Shit.

"So now that it's just you and me… are you going to tell me what's going on?" Renka's shrill voice wafted from behind him, arms crossed once again.

A major pain in the neck, he thought, now entirely dropping his facade in the absence of others.

"It's over," his cold voice sliced through the air, benevolent demeanor wholly diminishing. "There's no reason for you to be here."

The sudden shift in tone and the narrowing of his pupils alarmed Renka. It was like seeing a completely different person, but she refused to back down, despite the slight falter within her voice.

"I — I could sense that killing intent. What's your problem?"

She dared to match his frosty glare.

And now his gaze bore straight into hers, from one pair of catty eyes to another.

"Everyone's my problem!" he suddenly lashed out, startling the Chinese martial artist so he could make another getaway. Renka reflexively blinked, and when she opened her eyes, he had entirely vanished.

"What did I ever do to you?! Stupid pretty boy!

… And why does he have to be so cute?!"

She stomped away, infuriated. Lost track of her crush, lost track of a good-looking guy whose ass she could kick. What a day.