Chapter 57: The Shopping District Storm
Sunday morning arrived with a brightness that felt almost too optimistic for the tension simmering within the dorm. Jun, Sora, Akane, and Mei were already gathered in the foyer, ready to depart. Jun was dressed casually but sharply, while the women each wore outfits that signaled their status—Sora in a sophisticated ensemble that screamed “Corporate Heiress,” and Mei in a tailored look that spoke of understated luxury. Akane, as always, was a shadow of disciplined elegance.
They were only waiting for one person.
The sound of hurried, frantic footsteps echoed from the staircase, followed by a loud, indignant huff. Hana practically tumbled into the foyer, her face slightly flushed and her hair a bit wind-blown. In her hand, she gripped her high-tech livestreaming camera, the lens already active and glowing with a soft blue light.
Akane looked up from her novel, a flicker of curiosity crossing her stoic features. “Do you really need to bring that, Hana-chan? I thought today was for… relaxation.”
Hana paused, striking a pose that was perfectly calibrated for her viewers. She gave Akane a bright, sugary smile, though there was a hint of a challenge in her eyes. “Akane-chan, please! I’m a professional. My fans are waiting, and a top-tier influencer doesn’t just ‘take a day off.’ I have a brand to maintain, and my job is to bring the world along for the ride!”
Jun let out a short, dry chuckle, his voice laced with amusement. “More like you’re trying to make up for the stream quota you missed while you were sulking for two days,” he remarked, his tone perfectly deadpan.
Hana’s face turned a vivid shade of crimson. She shot Jun a look of pure betrayal, her “Sweetheart” mask slipping for a fraction of a second. “Jun-oppa! You weren’t supposed to tell the truth! You’re supposed to say I was… I don’t know, meditating on my beauty!”
“I prefer the truth,” Jun replied simply, gesturing toward the door. “Now, let’s go. We’re burning daylight.”
The group piled into the luxury vehicle, the doors closing with a heavy, expensive thud. As soon as they were settled, Hana flipped her camera to “Live” mode. Within seconds, the viewer count skyrocketed. The notification had hit the Academy’s internal network like a bomb, and thousands of students were instantly tuning in.
“Hiiiii everyone!” Hana chirped, her voice shifting into her high-energy “Idol” register. She beamed into the lens, her eyes sparkling. “I’m back! Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet lately, but I’ve been doing some… intensive self-care! Today, we’re heading out for some shopping! I can’t wait to show you all the cute things I find!”
Beside her, the car was a study in contrast. Akane had already returned to her book, her expression impassive. Mei had leaned her head back, closing her eyes in a state of zen-like relaxation. Sora was engaged in a quiet, elegant conversation with Jun, her voice a soft murmur that the microphone barely picked up.
The chat on the screen was moving so fast it was almost a blur.
【SHE’S BACK!! THE QUEEN HAS RETURNED! ❤️】
【Wait, is that Jun in the background?! OMG, he’s actually in the car!! 😱】
【Where are they going?! Hana-chan, tell us where you’re going!!】
【Look at Sora-sama… she looks so elegant. I bet she’s buying everything in the store lol.】
Hana noticed the flood of questions. She leaned toward Jun, her voice playful. “Oppa, the fans are dying to know. Where exactly are we heading? Give them a little hint!”
Jun didn’t even look at the camera. “The shopping district,” he replied concisely. He didn’t specify which plaza or which store, leaving the “where” intentionally vague.
The chat exploded.
【The shopping district?! On a Sunday?!】
【Bet they’re going to the high-end sector. Only the best for the Prime.】
【I’m already heading there! I’ll bet my life they’re going to the L’Aura plaza!】
As the car approached the outskirts of the commercial zone, Jun shifted in his seat, his eyes scanning the road ahead. He felt a familiar prickle of intuition. “Everyone, get ready,” he murmured.
Hana looked at him, confused. “Get ready for what?”
“There are probably girls all over the shopping district,” Jun explained, his voice calm but knowing. “Especially since you’re livestreaming. They’ve probably tracked the car’s general direction. They’re waiting.”
The chat went wild, the screen filling with “100” emojis and thumbs-up. The velocity of the messages was now so fast that it was almost impossible to read, a waterfall of emojis and exclamation points.
【HE KNOWS!! Jun is a god!! 😂】【He’s totally right. I’m literally standing at the plaza right now and there are like fifty girls waiting for a glimpse of him!】【He’s so perceptive. I love how he just knows. ❤️】
But as the car continued to move, the conversation shifted. The “Saturday Movie” effect had clearly hit its peak. The users weren’t just talking about his looks anymore; they were talking about his performance.
【Can we talk about the movie from yesterday?! I literally couldn’t sleep last night. I’ve re-watched the ‘demolition’ scene ten times!! 🥵】
【I was a purist until Saturday, but after seeing Jun-sama in action… I’m officially a loyal simp. I’d do anything for him! 😭❤️】
【The way he handled Sora-sama… my god. I didn’t know a man could be that dominant. I’m officially converted!!】
【I’ve watched the screening three times. My standards for men have just been raised to an impossible level. Thank you, Jun-sama, for ruining my life!! 😂✨】
Hana watched the screen, her expression a mix of pride and irritation. She loved that he was admired, but the “loyal simp” comments were starting to feel like a threat to her territory. Then, the chat took a playful, slightly savage turn toward her.
