𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

The Challenge

Sanemi’s POV

Sanemi watched as Kanae walked away with her friends, her soft laughter echoing in the distance. He shoved his hands into his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips, though it was more out of frustration than amusement.

“She turned me down.”

The thought lingered, replaying over and over in his head. It wasn’t that Sanemi wasn’t used to rejection he’d had his fair share of girls who weren’t immediately interested—but this was different. Kanae’s refusal hadn’t come from a place of nervousness or hesitation. She’d been confident, calm, and completely unimpressed with his usual charm.

That annoyed him more than he cared to admit.

He leaned against the wall near the school entrance, waiting for the rest of the crew. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, watching as groups of students streamed out, laughing and talking about weekend plans. His eyes darted back to where Kanae and her friends had disappeared, and a low growl of frustration rumbled in his chest.

"Why is this bothering me?"

Sanemi wasn’t one to dwell on things like this. He had a goal: make Kanae fall for him, get the motorcycle from Obanai, and move on. That was it. No attachments, no feelings. Just the thrill of the game. But somehow, the way she had brushed him off so effortlessly gnawed at him.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Obanai’s voice calling from behind him.

“Hey, lover boy. How’d it go with the new girl?” Obanai’s smirk was teasing, and Mitsuri trailed beside him, giving Sanemi a knowing look.

Sanemi rolled his eyes. “She’s playing hard to get.”

Obanai chuckled, leaning against the wall beside him. “Hard to get? Kanae doesn’t strike me as someone who plays games. She probably just sees right through you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Sanemi muttered, pulling out his phone and absentmindedly scrolling through his messages. He wasn’t going to let Obanai get under his skin.

Mitsuri, ever the optimist, chimed in, “Maybe she’s just taking her time! Kanae’s super sweet, but she’s not someone who’ll just fall for a guy easily. You’ll have to try harder, Sanemi.”

Sanemi glanced at her, his eyebrow raised. “Harder? I don’t chase after girls, Mitsuri.”

“You do if you want that motorcycle,” Obanai reminded him with a wicked grin. “You’re not gonna back out now, are you?”

Sanemi glared at him but remained silent. The stupid bet had seemed like a fun idea at the time a way to pass the days and add a little excitement. But now, it was turning into more of a challenge than he’d anticipated.

☆☆☆☆

Sanemi couldn’t help but replay the conversation in his mind. He’d approached Kanae, laying on the charm as usual, but instead of the blushing, stammering response he expected, she’d been… unbothered.

“Just not interested,” she had said, her smile soft but firm. That smile had irritated him more than he was willing to admit. It wasn’t rejection itself that stung, it was the way she had dismissed him without a second thought, like he wasn’t even a threat to her carefully guarded heart.

But that was fine. He liked challenges.

“I’ll break her,” he muttered to himself, his fingers curling around the strap of his bag. “I always do.”

Obanai glanced over at him, his smirk deepening. “What’s that, Sanemi? You planning your next move already?”

Sanemi rolled his eyes, giving Obanai a half-hearted shove as they started walking. “I’ve got it covered. She won’t know what hit her.”

In truth, he wasn’t sure what his next move would be. Kanae was different. She wasn’t like the girls who threw themselves at him, eager to be the next one on his arm, or the ones who wanted nothing more than to bask in the attention of the Shinazugawa name. She was… unaffected by it all, and that made her a puzzle he wasn’t used to solving.

---

As they reached the basketball court where Giyuu and Kyojurou were already warming up, Sanemi’s focus shifted. There were other things to think about like winning the game. Basketball was his escape, a place where he didn’t have to think about stupid bets or girls who didn’t fall at his feet. Here, it was just him, the ball, and the rush of competition.

“Sanemi, over here!” Kyojurou called, tossing the ball his way.

Sanemi caught it with ease, feeling the familiar weight in his hands. He dribbled it a few times, pushing the thoughts of Kanae to the back of his mind for now. He’d figure it out. He always did.