Chapter 31: Caught in the Crossfire

Leo and Mary were walking off the school grounds after their intense fight, the air between them still thick with the tension of their earlier battle. As they made their way down the path, Leo could feel Mary's eyes on him, but he wasn't sure why.

Out of nowhere, Mary broke the silence with a frustrated sigh. "You know... I've been thinking."

Leo glanced over, curious but cautious. "About what?"

"About Choka and Rin," Mary said, her tone sharp. "I heard what happened with them after your fights."

Leo stiffened. "Oh, that... Look, it wasn't what it seemed like—"

"I'm not talking about that," Mary interrupted, her expression darkening. "I mean, why didn't you try the same thing with me? What, am I not attractive to you or something?"

Leo blinked, completely caught off guard. "W-What?! No, that's not it! I just... I mean, I wouldn't...!"

Mary stopped walking and turned to face him, her hands on her hips. "Then what is it? Do you not find me attractive? Is that why you didn't even try anything?"

Leo was at a loss for words, his brain scrambling to process what was happening. "I-I don't understand—"

"Why didn't you?" Mary demanded, her voice rising in frustration. "Do you think I'm less attractive than Choka or Rin?"

Leo opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. His mind was racing, and he had no idea how to navigate this conversation. Was this some kind of test? A trap? He had no clue what Mary was getting at.

Before he could formulate a coherent response, Mary's entire demeanor shifted. She gave him a sly smirk and leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a more seductive tone. "Maybe I should show you just how attractive I can be."

Leo's heart skipped a beat as Mary's hand rested on his arm. Her intense gaze made it clear that she wasn't joking, and for a moment, Leo's composure faltered.

"Uh... I-I don't think that's necessary," he stammered, trying to back away, but Mary held firm.

"Oh, really?" Mary teased, her smirk widening. "You seem a little nervous, Leo. What's the matter? Can't handle it?"

Leo gulped, feeling his willpower being tested. His mind was telling him to stay calm, but his body was betraying him. The heat from the fight hadn't completely faded, and Mary's proximity wasn't helping.

"Come on, Leo," Mary purred, leaning in even closer. "You defeated me. Doesn't that mean you get a reward?"

Leo's resolve was crumbling, but he held firm. "N-No... I don't need a reward. I just—"

"What do you want, then?" Mary interrupted, her voice sultry. "What's your prize for beating me?"

Leo finally managed to get his bearings, taking a deep breath. "All I want... is your permission slip."

Mary's eyes widened for a moment before her smirk returned, more mischievous than ever. "Ah, so that's what you're after, huh?"

Without warning, Mary pulled back the collar of her uniform just enough to reveal the top of her chest. Leo's eyes went wide as she slowly slid the permission slip from her pocket and tucked it into the space between her breasts, her smirk never leaving her face.

"Then come and take it," she said, her voice dripping with playful seduction.

Leo stared, completely dumbfounded. His hands trembled, his mind screaming at him to stay composed, but his body wasn't listening. Slowly, shakily, his hand reached toward the permission slip, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Mary watched with a smug smile, clearly enjoying his internal struggle. "What's the matter, Leo? Can't control yourself?"

His hand hovered over the slip for a moment before he finally grabbed it, trying his best to avert his gaze as he pulled it out. His face was burning with embarrassment, but Mary seemed pleased with herself.

Just as Leo was about to say something, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Leo! There you are! I've been looking for you!"

Leo froze, his heart sinking. He turned his head slowly, and there, standing at the corner of the path, was Rin. Her expression was confused at first, but as she got closer, her eyes fell on the scene in front of her—Leo, still holding the permission slip, and Mary, whose shirt was slightly open, revealing the top of her chest.

For a moment, Rin just stared in stunned silence, her face turning redder by the second.

"What... what are you doing?" Rin asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Then her eyes narrowed as she glared at Leo. "What's going on here?!"

Before Leo could explain, Mary chimed in, her smirk widening. "Oh, we were just having a little... exchange. Nothing to worry about."

"Exchange?!" Rin's voice shot up in disbelief. She looked back and forth between the two, her eyes wide with anger and confusion. "Leo, what is this?!"

Leo tried to explain, raising his hands defensively. "It's not what it looks like! I just—"

"Not what it looks like?!" Rin shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "Then what is it?! Why is Mary's shirt open, and why are you standing there like that?!"

Leo struggled to find the right words. "I... I just... it's the permission slip, okay? I asked for it, and she..."

Rin's eyes flickered toward Mary, who was standing with a smug, victorious smile. "He's telling the truth," Mary added, her tone casual. "He wanted my permission slip, so I gave it to him."

"But why are you... like this?!" Rin gestured at Mary's unbuttoned shirt, her voice rising with frustration.

Mary's eyes gleamed mischievously as she glanced at Leo, then back at Rin. "Oh, I just thought I'd make it a little more... interesting. After all, I have to keep him on his toes, right?"

"You—!" Rin's fists clenched at her sides, and her face grew redder with each passing second. "You're doing this on purpose!"

"And what if I am?" Mary said with a grin. "What's it to you? Do you have a problem with it?"

Rin glared at her, practically fuming. "Of course I have a problem with it! You're trying to mess with him, and it's not going to work!"

"Oh?" Mary raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the escalating tension. "And why do you care so much, Rin? Afraid he might like me more than you?"

Rin's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "T-That's not it at all! I just don't want you playing your tricks on him!"

Mary's smile turned wicked. "So, you're saying you're worried about him being interested in me, huh?"

"I—!" Rin was clearly flustered, her words stumbling over themselves. "I just don't think he'd fall for your games, that's all!"

"Oh really?" Mary crossed her arms, her smirk never faltering. "Then tell me, who do you think he finds more attractive—you or me?"

Leo's stomach dropped at the question, and he could feel the headache forming. This wasn't going to end well.

"Wait, hold on—" Leo tried to intervene, but his words were drowned out by Rin and Mary's escalating argument.

"I don't care about that!" Rin shouted. "It's not about who's more attractive! It's about you trying to—"

"Then why don't we ask Leo?" Mary interrupted, her voice teasing. "Leo, who do you think is more attractive? Me or Rin?"

Leo's heart sank as both girls turned to look at him, their eyes filled with expectation. This was not a question he wanted to answer, and he could feel the pressure mounting.

Before either of them could press him further, Leo did the only thing he could think of—he bolted.

"Leo! Get back here!" Rin shouted, starting to chase after him.

Mary joined in, her voice filled with amusement. "Running away, are we? Come on, Leo, answer the question!"

Leo's heart raced as he sprinted down the path, desperately trying to avoid the disaster that was unfolding behind him. He had no idea how he was going to get out of this one, but one thing was for sure—he needed to escape before things got even worse.

A/N:

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