【Hana-chan is so cute, but let’s be real… if Jun-sama started his own stream, we’d all jump ship in a heartbeat! 🏃♀️💨】
【LMAO true!! I love Hana, but I’d sell my soul for a 1-on-1 stream with Jun. Sorry Hana-chan!! ❤️】
【Don’t worry, Hana! We’ll still be your fans… as long as you keep showing us more of Jun-sama! 😉】
【Jump ship? I’m already in the water waiting for Jun’s boat to arrive! 🌊🥵】
Hana’s eye twitched. She maintained her bright, “Nation’s Sweetheart” smile for the camera, but internally, she was screaming. The idea of her fans “jumping ship” for her Oppa was a blow to her ego, even if the person they were leaving her for was the man she loved.
“You guys are so mean!” Hana giggled into the mic, her voice sounding perfectly playful, though her grip on the camera tightened. “I’m the only one who can give you the best view of Jun-oppa, so you’d better stay loyal to me!”
Jun didn’t even glance at the screen, but he could hear the chaos. He found the “jumping ship” comments amusing. He didn’t need a fanbase, but he appreciated the energy. He simply leaned back in the luxury seat, enjoying the irony of being the most wanted man in the Academy while remaining the most indifferent to the noise.
As the car turned into the main thoroughfare of the shopping district, the scene became apparent. It was a sea of students. Groups of girls had gathered on the sidewalks, their presence turning the luxury street into a chaotic festival of longing.
The atmosphere was electric, a mix of fan-girl hysteria and high-society competition. Everywhere Jun looked, he saw a forest of handmade placards, each one a desperate bid for his attention. Some were simple and sweet, like “JUN-SAMA, PLEASE LOOK AT ME!” or “SORA-SAMA, YOU’RE LUCKY!”—but as the car crawled forward, the messages became more aggressive and explicit.
One girl, standing on a bench to be seen, held a massive neon sign that read: “I’VE ALREADY STUDIED YOUR VIRILITY DATA—PICK ME, JUN-SAMA!”
Another group of girls held a coordinated banner that spanned the width of the sidewalk: “WE’VE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATIONS! PLEASE CHECK THE ‘TALENT’ TAB, JUN!”
Some of the placards were more personal, appealing to his specific tastes or his “Pro” background. One girl held a sign that read, “I CAN BE YOUR PERFECT MAID—JUST GIVE ME ONE CHANCE TO SERVE YOU!” while another, a bold second-year, held a placard that simply said, “I’M READY TO BE WRECKED. PICK ME!”
The sheer audacity of the messages was staggering. It wasn’t just a fan meeting; it was a public audition. The girls were no longer hiding their desires behind polite society; they were shouting them from the rooftops, treating their status as “potential women” as the only goal that mattered.
Jun looked at the sea of signs—the desperate pleas, the strategic appeals, the raw hunger for his attention. He felt a slight pressure in his chest, not from stress, but from the sheer weight of the expectations placed upon him.
Beside him, Sora let out a soft, triumphant hum. She didn’t look at the placards; she didn’t need to. She knew that no matter how many signs they held or how many applications they submitted, she was the one currently sitting by his side.
Hana, however, was staring at the placards with a mixture of horror and competitiveness. She saw a girl holding a sign that said “JUN-SAMA, I’M BETTER THAN ANY CHILDHOOD FRIEND!” and her grip on the camera tightened so hard the plastic groaned.
“Look at all these… enthusiastic girls,” Hana murmured into the mic, her voice still sugary but her eyes narrowing. “It’s so sweet how much they love Jun-oppa! But remember, everyone, the best things in life are usually already taken!”
Sora, seeing the chaos, took a sudden, strategic initiative. She reached over and linked her arm firmly with Hana’s, pulling the smaller girl close. To the viewers of the livestream, it looked like a moment of deep friendship and feminine bonding.
“Since we’re here,” Sora said, her voice sounding sweet and inclusive for the benefit of the microphone, “I think it’s only fair that Hana and I go and try some new lingerie together. A girl needs her secrets, after all, right?”
Hana stiffened. The mention of lingerie—and the implication that they would be doing this together—sent a jolt of jealousy through her. But she was a professional. She maintained her “Sweetheart” persona, giggling and nodding for the camera.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Sora-sama!” Hana chirped, though her eyes were flashing. “I can’t wait to see what we find!”
As the car slowed toward the drop-off point, Sora reached out and deftly muted the microphone on Hana’s camera. The “Idol” mask vanished instantly.
Sora turned to Jun, her expression one of calculated generosity. “I’ll take Hana and handle the crowds,” she told him, her voice returning to its authoritative tone. “I suggest you spend some personal time with Mei and Akane. They’ve been so patient; they deserve some undivided attention.”
Before Hana could utter a single word of protest, Sora gripped her hand and pulled her swiftly out of the car.
Jun watched them go, noting the way Sora effectively “managed” Hana, steering her away from him. He didn’t mind; in fact, he appreciated the efficiency. As the car pulled away toward another drop-off point, Jun looked out the window. He saw Sora and Hana standing on the sidewalk, immediately surrounded by a swarm of eager, starstruck girls.
Jun leaned back in his seat, a small, tired smile on his lips. The shopping trip had barely begun, and the chaos was already in full swing.