Chapter Text
The next morning, Ego’s voice blared through the PA like a threat.
“Good morning, emotionally fragile romance-starved teens. Today begins your next challenge: the Confession Duel. You will confess your feelings to your target in front of a panel. You may confess sincerely, manipulatively, or under duress. Extra points for drama. Go forth and suffer.”
Reo stared blankly at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Someone had stuck a glittery “💖PRINCESS OF BLUE LOCK💖” sticker on it.
“Why is this happening to me?” he mumbled.
Nagi, brushing his teeth beside him, replied, “Because you’re cute. And rich.”
“That’s not comforting.”
Nagi shrugged. “Rin’s looking for you.”
Reo stiffened. “Why?”
“Probably to confess. Or punch someone. Hopefully both.”
The confessions took place in a glitter-bombed version of the training room. Ego sat in a judge’s chair drinking from a mug labeled “Tears of the Weak.”
Reo sat in the “Beloved” seat. He looked mildly haunted.
Ego gestured. “Begin.”
Rin stepped up like a man about to go to war. He didn’t look at Reo—he glared at Nagi in the corner, who was chewing a heart-shaped cookie with zero urgency.
“Reo,” Rin said tightly. “You’re talented. Focused. Annoyingly radiant. I don’t think you’re as lukewarm as the rest of the losers here.”
Reo blinked. “...Thank you?”
“I don’t like Nagi.”
“Noted.”
Nagi waved lazily. “Hi.”
Ego held up a scorecard: 7/10. Needs more eye contact.
Reo’s bracelet pinged. His Affection Rank held steady at #1. He wept a little inside.
Nagi sauntered up with a cookie in his mouth.
“Yo, Reo.”
“Please don’t say anything weird.”
“I like you. You’re fun to play with. You give me snacks. You look hot when you yell.”
Reo face-palmed.
Nagi leaned closer. “Also, Rin’s a weirdo. You should pick me.”
“STOP MAKING THIS A VOTE.”
Ego held up a sign: 9/10. Bonus for negging rival.
Reo’s bracelet pinged again. He whimpered.
Rin kicked a chair.
Ness was building a poster board collage titled “Reasons Kaiser Might Secretly Love Me” featuring blurry photos, red yarn, and two bandaids. Shidou was getting kicked out of the confession arena for saying “I wanna ruin your life in a romantic way” to three people in a row. Isagi still didn’t know what Bachira whispered. He had paced about 70 laps of his dorm and was driving Hiori insane.
Back in the locker room, Reo had curled into a towel pile.
“I can’t do this,” he muttered. “They’re going to kill each other. For me.”
“Hot,” said Shidou, walking past with glitter stuck in his hair. “Live the dream, Princess.”
“I don’t want to be a love triangle,” Reo groaned. “I want a nap.”
Too late. Rin slammed the door open from one side. Nagi entered from the other.
They locked eyes.
“Leave him alone,” Rin said.
“You leave me alone,” Nagi replied, voice flat.
“Make me.”
“Oh I will.”
Reo, trapped between them, sighed. “Can we at least do this without the threat of murder?”
“Fine,” they both muttered.
“But only because you’re not worth a murder sentence,” Rin added.
Ego's voice echoed from the ceiling like God on a dating show.
“Next round: Love Letters. Write wisely, or be publicly humiliated.”
Reo collapsed.