During the break between classes on a midweek morning, Andrew The Detective from Class 11B noisily woke Ethan up with a voice loud enough to rattle windows.

“Oh? Even a model student like you falls asleep in class, Ethan?”

It was probably the first time in Ethan’s life he had ever dozed off during a lesson. He wasn’t even sure which period he’d fallen asleep in. But apparently, thanks to some mysterious influence his deskmate had over the teachers, Ethan managed to nap all the way through without getting caught.

“What brings you over to my class, Detective?”

Ethan stretched, yawned, and asked Andrew The Detective.

Andrew The Detective glanced around cautiously, as if checking for a terrifying presence. Only after confirming that Royce wasn’t nearby did he place a cup of bubble tea on Ethan’s desk.

“Here you go. You’ve been looking pale and scrawny lately. Especially ever since you got ‘punished’ by the Femme Fatale girls at lunch on Monday—you’ve looked totally drained.”

“I don’t like sweet stuff.”

“Tch, just take it. It’s from 2High Tea House! I had to wait in line forever to get this, you know!”

“Let’s get to the point, Andrew The Detective. You came here to ask me something, didn’t you?”

“Whoa, sharp as ever! Guess that’s what being number five in the Year 11 academic rankings gets you.”

Mentioning the rankings made Ethan feel his stomach drop.

Just last night, while he was eating dinner at a small eatery near school, his phone suddenly rang. It was his mom. The family had agreed to only call on weekends to keep things simple, so a call in the middle of the week meant something serious.

Sure enough, the moment Ethan tapped “answer”—before he could even say “Hello”—his mom’s voice exploded from the speaker loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear what a true Tiger Parents sounded like.

The volume was so intense that Ethan had to throw his phone into his backpack, but her voice still boomed out. The whole eatery went silent. Everyone probably started having war flashbacks of their own mothers.

“What’s going on? Why are you only ranked fifth? And below two girls?! What kind of studying is this, huh?”

Ethan hadn’t even gotten the chance to explain that students at Harmony High were weird—they partied all night, didn’t study, barely came to class. But his mom didn’t give him a second to breathe.

“With results like these, your father and I are beyond disappointed. We work so hard to raise you and this is how you repay us? You’re not just studying for yourself—you need to set a good example for your younger brother!”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Starting now, get your act together. I don’t care what it takes—you must rank first in the semester finals. We need to show your uncles, aunts, and the neighbors that we raised you right. Got it?”

“Yes, Mom.”

All Ethan could do was nod and repeat “yes” like a robot. No point explaining anything. It wasn’t like his mom would believe him if he said there were literal weirdos at school.

“And don’t forget! The school’s Math Team selection test is this weekend. You MUST make it this year. So study hard and crush it!”

Before Ethan could even reply or say goodbye, the call was cut off. His mom didn’t even ask how he was eating or sleeping—only cared about his scores and his rankings.

Feeling utterly deflated from being yelled at in public and overwhelmed by the pressure, Ethan thought his evening couldn’t get worse.

But then something unexpected happened.

The shop owner—a huge man with a scruffy beard and the face of a mob boss—gave Ethan his meal for free, and even handed him a voucher for seven more dinners.

“Hang in there, kid.”

The man’s sincere encouragement was accompanied by a hearty slap on the back that nearly knocked Ethan off the bench.

…

“Hey! Hello? Why do you look like you’ve checked out? Snap out of it! I’ve prepped a whole list of questions for you, so brace yourself, Ethan!”

Andrew The Detective’s loud voice yanked Ethan straight back into the present.

“First question, Ethan. I heard a rumor that the twins Anya and Yara have already finished writing a Rap Diss roasting the entire Class 11D, set to be performed during homeroom next week. What did you, Royce, and Autumn do to get on the Femme Fatale’s blacklist?”

“Why don’t you just ask Anya and Yara directly why they wrote that diss track?”

“Sigh… You know how fierce those two are. Next question. There’s gossip going around that the Femme Fatale and the group with Autumn and Royce are fighting over your affection. So, which side are you picking?”

“Geez, this isn’t some royal drama. Why are you using the word ‘affection’ like that?”

