Just as Aoto and Maite were starting to find some common ground, the peaceful moment was abruptly shattered.

Without warning, Rika appeared out of nowhere, her usual sadistic grin plastered across her face. Before Aoto could even react, she slid onto his lap as if she owned the space, completely catching him off guard. Her arms draped casually around his neck, and with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned in and planted a quick, bold kiss on his lips.

Aoto froze in shock, his brain barely able to process what had just happened. He had been so focused on his conversation with Maite that he hadn't even noticed Rika approaching, and now she was... smooching him?!

Rika pulled back, laughing softly at his stunned expression. "Surprised, Earth boy? You shouldn't let your guard down so easily," she teased, her sharp teeth gleaming as she licked her lips in satisfaction. "I've been waiting to catch you off guard like that."

Aoto was still too shocked to respond, his face flushing bright red as he struggled to find words. But before he could even think of how to react, a sudden, thunderous roar filled the park.

Maite, who had been sitting beside him, her expression soft just moments ago, was now standing, her entire body trembling with anger. Her fists were clenched, and her blue eyes blazed with pure fury as she stared at Rika. The ground beneath her feet seemed to vibrate from the sheer force of her rage.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Rika?!" Maite growled, her voice low and dangerous.

Rika, completely unfazed by Maite's reaction, glanced over her shoulder at the enraged Warrior Class girl, her smirk growing even wider. "Oh, calm down, Maite. I'm just having a little fun with our Earth boy here. It's not like you were making a move, anyway."

Maite's eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward, her whole body tense as if she were ready to pounce. "You stole his first kiss, you sneaky little—"

But before Maite could finish her sentence, Aoto, still sitting there in a state of shock, muttered without thinking, "Uh... it wasn't my first kiss."

Both girls immediately went silent, their heads snapping toward him at the same time.

Rika's grin faltered, her expression shifting into one of surprise. "Wait... what?"

Maite's fury momentarily subsided, replaced by confusion. "What do you mean it wasn't your first kiss?"

Aoto blinked, realizing too late what he had just let slip. His heart pounded in his chest as he felt both girls' eyes on him, their curiosity—and jealousy—practically radiating off them in waves.

"I, uh..." Aoto stammered, scratching the back of his head nervously. "It's just... I've kissed someone before. Back on Earth, I mean. It was a long time ago..."

Both girls remained silent for a moment, their shock gradually giving way to a new emotion: jealousy.

Rika's playful smirk quickly returned, though this time it was tinged with a competitive edge. "Well, well, Earth boy... keeping secrets, huh? I didn't think you had it in you."

Maite, on the other hand, looked far less amused. Her fists were still clenched, but now it wasn't just Rika who had earned her ire—Aoto had inadvertently thrown himself into the crossfire. "Who was it?" she asked, her voice low and demanding. "Who did you kiss back on Earth?"

Aoto, realizing he was now caught in a very dangerous situation, held up his hands defensively. "It's not what you think! It was just... someone I knew back in high school. It didn't mean anything, really!"

Maite wasn't satisfied with that answer, her glare intensifying. "You mean to tell me that after everything, you just casually kissed someone and didn't think it was important to mention?"

Rika, still sitting comfortably on Aoto's lap, leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the tension. "Oh, this is rich. Poor Maite thought she had a shot at your first kiss, and now she's realizing she wasn't even close."

Maite's nostrils flared, and her teeth bared in a snarl. "Rika, if you don't get off his lap right now, I swear—"

Rika cut her off with a laugh, giving Aoto's cheek a playful tap. "Alright, alright. I'll leave the poor Earth boy alone for now. But I think it's safe to say that the competition just got a lot more interesting." She slid off Aoto's lap gracefully, standing up and stretching. "I'll see you around, Aoto. Don't be a stranger."

With that, Rika sauntered away, still chuckling to herself as she disappeared into the distance, leaving a stunned Aoto and a furious Maite behind.

As the silence settled over the park, Aoto slowly turned to Maite, his heart pounding in his chest. "Maite, I... I didn't mean for this to happen."

Maite's anger hadn't fully dissipated, but she let out a long, frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples as if trying to calm herself down. "You really are clueless, aren't you?"

Aoto nodded weakly. "Pretty much, yeah."

Maite shook her head, her fury gradually fading into exasperation. "You're lucky I like you, Aoto. But I'm not happy about what just happened. You need to stop letting people like Rika push you around."

"I'll... try," Aoto said, swallowing nervously. "I just didn't expect her to do something like that."

Maite crossed her arms, glaring at him with a mix of frustration and something softer. "I'm not going to give up just because of some stupid kiss, Aoto. But you need to make it clear where you stand. If you're not interested in her, you better let her know. Otherwise, this is just going to keep happening."

Aoto nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle on his shoulders. "You're right. I'll figure it out."

For a moment, Maite just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she leaned in close, her breath warm against his cheek.

"Next time," she whispered, her voice low and dangerous, "I get the kiss."

