You’re walking back to your dorm, the quiet of the campus settling around you as you plan out the rest of your night. Probably nothing too exciting; just another low-key evening away from the noise. That is, until you hear the sharp click of heels on pavement and someone calling your name. You turn around, and there she is—Aika Yukimura, the campus's resident influencer and social media queen. The last person you'd expect to be chasing you down in the middle of the night. Before you can even register what’s happening, she’s standing in front of you, her arms crossed and her eyes sizing you up with a critical, appraising look. Dressed in a chic, slightly provocative outfit that must’ve cost a fortune, she’s as stunning as you’ve heard, every inch of her meticulously styled. She’s looking at you like she’s considering whether you’re up to some impossible standard you never even knew existed. “You’re perfect,” she says bluntly, almost as if she’s talking to herself. Then, without giving you a chance to respond, she launches right in. “I’ve got a proposition for you.” Seeing your hesitation she he rolls her eyes, visibly annoyed. “Yes, a contract. I need someone who’s not going to swoon over me every five minutes, someone who won’t get clingy. You don’t seem like the type to care about that stuff, right?” You open your mouth to respond, but she holds up a manicured hand to stop you. “Here’s the deal. You’re going to be my boyfriend.” Her tone is dead serious. “I’ll pay you. Handsomely. Think of it like an exclusive job. You come to events with me, take pictures when I need, and make me look good. I need someone low-profile, someone who won’t be obsessed with me—and you seem like the perfect candidate.” The whole situation feels surreal, like you’ve stepped into some weird dream. She’s watching you closely now, waiting for your reaction, her usual self-assured air almost masking a flicker of impatience. “So, what do you say? I’ll pay you monthly,” she says, looking almost bored, “with bonuses for anything extra I might need. Think of it as a… mutually beneficial arrangement.” You hesitate, wondering if she’s for real. But the way she’s standing there, arms folded and eyebrow arched, makes it clear that she doesn’t like being kept waiting.

You stutter out an objection, but she raises an eyebrow. "I don't understand," she says flatly. "Are you turning me down?" Her tone makes it clear that the idea of rejection doesn't sit well with her. She takes a step closer, towering over you despite being only an inch or two taller than your average build. Her gaze is unyielding and intense. "You seem like you could handle the job," she presses. "And I'm willing to pay well."

There's an edge to her voice that leaves no room for doubt about what's being offered here: money, fame, and a chance to be close to someone as beautiful and influential as Aika Yukimura. But deep down, you wonder if there's something more she needs from you. Something genuine. You hesitate, weighing your options.

Disappointment flickers across Aika's face as you turn away and mumble an apology. She watches you retreat with a mixture of confusion and annoyance, uncertainty clouding her features momentarily. "Well," she says, eventually regaining her composure, "I suppose there are plenty of other options." The words are barely out of her mouth when the urge to call after you strikes her like a bolt from the blue. She takes a step forward, hesitating before speaking. "Wait," she says, voice slightly less confident now. "Just think about it, okay? There's no rush." But even as she says the words, she knows there is indeed a rush - a growing sense that you might just be the one person who can help her separate reality from fantasy.

Her expression softens slightly at your words, and she takes another step forward, moving to stand close enough that you can feel her warm breath on your cheek. "Of course not," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper now. "It's just... I get so many people telling me how perfect I am, how beautiful they think I am." She pauses, searching for the right words. "But it's all fake, you know? It doesn't mean anything." Her gaze meets yours, and for a moment, she looks vulnerable - almost fragile. "I just... want someone real. Someone who sees through all that, you know?"

Her hand finds your cheek gently, cupping it as she tilts your face up to meet hers. The look in her eyes is intense now, pleading perhaps for something more than just an answer. "You seem different," she says softly.

Her eyes widen in surprise at your confession and you can see her processing it all, absorbing the weight of what you're telling her. Her fingers tighten slightly on your cheek as if she doesn't want to lose this moment. "Yes," she whispers back, equally surprised by how much it means for someone to understand her so well. There's a brief pause before she smiles softly, her lips curling into the perfect shape of an O.

"So... what do you say?" she asks, tilting her head slightly to one side. "Would you consider being my boyfriend? Just for now... until we both figure things out?" Her gaze doesn't waver from yours as she awaits your answer, hope burning brightly in those cerulean orbs of hers.

"And of course," she continues before you can respond, "I'll pay you well. More than enough

The anticipation in her eyes is palpable as you finally give your answer. She feels a mix of relief and nervous excitement, wondering if this was the right decision to make. But there's something about the way you say it, something sincere and genuine that makes her heart skip a beat. Perhaps... just perhaps she might have found what she's been looking for all along.

With a small, grateful smile spreading across her lips, Aika takes your hand in hers, her touch light but steady. "Thank you," she whispers, words filled with an emotion she's not used to showing so openly. "I promise I won't disappoint."

Together, they walk back toward her dorm, the weight of their new arrangement hanging in the air between them like a fragile thread. But for now, it feels right - as if something genuine and real has finally emerged from the chaos