“Why do you always answer my questions with a question? You’ve gotten way more slippery since our interview at the start of September. Is it the influence of that weird Autumn girl who sits next to you?”

“Autumn is just a regular student. Same as you and me.”

“Hehe. You’re really not cooperating, Ethan.”

Andrew The Detective flashed a confident smirk. He stood up slowly, pulled down the classroom window blinds, casting shadows over Ethan’s desk. Then he turned on the flashlight on his phone and set it on the table, aiming it right at his own face—creating a creepy effect.

“You’re covering for them again. I can tell just from your heartbeat getting faster. Look at that—your forehead’s sweating already. Every bit of your body language screams ‘Liar.’ No way out now!”

“You’re making my face sweat with that flashlight, obviously!”

“Ah—Autumn!”

Andrew The Detective perked up as Autumn returned to her seat. Her bangs and face were speckled with water—she must’ve just washed her face.

“Here, have this 2High bubble tea. I stood in line forever to get it. Drink it, and then let me ask you a few questions.”

Andrew The Detective pushed the cup from Ethan’s desk over to Autumn’s.

“Hey, you just gave that to me!”

“But you said you don’t like sweet stuff, didn’t you, Ethan?”

Andrew The Detective smirked mischievously.

“Don’t drink that, Autumn…”

Before Ethan could finish, Autumn had already downed the entire 500ml XL-sized 2High bubble tea in one go. Ethan had a feeling these… beings, like Autumn and the Femme Fatale girls, could gulp down smoothies or bubble tea way faster than any normal human.

“…Because I accidentally drank from that straw before. Too late to stop you now.”

Autumn blinked her big innocent eyes at Ethan, clearly not getting it. She kept sucking up the last few pearls from the bottom of the cup, cheeks hollowing from effort.

“Hehe, things are progressing pretty fast between you two, huh? Already shared an indirect kiss.”

Andrew The Detective pointed at Autumn, then pointed at Ethan.

“Ugh! That’s disgusting! How can you even twist it like that?!”

Autumn jumped to her feet, her face bright red. Ethan could practically feel the rising temperature radiating off her.

“I’m gonna put this story on the school news homepage!”

Andrew The Detective proudly flashed a press badge. His student photo had clearly been edited with filters to look more handsome, and the text read:

Andrew Vo

Class 11B

President, Journalism Club

Harmony High

“Add this to the juicy rumors from the infamous ‘Dark Lunch’ and everything becomes much clearer! Our little lovebirds right here!”

Andrew The Detective cackled like a deranged anime villain. He grabbed his phone, turned off the flashlight, and began furiously typing.

“Mwahaha! The headline will be: “Alarming Rise in Gen Z Romance Drama!” Featuring Ethan from Class 11D—looks average, but has three goddesses from the Femme Fatale and little fox Autumn fighting over him like crazy!”

He then struck a classic thinking pose, mimicking the attitude of a certain famous manga boy detective.

“…And I’ll spice it up with juicy rumors about a love triangle—Royce, Autumn, and Ethan. Oh, and I can’t forget that time Flora from Class 11C fainted after seeing Royce’s god-tier looks. Could be a love square, who knows? Final part of the article: QR Code link to donate to the author. Sound good?”

Andrew The Detective grinned as he typed lightning-fast into his phone. Then he bolted—just in time to avoid Autumn’s incoming punch.

“Good, my a— GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!”

Autumn had climbed up onto her desk, ready to leap to the next one when Ethan said softly,

“Just leave him be. Let him write whatever nonsense he wants.”

“But… but…”

Autumn stammered. Her cheeks were still flushed.

“You don’t want the whole school knowing what really happened at lunch on Monday, do you?”

Autumn returned to her seat, burying her face in her arms on the desk. Her fists clenched tightly. Her body trembled, almost as if she were crying—but she suddenly stopped the moment Ethan offered:

“Don’t be mad anymore. I’ll treat you to another bubble tea after class, okay?”

“Jasmine oolong milk tea. 2High brand. Size 3XL, 1.5 liters. Full toppings.”

Autumn made her order without lifting her head from her arms.

“Got it. I won’t forget.”

Ethan smiled. If this had been earlier, he probably would’ve panicked at the thought of someone drinking that massive a cup of bubble tea…