"WOW, FOUR PINK BABES!" one of the male students shouted.

Like a chain reaction, the classroom erupted, not into cheers, but into sharp whispers and envious stares. The boys were grinning like idiots, the girls glaring daggers at them, and none of it was without reason. The four sisters who entered were breathtaking. They were identical: shoulder-length, bright-pink hair, flawless faces, eyes like polished emeralds, and even their clothing looked tailored to perfection, each wearing the same white shirt and black skirt.

The only difference? Their accessories.

• The first wore a green headband.

• The second had a dangling necklace.

• The third flashed a golden sword-shaped earring.

• The fourth fiddled with a thin bracelet and a hairpin.

From a distance, they could've been clones. But to Kentaro and the crew, they were unmistakable. Or… They should've been.

"SHAULA?!" Kentaro blurted before his brain could stop his mouth.

The word cut through the chatter like a blade. Silence. Every head turned toward him. A hundred confused faces stared. Kentaro froze, realising what he'd just done, and slowly sank back into his seat. Whispers resumed, the noise returned… Except the sisters.

All four of them were staring directly at him. Smiling. Cute smiles, but with an undertone. An aura of menace, mischief. Smiles that said we know exactly what we're doing.

Tenka leaned closer, her voice low. "Is that actually her, though? She never mentioned siblings."

Serica shook her head. "Exactly. Quadruplets, maybe?" She scratched her chin, uncertain if she even had the right word.

Yura narrowed her gaze on the one with the bracelet. "Hmm. Shaula did leave abruptly. But why would she want to transfer here?" She scratched her cheek with her finger, thinking. "I'm, you guys did say there were other schools better than this one?"

Tenka shook her head again, her voice firmer. "We never told her about our school. She couldn't have known… Unless this was planned."

Kentaro muttered under his breath, "Surely not…" His eyes never left the sisters.

Mr Tachibana coughed to reel the room back in. "Ahem. Girls, please introduce yourselves and then take a seat in the fourth row."

The four smiled, lingering just a fraction too long on Kentaro, before bowing politely to the class.

The first, with the green headband, lifted her head.

"I'm Big Shaula-Shaula Lyra."

The second, necklace glinting, followed.

"I'm Elder Shaula-Shaula Antares."

The third, flashing her golden earring, smirked.

"I'm Small Shaula-Shaula Caelis."

Finally, the youngest giggled, bracelet jingling.

"Hehe, I'm known as Baby Shaula-Shaula Veyra."

They bowed once more. The class was frozen. Then, with graceful synchronicity, the four walked to their seats. Kentaro's throat went dry as they sat, still giving him smug little glances before facing forward.

Trying to act casual by asking a question he already knew the answer to, he whispered, "Hey… Does anyone know the Shaula we met's last name?"

"Nope," the girls said in unison.

"Thought so…" He muttered, following the Shaula's movements with his eyes.

Serica tilted her head, trying her best to solve the mystery. "Who even said that it is the same Shaula?"

Tenka's eyes narrowed, watching the girls. "Trust me. One of them's her. They keep staring at Kentaro, and that tells us everything."

"Maybe…" Aria whispered, cheeks pink as she refused to make eye contact with the Shaulas as they sat down. "Maybe it's just some surprise she wanted to reveal to Kentaro. That's why she left this morning without saying anything…"

"Could be," Kentaro sighed, crossing his arms. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."

Mr Tachibana shuffled through his papers, adjusting his glasses. "Alright! Now, as I mentioned, we have an upcoming multi-school competition. Yesterday I didn't reveal the details, but it's been finalised, our college will be competing in the Multi-School Play Competition!" His voice boomed like a battle cry.

The room erupted again.

"Whoa!!"

"OMG, I hope it's a romance!"

"Bro, imagine if I get cast as the lead opposite a hot chick!"

Kentaro twitched. "P-P-Play…?" His gut sank. This had Tengen and Tenka's friends written all over it. If this was what they'd roped him into.

He hissed under his breath, teeth clenched. "I swear, if you guys made me the main lead, I'll never forgive you…" His whisper came out so harsh, so strangled, that he looked like a lunatic serial killer mumbling threats.

The three girls in front turned slowly, their deadpan expressions unchanged. Even Tenka blinked.

"Of course not, dummy," Mei said flatly.

"Yeah, goober," Mika added.

"You're not that guy…" Sumire finished, without an ounce of emotion.

Then they turned back around, ignoring him.

Kentaro's eyebrow twitched so hard it hurt. His face burned with embarrassment. He glanced at Tenka, who just shrugged like she'd already given up on him.

Then, Mr Tachibana delivered the killing blow.

"And as for our unanimous volunteer… Thanks to the efforts of Tengen Kazakawa, Mika Mei, Sumire Hoshigaki, and Rei Tachibana, we already have our Main Character!"

Kentaro's stomach plummeted. His heart stalled. The world slowed. The words came in slow motion, each one like a blade through his chest.

"Give it up… For our PRINCE. Mr Kentaro Takamiya!!"

"WHOOOOP!" Five voices screamed in celebration: Tengen, Tenka, and her three friends. The only five people in the room who looked like they'd just won the lottery.

Kentaro? He looked like he'd just been sentenced to death.

The room was silent, all glaring at Kentaro. His face burned red from humiliation while the girls in front of him glanced back, their lips curling into sly smiles.

