Although Eren's sudden confession caught Gwen off guard, she had planned on doing the same from the start—so how could she refuse?
Seeing Gwen quietly trying to suppress a smile, Eren, who had just confessed for the first time and succeeded, couldn't help but smile as well.
··································
In front of Midtown High School.
Student council members, dressed in matching black formal wear, stood solemnly on both sides of the school gate, greeting incoming guests.
These student council members were the elite handpicked from every class—many of them knew nearly all the students by name.
For almost every guest who arrived, there would be a familiar student council member stepping forward to greet them and point them to the dance venue.
After chatting briefly to confirm they knew where to go, the members would smoothly return to the welcoming line.
Even though their movements were a bit stiff, each of them wore a sincere smile that made people feel welcome.
Then came the roar of a sports car engine.
A silver-gray Aston Martin cut through the night like lightning, executing a perfect drift before pulling into the parking lot across from the school.
The engine's roar and the stylish drift instantly drew everyone's attention—even several teachers who were helping maintain order turned to look.
"So cool…"
Just stepping out of an Audi, Hillary, dressed in a low-cut gown that revealed much of her pale skin, gazed at the Aston Martin with envy.
As soon as the school announced the dance, Hillary had her eyes set on Eren—the guy who came to school driving a supercar.
She had hoped to use this rare occasion to build a "special connection" with him.
Unfortunately, her plan failed before it even began.
Eren rejected her invitation.
Though Hillary quickly found a wealthy substitute as her date, his Audi paled in comparison to Eren's Aston Martin.
If she were the one stepping out of that car tonight, she would've attracted far more attention—satisfying her vanity in full.
Too bad.
That woman Gwen had stolen it all.
Thinking of this, Hillary, whose grades were mediocre, found the renowned academic beauty Gwen even more irritating.
Beside her, Clavel, dressed like a trust fund kid in a well-fitted suit, noticed Hillary's envious gaze and also looked toward the Aston Martin. His expression turned sour with jealousy and helplessness.
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, a limited edition supercar that not even his wealthy father could get.
Driving a car like that to school… spoke volumes about Eren's hidden wealth and frightening connections.
Some cars weren't just about money—they were about access.
And even if one could buy such a car, letting a high schooler drive it was a whole other matter.
Though irritated that his date was looking so admiringly at another guy, Clavel's upbringing and rationality forced him to swallow his anger.
He might have status, but he wasn't about to make enemies recklessly—
Especially not someone like Eren, who seemed low-profile but clearly had immense backing.
Feeling her date's silence, Hillary gave a soft laugh, slipped her arm around his, and leaned close. "Let's go, Clavel. Tonight, I'm all yours."
Feeling her soft body press against his arm and her breath tickle his ear, Clavel couldn't help but smile with pleasure. Even his earlier jealousy started to fade.
He might not have the car—but at least tonight, Hillary was his.
Especially after she'd whispered her intentions for the end of the night...
With that motivation, Clavel's steps grew lighter.
··································
Meanwhile—
After parking the Aston Martin, Eren didn't get out right away. Instead, he changed into the belt Gwen had gifted him.
Seeing Eren change belts in front of her so casually, Gwen's cheeks turned slightly red. She gave him a playful scolding.
A few seconds later—
Eren, his hands moving like butterflies, had already buckled the new belt around his waist.
Click.
He admired the sleek design. "Beautiful."
"Thanks."
Hearing his praise, Gwen squinted her eyes and smiled brightly.
When she opened them again, her gaze met Eren's warm eyes.
As their eyes locked, a tender atmosphere began to brew in the car.
They leaned closer, their lips just about to touch when—
Knock knock knock…
A sudden tapping on the car window snapped them out of the moment.
Turning his head, Eren saw Illya in a fiery red evening gown—like a flame sprite—standing just outside the car.
Clearly, the one who interrupted was her.
Through the glass, Eren could see the teasing glint in her eyes.
Gwen, startled by the knock, quickly realized who it was too—her best friend.
With Illya watching, the moment between her and Eren had no chance of continuing.
Gwen shot Eren an apologetic look before opening the door and stepping out.
Taking Illya's hand, Gwen asked, "When did you get here?"
"I just arrived, same as you. Saw you two and thought I'd say hi."
