Ren was no longer the timid boy he once was; he understood his role in this world. He finally knew why he had always felt different from others, and instead of questioning it, he embraced it.

As he approached the lounge where Greg and Kaito usually hung out, he took a deep breath. It was time to act normal again.

"Yo, Ren! There you are!" Greg called out, waving enthusiastically from the couch. His voice was high-pitched and bubbly, like a teenage girl gossiping at a sleepover. In this world, most guys talked that way—giggling, dramatic, and overly expressive. But Ren? Not anymore. His tone was steadier, more grounded even more than before.

Kaito bounced up beside Greg, his eyes wide with relief. "Oh my gosh, Ren, we've been so worried! After you went silent on us...I thought you were trying to push us way! Are you okay? Like, really okay?"

Ren sat down, forcing a casual smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was rough, but... I'm over it. Let's just forget about it, alright?"

Greg let out a huge sigh, clutching his chest dramatically. "Phew! You have no idea how relieved I am. I was like, 'What if our Renny changes forever?' But look at you, still our strong boy!"

Kaito nodded vigorously, fanning himself as if he'd just run a marathon. "Totally! We missed our chats. Oh, speaking of which—have you heard about ECLYPSE? That girl band is everywhere after their latest hit!"

Greg squealed, pulling out his phone. "Yes! They're so amazing! Four members, all super talented and gorgeous. Luna on vocals, she's like a goddess with that voice. Then there's Stella on guitar—her solos give me chills! Nova on drums, so fierce and cool, and Aria on bass, the cute one with the pink hair. They've been topping the charts non-stop. 'Eclipse Heart' is my jam!"

Kaito giggled, scrolling through pics. "Right? Every guy's obsessed. I mean it's rare to see girls rocking out this style but I can't help but fall in love. They're empowering, you know? Makes me feel all fluttery inside."

Ren glanced at the screen politely. The girls were indeed beautiful—Luna with her sharp features and confident smirk, Stella's wild hair and intense eyes, Nova's athletic build, and Aria's innocent charm. Cute, for sure. But his mind was elsewhere. "Yeah, they're pretty. Beautiful and cute, no doubt. Good for them hitting the charts."

Greg pouted. "Just 'pretty'? Come on, Ren! Spill— who's your fave? Mine's Aria; she's so adorable, I could die!"

Kaito leaned in, whispering like it was a secret. "Stella for me. That guitar skill? Swoon! What about you, Ren? Don't be shy!"

Ren shrugged. "They're all talented, I guess. But I'm not super into bands right now."

The two exchanged glances, giggling like schoolgirls. "Oh, Renny's too cool for us now!" Greg teased.

Their chatter flowed on about ECLYPSE's latest MV, how the outfits were "to die for," and fan theories about secret romances. Ren half-listened, his thoughts drifting to Meiling. The powerful, tough girl from the elite family—he wanted to start something real with her. But how? She wasn't friendly; she barely acknowledged him.

Suddenly, Ren cleared his throat. "Hey, Greg... random question. How do you think a man should strike up a conversation with a woman who's not very friendly? You know, like, break the ice. Asking for a friend, of course."

Greg's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Ooh! A friend, huh?" He winked exaggeratedly.

Kaito's face brightened too, leaning forward with excitement. "Spill the tea! Who's this 'friend' crushing on? But okay, advice time! First, be confident but not pushy. Women here love a guy who knows his place but shows a little spark. Well most of the time we don't even have to try. Ren if you just raise your hand 100 girls will come to love you; that's how loved you are here."

Greg nodded eagerly. "Totally! Start with a compliment, but make it genuine. Like, 'I noticed how skilled you are in class—impressive!' Not too flirty at first, or she'll think you're just another desperate boy."

Kaito waved his hand. "Or share something common! 'Hey, I saw you reading that book— what's it about?' Builds connection."

Greg added, "And smile! But not too big, or it'll seem fake. Oh, and timing—catch her alone, not with her friends."

Ren nodded, absorbing it. But none clicked perfectly. Then Kaito snapped his fingers. "Wait, here's a classic: Pick up something that belongs to her. Like, if she drops a pen or whatever, hand it over and say, 'Hey, you dropped this. By the way, I'm Ren, and I couldn't help noticing...' Boom, conversation starter! Shows you're helpful and attentive."

Ren's eyes widened. *Something that belongs to her...* An idea sparked—a wild, risky one. A grin crept onto his face, almost feral. "Thanks, guys. That's... helpful."

He stood abruptly, heading out. Greg and Kaito exchanged knowing smirks.

"Young love," Greg sighed dreamily.

Kaito chuckled. "Totally not for a 'friend.' Our Renny's growing up!"

Ren slipped through the halls toward the girls' changing room. Gym class was in session, so it should be empty. No guards— in this world, who would even bother to sneak into a female changing room? It was the men's changing room that was heavily guarded in this world.

Luxy's voice echoed in his mind. "Isn't this dangerous? You know Meiling's from a powerful family. One wrong move, and poof— you're done."

Ren whispered back, heart pounding. "If I'm gonna fight a goddess, doesn't that mean I should embrace danger? If I just wait for everything to happen, I would just waste my time."

Luxy sighed. "I guess... think so. Just don't get caught."

The changing room door creaked open. Rows of lockers and bags are scattered around. Not hard to spot Meiling's—her drawer had her name printed out on it. He popped it open, grabbed her bag. Inside: a fancy wallet from some high-end brand, a jade pendant probably worth a fortune, makeup in crystal cases, and a small vial of what looked like rare perfume. Ladylike stuff, fitting for her.

His hand brushed fabric. Soft, lacy. He pulled it out—underwear. Fancy, black lace with silk trim. Not surprised; a rich woman like her wore luxury even underneath, he wanted to quickly put it back and find something else.

"I would be called a pervert if someone saw me with this," he muttered, about to stuff it back. But his body froze. Fear gripped him like ice. Behind him, a cold voice: "Who are you? Which organization do you belong to? How did you get in here? Planning to plant something harmful in my bag?"

The voice belonged to none other than Meiling. She'd used her imperial qi to paralyse him. He couldn't turn; she hadn't seen his face yet.

She stepped closer, voice sharp. "Answer me. Is it the rival clans? The underground syndicates? Speak, intruder!"

Ren's heart raced. She grabbed his shoulder, spinning him. Her eyes widened. "Ren? What are you doing? And... that's my... panty?"

Before she could react, loud voices echoed from the hall—other girls returning early.

"Quick!" Meiling hissed, releasing her qi. "Follow me!"

She dragged him into a nearby shower cubicle, slamming the curtain. Tension thickened the air. They were inches apart, her breath hot on his face. Meiling's eyes narrowed, confused and furious.

Outside, girls chattered.

"Did you see Ren in class today? After that assault... poor thing."

"Yeah, but he doesn't look affected much. Walks around like nothing happened."

"Giggle Maybe he liked it? You know, some guys are into that rough stuff."

"Right? He might be a hookup guy. Always quiet, but who knows? It's always the most handsome that are wildest."

Meiling glanced at Ren weirdly, her cheeks flushing slightly. The words hung heavy. Ren shifted, trying to explain, but the proximity, her scent, the adrenaline—his body reacted. A boner, unavoidable.

Meiling's eyes dropped, noticing. She froze, a mix of shock and something unreadable in her gaze.