ON APRIL 4TH, the morning of the new school year, my cell phone vibrated off my nightstand. Since I hadn't heard a peep from my creepy stalker this last month or so, and due to the surrealism of the event overall, I'd convinced myself it was a prank. That I dreamt up the whole thing.

Happy first day of school,
Anri dear (^з^)-☆
I present to you Love Interest #1!

I guess not.

Through blurry vision, I squinted at my screen posted centimetres from my face.

Just for the fun of it, I decided to include a short character profile. That being said, I'm sure you know him well ( ◠‿◠ )
As per our agreement, you're to capture Ren Takumi's ☆ icy ☆ heart. How you approach the matter is up to you. And only if you manage to get him to ☆ passionately ☆ confess will I reveal the next love interest.
Also, I forgot to mention a time limit! You have one full year to conquer the hearts of all five boys. Take too long on one guy and I might get bored and pull the plug early. Good luck ✌︎('ω')✌︎

Ren Takumi?

I swallowed, hard. Now wide awake, I lay stiff as a board, gaping at my screen. This had to be a joke. I mean, Ren Takumi? That Ren Takumi?

How much do you know about me?

The text I'd fired off in a hurry was left on read. It should've been expected. Any personal questions were going unanswered. I couldn't have a hint about Anonymous's identity but, with this, it truly sunk into my bones how deeply Anonymous knew me.

Ren Takumi bullied me all throughout elementary school. There was no physical violence. However, he did make my life a living hell. Around the clock, he stole my belongings, poured paint on my seat and had me sit in it, vandalized my desk with insults, and got me in trouble with the teachers around the clock.

All for the simple amusement of him and his obnoxious friends.

My parents were already going through a rough patch at the time, and the constant calls and meetings from teachers about my misbehaviour deepened their conflict. It caused a lot more yelling and the rift between them grew to the point where it led to a divorce.

I blamed myself for a long time.

Of course, the true culprit was this asshole.

Although the aftereffects of those years lived on with me, Takumi got to grow out of that phase of his. Once we hit middle school, he stopped getting into trouble as a whole.

He stopped glancing at me; stopped speaking to me.

We were in the same classes for all those three years. We were also put together for our first year of high school—although we sat at opposite ends of the class.

A lot had changed. Puberty had hit Takumi like a truck, so he was exceptionally taller and handsomer. He was an honour roll student—an extracurricular junkie—and all the boys, girls, teachers, and even the principal admired him.

I was the girl most classmates overlooked. The student even the teachers forgot to call the name of for attendance.

A lot had changed, like I said. And I was no longer childish enough to hold a petty grudge. We were kids. No matter how much my younger self despised him for it, Takumi wasn't to blame for the divorce between my parents. It was a boy having boyish fun. He seemed to have moved on. I'd moved on, also.

It'd be ideal if I could ignore his existence up until we graduated.

Clearly, Anonymous had other plans.

He handpicked Takumi as my "love interest"—ugh, I would never get used to that—meaning, he had to have known about our history.

Anonymous attended my elementary school.

Anonymous attended Kanome High School.

Although that sounded like a positive breakthrough, that wasn't enough to figure out who he (or she) was. Most students at Kanome High School attended my elementary school. It was in the same district. Therefore, it wouldn't surprise me if most students remembered how Takumi bullied me once upon a time.

"Loser, wake up." Aoto, my brother who was a year older than me, barged into my room, fully decked out in his Kanome High School uniform. "We're gonna be late for the opening ceremony."

I shooed him off.

He rolled his eyes and then slammed the door after him.

'Tsundere trope,' my ass. Anonymous had absolutely no idea how otome tropes worked. He likely dubbed Takumi a "tsundere" because tsunderes by nature had a track record of bullying the main character. Except, he was forgetting one crucial piece of information: Ren Takumi had no soft or sweet side.

He was a fully-fledged jerk through and through.

I buried my face into my pillow, resisting the urge to scream but to no avail.

I couldn't do this. I couldn't make that jerk fall in love with me.

Oh, who was I kidding?

I didn't have a choice in the matter. It was either Takumi's heart or the end of life as I knew it.

In that case, Takumi was going down.

(On his knees).

(Pathetically in love).

(With me).

"ANONYMOUS STRIKES AGAIN."

Momoe Mizuki waved a crumpled newspaper in front of my face, her coppery eyes shimmering in the midday sun. I hadn't seen her in the eleven days we'd been off for spring vacation but every time we reunited, her blinding looks stunned me without fail. The baby blue dye at the tips of her wavy black hair was more pronounced—I'm sure she'd visited her usual hair salon over the break to re-dye them. Her bangs were held back by trademark heart-shaped barrettes, matching her shiny earrings and bracelets. Besides her mascara, which brought volume to her thick eyelashes, her upturned lips were glossy with lip gloss.

She was exceptionally beautiful. Then, there was me, wearing nothing but good old-fashioned lotion and the cheapest chapstick I could buy.

