I shoved the papers back into a messy pile and left them on the conference table. Noel would figure out how to deal with her own mess. I had more pressing problems than being Ms. Stark’s research project.

Like the fact that my body was still humming from contact with her, my Essentia cycling at twice normal speed. The drain had opened wider than I’d planned, pulling more from her than I meant to. Her taste lingered on my tongue, sharp and sweet like biting into an icicle sprinkled with vanilla sugar.

My phone buzzed again.

Mera: where are you now? me and cheon have plans for you tonight

I smiled despite my current situation. The girls were certainly... attentive. Between testing my healing fluids ability and just our general compatibility, we’d barely left the bedroom all weekend. My body ached in ways that reminded me how lucky I was.

Rome: meeting with reeves at 5, semifinals after that

Mera: meet us at the apartment after. bring food.

Mera: wear something cute

Mera: or nothing

Rome: demanding much?

Mera: you love it

I did. That was the problem. I was starting to genuinely care for both of them, which wasn’t part of the original plan. This was supposed to be about survival - fulfill the Harem Lord quest, get back to my world with new powers intact. No emotional attachments necessary.

Yet here I was, counting down the hours until I’d see them again.

The hallways were crowded as I headed toward the gym for semifinals prep. Students moved aside as I passed, whispers following in my wake. Yesterday’s nobody, today’s viral video star. The difference was stark.

"That’s him!"

"I heard he’s got five different abilities at least..."

"He’s living with two girls. Like, together. At the same time."

"Billionaire’s son. Obviously a player..."

Amazing how a single video could rewrite someone’s entire public narrative. Two days ago I was just the arrogant new kid with rich parents. Now I was apparently Superman with a functioning harem operation.

Well. They weren’t entirely wrong about the harem part. The system had been tracking my progress, and between Mera’s "CLAIMED" status and whatever the hell was happening with Hae-Won’s increasingly frequent appearances in my dorm, I was ahead of schedule. Not that I planned to share that particular spreadsheet with anyone.

The whispers continued as I moved through the halls. Some were admiring. Some were envious. A few were openly hostile. I’d made myself a target the moment I decided to stop playing by the original Rome’s playbook. The old Rome would’ve stumbled through this with all the grace of a drunk elephant. The current Rome? I was running plays the original protagonist never saw coming.

My phone buzzed again. Another text from Mera, this one just a photo. Her and Hae-Won in the apartment kitchen, both wearing very little, both looking directly at the camera with expressions that promised trouble. The caption read: hurry up.

I saved the photo and pocketed my phone before anyone could see over my shoulder. Some advantages of being the designated villain were meant to be kept private.

I pushed open the doors to the gymnasium and found Usagi already waiting, nervously pacing in her hero costume. Her white and grey uniform looked like it had been specifically designed to highlight her figure while providing maximum mobility. The cyber-mechanical gauntlets on her wrists hummed softly as she adjusted something on the control panel.

"Rome!" She rushed over when she saw me. "Thank god you’re here. Noel just stormed past without saying anything and she looked ready to murder someone."

"Yeah, we had a... discussion."

"That bad?" Her eyebrows crinkled with worry. "Are we still a team for the semifinals?"

"Don’t worry about it." I patted her shoulder. "We’ll be fine."

"But your abilities... that video... everyone’s talking about it!"

I shrugged. "Let them talk. Our strategy stays the same. You neutralize the biggest threat with your gum. I handle whoever comes at us. Noel picks off stragglers in astral form."

"But what if she refuses to work with you now?"

"Noel won’t throw a match just because she’s mad at me. She’s too competitive for that."

Usagi didn’t look convinced, but she nodded anyway, her hands nervously toying with the settings on her gauntlets. "I just... I don’t understand what’s happening with our team. First you two barely speak, then you actually work together during trials, and now she looks like she wants to erase you from existence."

"Women, am I right?" I grinned.

Usagi smacked my arm lightly. "Don’t be a jerk."

"Sorry." I wasn’t actually sorry, but it seemed like the right thing to say. "Look, Noel and I have... history. Complicated history."

"You knew each other before Coastline?"

"Something like that."

I didn’t actually remember meeting Noel in the past, but according to the novel’s background, my original self had dismissed her at some corporate event years ago. Called her "Short Stack" and treated her like she wasn’t worth noticing.

The original Rome had been a genuine asshole. I was just playing one on TV.

"She’ll be fine once the match starts," I assured Usagi. "Noel wants to win more than she wants to punish me."

At least, I hoped so.

The doors to the gym burst open, and Professor Reeves walked in wearing her hero costume instead of her usual teaching attire. The black and crimson bodysuit hugged curves that her professional clothes usually kept hidden, and the ornate lance strapped across her back gleamed under the gym lights. Her scarlet hair was pulled back in a high ponytail that swayed as she walked.

"Semifinals begin in twenty minutes," she announced to the scattered students. "Team Two versus Team Four. Team One awaits the winner tomorrow."

I glanced around the gym. "Where’s Team Three?"

"Eliminated yesterday," Reeves replied. "Your opponent will be Team Four - William, Jessica, and Vince."

"The tech squad?" Usagi whispered. "They’re all support types with gadgets."

"High utility, low direct combat," I muttered back. "Should be manageable."

"Assuming your team actually functions," Reeves added, her ruby eyes fixed on me. "Ms. Stark seemed rather... agitated when I passed her in the locker room."

"We had a disagreement about strategy." Not entirely a lie.

"I see." Reeves didn’t look convinced. "Remember, these matches are being watched by potential agency sponsors. Personal issues should remain outside the arena."

"Yes, Professor."

She held my gaze a moment longer, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. "And Mr. D’Angelo? Try to limit yourself to abilities that are actually registered with the NEA this time."

"Yes, Professor."

Reeves strode away to check on other competitors, leaving Usagi staring at me with wide eyes.

"What did she mean by that?" Usagi whispered.

"Nothing important." I rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the tension. "Let’s focus on the match."