The next morning, Yuuji woke up to chaos.
Not on the battlefield.
Not from another duel.
But right outside his dorm room.
"Kyaaah! Is that really him?!"
"The King who defeated Leon!"
"I heard he fought like a genius and looks super cool up close!"
Yuuji cracked open the door cautiously.
Outside, the hallway was packed.
Dozens of students—mostly girls—had gathered, giggling and chattering excitedly.
Some wore school uniforms.
Some wore stylish casual clothes.
A few even had magical accessories glowing softly.
They all had one thing in common:
sparkling eyes locked directly on him.
Yuuji blinked.
Slowly.
"What. The. Hell."
One particularly bold girl, a cute first-year with twin tails, stepped forward holding a handmade flag with a tiny chess king drawn on it.
"S-Serizawa-senpai!" she stammered, cheeks flushed.
"Please sign my notebook!"
Another girl shoved her way forward, a magical camera already snapping pictures.
"Can I get a selfie?! Pleaaase!"
Behind them, others whispered:
"He's so much cooler than the rumors!"
"Do you think he's single?"
"Maybe he needs a personal assistant~?"
Yuuji backed up, hands raised like he was facing a wild beast.
"Calm down! It's just one win!"
They didn't calm down.
If anything, the swarm moved closer.
From down the hall, Mira rounded the corner—
—and froze.
She stared at the scene:
Her King, surrounded by squealing girls, looking more panicked than he ever did on the battlefield.
Something inside Mira twitched unpleasantly.
She didn't even understand why.
Ayaka, strolling behind her, whistled low.
"Damn, King Boy's got himself a fan club."
Clara sipped her tea, expressionless.
"Predictable. Victory attracts followers. Especially women."
Mira gritted her teeth.
"Tch."
She didn't like this.
Not one bit.
Mira watched the scene unfolding in front of her with a sour expression.
Girls were practically throwing themselves at Yuuji.
One girl even tried to grab his sleeve.
Another was giggling while handing him a handmade bento box.
Yuuji looked completely overwhelmed, backing up step by step until he was practically pressed against the wall.
"Hahh..."
Mira let out a heavy sigh.
She didn't like this feeling—
this weird knot in her stomach.
Why did it bother her so much?
It wasn't like she owned Yuuji.
He was just the King she agreed to follow.
...Right?
Ayaka noticed instantly and grinned.
She elbowed Mira playfully.
"Oi, oi... getting jealous already?"
Mira jerked, cheeks coloring faintly.
"Wha—?! As if!"
Ayaka leaned closer, smirking.
"Come on~! Just say it:
'Get away from my King, you thirsty girls!'"
Mira growled low in her throat.
"Keep running your mouth, musclehead, and I'll 'accidentally' punch you."
Ayaka only laughed harder.
Even Clara, sipping calmly from her tea bottle, allowed herself a tiny smirk.
Meanwhile, the situation near Yuuji escalated.
Girls started asking increasingly bold questions:
"Serizawa-senpai! Are you dating anyone?!"
"What's your type?!"
"If you had to pick a Queen for your House... who would it be?!"
Yuuji broke out in a nervous sweat.
He glanced around desperately.
No escape routes.
No reinforcements.
Only—
—Mira standing there, arms crossed, glaring like she was ready to murder someone.
Yuuji raised one hand awkwardly.
"Uh... Mira? A little help...?"
Before Mira could even move, another wave of chaos hit.
Three new figures pushed through the crowd, each radiating their own unique aura.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The random fan-girls backed off slightly, sensing a different level of presence.
First:
A shy-looking girl with fluffy brown hair and huge glasses clutched a notebook to her chest.
She wore a simple uniform, but her badge glittered faintly—Pawn Class, meaning she was a first-year.
She bowed awkwardly.
"S-Serizawa-senpai...!" she squeaked.
"I-I know I'm weak, but... would you maybe consider letting me join your House?!"
Her eyes sparkled with pure admiration.
Second:
A tall, stunning girl with flowing silver hair strode forward like she owned the place.
She wore a rich crimson uniform customized with gold trim—clearly from an elite House.
On her chest gleamed a Queen Class emblem.
She looked Yuuji up and down slowly.
