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Liam Nakamura sauntered into the classroom, his every movement exuding an effortless grace that turned heads as he passed. The buzz about his dramatic rooftop encounter earlier that morning had swept through the school like a summer wildfire, leaving a trail of whispers and wide-eyed stares in its wake.
Yet Liam, unbothered by the commotion, carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew he owned the room.
His dark eyes flicked over the sea of faces before landing on his seatmate, Akane Nanao. She was fussing with her neatly arranged pens as if trying to steel herself for his arrival.
"Morning, Akane," He greeted smoothly, sliding into his seat with a smirk so sharp it could cut glass.
Akane flinched, her face heating up instantly. She glanced at him, her expression somewhere between flustered and mortified. "G-Good morning, Liam. You're... uh... late."
Liam leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily as if the whole school wasn't hanging on his every move. "And here I thought you'd be glad for a few extra moments of peace before I showed up to disrupt your world."
She fiddled with her pen, her voice barely audible. "I—I wouldn't exactly call it a disruption..."
"Ah," He interrupted, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin, his voice dropping to a velvety murmur, "so you did miss me."
Akane choked on her breath, and Liam chuckled at her reaction, his laugh low and undeniably charming. "You're too easy, Nanao. It's almost unfair."
As if on cue, a wave of hushed muttering rippled through the classroom.
"Why does she get to sit next to him?" A girl hissed from the back.
"She's so plain," Another added with venom.
Liam caught the whispers, his sharp ears missing nothing. With a languid stretch, he turned in his seat to face the restless crowd, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Now, now, ladies," He called out, his tone playful but commanding. "Don't be jealous of Akane-chan here. It's not her fault she's charming in her own way."
The girls bristled, but when Liam shot them a dazzling wink, the tension melted like snow in the sun. A few giggles escaped, and a girl in the front row practically swooned.
With the room's focus securely on him, Liam leaned back toward Akane and whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "See? I've got everything under control. You're welcome."
Akane rolled her eyes, her lips twitching into an unwilling smile. "You're insufferable."
"Correction: irresistible," He countered, his grin widening.
The teacher entered, tapping the board to bring the class to order. Liam, ever the picture of balance, switched effortlessly from charismatic rogue to attentive student. He nodded at the teacher, greeting her with the kind of charm that sent even her into a fluster.
"Good morning, Nakamura," The teacher said, adjusting her glasses and clearing her throat a little too quickly.
"And a very good morning to you, Sensei," Liam replied, his tone light and honeyed. "That new hairstyle suits you, by the way."
The class snickered, and the teacher coughed into her hand, waving him off but unable to hide the faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
"Focus, Nakamura," She warned, but her voice lacked any real bite.
"Always, Sensei," He said, flashing her a disarming smile before turning back to his notebook, his pen poised to take notes.
Akane nudged him with her elbow, whispering, "Flirting with teachers now? Really?"
Liam leaned toward her, his lips quirking into a lopsided grin. "What can I say? I'm an equal-opportunity charmer."
She shook her head, stifling a laugh. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet," Liam murmured, glancing at her with a teasing sparkle in his eyes, "you're smiling."
As the lesson continued, Liam proved his mettle as a student, answering questions with ease and taking detailed notes. But between his studious moments, he couldn't resist the occasional flirtation, tossing Akane whispered comments that made her blush or exchanging quick quips with the girls seated nearby.
Meanwhile, in the Principal's Office
Ryu Kimura stormed into the principal's office, his face flushed with fury and humiliation.
"Call my grandfather," He barked at the principal, slamming his hand on the desk.
The principal, a balding, nervous man, adjusted his glasses and stammered, "R-Ryu, perhaps we should first—"
"Now!" Ryu snapped, cutting him off.
The principal sighed, reaching for the phone. Before he could dial, however, the shrill ring of his desk phone startled them both. He answered quickly, his face paling as the voice on the other end bellowed.
"Y-Yes, Chairman Kimura," The principal stuttered.
Ryu leaned closer, his confidence returning. "Good, let me talk to him—"
"Silence!" The chairman's voice thundered, loud enough for Ryu to hear.
"Ryu," The chairman growled, "what have you done?!"
"I... I was handling a situation," Ryu began, but his grandfather interrupted him.
"Handling a situation?!" The chairman roared. "You provoked Liam Nakamura! Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea who he is?!"
Ryu swallowed hard, suddenly feeling much smaller. "He's just—"
"Just what? The heir to Nakamura Industries! Asia's most powerful conglomerate! You've jeopardized not only your standing but also mine! Do you realize what this could cost us?"
The chairman's words hit Ryu like a freight train. "What... what should I do?"
"Apologize!" The chairman ordered. "Get on your knees if you have to! Beg him to forgive you, or I swear, you'll regret ever crossing him!"
The line went dead, leaving Ryu stunned and the principal visibly uncomfortable.
Unbeknownst to Ryu, Liam was already several steps ahead. During a break between classes, he leaned back in his chair, his phone in hand.
"Lena," He said smoothly, "how's the dossier on the Kimuras coming along?"
"Ready and waiting," Lena's voice purred through the receiver. "Their chairman's skeletons are enough to bury him six feet under. Shall I pull the trigger?"
"Not just yet," Liam replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "Let him sweat a little. But make sure our lawyers are ready to move. Once the board hears what their precious chairman's been up to, they'll be begging for a buyout."
"And the school?" Lena asked.
"Child's play," Liam said. "Once Nakamura Industries takes over, I'll be the prince of this place. Every rule, every decision—it'll all revolve around me."
Lena chuckled. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"
"Why should I?" Liam said, his tone dripping with confidence.
As the day progressed, whispers about Ryu's impending downfall spread like wildfire. The Nakamura name carried weight far beyond the confines of the school, and everyone knew it.
By the time Liam returned to his seat for the final period, Akane couldn't help but notice his relaxed demeanor.
"You look like you're up to something," She said.
Liam leaned closer, his voice low. "Oh, I'm always up to something, Nanao. Stick around, and you might just get front-row seats."
Akane's cheeks flushed as Liam returned his attention to the lesson.
Back in the principal's office, Ryu stood paralyzed, replaying his grandfather's words in his mind. When the principal timidly suggested he seek out Liam, Ryu could only nod, his confidence shattered.
But Liam had no intention of granting Ryu forgiveness—or mercy. For him, this was more than personal; it was a statement.
As the final bell rang, Liam stepped out into the golden afternoon light, a satisfied smirk on his lips. This school was already his in all but name. And soon, even that would change.
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