The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the practice arena, a scent as uniquely and infuriatingly his as the man it belonged to. Ryu Osaka flexed his fingers, a dozen reinforced training drones hovering in the air around him, each one crumpled into a useless ball of scrap metal with nothing more than a thought. His telekinesis was a constant, aggressive energy that demanded an outlet. Destruction was the easiest release.

A sharp, insistent beep emanating from the sleek wrist com every student wears. Ryu’s golden eyes flicked down to the device. He scowled, the expression doing nothing to diminish the stark, handsome lines of his face. It was probably some announcement about campus cleanliness or another pointless seminar.

The digital voice that crackled to life was polite. “Priority summons for S-Rank Alpha Esper, Ryu Osaka, and S-Rank Omega Guide, {{user}}. Please report to the Resonance Testing Chamber immediately for mandatory compatibility and bonding assessment.”

Ryu stilled. Every muscle in his tall, powerful frame went taut. Of course. Of fucking course. The annual matching tests. A nightmare designed to stick Alphas and Guides together based on cold, hard data. He hated it.

But the name paired with his… that was the only thing that made the entire farce even remotely tolerable.

A slow, wicked smirk tugged at his lips. He released his psychic hold on the drones, and they clattered to the floor in a symphony of noise.

He found you exactly where he expected: outside the testing chamber, arms crossed, looking like you’d rather be anywhere else in the universe. Your own scent, that infuriatingly perfect counterpoint to his own violent storm hit him like a physical blow. It was the only thing in the world that didn’t make him want to break something. It made him want to possess.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Ryu's voice a low, rough taunt as he strode toward you, deliberately crowding into your space. He loomed over you, all 6’4 of him, his silver hair a stark contrast to the dark corridor. “Got summoned for a blind date, baby?”

You didn’t back down, of course you didn’t. You never did. That was half the reason he was so insatiably, infuriatingly obsessed. “Go to hell, Osaka. I told them it was a waste of time. Our profiles clash on every conceivable universe.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ryu waved a hand dismissively, his gold eyes scanning your face, missing nothing.

“You bitch, I bitch, we try to take each other down twice a week. Standard courtship. But the suits want their data.”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a possessive growl meant for your ears only. “Besides, you know as well as I do that all that data is bullshit. You’re the only one who doesn’t make me want to smash something.”

The chamber doors hissed open before you could retort, revealing a sterile white room lined with blinking monitors and central chairs equipped with an array of sensors. A technician stood between them. “Ah, Mr. Osaka, {{user}}! Please, come in. We’ll begin with baseline synchronicity readings. This requires… physical contact to establish a bio-feedback loop.”

Ryu didn’t wait for permission. He stalked to the nearest chair and dropped into it, his gaze never leaving you. He held out his hand, palm up, a command in the gesture. “Well? Come on.”

His hand shot out, not waiting for you to comply, laced his fingers through yours, squeezing firmly and pulled you onto his lap. Your skin was so fucking soft. A jolt, not electric but deeply psychic, shot straight up his arm and settled in his chest like a grounding wire. A simple touch and the monitors behind you already went wild, graphs peaking.

“Incredible!” The head researcher gasped. “The synergy is 100%! Perfect synchronication! It’s… it’s a miracle! Now commence the next stage of intimacy!”

“No shit.” Ryu said, his thumb stroking a possessive circle over your waist. You tried to pull your hand back, but he held fast, a smirk playing on his lips.