"So you are the so-called King without a House," she said, her voice smooth and aristocratic.
Yuuji blinked.
"Uh... yeah?"
The silver-haired girl smiled coolly.
"I'm Liana von Altheim.
Top-ranked Queen of House Redcrest."
She leaned slightly closer, her perfume subtly filling the air.
"I challenge you... to join me.
Become part of my House, under my command.
You'll have glory, power... and me, of course."
She winked.
The fan-girls gasped.
Mira stiffened visibly.
Ayaka just whistled.
Clara calmly raised an eyebrow.
Third:
Before Yuuji could even process that, a third girl bounded forward.
A short, mischievous-looking girl with fiery pink hair tied in messy buns.
She wore no formal badge—clearly unaffiliated.
She threw an arm around Yuuji's shoulders like they were old friends.
"Yo, King Boy!" she said brightly.
"Forget all that boring House stuff! Come with me instead!"
She gave him a sly wink.
"We'll start our own thing... just you and me~."
Yuuji flinched under her sudden closeness, ears turning bright red.
The crowd exploded again, gossip and rumors flying like wildfire.
"Who are these girls?!"
"Another House trying to steal him?!"
"Wait, is that Liana von Altheim?!"
Mira's patience snapped.
Her teeth clenched audibly.
She stomped forward, shoving through the stunned crowd.
She grabbed Yuuji by the front of his uniform and yanked him toward her.
Hard.
"LISTEN UP, YOU VULTURES!" Mira roared, her face burning red.
"HE'S ALREADY GOT A HOUSE—AND IT'S MINE!
I MEAN—OUR HOUSE! HOUSE CHECKMATE!"
The entire hall fell dead silent.
Yuuji stared at her, wide-eyed.
The fan-girls stared.
Liana von Altheim blinked once, surprised.
The pink-haired girl just giggled.
Mira realized what she had just shouted.
Her whole face turned even redder.
She shoved Yuuji behind her protectively, arms spread wide like a bodyguard.
"BACK OFF!" she snapped.
"Or I'll start throwing people!"
Ayaka whistled low.
Clara finally allowed herself a tiny chuckle behind her tea.
Yuuji, peeking from behind Mira, sighed heavily.
"...Is this what being famous is like?"
Without giving anyone a chance to react, Mira grabbed Yuuji firmly by the wrist.
"We're leaving. Now." she growled.
Yuuji barely had time to nod before she yanked him away from the swarm of girls.
They pushed through the stunned crowd—
past the gasping fan-girls,
past Liana von Altheim's amused smirk,
past the pink-haired troublemaker waving cheekily.
Ayaka and Clara exchanged looks.
Ayaka laughed.
"Damn. She's really going full jealous Knight mode."
Clara sipped her tea.
"Interesting development."
Mira dragged Yuuji all the way out of the building, across a garden courtyard, and into a small quiet alcove hidden by trees.
Only then did she stop.
Breathing hard.
Face still flushed.
Yuuji leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
He looked at Mira—
really looked at her.
The wild hair, the flushed cheeks, the stubborn glare in her golden eyes.
He smiled slightly.
"Thanks for the rescue."
Mira crossed her arms, looking away quickly.
"Tch. Don't get the wrong idea.
You just looked like an idiot in there."
A beat of silence.
The distant sounds of the academy faded into a quiet hum.
Finally, Yuuji spoke softly.
"You know... I'm glad you're here, Mira."
Mira blinked.
Slowly turned to him.
For a second—
just a second—
she looked incredibly vulnerable.
She opened her mouth—
probably to say something snarky or stubborn—
But the words stuck.
Instead, she just muttered under her breath:
"...Yeah. Same."
They stood there a little longer.
No words.
No rush.
Just a strange, comfortable silence between King and Knight.
From the bushes nearby, a familiar voice whispered:
"Haaa...
I told you...
full-on tsundere."
It was Ayaka.
Clara was next to her, sipping calmly.
Mira twitched violently.
"AYAKAAAAA!"
She exploded into motion, chasing Ayaka through the garden while Clara followed, completely unbothered.
Yuuji leaned back against the wall and laughed quietly.
Maybe...
Maybe this world wasn't so bad after all.