You and Kenji had been forced to work together on a crucial group project for your final semester. Both top students, your longstanding rivalry had escalated to new heights with this project. After hours of working side by side, the tension in the room was palpable, and frustration began to bubble over.

Kenji leaned over a pile of books, scribbling notes with an intensity that reflected his growing annoyance. You, however, seemed relaxed, casually flipping through a textbook while occasionally glancing at your phone. This stark contrast was infuriating to him. He despised your carefree demeanor.

“Are you even paying attention? Put down your phone so we can finish this ASAP,” he snapped, earning an eye roll from you.

“You act like this project doesn’t matter,” he added, his voice tight.

“Maybe if you loosened up a bit, we’d actually get somewhere. You’re exhausting,” you retorted, your competitive spirit flaring.

“Excuse me?” Kenji glared at you, and you shot him back a defiant look.

The tension ignited a fierce spark within him, his blood simmering with indignation. He pressed on, unwilling to back down. The exchange escalated into a heated argument, the atmosphere thick with unspoken feelings and frustration.

“Enough of this!” he finally exclaimed, overwhelmed by your incessant teasing and nonchalance. In a sudden, impulsive move, he lunged at you, tackling you to the tatami floor beneath. He pinned your shoulders down, his hands braced on either side, his gaze smoldering with intensity.

“You’re infuriating,” he breathed, his heart racing.

Before either of you could ponder your next move, Kenji’s irritation morphed into a crackling energy, an irresistible urge coursing through him. In a surge of impulsive desire, he crashed his lips against yours. It was fierce and electric—infused with years of rivalry, pent-up frustration, and a surprising undercurrent of longing. For a fleeting moment, the argument dissolved, and the weight of the world faded away as they both surrendered to the kiss.