"Trust me, babe. I'm a college student," Rizu said with an awkward smile.

  "I don't know… it's hard to believe," the girl replied.

  They were sitting at a round wooden table under a banner that read COLLEGE FEST. Warm fairy lights hung between tall trees, glowing softly in the night. Students filled the area, laughing and chatting at nearby tables. A small candle lantern flickered between them.

  It was the college fest's blind dating event.

  The girl across from him had long pink hair falling neatly over her shoulders. She wore a sleeveless peach top and a simple white skirt. The soft light made her look almost unreal.

  She looked at him curiously.

  "Anyway, which department are you from?"

  "Ohhh… it's the Department of Rizzing Technology," Rizu said confidently.

  She blinked. "What?"

  "Oh— sorry! I mean… Department of Biotechnology."

  She narrowed her eyes. "Sorry, but I don't believe you."

  "Don't worry. You can believe me instead."

  A voice suddenly cut in.

  A chair scraped loudly as someone sat between them.

  It was Jatin.

  Before Rizu could react, Jatin took the pink-haired girl's hand and kissed it smoothly.

  Rizu's eyes widened.

  "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

  "Who… are you?" the girl asked, confused.

  "Why are you here?!" Rizu shouted.

  Jatin smirked. "Just verifying your credentials."

  Rizu's eyes shot open.

  He was lying on a futon with a pillow under his head. Wooden planks surrounded him.

  "…That was a weird dream."

  "You sleep a lot. Now get up."

  Master Demetrius stood in front of him, stern as ever.

  Rizu jumped up and saluted.

  "Okay, Master!"

  Oh nooo…

  We were in Misaki and Riri's room—me, Jatin, and Riri. She opened a wooden briefcase filled with ancient clothes and started searching for something.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Where are Shon and Rudransh?" I asked.

  "Shon and Rudransh went for a walk outside," Riri replied.

  So that's why the house felt quieter than usual.

  "What about Misaki? Where is she?" I asked.

  "She went shopping in the nearby city," Riri answered.

  Then Riri pulled out a brown chiton outfit from the briefcase. "This was my brother's favorite outfit," she said softly.

  It's like not wearing anything

  "Ancient clothes look so cool," Jatin said.

  Really, bro? I thought, side-eyeing him.

  "Wanna try it?" Riri asked me with a smirk.

  "No… I mean, it's your brother's. Why would I?"

  "C'mon, bro, you can go in front of Misaki with this and tell her about your feelings," Jatin teased.

  Riri nodded. "It's not a bad idea. You're a lot like my brother. She smiles a lot when you're around, just like she did when big bro was here."

  "No, I don't think it's a good idea…" I muttered.

  But in my mind I thought: What if she accepts my feelings?

  "C'mon, remove your outfit!" Riri and Jatin smirked, charging toward me.

  "Oh nooo…"

  Soon, I had changed into Raku's favorite chiton.

  "It looks really good on you. Bro, you've gained some lean muscles. Were you working out properly before we came here?" Jatin asked.

  "Yeah, I got some time after my exams were over, so I was able to focus on the gym too."

  "You're looking good. Now let's do some rehearsal for your lines and performance," Riri said.

  "Performance?" I asked.

  Both Jatin and Riri looked at me with smirks.

  "Oh no, no…" I shook my head.

  The scene shifted to a wooden room. The infrastructure looked ancient, like no renovations had been done for ages. The air smelled faintly of dust and stone. It felt like stepping into an old Greek training hall.

  Rizu stood in front of Master Demetrius. The master stood there calmly, one forearm clasped behind his back.

  Rizu's forehead glistened with sweat. He tried to read the old man's mind but found it shockingly blank.

  He looks kinda scary.

  "Okay, now you. Come outside," Master Demetrius finally said.

  Outside, a rectangular wooden board stood with an engraved hole in its center. Another smaller hole sat at the top, tied with a rope whose other end was looped around a low-hanging branch.

  Rizu eyed it curiously. "Where's Ayush?"

  "He's watching the other earth benders train," the master replied. "Now focus. Look into this hole with all your concentration."

  "Really?" Rizu asked.

  "Do it now!" Master Demetrius barked.

  "Okay, sir!" Rizu saluted dramatically.

  Back at the house, Misaki returned from shopping. She stepped in with a bag full of ingredients.

  "I'm back," she called. But the ground floor was empty.

  "Where's everyone?" she wondered.

  Then the sound of the main door opening caught her attention. She rushed outside, clutching her bag.

  There stood someone in Raku's outfit. Her eyes widened.

  Suddenly, I turned dramatically, posing like a famous Indian actor.

  "I like you, Misaki," I said, forcing confidence while trembling inside.

  I stepped closer, took her hand gently, and dropped to one knee.

  "I truly mean it."

  Behind a tree, Riri and Jatin spied on us.

  "He's doing really great," Riri whispered happily.

  "Yeah, looks like he understood my tips," Jatin replied.

  Then Riri gasped softly as she noticed something. "Look—she's blushing!"

  Is she really?

  My heart started racing.

  I brought my lips closer to her hand.

  "Wait—I didn't tell him to kiss her hand!" Jatin hissed. "It's too early for that!"

  But before I could kiss it—

  SLAP!

  The blow didn’t knock me down — it shattered something inside me.

  "How could you do this?!" Misaki's voice trembled, almost breaking into sobs.

  "You don't have any right to wear that—and say this to me. It's disrespect to my husband. How did you even get this outfit? Don't tell me you—"

  "No, I—"

  But before I could explain, Misaki ran off.

  "No, big sis! I gave it to him!" Riri shouted, chasing after her.

  "It's my fault too!" Jatin added, running behind.

  Misaki slammed her room door shut. She collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in her hands as tears soaked her palms.

  "I'm sorry, my dear… please forgive me. I only love you. No one else…"

  Riri banged on the door. "Big sis! It was me! It wasn't Ritvik's fault!"

  "Yeah, forgive him—it was our idea!" Jatin shouted.

  Meanwhile, I remained outside, stunned. My cheek stung. A single tear slid down my face.

  "Bro, you okay?" Jatin rushed back, worried.

  Before the tear could hit the ground, blue lightning crackled around me—then I vanished.

  "Nooo!" Jatin screamed.

  Riri was still pounding at the locked door, her voice breaking. Just then, Rudransh and Shon came back from their walk.

  "What's going on?" Rudransh asked, his eyes narrowing at the tense scene.

  Jatin quickly told them everything, explaining what had happened.

  Shon clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Damn it — you should've asked us before doing such things. Because of this, both Ritvik and Misaki are hurt now. Where is Ritvik?"

  "I don't know…" Jatin admitted.

  The group looked at each other, worry written across their faces.

  I stood before Raku’s grave, eyes squeezed tight, fists clenched.

  "Be happy, bastard," I spat. "She chose a dead man over me. I lost… to a corpse."

  I pointed at the grave.

  "Today, I declare war against you. I'll steal her from you. I'll make her fall for me. I'll erase every memory of you from her heart… until she chooses me, and only me."

  My voice shook with rage.

  "Your love is toxic. I'll show her that. I'll make her mine."

  A blue flower drifted down, landing softly on my head. I grabbed it in my fist and crushed it.