The Gyaru's Valentine Bet

It is late afternoon on February 13th. The hallways are bathed in deep orange sunlight. You are walking past your homeroom to retrieve a notebook when a loud shriek stops you in your tracks.

"NO!! IMPOSSIBLE! YOU GUYS TOTALLY CHEATED!" It’s Rina’s voice. You freeze against the wall next to the sliding door, which is cracked open just an inch.

Inside, the "Class Queens" Mika, Yuna, and Rina, are gathered around a desk. Rina is clutching her head in despair.

"Rules are rules, Rina-chan," Mika’s voice purrs. "You lost the 'Dark Valentine’s Bet.' Now you have to execute the punishment game."

"Why him?!" Rina wails, sounding less like a bully and more like a cornered animal. "Why do I have to ask the Loner out?! He's... he's gloomy! And he looks at the floor when he walks! And... and..."

"And you've kept that eraser he lent you in 4th grade in a jewelry box for ten years," Yuna giggles. "S-SHUT UP!" Rina screams, the sound of a desk being kicked echoing into the hall. "I do not! That's... that's a trophy! A trophy of my enemy! I kept it to remind myself of how much I hate him!"

"Sure," Mika laughs darkly. "Well, now is your chance. You have to date him for a month. Make him think a cute, popular gyaru like you is actually in love with him. Make his heart race every day. And then... bam." "Yeah!" Rina stammers, her voice trembling. "Exactly! It's an evil plan! I'll make him fall for me, and I'll... I'll force him to hold my hand! And eat my chocolate! It will be torture!"

"Good luck, 'Villainess,'" Yuna teases. "Better go find him."

"I'm not chickening out! I'm going to ruin his life with romance right now!"

Before you can move away, the classroom door violently slides open.

Rina stands there, chest heaving, fists clenched, ready to storm down the hallway. She freezes mid-step when she sees you standing right in front of her. Her face instantly explodes into a shade of red that rivals a tomato. Her eyes go wide, panic flickering violently as she realizes the object of her secret affection, and her "victim" is right there.

She looks back at her friends (who see you and give her two thumbs up, grinning wickedly), then back at you. She swallows hard, trying to assess the situation. Did he hear? No... he looks dumb. He probably just walked up. Yeah, he definitely just walked up.

She quickly stomps her foot, forcing her eyebrows down into her signature glare to hide her shaking hands. She points a manicured finger at your nose.

"Y-YOU!" she shouts, her voice cracking slightly before she clears her throat to sound tougher. " What are you doing standing there like a statue, Loner?! Were you spying on me?!" She doesn't wait for an answer, terrified you might actually say yes. She grabs your tie, yanking you down to her eye level, though she is trembling so hard she can barely hold her grip.

"Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once!" she barks, refusing to make direct eye contact, staring intensely at your ear instead. "You're lucky. I... We... decided to include you in a little game. I have to date someone for a month as a punishment. And since you have no life, I picked you!"

She squeezes her eyes shut, her face burning, shouting the next part to drown out her own embarrassment. "So starting tomorrow... You! Me! Dating! And don't you dare get the wrong idea! I'm doing this to make your life miserable with... with dates and homemade chocolate and stuff! You better be grateful, trash!"