The "Supportive" Boyfriend

At first, Ami thought Ryo would barely put in any effort. Maybe he'd show up for one or two student council meetings, act semi-interested, and that would be the end of it.

She was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

Because somehow, Ryo Urawa—the same Ryo who practically napped through class—was now the most dedicated fake boyfriend in the history of fake boyfriends.

Drama & Unexpected Feelings

Ami was mid-argument, passionately tearing apart the opposition's stance on economic reform, when she caught a familiar figure in the audience.

Ryo.

Sitting in the back, looking bored out of his mind, but still there.

She stumbled slightly over her next sentence.

What was he doing here?!

After the match, she stormed over to him, arms crossed. "What are you doing here?"

Ryo sipped his vending machine coffee, looking at her like she was asking a stupid question. "Supporting my girlfriend."

Ami blinked. "You don't have to—"

"Gossip girl is sitting two rows behind us," Ryo interrupted, nodding toward Nina, who was already writing something in her notebook.

Ami felt her stomach drop.

Ryo leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Want me to do something dramatic? Maybe a romantic forehead kiss? I hear that sells."

Ami's face turned red. "You wouldn't dare."

Ryo took a slow sip of his coffee. "Try me."

She grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the room before he could actually do it.

Second Strike: The Student Council Meeting

Ami was busy leading the most boring meeting ever about budget allocation when the door swung open.

In strolled Ryo.

Every head turned.

Ami froze mid-sentence.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed as he plopped down in a chair beside her, completely at ease.

"I missed you, babe," he said smoothly, loud enough for the entire room to hear.Ami nearly died on the spot.

One of her classmates actually swooned. Nina was furiously writing in her gossip notebook.

"Get out," Ami muttered through gritted teeth, smiling at the council as if nothing was wrong.

Ryo propped his chin on his hand. "Can't. I promised my girlfriend I'd be supportive."

Ami was going to strangle him.

Third Strike: The Morning Coffee Incident

The final straw came before a big exam.

Ami arrived at her usual study spot, only to find a steaming cup of coffee already waiting for her.

She frowned. "What's this?"

Ryo leaned back against the chair across from her. "Black, two sugars. You looked like you needed it."

Ami narrowed her eyes. "How do you even know how I take my coffee?"

Ryo shrugged. "I listen."

Ami's chest tightened.

This was fake.

So why did it feel so dangerously real?

The Jealousy Game

Things only got worse when Ryan—her actual ex—started noticing her again.

They were in the courtyard when it happened.

Ryan strolled up to her, hands in his pockets, wearing his signature smug look. "Hey, Ami."

She sighed internally. Here we go. "Ryan."

"I've been meaning to talk to you," he said, smiling in a way that used to make her heart flutter but now just annoyed her.

Ryo, who had been scrolling on his phone like he wasn't paying attention, suddenly perked up."Oh, now he wants to talk," he muttered under his breath.

Ami shot him a look. "What?"

"Nothing." Ryo leaned back on the bench, very obviously listening.

Ryan cleared his throat. "Listen, I know things ended kind of messy between us, but I was thinking—"

"Jealous?" Ami whispered to Ryo.

Ryo scoffed. "Pfft. No."

She smirked. "You sure? You look jealous."

Ryo gave her a slow, smug grin. "I'm just wondering how long I have to keep this up before he realizes he lost."

Ami's smirk disappeared.

Her chest tightened again.

Before she could respond, a high-pitched giggle cut through the air.

Kaori, the school's star track athlete, had attached herself to Ryo's side like a leech.

"Oh my god, Ryo," she laughed, touching his arm. "You're sooo funny."

Ami's stomach twisted.

Nope. Nope, nope, nope.

She didn't care.

She definitely wasn't jealous.

So why did she grab Ryo's hand first?

Ryo's body stiffened. "What are you—"

Ami laced their fingers tighter. She smiled sweetly. "Oh, nothing."

Kaori's smile faltered.

Ami had won.

Ryo, meanwhile, was looking at her with an expression she couldn't place.

"Hmm," he murmured. "Interesting."

Ami pretended not to hear him.

The Accidental Kiss

It happened at a party.

They were sitting in a circle, surrounded by half the school, when Nina pulled the worst card ever.

A dare.

"Ryo and Ami," Nina announced, grinning. "Kiss."

Silence.

Ami and Ryo stared at each other.

"Oh, come on," Nina said. "It's just a game. It's fine if it's fake, right?"

Ami's stomach tightened.

She looked at Ryo. Ryo looked at her.

They expected it to be meaningless.

It wasn't.

The second their lips met—

The room blurred.

Ami's pulse skipped.

Ryo's hand tightened at her waist.

It was too real.

They pulled apart, breathless.

For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, as if realizing what had happened, Ryo stood up abruptly. "I need air."He left.

The next day, he avoided her.

Ami told herself it meant nothing.

But deep down—

She knew that was a lie.

To be continued...