Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World

"You're kidding me", Kentaro murmured, his face in shock.

"Why the hell are you here!" Tenka's voice cracked with rage, her face twisting between confusion and fear. Her fists clenched so tight the leather of her gloves creaked.

"Hehehehehe…"

The laugh that answered didn't belong in that dark alley. It was soft, girlish, almost sing-song, like a child watching a puppet show, but laced with something that made Kentaro's skin crawl. It was the sound of someone enjoying their suffering.

Kentaro froze, breath hitching in his throat. His eyes widened as recognition slammed into him, though he didn't want to believe it. The man's violent, unnatural behaviour, the way he moved like something was pulling his strings. And the only person he could think of right now was her...

"Was the man's behaviour your doing?!" Kentaro shouted. The demand tore out of him, but fear cracked his voice. His body trembled despite himself.

The girl ahead tilted her head, lips curling. The necklace dangling at her throat caught the moonlight.

"Heheheheh. Big Shaula knew she did the right thing by implanting the Lust Lust Crystal. Though," she tapped her lip, mock-thoughtful, "...Maybe," She said before stepping forward slightly, "Though, it was a little petty of her."

The smirk that followed was cruel and beautiful all at once. A perfect villain's smile.

Aria, still kneeling beside Serica's limp body, jolted to her feet. She gently laid Serica on the ground, eyes burning with fear and fury. "S-so you're saying you twisted that man, made him attack us, for what?!" she shouted, voice cracking. "There had to be a reason! We could have all been seriously injured, not to mention the man is in a terrible State!

Shaula's smirk widened, a princess in her element. Her beauty was disarming, her posture playful, but her aura reeked of something dark, something rotten.

"Wellll…" She dragged the word out, placing a finger against her lips as if pondering some secret. Then she giggled, low and sharp. "It was honestly because Big Shaula wasn't served first. I think that was it, right?" She said, looking over to the big Shaula, who nodded her head in confirmation.

"You're kidding... Because of that..." Tenka muttered, as Shaula said it like it was nothing. Like lives meant nothing.

Kentaro's rage boiled over. "You're joking, right?! All this, all this chaos, the pain and suffering he has to go through, because of something so petty?!" His voice thundered, anger stripping away fear for just a moment.

But then Shaula's reaction made him falter.

Her head tilted, mouth parting slightly, her expression twisting into mock shock. Confusion. As if she couldn't fathom why he was angry.

"Ohhh, Kentaro." Her tone dripped with mock sweetness. "Why would he attack you?"

Kentaro's heart stumbled. "What… What do you mean?" His voice was tight, cracking.

Shaula's head tilted the other way, her eyes glimmering with wicked delight.

"He would never attack you. Remember what Shaula said?" She said, slightly tilting her head. "I gave him the Lust Lust Crystal…"

"Lust lust crystal," Aria repeated in confusion.

Tenka's stomach sank as she understood vaguely what she meant by that. Her voice quivered as she stepped forward. "So… You're telling me…"

Shaula's finger pointed lazily, first at Tenka, then at Aria, then at the unconscious Serica. Her grin stretched ear to ear, fangs of malice hidden behind beauty.

"He would only go for you guys."

The alley froze.

Kentaro's blood ran cold. Tenka's fists tightened until her knuckles split. Aria's breath hitched as she clutched Serica tighter.

Shaula twirled, her skirt swaying as she spoke with carefree cruelty. "The Lust Lust Crystal, it's not really a crystal, more of a mirage spell I weave with my sublimation. It enhances a person's… Well, you know, their desires. Especially their carnal ones. Works tenfold on those with hearts already pounding for it. And that man," she giggled again, childlike and terrifying, "...He hadn't gotten any in a while. So Big Shaula gave him a little push, and it seems that's all he needed to go. A-wire.

Kentaro's lips parted, dry and trembling, but no words came. He wanted to scream, to curse her, but nothing formed. His mind reeled.

"You…" He growled, voice breaking. Rage flared, but then.

Tap.

A sound from behind Shaula froze them all. Not one footstep. Not two.

Three.

Tenka's blood chilled. "This isn't good," she muttered, inching closer to Kentaro's side.