"Hehehehehe," they giggled in unison before turning back around.

Kentaro's chest twisted with rage, despair, and bone-crushing anxiety all at once. His head sank into his hands. Why me…? I'm horrible at acting!

Serica tried to cheer him up, her voice trembling. "I-I-I mean… Sure, you'll be performing in front of everyone, and yes, every single pair of eyes will be staring at you the whole time… But at least you get to be the prince." It didn't work, though it only made Kentaro more Scared.

"P-p-prince…!" Kentaro muttered, the word exploding out of his mouth. His horror was immediate as he realised what character he was going to play.

Mr Tachibana's smile only made it worse. "Yes, indeed! We'll be performing Sleeping Beauty! Which means we'll need a proper female cast, and, of course, a sensible prince!"

He looked right at Kentaro.

The class chuckled. Then the chuckles grew into cruel little comments.

"Yeah, plays are overrated anyway."

"Ugh, imagine kissing him."

"Rather die, honestly."

The words cut deeper than they should have. Serica, Yura, and Aria visibly bristled, but they knew they couldn't pick fights in the middle of class.

Kentaro's head dropped lower. Divine intervention, anytime now, please…

When he looked back up, the sisters were smirking at him. Four identical stares. All sharp, all smug. Like sharks circling blood.

Before he could do anything, a balled-up paper smacked the back of his head. Kentaro whipped around to see Tengen up on the second level, pointing down at him with a grin.

Kentaro forced a smile back, though in reality, he wanted to kill him. Not that he could. Tengen's goofy demeanour hid a well-built frame. And of course he had Muscles, which of course Kentaro did not have. If it came to fists, Kentaro knew he'd be flattened like a pancake.

"I swear, I'll get my revenge," Kentaro muttered, bending down to pick up the note.

It was crumpled, coffee-stained, and written in chicken-scratch handwriting. But he managed to read it:

Trust me. Ditch the girls and let me be your Sleeping Beauty.

Kentaro gagged. "Oh, god. No. Not happening." He didn't even look back to check Tengen's reaction.

"What is it?" Tenka asked curiously.

Kentaro sighed. "Something Shogo would probably be interested in…"

Tenka peeked at the paper and giggled. "Sure might well be." She dropped it onto the desk, shaking her head.

At the front of the class, Mr Tachibana set down sign-up sheets for the princess role and supporting cast. Kentaro already felt his blood pressure spiking, but thankfully… He had three girls who wouldn't hesitate. Maybe even a fourth, depending on how jealous she decided to get.

The moment class ended, Yura and Serica lunged for the papers.

"Trust me, Yura! Let me do it, you're too stiff!" Serica shouted, shoving her with her backside.

"Fool! You're a childish ice woman! You'll ruin the kiss scene and make Kentaro look bad!" Yura fired back, shoving just as hard.

Meanwhile, Aria had already snatched a sheet thanks to Tenka's quick thinking. She and Tenka stood beside Kentaro, watching the chaos unfold.

"Girls, maybe just one of you-"

"NO!" They screamed in unison.

Kentaro sighed so hard his soul nearly left his body.

"Dude, for being average looking, the guy sure does have a lot of girls around him."

"Yeah, bro must have forced them into it."

Two students said as they walked out of the classroom, clearly jealous of the attention Kentaro was getting. But he ignored it.

Waiting by the door, he suddenly felt a hand clap his shoulder.

"Sooo, for getting you into this mess, here's an apology."

Tengen smiled, handing him a fresh sign-up sheet. Kentaro blinked, realising it was for the princess role.

"…Won't forgive you, but thanks," Kentaro muttered. "Why do this to me again?"

"Shits and giggles," Tengen replied instantly.

"Ahh, yes. Very well." Kentaro sighed, trudging over to the girls with the extra sheet.

Their eyes lit up at the paper like it was a treasure. But before Kentaro could hand it off, Mr Tachibana's voice cut through the room.

"Since there are multiple volunteers for the princess role, we'll hold a mini-test to determine who suits the part best."

"Great…" Kentaro muttered, dead inside.

Serica and Yura glared at each other so hard it was like lightning bolts clashing midair. Tenka had to yell to snap them out of it. They reluctantly obeyed, and the group finally left for home.

While walking, Kentaro couldn't stop thinking. Where were the sisters? He hadn't seen them leave or see them during break. The thought gnawed at him. Who's the real Shaula?

They parted ways with Tenka's friends. Tengen walked with them for a while before splitting off too. Just before leaving, he tossed out one last comment:

"No Kira again today, huh?"

Kentaro's shoulders slumped. "Yeah. She must be busy or something."

"Probably for the best. If she were here, she'd have volunteered as a princess instantly." Tengen chuckled. "And knowing her, she'd take things… Way too far."

"You're damn right about that…" Kentaro sighed, but managed a laugh with him.

They separated, leaving Kentaro with the girls. But soon he noticed something odd. Tenka, walking a little ahead of the group, wasn't joining the others' chatter. She was mumbling under her breath.

No, not mumbling. Talking. To someone.

Then suddenly, she froze.

Her face drained of colour. Shock, fear, as if the life had been ripped out of her.

Kentaro's chest tightened. "Tenka! What's wrong?! Tell me!"

She swallowed hard, her lips trembling as if even speaking was dangerous.

Finally, she whispered:

"Kentaro… It's Shaula."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.