《4 x Love》


 Chapter 1: The Unexpected Offer

    I was sitting on the school bus, staring out the window as I often did during our daily commute. My mind was elsewhere, thinking about my video game progress and how I was going to beat the next level. The bus stopped in front of a new building, and a group of students got off, chatting and laughing. That''s when I saw her - Erika Matsumoto, the most popular girl in school.


    Erika was a beauty, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was also one of the smartest students in our school, and her charm and wit made her a magnet for attention. I had always kept my distance from her, thinking that she was out of my league.


    But today, as our eyes met, Erika gave me a bright smile and started walking towards me. I felt my heart skip a beat as she slid into the seat next to me.


    "Ryota-kun," she said, using the polite honorific "kun" that Japanese students use when addressing their friends. "I''m glad I found you."


    I turned to face her, a bit taken aback by her sudden interest. "Erika-chan," I replied, using the more casual "chan" that we used with our friends.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Erika glanced at the students around us, then leaned in closer. "I need a favor," she whispered. "I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend."


    I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. "Why me?" I asked, trying to sound casual.


    "Well," Erika said, "my parents are going to attend a school event next week, and they''re expecting me to have a boyfriend. But I don''t want to take a real boyfriend, so... I thought maybe you could pretend to be one?"


    I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. On one hand, the opportunity to hang out with Erika was tempting. On the other hand, pretending to be her boyfriend? That seemed like a lot of work.


    "I''ll do it," I said finally, shrugging. "But just for a week, okay?"


    Erika''s face lit up with a bright smile. "Thank you, Ryota-kun! I owe you one."


    And just like that, my simple life was turned upside down.


    As we got off the bus, I couldn''t help but think about the implications of my decision. Pretending to be Erika''s boyfriend was going to be a challenge, but it was also an opportunity to get closer to her and her inner circle.


    Little did I know, I was about to get tangled up in a web of romance with four of the most beautiful and intriguing girls in school.

 Chapter 2: The Plan Unfolds

    The next few days passed in a blur of excitement and nervousness. I spent every lunch hour with Erika and her friends, trying to fit into a world I never thought I would be a part of. I couldn''t shake the feeling of being out of place, but Erika always included me in their conversations, making me feel a little more at ease.


    One afternoon, as we all crowded around a table in the cafeteria, Erika leaned over and whispered, "Okay, Ryota-kun, we need to make our plan for the school event!" Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and I found myself getting caught up in her excitement.


    "Right," I replied, trying to sound confident. "What do you have in mind?"


    Hana, a bubbly girl with short black hair and a bright smile, chimed in. "We should practice some couple-y stuff! You know, hold hands, act cute! It''ll make it more believable."


    I chuckled nervously. "Hold hands? Are you serious?"


    Erika nodded eagerly. "It will look natural if we act like a real couple. Plus, it''ll help keep the other girls off my back."


    Mika, a more reserved girl with glasses, smirked. "Just don''t overdo it, or you''ll end up actually falling for each other."


    The thought made me blush. I shook my head. "No way! It''s just acting."


    Natsumi, the quiet girl I had a crush on, was sitting a little further down the table. She kept glancing at me and Hana as we talked, and I wondered what she was thinking. I wished I could get to know her better, but whenever I tried to talk to her, the words felt stuck in my throat.


    "Okay, let''s try it!" Erika declared, breaking my thoughts. She reached over and grabbed my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine. My heart raced. This was real ¨C well, almost.


    "Now smile!" she said.


    I forced a grin, feeling awkward and yet strangely happy.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    The next few days were filled with rehearsals. We held hands in the hallways, laughed together, and exchanged playful teasing. I found myself enjoying Erika''s company more than I expected, but my mind kept drifting to Natsumi. Was I really just pretending, or was there a chance for something more?


    The day of the school event arrived faster than I anticipated. I put on my best clothes, a simple button-up shirt that I hoped would impress. My heart raced as I headed to school, thinking about what was to come.


    As we entered the school gym, decorated with colorful banners and lights, I felt both excited and nervous. A crowd of students was gathered, chatting and laughing, but my focus was on Erika. She looked stunning in a bright dress, catching everyone''s attention as we walked in together, hand in hand.


    "Let''s just act natural," she whispered, glancing at the many eyes on us. I nodded, trying to ease the tension inside me.


    But my gaze lingered on Natsumi, who was standing at the refreshment table with Akira, the new transfer student. They were laughing, and Natsumi looked genuinely happy. A knot twisted in my stomach. I had agreed to this whole charade, but now I couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy.


    As the night unfolded, I found myself pulled in different directions. Erika pulled me into games, and we took pictures with our friends. But I couldn''t shake the feeling of wanting to be with Natsumi.


    During a break, I excused myself and headed toward the refreshment table. Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and walked up to Natsumi.


    "Hey, Natsumi!" I said, trying to sound casual.


    "Hey, Ryota!" she replied, a smile spreading across her face.


    "Uh, I''m just here¡­ getting some punch," I stammered. "How have you been?"


    Natsumi smiled, but I could see a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. "I''ve been good! Just enjoying the event. What about you?"


