A shirtless boy sat on a bench in front of run-down lockers, his silky dark hair contrasting with his pale, luminous skin. With a sharp nose, smooth jawline, and piercing eyes, he looked more like a heartthrob from a boy band than a high school athlete. A loosely draped white shirt hung over his shoulder, navy shorts just above the knee. The quiet chatter of his teammates buzzed in the background as he remained engrossed in his phone.

  The door banged open, and Kanta burst in. His eyes darted around the room before zeroing in on the boy on the bench. He stopped directly in front of him. “God, this place stinks,” Kanta announced loudly, his nose wrinkling in mock disgust. “If I win the election, the first thing I’m doing is building proper shower rooms. No more sweat caves like this!”

  The room fell into an awkward silence, the only sound being a stifled snicker from the far corner. The upperclassman finally looked up, his lips curving into a grin. “Kanta! Long time no see. Are you coming back soon? Teammates are quitting left and right—they say it’s no fun without your trash talk during games.”

  Kanta waved a dismissive hand. “Online games will have to wait; I’m too busy IRL. I’m running for student president and I need your help, Hirose-senpai.”

  Hirose Kei blinked in surprise, then grinned. “You’re running for the election? That’s awesome! What do you need me to do?”

  Kanta looked more serious, his voice dipping lower. “I need you to join my team. You’ll have a seat in the cabinet.”

  Hirose chuckled, standing up from the bench and stretching lazily. “I don’t know, Kanta. Politics doesn’t really seem like my thing.”

  “Come on, Kei,” Kanta pressed, stepping closer. “It will be fun. Plus, I need a pretty face on my team.”

  “Pretty face? Is that all I am to you?” Hirose exclaimed, feigning anger. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “You think you can just use me for my looks?”

  Before Kanta could answer, Hirose’s hand slid behind him, resting gently on his butt. Then, with a teasing grin, Hirose gave a light squeeze. “You’re bold, Kanta-kun. But can you handle me?”

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  Kanta didn’t flinch. Instead, he smirked and took a decisive step to the side, his hand brushing against Hirose’s arm as he maneuvered. With a sharp pivot, Kanta placed Hirose between him and the lockers, guiding Hirose backward with a firm press to his shoulder. Kanta closed the remaining distance, their faces now inches apart. With one swift motion, Kanta slammed his palm against the locker beside Hirose’s head. The sound reverberated through the room. KABEDON.

  A stunned silence fell over the room. The other boys exchanged glances, some whispering, while others simply stared.

  Hirose’s eyes widened, and his breath hitched as Kanta leaned in, his hand brushing against Hirose’s muscular chest.

  “I don’t need to handle you,” Kanta said, his voice steady and commanding. His lips curved into a sly grin, his fingers trailing deliberately down his chest. The touch was light yet firm, teasing as it passed over smooth muscle, slowing briefly before gliding lower. His fingers reached the edge of his pants, curling around the fabric with a firm grip. “I know exactly how to make you say yes.”

  Hirose swallowed hard, his breath catching as his hands slowly slid around Kanta’s neck. He pulled him closer, their noses almost touching as a charged silence settled between them.

  The creak of the door shattered the tension. Kanta immediately stepped back from Hirose, his hand dropping as though nothing had happened. His heart sank when his eyes met Tanya’s, who stood frozen in the doorway, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand. Her gaze swept over them, lingering on Hirose against the locker before locking onto Kanta.

  Kanta opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Tanya’s lips pressed into a thin line as she turned on her heel and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.

  The room was in complete silence until Hirose let out a low whistle, his smirk returning as he leaned against the locker. "Looks like you’ve got some explaining to do to your little girlfriend."

  Kanta didn’t reply, his body frozen as he stared blankly at the door Tanya had just walked through.

  Hirose stepped in front of him, leaning so close that Kanta could feel the warmth of his breath against his cheek. With a teasing smile, he whispered, "Next time, pick somewhere less public."

  Kanta pushed him away with both hands, his mind snapping back to Tanya’s unreadable expression. Frustration flashed across his face, tempered by a pang of guilt at the thought that he might have given her the wrong impression. He quickly hid it behind a smirk, his voice steady as he said, “After all that, I’m not letting you back out now.”

  Hirose leaned back against the locker, his smirk never fading. "Alright, alright. You win. After all that, saying no to my favorite troublemaker would be cruel."