Aoto stared at the three Warrior Class students standing in his doorway, each of them radiating an aura of confidence and anticipation. They clearly weren't here for small talk. He sized them up quickly, his stomach tightening as he realized that these were the kinds of people who thrived on competition, and he was their new favorite target.

The first one to step forward was a tall, muscular guy with short-cropped hair, his arms covered in black tribal tattoos. He had a cocky smirk on his face and looked like he could bench press a car without breaking a sweat.

"Name's Taro," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I've heard a lot about you, Earth boy. People say you're stronger than you look. I'm here to find out if that's true."

Next to Taro was a smaller but still intimidating girl, her dark hair tied up in a messy bun, and her blue eyes gleamed with a mischievous light. Her tattoos snaked down her neck and arms, and she had a sharp, almost predatory grin.

"I'm Suki," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I love a good challenge, and you're supposed to be something special. Let's see if you live up to the hype."

The third student was a guy with a lean, wiry build, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. He had a more reserved demeanor, but the quiet confidence in his stance spoke volumes. His tattoos were more subtle, but they seemed to pulse faintly with energy.

"Riku," he introduced himself simply, his voice calm and measured. "I don't waste my time unless it's worth it. You've got my attention."

Aoto swallowed hard, realizing that these weren't just random students. They were experienced Warrior Class fighters who thrived on pushing their limits—and his. He could feel the tension in the air thickening as they closed in on him, waiting for his response.

Before Aoto could muster up a reply, a familiar presence swept into the room, immediately easing the tension.

The unmistakable scent of Maite's presence filled the air just as she walked through the door, her towering frame almost dwarfing the others. She stepped between Aoto and the three challengers, her face calm but her body language protective.

"Back off," Maite said, her voice steady but firm, her eyes locking onto Taro's. "Aoto's not here for your entertainment."

Taro raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Maite's sudden appearance. "Maite? What are you doing here? We're just having a little fun."

Maite's gaze didn't waver. "I'm not going to let you gang up on him. He's still recovering from yesterday, and you know it. If you want a challenge, you'll have to go through me first."

Suki crossed her arms, her playful smirk fading slightly. "Come on, Maite. We're not trying to hurt him—just test him a little. He's been getting all this attention, and we want to see what he's made of."

Riku, ever the calm observer, spoke up. "It's not about hurting him. It's about respect. He's from Earth, and that means something to us."

Maite's expression softened slightly, but she didn't back down. "I get it. But Aoto's not ready to be thrown into another fight, especially not with all three of you. Give him some space."

Aoto, still standing behind Maite, felt a wave of relief wash over him. He hadn't realized just how tense he'd been until she stepped in to defend him. Despite her imposing presence, there was something comforting about having Maite on his side. She wasn't just protecting him—she was making it clear that he wasn't alone in this strange new world.

Taro sighed, clearly annoyed but not wanting to push Maite too far. "Alright, fine. We'll give him a break. But don't think we're letting him off the hook forever."

Suki tilted her head, her smirk returning. "Yeah, Aoto. We'll be back when you're feeling up to it. Can't wait to see what you've got."

Riku gave a slight nod, acknowledging Maite's authority in the situation. "We'll be around. But you can't hide behind her forever."

With that, the three Warrior Class students turned and left, leaving Aoto standing in the doorway, feeling both relieved and slightly intimidated by the encounter. He hadn't realized just how much attention he'd garnered in such a short time, and it was starting to weigh on him.

Maite turned around to face him, her expression softening. "You okay?"

Aoto let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah... I think so. Thanks, Maite. I didn't expect that to happen."

Maite gave him a small smile. "You're welcome. You've made a bigger impact than you realize, Aoto. They see potential in you, but they don't understand that you're still adjusting to this world."

Aoto chuckled weakly. "Yeah, well, I don't exactly feel like I'm ready for any of this. Yesterday was... a lot."

Maite's eyes softened with understanding. "You don't have to prove anything to them. Just take your time. You've already earned more respect than most Earthlings ever do."

Aoto smiled, feeling grateful for Maite's support. "Thanks. I guess I just need to figure out how to navigate all this without getting killed."

Rika, who had been watching the entire scene from the kitchen window with her usual grin, finally spoke up. "You handled that pretty well, Earth boy. Maybe you're tougher than I thought."

Aoto rolled his eyes, but there was a small smile on his face. "Yeah, well, maybe I'm just lucky to have friends who aren't trying to beat me up."

Maite chuckled softly, her towering form making her seem both protective and gentle. "You'll be fine, Aoto. Just keep being yourself."

As the tension in the room finally eased, Aoto sat back down at the table, feeling a little more confident. He wasn't sure what the future held, but with people like Maite, Akia, Kaira, and even Rika by his side, he knew he'd be able to handle whatever challenges came his way.

At least, for now, he could enjoy the rest of his breakfast in peace.

Later that day, after the morning's unexpected showdown, Aoto found himself in his kitchen again, this time preparing lunch. The kitchen was filled with the savory aroma of stir-fry and rice, but he wasn't cooking for just himself today. Maite, who had stuck around after scaring off the other Warrior Class students, was still there, sitting quietly at the table, her tall frame making her look somewhat out of place in Aoto's modest apartment.

