episode 4

Project: Love-Hate — Part 4: School Festival Challenge

The week after the cafe drama, the annual Cultural Festival was announced. Rin and Len's class was tasked with setting up a Manga Cafe.

"Listen up, everyone! We need to dress two boys up as 'Princes' to attract customers," the class representative shouted from the stage.

"I'm ready!" Len immediately waved his hand in the air and glanced sideways at Rin. "And my 'Princess' will be Rin."

The whole class laughed, but then Reo stood up from the back bench. "If there's a competition for the role of Prince, I'd like to participate too. Let's vote on who looks best."

The girls in the class immediately supported this idea. The tension between Len and Reo was now revealed to the entire class. Voting took place, and the result was a tie! Ultimately, it was decided that both would become princes, and the one who brought the most customers to the café on the day of the festival would be the true winner.

The day of the festival arrived. Rin looked absolutely beautiful in a beautiful Victorian princess dress. When she entered the class, both Len and Reo's eyes were riveted on her. Len was dressed in a royal suit resembling a white and gold sherwani, and Reo was wearing a black and silver coat.

"Rin... you look really... really beautiful," Len said simply, for the first time, dropping his flirtatiousness. There was a strange steadiness in his eyes that made Rin's heart race.

"Thank you, Len. You don't look bad either," Rin said, averting his gaze.

"Not just bad? Man, I look absolutely handsome!" Len pulled up his collar, regaining his old tone, which made Rin smile.

Just then, Reo stepped in, leaning in front of Rin and extending his hand, "Lady Rin, will you start this festival with me?"

Len quickly yanked Reo's hand back and, placing his own around Rin's waist, said, "Get in line, new guy. Rin will be at the counter with me all day today."

"Remember the challenge, Len?" Reo said with a smile. "Let's see who has the most fans by evening."

The cafe was bustling with activity as soon as it opened. Len was making the girls laugh with his energetic jokes and taking orders, while Reo was impressing everyone with his polite and calm personality. Rin sat at the counter, preparing the bill, glancing back at Len, who was trying his best to please her.

In the evening, when Rin went to the quiet corridor at the back of the school to get some things, Len followed her. The red light of the setting sun was scattered there.

"Rin, wait a minute," Len grabbed her wrist from behind. This time, there was no joking in her voice.

Rin turned, "What's wrong, Len? The counter is crowded. We should go back."

Len pushed Rin slightly against the wall and surrounded her with her hands on either side. Her eyes were looking directly into Rin's.

"I'm not doing this to win this challenge from Reo, Rin," Len said in a very low and serious voice. "I don't care what the other girls in the class think of me. I just want to know... did your hatred leave even a little room for me?"

Rin's heart was pounding so hard she thought Len could hear her. Lane's face was so close to hers, and this time she couldn't escape.

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