Generic Love Story

Generic Love Story!! 3!

The gymnasium was packed with students, their chatter echoing off the walls as they waited for the principal to take the stage. It was the middle of the school year, and the usual midterm assembly had a slightly different air this time—a few students were being awarded for their outstanding academic performances.

Rei sat quietly in the third row, hands folded neatly in her lap. She had known about the award for a few days now, though it hadn't fazed her much. It wasn't that she didn't care about achievements; it was just that recognition wasn't something she craved. Her grades were the result of her discipline and effort, after all. Still, the weight of expectation was always there.

"Now, for the students with the highest academic performances this semester, let's give them a round of applause," the principal's voice boomed over the microphone, snapping Rei out of her thoughts.

She could feel eyes already starting to shift toward her. The murmurs had begun days ago.

"First, we have Tsuki Rei from class 1-4. Her consistency and exceptional scores in every subject have placed her at the top of her class once again."

Polite applause rippled through the gym as Rei stood, smoothing down her skirt. Her face remained composed, though there was a faint tension in her posture. Walking toward the stage, she could feel the familiar weight of attention on her, but her gaze remained steady, unfazed by the stares.

As she accepted the award from the principal with a bow, a certificate embossed with the school's crest, her eyes scanned the crowd for a brief moment. There were the usual faces—her classmates, teachers, and... Ryota Saito.

The hell was he doing here? He could've just ditched the ceremony and go cause trouble...

Their eyes met for a brief second, and Rei wondered if he'd make any comment. But Ryota didn't. He just looked away, as if the whole thing was beneath him.

It was nothing new. Boys like him—reckless, loud, always chasing some fleeting thrill—never understood her world. And she didn't care to understand theirs. The applause faded, and the next student's name was called. Rei sat, folding her certificate and tucking it into her bag.

The truth was, she didn't care much for these awards. They were nice, sure, but in the end anyone could get them if you stay quiet while the teacher talks and you do well in your studies.

It was after school, and most of the students had already left the building, heading home or to their clubs. Rei was no different—her bag slung over her shoulder as she walked down the quiet hallways, her footsteps soft against the tile floor. The day had been uneventful, as usual. Just another set of classes, more notes to file away for exams, and another set of whispers she ignored.

She had almost made it to the main entrance when a voice stopped her.

—"Yo, uh, Tsuki, right?"

Rei turned, half-expecting one of her teachers or classmates. Instead, she found herself staring at Ryota Saito, leaning against the lockers with that familiar frown on his face. He looked far too relaxed for someone who'd spent half the day ditching class.

She blinked and adjusted her glasses. Short brown hair, that was definetly Saito

—"Good afternoon. Anything you need?"

Ryota pushed off the lockers, standing upright and crossing his arms.

—"Remember the other day? The storm?"

—"Mh... Okay?"

—"Right." He raised an eyebrow. "You owe me one."

Rei's expression didn't change. She glanced toward the door, then back to him. Really? She didn't remember owing him anything. Was it because of the jacket perhaps? So weird.

—"What do you want?"

Ryota clicked his tongue, clearly expecting more of a reaction from her. —"You're no fun, you know that?" He shook his head, but the grin on his face didn't fade. "I need you to help me with something."

—"Help with what?"

Rei's gaze remained even. She wasn't the kind of person who jumped at favors when people demanded them, especially from someone like Ryota Saito.

—"Homework." He said, and the word sounded almost foreign coming from him.

Rei was silent, processing. This was a joke, right? Ryota Saito, known troublemaker and class-cutter, suddenly asking for homework help? She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

—"Homework? I'm half impressed you know what that even is."

—"Shut up, alright?" Ryota huffed.

—"I have a test coming up and I couldn't understand a damn thing, so..." He trailed off, realizing how lame he sounded. There was a tinge of embarrassment in his voice, and he tried to hide it under a casual shrug. "I need your help with it or I'll fail, and my old man will make my life miserable."

Rei leaned against the wall, studying him from behind her glasses. Ryota's scowl grew deeper under her gaze.

—"Are you serious or is this some set-up for a prank?"

—"Why the hell would I joke about this?" Ryota's retort was sharp, but there was a mix of annoyance and sincerity in his tone. "If I do poorly on the test, I'm dead. Straight-up. And I ain't about to fail just because some teacher drones on about crap I don't get."

He jammed his hands into the pockets of his uniform, suddenly looking more like a disgruntled student than the usual tough-guy persona.

—"So yeah, I'm serious. You owe me favor, so use your nerd magic and help me with Calculus? Uh, please?"

Rei tilted her head, considering. Ryota's request was definitely unexpected, and the fact that he asked for her help...It was like something out of a bad tv drama. She didn't know if she should feel flattered or insulted.

She adjusted her glasses. It was just helping someone with a bit of calculus, she could do that in her sleep. But it was also Ryota Saito. The same boy who had started a fight right in front of her and constantly skipped class. Who got into trouble on a regular basis and usually avoided anything related to academics like the plague...

— "Saturday at the school's library from 6 to 8pm, if you don't come it's your problem."

There was a brief moment of surprise on Ryota's face, though he quickly masked it.

—"Yeah, yeah, fine. I'll be there. But if you don't help me I might kick your ass, just so you know."

The threat sounded more like an empty promise, though the image of Ryota Saito actually trying to beat up the top student of the school was kind of laughable.

She just responded with a nod, though the barest hint of a smile played at the corners of her lips.

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Yo! Writer here! I actually got the inspiration to create this after watching Slam Dunk, Skip to Loafer and Kimi no Todoke, Sakuragi is a cutie patootie