Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World

The air froze, heavy enough to smother every sound but the faint brush of wind. Kentaro's mouth opened, closed, opened again, his voice failing him. Tenka's brow furrowed tight, jaw clenched like she'd swallowed broken glass. Across from them, Shaula's smile widened, glowing with an eerie confidence that made the world feel smaller, like they had stepped into her stage.

"I…" Kentaro rasped, trying to form a thought.

But Shaula didn't wait. She twirled on one heel, her necklace swinging lazily, her voice bright and sing-song:

"In the upcoming play, I want you, and us Shaulas, to battle it out! Whoever takes the top spot between us will be the winner and claim their respective prize."

The declaration fell like thunder.

Both Tenka and Kentaro snapped out of their haze at once.

"WHAT?!"

Their voices clashed, echoing against the narrow alley walls. Kentaro's eyes blazed wide with disbelief, his throat raw as he shouted:

"You're joking, right?! A competition about the play? And you're putting your entire power on the line for it?!"

But all four Shaulas nodded in perfect unison. Their faces wore the same smug tilt, and then the one with the necklace leaned forward, grin wicked and childish all at once.

"Indeed! Shaula loves acting. And what better challenge than something Shaula loves? Am I wrong? A stage, a spotlight, and a contest with you, Kentaro. Doesn't it sound fun? Please, say you'll accept."

The giddiness in her tone only made Kentaro's blood run cold.

"Fun?!" Tenka spat, her voice a blade.

Shaula ignored her completely, continuing with a dramatic flourish, like a performer basking in applause. "But do not think this is a joke. The consequence for losing, especially if my power is on the line… Oh, it is very, very, very big. And my consequence? Well…" She tapped her chin, pretending to search for the right words. "…It's only something that was bound to happen anyway."

Her casual tone set Kentaro's teeth on edge. He could hear the crack in Tenka's patience.

"Tsch. If it was going to happen anyway, then we decline," Tenka snapped, venom lacing every syllable.

The change was instant.

The four Shaulas froze mid-step. Smiles evaporated. Their eyes went flat and hollow, like someone had pulled a string and turned them into lifeless dolls. The sudden absence of emotion was worse than the grins; it crawled down Kentaro's spine, iced his nerves, and made his stomach lurch.

"You. Cannot. Decline." The necklace. Shaula's voice was low, stripped of its playful tone. Her eyes burned into Tenka's with dangerous heat. "Shaula wants this to happen. Refuse, and you and Kentaro will lose everything. Everything he loves. Everything he cares for."

Tenka smirked despite the weight in the air, though Kentaro noticed the bead of sweat rolling down her temple. She was bluffing, holding her ground out of sheer stubbornness.

"There's no way we're accepting something so ridiculous."

"Tenka…" Kentaro muttered, reaching out. His hand hovered near her shoulder. He could see it; her words were only making Shaula angrier. And yet, even with his chest pounding, he trusted her.

Shaula's smirk returned, sharper than before. "I see… Well then, before you lock in that decision, let Shaula tell you what happens if you refuse and lose the battle between the plays."

One by one, the Shaulas stepped forward.

"Yura," said the first.

"Aria," said the second.

"Serica," whispered the third.

The alley's air dropped ten degrees.

Now the four of them stood in a line, their eyes dark, their expressions etched in fury. Kentaro's chest squeezed tight. His heart thrashed as the names echoed, and his lips trembled.

"Why name the girls?" Tenka hissed in confusion.

The Shaula with the necklace raised her finger, levelling it at Kentaro. The gesture felt like a blade pressing between his eyes.

"I'll tell you right now that if you truly care about them, you will not refuse. And most of all... You will not lose."

Tenka bared her teeth. "What do you mean, if he cares about them?! What are you planning?!"

Shaula turned her eyes, only her eyes, toward Tenka. Her grin split wider, wrong in every way. "You'll see. And when you do, you'll understand. If you don't accept now, then even if you crawl back tomorrow, or for the rest of your life, I'll decline. So…"

She leaned close enough that Kentaro could feel her breath on his cheek. Her voice dropped to a whisper, silk wrapped in poison.

"Make your choice, Kenny."