    Before I could answer, I noticed Akira stepping closer. "Ryota, right? Nice to see you hanging out with Erika!" Akira said, flashing me a friendly grin but his tone was slightly challenging.


    I felt a surge of anxiety wash over me. "Yeah, we''re just¡­ practicing for a project," I mumbled, unsure of how to explain our pretend relationship.


    "Looks fun," Akira replied, then turned to Natsumi. "Ready to get back to it?"


    Natsumi nodded, but just before she went, she glanced back at me. "Maybe we can hang out sometime, Ryota. I''d like to get to know you better."


    My heart raced. "Sure! I''d like that."


    As Natsumi walked away, I couldn''t help but feel a mix of happiness and confusion. Here I was, pretending to be something I wasn''t with Erika, but my heart was drawn to Natsumi. What was I getting myself into? The night was just beginning, and I could already feel the web of feelings tightening around me.

 Chapter 3: The Unexpected Twist

    The gym was full of energy as the event kicked into high gear. Music blared from the speakers, and students danced in clusters, caught up in the excitement of the night. My focus shifted back to Erika, who was surrounded by her friends, laughing and chatting as if she owned the room.


    "Ryota-kun! Come over here!" she called, waving me over with a bright smile.


    I joined her, trying to shake off the earlier conversation with Natsumi. As I approached, I noticed that the group had gathered for a game. "We¡¯re playing Truth or Dare! You¡¯re in, right?"


    ¡°Sure,¡± I replied, though I was uncertain about how this would go.


    One by one, the dares escalated from silly to outrageous, and everyone seemed to revel in the thrill of it all. When it was Erika¡¯s turn, she grinned at me. ¡°Dare!¡±


    Hana, always the instigator, smirked. ¡°I dare you to kiss Ryota-kun!¡±


    The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in cheers and laughter. My cheeks burned as I turned to Erika, who was looking at me with amusement.


    ¡°Alright, a kiss it is!¡± she said confidently, leaning in playfully.


    Before I could react, Erika pressed her lips against mine, and a playful cheer went through the crowd. It was quick and lighthearted, but I could feel everyone¡¯s eyes on us. The dare had succeeded, and as much as I tried to brush it off, I couldn¡¯t deny the electric shock of the moment.


    When the buzz of laughter died down, I noticed Natsumi watching from a distance, her expression unreadable. My heart sank a little, but I pushed the feeling aside. "Great, now they all think we¡¯re a real couple," I muttered.


    The game continued, but all I could think about was how to navigate my unexpected standing with both Erika and Natsumi. Just as the night started to settle back into its rhythm, the lights flickered, and a voice rang out over the microphone.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Attention, everyone! It¡¯s time for the couple dance!¡±


    I had completely forgotten about the planned dance segment. As partners were called up, I felt my heart race at the prospect of being paired with Erika out on the dance floor. ¡°Here we go,¡± I thought.


    Erika grabbed my hand, and we made our way to the center of the gym. The music shifted to a slow, melodic tune, and as we began to sway, I could feel her warm presence beside me. I had been dreading this moment, but now, it was oddly enjoyable. The crowd around us faded as we moved together.


    As I glanced over at Natsumi, I noticed she had stepped back, watching the dance with a slight frown. I wanted to reach out to her, to clear the air, but the rhythm of the moment pulled me back to Erika. For now, I had to keep up appearances.


    After a few more songs, the dance floor began to fill with more couples, and the atmosphere shifted again as everyone loosened up. Erika pulled me into a spin, and I found myself laughing amidst the chaos. Just then, Akira returned, putting an arm around Natsumi.


    "Hey, want to join me for some dancing?" he asked, and I watched as Natsumi hesitated before nodding.


    But I wasn¡¯t going to lose my chance. ¡°Natsumi!¡± I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the music. ¡°Want to join me for a dance?¡±


    To my surprise, she smiled and walked over, leaving Akira standing in bafflement. ¡°Sure, why not?¡± she said, her tone light.


    I thought I saw a look of annoyance on Akira''s face as he stepped back reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you later, Natsumi,¡± he said, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of victory.


    As Natsumi and I started to dance, I felt a different kind of energy. While Erika may have been the star of the night, dancing with Natsumi felt more genuine, more relaxed. We laughed and talked, and while I didn¡¯t dwell on emotions, it was evident that we had an easy chemistry.


    "Seems like you two are getting cozy," Erika remarked as she twirled by us, a playful grin on her face.


    ¡°Just practicing,¡± I shot back, maintaining a lighthearted tone.


    As the night continued, I found myself drifting between Erika¡¯s excitement and Natsumi¡¯s calm presence. I realized that while I might have agreed to pretend to be with Erika, I was enjoying the time with both girls in their unique ways.


    Finally, the clock approached ten o''clock, and the event began to wind down. Amidst the laughter and chatter, I spotted Natsumi glancing at me, a question in her eyes. I knew it was time to acknowledge the expectations I had set in this tangled web of pretend relationships.


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s catch up after this,¡± I suggested to her as the last song played. I needed to clarify my intentions and navigate the reality of my situation, whatever that may bring.


    After all, the night was far from over. The promised twists and turns of the evening lay ahead, and I was determined to see how things would unfold.