Riza

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After the Philosophy class, Orion walked out, nodding his goodbye to his sisters and girlfriends. "See you in a bit," Hinata said, a twinkle in her eyes. Winry simply gave him a playful slap on the arm, while Tatsumaki smirked, "Don't get into too much trouble." Vivi, being the gentle soul she was, gave him a soft smile, whispering, "Take care."

The corridor was somewhat deserted, with only a few stragglers meandering. He remembered Riza's words earlier and made his way to her office, situated a level below Principal Tsunade's. It was his first time venturing into this part of the school, and a sense of intrigue washed over him.

The door to the Vice-Principal's office was a dark mahogany, in sharp contrast to the cream walls surrounding it. The nameplate read: "Riza Hawkeye - Vice Principal." He knocked twice, the sound echoing softly in the hallway.

A muffled, "Come in," responded. Pushing the door open, the room revealed a cozy interior. A large desk cluttered with documents sat against the back wall. To his surprise, both Riza and Tsunade were inside. Tsunade, her hair tied back and a pair of reading glasses perched on her nose, looked up, a mix of curiosity and mischief in her gaze. Riza's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, her pen paused mid-air.

"I sent a student to let you know that this afternoon wouldn't work," Riza began, her voice shaky. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.

"Orion?" Tsunade's voice was silky smooth, teasingly dragging out his name. There was a glint in her eye, reminding Orion of their recent encounter.

"The Vice-Principal wanted to see me," was all he managed to voice aloud.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, did she now?" Her eyes darted towards Riza, who seemed to be struggling to find words.

Before any further conversation could ensue, the door creaked open, revealing the face of a familiar student. "Orion!" Misa chirped, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "The Vice-Principal told me to let you know that she can't meet this afternoon." Her eyes danced with amusement.

Orion couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. Rolling his eyes, he responded, "You're just a tad late with that information, Misa."

Riza, meanwhile, facepalmed in embarrassment. "Thank you, Misa. That will be all."

Misa's gaze lingered on Orion a moment longer, her grin widening. "Alright! See you later, Orion." With a playful wink, she blew a kiss his way, retreating from the room.

There was an awkward pause in the room as the door clicked shut. Orion couldn't help but feel amused by the situation. He met Tsunade's gaze, who was clearly trying to stifle her laughter. "Well," Orion started, his voice dripping with mischief, "since Vice-Principal Hawkeye is busy this afternoon, maybe I could come by later?"

Tsunade halted him with a raised hand, her voice dripping with curiosity. "No, I am intrigued as to why Riza summoned you," she mused.

Orion, unflustered by the situation, simply shrugged and sauntered over to take a seat across from the two women. From his perspective, this was a free show, and he was the guest of honor. The atmosphere in the room was palpable, charged with unsaid tensions.

"P-principal…" Riza began, clearly flustered. She took a deep breath, seemingly mustering the courage to speak. "I wanted to reward Orion too, since he's been instrumental in handling the delinquents in school."

Tsunade's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, her gaze piercing. "Riza, I've already told you that Orion is mine."

Riza's face reddened even further, embarrassment evident. Before she could reply, Orion sprang to his feet, the essence of his philosophy shining through. "Whoa, whoa. Let's get one thing straight," he began, a playful yet stern edge to his voice. "I belong to no one."

The air felt thick with tension, yet Orion, unyielding and undeterred, continued, "While I certainly appreciate these... 'reward sessions' you've both devised, let's make one thing clear: I don't take kindly to possessiveness."

Riza's voice wavered, guilt evident in her eyes, "Orion, it's just... I respect Tsunade so much. She's been a role model for me. I thought that maybe... through you... we could share something."

Tsunade turned slowly, a look of pure astonishment etched on her face. "You what?" she exclaimed.

Locking eyes with Tsunade, Riza's voice grew firmer, almost defiant. "When the opportunity arose, I wanted to 'reward' Orion too, like you did. It's not just because of the mutual respect I have for you but also... well, Orion has a certain charm that's hard to ignore."

Tsunade, clearly taken aback, pondered on Riza's words. She then let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "So, instead of coming to me directly, you tried to use Orion as a bridge between us?"

Riza nodded, her face an open book of regret. "I apologize, it was wrong of me."

Orion cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Ladies, while I'm flattered by all this attention, let's remember something: using someone, especially without their knowledge, isn't exactly... honorable." He arched an eyebrow at Riza, "Isn't that one of the lessons taught here?"