Before Aoto could respond, Maite turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him sitting on the bench, his mind spinning from everything that had just happened.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? he thought, staring after her.

One thing was for sure—life on Planet Comoros was only getting more complicated.

As Aoto sat on the bench, his mind still racing from the whirlwind of emotions and chaos that had unfolded between him, Maite, and Rika, something caught his eye. Maite, in her rush of frustration and jealousy, had left her wallet on the bench beside him.

He picked it up, holding the small, worn leather wallet in his hands. For a moment, he hesitated, staring down at it. He had been on edge ever since Rika's unexpected kiss and Maite's roaring jealousy, but now, a different kind of thought crossed his mind.

This is my chance, Aoto thought, feeling a strange surge of courage welling up inside him. He had never been the type to make bold moves—he preferred to keep things calm, avoiding drama whenever possible—but the look Maite had given him before she left lingered in his mind.

She had told him she wasn't giving up, that next time she would be the one getting the kiss. And something about that determination made Aoto's heart race in a way that was different from the fear or anxiety he usually felt when dealing with Warrior Class girls.

Before he could talk himself out of it, Aoto stood up, Maite's wallet in hand, and quickly jogged after her. She hadn't gone far, just a few yards ahead, walking with that familiar strength and purpose. But he could tell, even from behind, that she was still angry—and maybe a little hurt.

"Maite! Wait!" Aoto called out, quickening his pace.

Maite stopped in her tracks, turning around with a surprised look on her face. She raised an eyebrow as Aoto approached her, clearly not expecting him to follow after what had just happened.

"What is it, Aoto?" she asked, her voice still a little sharp, but softer than before.

Aoto held up the wallet. "You left this."

Maite blinked, her expression softening slightly as she saw the wallet. "Oh... I didn't even realize. Thanks."

As she reached out to take it, Aoto took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage he had. His heart pounded in his chest, but before she could react, he stepped forward and gently planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

The moment his lips made contact with her skin, Maite froze, her entire body stiffening as if she had been struck by lightning. Her eyes widened in complete shock, her mouth slightly parted in disbelief. And then, just as Aoto had anticipated, her face turned an instant shade of deep red.

Her usual tough and stoic demeanor shattered in an instant as she made a soft, high-pitched noise—almost like a squeak, something that sounded completely out of character for her.

"Wha—what was—?" Maite stammered, her voice barely a whisper, her cheeks blazing with color.

Aoto pulled back, a small smile on his face as he met her gaze. "Consider it payback for earlier," he said, trying to sound as calm and confident as possible, though his heart was still racing. "I figured you deserved something after all that."

For a moment, Maite just stood there, her mind clearly struggling to process what had just happened. Her hands twitched as if she didn't know what to do with them, and her mouth opened and closed a few times as she tried to form words but failed. The fearsome Warrior Class girl, who had been ready to rip Rika apart just moments ago, was now standing before Aoto, completely and utterly flustered.

Aoto could feel a small sense of pride building inside him. He had finally managed to catch Maite off guard, and it had worked even better than he had expected.

"You... you kissed me..." Maite finally managed to say, her voice so soft it was barely audible.

Aoto chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I did. You okay?"

Maite blinked rapidly, trying to regain her composure, but the blush on her cheeks refused to fade. She cleared her throat, straightening up and trying to act like her usual self, though her voice still wavered with embarrassment. "I-I'm fine. I just... wasn't expecting that."

"Well, I figured since you said you wanted to be the next one to kiss me... I'd beat you to it," Aoto said, flashing her a playful grin. He could see the blush deepening on her face, and it was almost enough to make his own embarrassment disappear completely.

Maite was still clearly flustered, but after a moment, she smiled—a small, genuine smile that Aoto had rarely seen from her. She rubbed her cheek absentmindedly, as if still feeling the warmth of the kiss, and gave a soft, almost bashful laugh.

"I guess I deserved that," she admitted quietly, her tough exterior cracking just enough to show a softer side of herself. "But don't think this means you've won, Aoto. I'm still going to get you back."

Aoto laughed, feeling the tension between them finally ease. "I'll be waiting."

Maite gave him a playful glare, though the redness in her cheeks betrayed her true emotions. "You better be ready. I'm not going easy on you next time."

With that, Maite finally took her wallet from Aoto, their fingers brushing for just a moment. She still seemed a bit flustered, but the tension and anger that had filled the air earlier were gone now, replaced by something lighter—something that felt like the beginning of a new understanding between them.

As Maite turned to leave, she gave Aoto one last glance over her shoulder, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Aoto," she said quietly, her voice sincere. "For... everything."

Aoto nodded, smiling back at her. "Anytime, Maite."

As she walked away, her steps a little lighter now, Aoto stood there for a moment, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in his chest. He hadn't expected things to turn out like this, but he couldn't deny that it felt... right. Maybe things on Planet Comoros weren't as overwhelming as he had thought. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get the hang of it.

But as Aoto watched Maite disappear down the path, one thought lingered in the back of his mind.

Now I just have to survive the next kiss.