The only accessory we happened to share were our matching friendship necklaces she'd gifted me back in the sixth grade.

"Anri, did you read this morning's paper?"

Nearby students in the cafeteria clenched newspapers of their own, rambling at the edition that was supposed to have been released before the break. The ones in charge of the school newspaper must've decided to release it today of all days to start off the year on a fresh slate (and hopefully attract new members to the club).

"It says that the no-good philanderer Meguru Nanase is still dating Yuka Sonomi," Moe continued. "What does that mark? Like, a whole month since they got together? Isn't this his longest relationship yet?"

I hummed. My phone out on my lap, I indiscreetly zoomed in on the screen some more. Through the crowd, right at my target. Binoculars would've been too noticeable so I was left with no choice but to use my handheld device.

I lifted a bite-sized cookie from the bag I'd purchased from the convenience store this morning. There was nothing like a good stakeout.

"They'll break up today," I half-heartedly responded.

Moe's eyebrows furrowed together. "What makes you so sure?"

"Spring break was eleven days long, Moe. Eleven days where those two didn't see each other. As soon as they do. . ." I ran my thumb across my neck.

She shook her head. "You're pulling this out of your ass. There's no way. . ."

Right on cue, the boy in question sauntered into the cafeteria.

All eyes darted to him. Primarily, to the girl latched onto his arm. Smiling that charming smile that never failed to send his victims into cardiac arrest, Meguru Nanase came to an abrupt standstill. His lengthy blond hair shimmered like the sun. And on his left, latched onto his arm was a random girl—his current side piece, no doubt.

"Hey, Yuka." He grinned at his poor, speechless girlfriend in front of him. "We're over. I'm dating Eri now."

Unified gasps engulfed the courtyard. Moe included, who'd unintentionally slapped her hand over her mouth. Within seconds, Nanase was gone, his current side chick right behind him.

Yuka raced off in tears.

I nibbled on another cookie.

"What the hell!" Moe was livid. "Not only did he break up with her while flaunting her replacement, but he did it in front of everyone!"

"When does he not?" I answered.

The chatter was ear-shattering. Understandably. The new students were eating this gossip up while old students were filling them in.

"Nanase goes after anything with a pulse but—agh, that flirt lacks basic human decency! Why do girls keep throwing themselves at him?"

"Should you really be talking? You have a pretty fickle relationship yourself."

Her cheeks flushed. "That's— Sae apologized! I blew things out of proportion!"

I whistled. "So, you two are back together?"

"Of course we are. I can't stay mad at my baby for long."

Gross. A term of endearment.

"Where is he?"

"He got stuck being the class representative for Class D, and his teacher kept him after the bell. I'll text him to let him know where we are." Typing away at her cell, she sighed. "Usually, all three of us are in the same class. This year sucks."

Not particularly.

Strangely enough, I didn't process it at the moment, but when Anonymous texted me that character profile sheet of Takumi this morning, he included his class.

This was the first day of our second year in high school.

Students only found out their classes the morning of, seeing as the class lists were hung on the main bulletin board right outside of the building. And when I got to school, Takumi was in the crowd. We saw what class we were in around the same time. To nobody's surprise, we were in Class A together. Moe was with us too.

Which raised the question: how did Anonymous know what class Takumi was in before the guy in question did?

Did he hack into the school system? Did he put us close by so that I'd have an easier time? Or was it a pure coincidence?

"Anri, you're just like Anonymous."

I almost jumped out of my skin.

"Like that thing with Nanase. You just seem to know things. Instead of writing for that dating game blog, you're better off joining the newspaper club and writing articles for them."

Moe shrugged, not an ounce of doubt reflected in her grin.

This whole Anonymous, Anonymous thing was starting to confuse me.

I'd call my stalker 'Creeper' from now on. I had no clue who they were. Where they were. They could be watching me this very minute.

Moe had been my best friend since the second grade. I'd carefully monitored her over the last month only to turn up empty-handed. There was no way Moe was my stalker. There was no way she was out to get me. She loved me like a sister. She wouldn't do that.

Although I was confident enough that I could blather to her about Creeper's blackmail and get her cooperation this very second, these secrets Creeper knew about me were things even Moe wasn't aware of. They were things I could never say out loud.

I intended to keep it that way.

Until I figured out who Creeper was, I had to stay on high alert. Not to say I couldn't trust anyone, but I definitely couldn't let my guard down.

Moe bumped my shoulder.

"What's got you so distracted today? You have your phone camera out and everything— No."

I shut my phone a millisecond too late.

She whipped her head up at me, slack-jawed.

"Are you spying on Ren Takumi?"

"No." A bead of sweat rolled down my temple. "What would give you that idea?"

Her complexion blanched to an ashen white.

I cleared my throat. "What?"

"You? Interested in a real boy?"

"I get curious sometimes."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What? I like boys."

"I'm not saying you don't," Moe answered. "But, interested like that? Be honest with yourself. You've never looked twice at a real boy."