Tsunade's lips twitched into a smirk. "Well, looks like Orion's philosophy class wasn't a waste after all."

Riza, her face a deeper shade of crimson, murmured, "I'm truly sorry, Orion. My intentions were misguided."

Orion waved her apology away with a nonchalant hand. "All is forgiven. But remember, Vice-Principal, while it's one thing to be inspired by someone, it's another to use someone else as a pawn in your personal pursuits."

Riza got up hastily, her chair scraping the floor. "No, Orion! You are not just a pawn to me. More like, bridging the gap with the Principal is a side quest, while acquiring you is the main quest."

Orion raised an eyebrow, a glint of mischief paired with caution. "Let's make it clear. Am I the side quest or your friendship with the Principal?"

Riza's hazel eyes darted between him and Tsunade. She had been working alongside Tsunade for years, always harboring the hope of growing closer, learning from her vast reservoir of wisdom and strength. Her respect for the principal was a tangible force. Yet, having only known Orion for a few weeks, she couldn't deny the charm that made her gravitate toward him.

She licked her lips, and then, in a voice barely audible, mumbled, "I don't know."

His lips tightened into a thin line. "Well, I appreciate your honesty, but I refuse to be a pawn in anyone's game. Good day." With a flourish, he began to walk towards the door.

"Orion, please wait!" Tsunade's voice rang out, breaking through the thick tension.

He paused, turning to face her, but his demeanor was unwavering, "Yes?"

Tsunade sighed, "Riza means well. Perhaps you could consider giving her a chance to explain herself fully."

Orion shook his head slightly, the remnants of his playful smirk replaced with a stern expression. "I don't think so."

Riza, a blend of determination and desperation, hurried over, reaching out to grab his arm. He paused, allowing her the opportunity to plead her case. "Please, Orion, let me show you how genuine my feelings are."

Before Orion could respond, Riza leaned forward, pulling his face down to hers and planting a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. The room seemed to freeze, the heavy weight of the moment tangible.

Orion's philosophy flared to life; he wouldn't shy away, wouldn't be taken aback. Instead, he deepened the kiss, catching Riza off guard. After what felt like an eternity, they separated, both breathless.

Tsunade's eyebrows raised in surprise, a smirk once again playing at the edges of her lips. "Well, that was... unexpected."

Riza, cheeks flushed, looked away, her voice filled with vulnerability. "I... I'm sorry. That was impulsive."

Orion, living true to his nature, leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Next time you want to take the initiative, maybe try discussing it first." The playful edge was back, but his eyes were serious.

Tsunade coughed, drawing their attention. "Well, as interesting as this has been, perhaps you two should continue this conversation elsewhere."

Riza nodded, murmuring her agreement. "Orion, can we talk?"

His gaze settled on her, his eyes searching. "Alright. But not here."

Exiting the office, they began to walk in silence. Thoughts swirled within Riza's mind. How had things gotten so messy? Her intention had been simple: to grow closer to Tsunade through Orion. But now? It was much more complicated.

Orion, on the other hand, allowed a smirk to play on his lips, musing to himself, Well, well, Vice-Principal Hawkeye, you sure know how to throw a curveball. But two can play at that game.

As they reached the garden, Orion broke the silence. "Let's sit."

They took a seat on a nearby bench, under the shade of a large tree. Birds chirped overhead, a stark contrast to the tension between them.

"Orion, I'm sorry," Riza began, looking down at her hands. "I... I made a mistake."

He leaned back, regarding her coolly. "Yes, you did. But what's done is done. What do you want now?"

She sighed, her voice filled with a mix of determination and hope. "I want to get to know you, Orion. And not just because of Tsunade, but because there's something about you. I can't quite place it, but I want to find out."

He chuckled lightly, a devilish glint in his eyes. "Very well, Riza. Let's see where this leads. But remember, no more games. If I sense any manipulation, our little venture ends."

Riza nodded, "Agreed."

From a distance, Misa watched the two, a smirk of her own on her lips. Turning to the specter only she could see, she whispered, "Looks like the Vice-Principal and Orion are getting closer."

The specter smiled softly, shaking her head. "Only Orion could handle a situation like this with such grace."

Both laughed, their voices carried away by the wind, as they walked back to their next class.

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