The air shifted. A faint breeze carried through the alley, brushing against their sweat-damp skin. It should have been refreshing. Instead, it stung like knives.

Tenka leaned toward Aria, sensing this could get tricky, and she whispered sharply. "Aria. You need to go. Take Serica. Get her home, things might get ugly, and right now you guys aren't suited to fight."

Aria's lips trembled. She wanted to stay. She wanted to protect Kentaro. But she saw the resolve in Tenka's eyes, the weight of their situation. If she stayed, she and Serica would only slow them down. And so she slowly nodded.

"Okay. I'll take her. Leave Serica to me." She said.

Tenka's lips softened, just for a breath. "Good. I'm counting on you. Haruka, get Shogo to meet them halfway"

"Already on it," Haruka's voice crackled through the comms. "He's already down and is moving."

Aria gathered Serica's limp body in her arms, her face grim but determined. Without another word, she disappeared into the alleyway, leaving only the echo of her retreating footsteps.

Shaula didn't care. Didn't so much as blink as they left. Her smirk lingered, eyes fixed on Kentaro.

Then came the silhouettes. Three figures emerged from the end of the alley, their footsteps deliberate, echoing against the walls. As they stepped into the pale light, Kentaro's stomach dropped.

Three girls.

Three identical Shaulas.

Same hair. Same smile. Same mocking smirk that sent shivers crawling up his spine.

"What the hell is going on? Why are all of them here?" Tenka whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I don't know," Kentaro admitted, his throat dry. His hands trembled at his sides, heart pounding so hard it hurt. "But… I've got a bad feeling."

The first Shaula, the one with the necklace, stepped forward, the others falling into a line behind her.

"Heheheh." Her giggle bounced against the alley walls. "Tenka, Tenka, Tenka… Don't worry. I'm not here to steal Kentaro away from you. I only came with a proposition."

Kentaro blinked, words stumbling out. "Proposition?"

Shaula's grin widened. "Mmm. Well, more like a challenge. With a prize… And a consequence."

Tenka snarled. "Why the hell should we listen to a word you say?"

The Shaulas behind her giggled in unison, the sound like a choir of devils.

"Because if you win," the necklace Shaula purred, "I'll let you seal my powers."

Kentaro's breath hitched. His blood froze. "How do you know about my..."

"Ohhh, Kentaro." Her voice dripped honey, venom hiding underneath. "I've been watching you for a while now." She twirled again, her necklace swinging as her skirt flared. "Since Tokyo, I think. Do you remember? We even talked once, though it was brief."

Kentaro's chest constricted. His thoughts scrambled, racing through memories. Tokyo. When? Where?

And then it hit him, it bugged him for a while on how strange their interaction was, but it made sense now.

His breath caught. His eyes widened, pupils shrinking.

"The ramen shop…" He whispered. His lips barely moved. "You… You were at the ramen shop. The girl in the mask. That was you."

"Ding ding!" Shaula sang, pointing at him like a teacher praising a child. "Correct."

Tenka's head whipped toward him. "You what?! You saw her and didn't tell me?!"

"I didn't know!" Kentaro snapped back, but his voice was soft, shaken. "She was masked, I didn't realise!"

Tenka bit her lip, her glare fading as Shaula leaned closer.

"Of course, that wasn't the only time," Shaula said sweetly. "The other was with your friend Serica. She fought some Spire members. I got bored. So I helped."

Tenka's blood boiled. "Tch. So you're a stalker now. I should call the police."

Shaula giggled, leaning back. "Honestly, it was Rin's good word that made me check you out, Kentaro. And once I saw you, once I lived with you, even just for a day, I knew I wanted to give you a chance. You're such a good boy."

Kentaro's jaw tightened, sweat dripping down his temple. "So if I win, I seal your powers. And if you win…"

All four Shaulas smirked together, their lips curving in sync.

The necklace. Shaula raised her hand, palm out as if to silence them all. Her eyes glinted.

"Wait, wait. Before I tell you my prize, I'll tell you the competition first."

Kentaro's chest heaved. His heart pounded so hard he thought it might split his ribs.

"What is it…?" His voice cracked, fear laced in every syllable.

Shaula's smirk widened into something monstrous.

And what spilt from her lips next was something none of them expected.