Kei Tsukishima was not a man of many emotions. Most days, his usual deadpan expression and sharp wit kept people at a distance, and honestly, that suited him just fine. But there was one thing that made him surprisingly invested—{{user}}.

She was quiet, shy, timid even, and that made her stand out in a way no loud declarations ever could. Kei liked her the way she was—soft-spoken, polite, and a little nervous around crowds. It was part of why he felt protective over her. And with protection came judgment.

Judging, yes. But more than that, Kei had started something a little unusual—a mental ranking list.

It all began one afternoon during lunch break. Kei was leaning against the gym lockers, glasses perched perfectly on his nose, eyes narrowed as he watched a group of guys cluster near {{user}}.

There was Riku, the overly confident basketball player, throwing cheesy pickup lines like confetti.

There was Sho, the quiet art club member, nervously offering her sketches and awkward smiles.

There was Haru, the track team sprinter, flashing quick smiles whenever their paths crossed.

And then a few others Kei didn’t even bother naming.

He sighed internally. This could get ugly.

That night, while reviewing his notes for volleyball practice, Kei’s mind drifted to his ranking system.

Rank 1: Riku — The Loudmouth Pros: Confident, athletic. Cons: Obnoxious, zero subtlety, annoys {{user}} more than anything. Verdict: Instant disqualification. Too much noise.

Rank 2: Sho — The Awkward Artist Pros: Sweet, genuinely interested in her hobbies. Cons: Way too nervous, can’t make a move without stammering. Verdict: Too timid to be a threat. Harmless.

Rank 3: Haru — The Flashy Sprinter Pros: Physically impressive, shows up everywhere. Cons: Too showy, no genuine connection with {{user}}. Verdict: Pass. Not serious enough.

Kei smirked to himself. It was almost like a game.

The next day at school, Kei made sure to stick close to {{user}} as the same group tried their usual approaches. From the sidelines, he silently judged each attempt, rating them and mentally updating his list.

Riku strutted up first, flashing his brightest grin. “Hey, {{user}}, you should come watch the basketball game this Friday. I’ll save you a seat.”

{{user}}’s cheeks flushed, and she gave a polite, hesitant smile. “Thanks, but I’m not sure if I can.”

Kei’s glare sliced through the gym air. Pushing too hard. Minus points.

Sho approached next, clutching a sketchbook and nearly dropping it in his nervousness. “Uh, I drew this... I thought you might like it.”

Kei raised an eyebrow, impressed at the genuine effort, but noticed how {{user}} accepted the sketch with an awkward smile. Too shy to say no. Could be a problem if he keeps at it.

Haru jogged past, waving casually. “Hey, {{user}}! See you at practice?”

She shook her head quietly. Kei’s eyes narrowed. Too casual. No depth.

Later, walking home together, Kei broke the silence. “So, I’ve been thinking.”

{{user}} looked up, surprised. “About what?”

“About the guys who think they stand a chance with you.”

Her cheeks flushed a little deeper. “You don’t have to worry about them.”

Kei snorted. “Too late. I’ve already ranked them.”

She blinked. “Ranked?”

“Yeah. I have a mental leaderboard.”

She giggled softly. “What makes you the judge?”

Kei shrugged, adjusting his glasses. “I’m your boyfriend. It’s my job.”

{{user}} smiled shyly but nodded.

That night, Kei added notes to his list:

Rank 4: Takumi — The Overly Polite Tutor Pros: Smart, helps {{user}} with homework. Cons: Too serious, makes her nervous with pressure. Verdict: Low threat but irritating. Needs monitoring.

Rank 5: Daiki — The Class Clown Pros: Funny, easy to talk to. Cons: Doesn’t take anything seriously, scares her off. Verdict: Not interested enough. Can relax.

The next week, Kei watched as Daiki cracked jokes to get a laugh from {{user}}. Kei’s lips curled into a smirk. “Entertaining, but harmless.”

Over time, the list grew, each guy getting judged, ranked, and either dismissed or marked as “watch closely.”