Illya gave Gwen a mischievous wink, then teased, "Wait, were you two in the car this whole time? I didn't interrupt anything… did I?"
"What do you think?"
Gwen rolled her eyes at her friend.
Behind Illya stood Brett, dressed in an eye-catching white suit, who scratched his head and apologized to Eren,
"Sorry about that. Illya's a bit headstrong, but I promise she means no harm. She's just teasing her best friend."
Eren nodded with a smile. "I know."
With his sensitivity to emotion, he could tell that Illya truly meant no harm.
She was just getting even for when Gwen had teased her mercilessly at Winston's Fantasy Restaurant over the Black Gold Card.
Still—
Even if it was playful, Eren did note that she interrupted his moment with Gwen. He'd get her back for that someday.
After some teasing and laughter, the group headed toward the school gates.
····················
Before they even reached the entrance—
Simon, a student council member from Eren's class, stepped forward to greet them.
"Hey Eren, you made it! The dance is in the gym. I won't waste your time—it's starting in about ten minutes. Head on in!"
Seeing Eren walking hand-in-hand with the campus goddess Gwen, Simon's eyes flickered with envy and admiration.
As the others turned away, Simon discreetly slipped something into Eren's jacket pocket, gave his shoulder a firm pat, and whispered, "Bro, this is all I can help you with tonight. The rest's up to you. Have a great night."
Eren reached into his pocket and felt a very familiar texture.
His gaze turned strange as he looked at Simon walking off.
As a classmate and student council rep, Simon was well-known.
If memory served, he was also one of Gwen's many admirers—and had suffered bullying from the school thug Fleischer because of it.
When Eren had beaten up Fleischer and his goons, it had inadvertently helped Simon vent his frustrations.
Since then, Simon's attitude toward Eren had completely changed.
But this… gift… of a Smurf-themed condom?
Eren couldn't help but find it bizarre.
Shaking his head, he quietly stored the "Smurf" into his Ring of Greed.
················
After that little episode—
The group passed through the school gates and made their way toward the gym.
The closer they got, the clearer the sounds of laughter and music became.
Soon, they stepped into a transformed gymnasium.
The once dusty floor was spotless and gleaming, reflecting the colorful lights from above.
Tables draped in red cloth lined the walls—
Covered with luxurious dishes like Wellington steak, foie gras, caviar, and an array of exquisite desserts and cakes.
But—
No one lingered at the tables.
Students in elegant attire wandered the venue with glasses of colorful drinks, chatting in groups or whispering in pairs.
In the center of it all—
Mobius Band, a student group who had once represented Midtown in the high school music league, played passionately on stage.
Around the band was a large circular dance floor.
Though the dance hadn't officially started, some couldn't wait and were already dancing with their partners.
Under the spotlight technician's careful control, dazzling beams of light bathed the dancers, almost like blessings or encouragement.
As the song ended—
The dancing pairs bowed to the surrounding applause and stepped gracefully off the stage.
"They were amazing."
Clapping along, Gwen turned to Eren. "I hope we can dance like that when it's our turn."
"Of course. Actually, we'll be even better. As long as we use what we practiced, we'll blow them away. Trust me."
Eren nodded confidently and offered, "We've got a few minutes before it starts. Want to warm up on the dance floor?"
As time passed, more people crowded into the gym, making it feel lively—even packed.
When Mobius Band played their final tune—
The dance officially began.
Countless couples stepped onto the floor, twirling to the music.
Boys in black suits, girls in flowing white dresses—
A swirl of elegance and romance.
Even the air was filled with hints of pink.
Unnoticed by others, Eren and Gwen had also joined the dance floor.
Arms around each other, they spun gracefully to the rhythm.
In Gwen's eyes—
A strange gleam flickered as she gazed into Eren's face.
"You're dancing much better than when we practiced."
Eren shrugged, "Told you—I'm a genius. Picking up things fast is just normal for me."
"Oh really? I thought you'd say you were secretly practicing."
Secret practice? Well… maybe a little.
But far less than Gwen imagined.
With Eren's photographic memory, memorizing dance steps and movements was easy.
And his supernatural agility and coordination made performing them graceful and flawless.
Honestly, it was almost a waste of talent.
After just a few tango sessions, Eren had already surpassed Gwen, the one who taught him in the first place.
(End of Chapter)
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