She hadn't said much since the others left, and Aoto noticed that her usual calm demeanor was replaced by a strange shyness.

Her cheeks were tinged pink, and every now and then, Aoto could feel her gaze on him as he worked in the kitchen. Every time he caught her looking, Maite quickly averted her eyes, her blush deepening.

Aoto tried to ignore the awkward tension, focusing on chopping vegetables. He knew something was up—Maite had been acting different ever since she stepped in to defend him earlier, and he wasn't sure how to address it without making things more awkward.

He glanced over at her, and sure enough, Maite was sitting there with her hands folded in her lap, looking both nervous and... flustered?

Aoto cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, uh... you like stir-fry? I wasn't sure what you liked, so I just went with something simple."

Maite jumped slightly, as if she'd been startled out of her thoughts. "Oh, yeah! I love stir-fry. It's... perfect," she said quickly, her voice a little higher than usual. She gave him a small, nervous smile, her face still flushed.

Aoto raised an eyebrow but decided not to press the issue. He'd never seen Maite this... shy before. Normally, she was so composed, almost stoic, but now she seemed like a completely different person. He continued cooking, occasionally glancing at her, trying to figure out what was going on.

As he plated the food and brought it over to the table, Maite's eyes lit up, and she sat up a little straighter, her blush still evident. "This looks really good, Aoto," she said softly, her hands fidgeting slightly as she looked at the meal.

Aoto sat down across from her, offering her a small smile. "I'm glad you think so. It's not much, but I hope you like it."

They started eating, and for a few moments, the only sound was the clinking of forks on plates. Maite took a bite and her eyes widened slightly, clearly impressed. "This is really good!" she exclaimed, her voice more enthusiastic than he'd heard all day. "I didn't know you could cook."

Aoto chuckled, feeling a little more at ease now. "Yeah, well, I had to learn when I moved out on my own. Figured it was better than surviving on instant noodles forever."

Maite laughed softly, the sound a bit more relaxed now, but Aoto noticed that she still couldn't quite meet his eyes. She kept sneaking glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking, and every time he caught her, she turned red all over again.

After a few more bites, Aoto decided to break the silence. "You've been quiet today, Maite. Are you... okay?"

Maite nearly choked on her food, quickly setting down her fork and taking a sip of water to cover her reaction. She looked down at her plate, clearly flustered. "I'm fine! I just... um..."

Aoto leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Just...?"

Maite fidgeted with her fork, her eyes darting to the side as she tried to gather her thoughts. "It's just... you've been really nice to me, Aoto. And... well, after everything that's happened, I just... I guess I don't really know how to act around you."

Aoto blinked, surprised by her admission. "Nice to you? You've been the one helping me out. I mean, you defended me earlier and kept those guys from beating me up."

Maite shook her head, her blush deepening. "That's different. You... you've been kind. You didn't have to cook lunch for me, and you've been... patient with me." She trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper now. "It's just... I don't know how to handle it when people are kind to me like this."

Aoto felt a strange warmth in his chest at her words, realizing that Maite was far more vulnerable than she let on. For all her strength and towering presence, she seemed to struggle with accepting simple kindness. He hadn't thought much of it at the time—cooking lunch for her just felt natural—but now he understood that it meant a lot more to her than he'd realized.

"Maite, you've been there for me since I got here," Aoto said softly, his tone sincere. "This is the least I can do. You're my friend."

Maite's eyes widened at the word "friend," and for a moment, she looked like she was going to say something, but then she just blushed harder, ducking her head in embarrassment.

"Thanks, Aoto," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "I... I'm glad."

Aoto smiled, feeling like some of the awkward tension had eased. He was about to say something else when Maite spoke again, her voice hesitant but determined.

"Aoto, I..." She trailed off, her face completely red now. "I... really like you."

Aoto blinked, taken aback. "Uh... like me how?"

Maite bit her lip, clearly struggling with her words. "I mean... I think I have a crush on you."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Aoto sat there, processing what she'd just said, his mind spinning. Maite—the towering, stoic Warrior Class girl—had just confessed that she had a crush on him. He wasn't sure how to respond, his heart racing as he tried to figure out what to say.

"I..." Aoto stammered, feeling his own face heat up. "I didn't... I mean, I didn't expect that."

Maite quickly waved her hands, flustered. "I-I'm not saying you have to feel the same way or anything! I just... I wanted you to know. Because I don't want to keep it bottled up. I'll understand if you don't feel the same."

Aoto stared at her, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. He'd barely been on this planet for long, and now Maite—one of the first people to befriend him—was confessing that she liked him.

He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Maite... I really appreciate you telling me. And... well, I think you're great. You've been such a good friend to me, and I don't know what I'd do without you." He paused, his heart pounding in his chest. "I... need some time to think about this, if that's okay?"

Maite nodded quickly, looking relieved but still a little embarrassed. "Of course! I didn't mean to spring this on you. Take all the time you need."

They finished their lunch in a more comfortable, albeit still slightly awkward, silence. As they cleared the table together, Aoto couldn't help but glance at Maite, his mind racing with thoughts about what this new development meant.

One thing was certain: life on Planet Comoros was becoming more complicated—and interesting—by the day.