Kentaro's chest felt like it would burst. His head screamed: Why bring them into this?! But he knew. One wrong move, and the girls would suffer. His throat was dry. He swallowed, forced his words out through the storm in his lungs.

"Fine… I accept. But leave the girls out of this. Don't touch them."

Shaula's laugh rang out, light and horrible. "Heheheheh. Good. I knew you'd come to your senses, dear Kentaro. But I must admit, you almost made me nervous."

Kentaro chuckled once, dry and humourless. "Like I even had a choice."

"You didn't," she replied, smirking.

Tenka stayed silent. She hated every second of it, but even she knew this was the only option. Still, her mind turned sharply to logistics. "If this competition is set, how do you handle manpower? There are only four of you."

Shaula spun theatrically, falling back into line with her sisters. "Don't worry, Tenky wenky. I'll have more by then. After all… The sleeping princess will need her knight." Her eyes slid to Kentaro with a teasing smirk.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kentaro demanded.

"You'll see on the day of the performance," she said with a wink.

They began to walk away, but Tenka's voice snapped like a whip. "Wait! What if none of us wins? How do you decide that?"

Shaula paused, glanced over her shoulder with faux innocence. "Oh, isn't it obvious? If you don't reach the top three… Then I win automatically."

The words detonated like a bomb.

"WHAT?!" Kentaro and Tenka shouted together.

Time slowed, every sound fading except the pounding in Kentaro's ears. His knees nearly buckled. Tenka's eyes went wide with raw disbelief.

Shaula sighed, as if bored. She stepped closer, her necklace glinting. "I thought you'd already known. But fine, I'll explain. Since I was the one bold enough to issue this challenge, it's only natural that I get special benefits."

"Bullshit!" Tenka roared.

Shaula giggled, sharp and grating. "Hu hu huuu… Now, now, Tenky. Don't get so angry. This is my challenge. My stage. My rules."

Tenka surged forward, fists tightening, but Kentaro caught her shoulder.

"Listen," he hissed. "We don't know what she's truly capable of. Losing our heads here will only make it worse. Just hear her out."

Her body trembled, then softened. "Fine," she whispered. "Sorry."

Shaula's grin grew wider. "Good. Now we're on the same page. To repeat, Shaula will take the top no matter who stands in the way. But you? If you fail to even hit the top three… You lose. Simple as that."

Kentaro stepped forward, jaw tight. "How can we trust you not to cheat?"

For the first time, Shaula faltered. Her eyes flicked sideways, lips twisting in thought. Then, with a snap of her fingers, her smile bloomed again. "You'll just have to trust me!" she chimed in a mock-cute tone.

Kentaro's stomach turned. "…Great. Trust."

Tenka snarled under her breath. "She'll cheat the second she gets a chance."

"Leave it," Kentaro whispered. "There's nothing we can do right now."

Shaula lingered, but no more questions came. Her sisters waited, patient as shadows. "Right then! I'll be off. I'll see you tomorrow, Kentaro~"

They waved in eerie unison and vanished around the corner, their laughter trailing like broken music.

At last, the tension shattered. Kentaro and Tenka exhaled, dropping against the wall, sweat slicking their skin.

"Honestly," Kentaro muttered, "some peace would be nice."

"I can agree," Tenka breathed, arms crossed tight.

Haruka's calm voice crackled through the comms. "It seems this play has become far more important thanks to Miss Alberline."

"Yeah… and I'm the MC," Kentaro groaned, rubbing his face. "Goddamn it."

"Indeed," Haruka replied smoothly. "And we'll need more people for the production. Commander, it would be wise if you helped, wouldn't it?"

"Eh? Why me? What about you?" Tenka shot back.

Kentaro tilted his head, still half out of it. "You could be a background character or something?"

The words made Tenka flinch like a slap. She whipped around. "Shut up, jerk! Why would I be a side character?!" She kicked dirt at him.

"NGH! What was that for?!" Kentaro yelped, shielding his face.

Haruka sighed in Kentaro's earpiece. "Ken, you idiot. You should've said, 'Tenka, be my princess.' She clearly wanted that role. Now you've messed up."

"Huh?!" Kentaro blinked, dumbfounded.

"Forget it," Haruka said flatly.

Neither of them noticed the shadows stretching longer down the alley. Neither of them knew that Shaula's "rules" were only the opening act.