"Sure I have."

"Real," she emphasized.

That shut me up.

She grabbed both sides of my head and roughly palpated around my skull. "Did one of your brothers give you a concussion over the break?"

"Not since I was eight."

"Anri," she pressed, now solemn. "Tell me the truth."

"I am."

"You seriously think Ren Takumi is attractive?"

I hesitated for a second too long. "Yes."

She released me, giving me a death stare. "You're confident you like like him?"

Okay, that, I couldn't answer.

"See," she chastised.

"Wait, I do," I quickly interjected. "I do."

I took a much-needed breath.

"He's so sexy that I could even have his babies," I said, then, promptly gagged.

She jostled my shoulders. "Who's forcing you to say this? Who has you at gunpoint?"

You have no idea.

"Look, I'm not against you falling in love. I've given you a headache about my love life since we met and I'm dying to return the favour. But we're talking about the boy who used to bully you." She firmly shook her head. "I'm against it. I'm not letting you do this."

Touched, my vision glazed over. "You're such a good friend, Moe."

"Did you come to your senses, then?"

"Sorry."

"Anyone else," she pleaded. "Even a flat wall and you'll have my support."

"It has to be Takumi."

"Anri. . . I can't believe you're this passionate."

"Who's passionate?"

A familiar face ducked into our field of view.

Moe lurched to her feet, imaginary hearts taking the spaces for her eyes.

"Sae!"

"Momo!" Saeki Suou beamed with equal passion. Moe swung her arms around him in a welcoming hug. His silky, lavender coloured hair bounced as he returned the gesture. "Aw, I missed you."

"I missed you too," Moe giggled once she released him.

"I missed you more."

"No, I missed you more."

"No, I—"

An example of a stupidly in love couple.

I rolled my eyes, tuning them out like I always did.

All three of us were friends from childhood, but Saeki and Moe had been dating on and off for the better half of five years now. They regularly had disputes and had "broken up" and "made up" over a hundred times, usually with Moe being the instigator, and Saeki tearfully begging on his knees for her to take him back. Expectedly, I got caught in the middle of their drama and had to be the mediator. I was the third-wheeler to their dates and the afterthought when making plans on days off. Now that they were in lovey-dovey mode, they were going to make sure anybody and everybody knew it.

Oh, the price you had to pay for being single.

As soon as these lovebirds floated back down from cloud nine, Saeki returned to his senses with a furious blush that covered all inches of his pale skin. Saeki was a shy and awkward person all around. Even if a hug out in broad daylight didn't faze Moe, Saeki's cheeks were quick to redden because of it. Fortunately, his long hair covered the left half of his face, concealing most signs of it.

"Hi, Anri," he acknowledged, addressing me with am adorably sweet smile. "For the record, I missed you too over the break."

"Same here, Saeki," I responded accordingly.

"Sae, get this!" Moe interjected. "Anri has a crush."

All colour drained from Saeki's complexion, replacing itself with pure, unadulterated horror.

"Can you both not react like that?" I deadpanned. "It hurts my feelings."

But he wasn't listening. With shaky fingers, he clutched my shoulders for dear life. "O-on who?"

"Ren Takumi."

"I-Is he blackmailing you? He's blackmailing you, isn't he? We can still get you out of this!"

"Nobody's blackmailing me." I shooed them into taking a seat, which they eventually did side by side. Technically, I was being blackmailed, but it was low-key insulting that they had me figured out well enough to know that. "Is it that weird for me to want a romantic relationship?"

"Yes!" they shouted.

"Well, I do." I glared. "Look. I can love real people, too. It may not be the type of love you two idiots have going on, but I happen to think fondly of romantic love. Sure, I don't quite understand how it feels nor do I particularly want to. However, falling in love is possible if I put my mind to it!"

Saeki covered his mouth to whisper to Moe, though he explicitly raised his voice so that I could listen. "Is this really Anri?"

Moe copied his gesture, giving me an overt side-eye. "Poor thing believes love is something you put your mind to."

"Point is," I enunciated, "I'm bound to learn how it feels eventually. If Takumi falls in love with me first, I'll be one step closer to figuring it out."

Plus, I'd get Creeper off my back.

Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

I love my positive attitude.

Puffing, I hoisted myself to my feet. Like a trained eagle, I zeroed in on my target on the opposite end of the cafeteria.

"Oh, no! She's going for it!" Saeki stammered.

"This is crazy," Moe agreed. "Suicidal."

They latched onto each other in trepidation.

"Momo, stop her," Saeki hissed onwards.

"It's too late." Moe covered her eyes. "Tell me when it's over."

Exaggerators.

Paying them no attention, I advanced, stiff as a robot, through the bustling cafeteria. As soon as I reached his table, I'd caught the eyes of many, except the one guy I'd wanted—who was deep in conversation with somebody else. Those around the table lulled to a hush, watching me with bated breath.

I cleared my throat.

"Hey, Takumi."