The week had been torture.
Not because of classes — Aika Morishima could handle assignments, quizzes, and all-nighters.
No, the torture had a name: Kaito Renji.
Ever since the welcome party, it felt like he was everywhere. In the cafeteria line. On the library steps. Sitting one row behind her in class with that infuriating smirk.
And now, thanks to Mina's "brilliant" idea, he was about to be in her study group.
"Don't glare at me," Mina said as they spread out textbooks in the campus café. "I didn't know he'd show up!"
"Really?" Aika hissed, glaring at the figure approaching their table. "Because I'm starting to think you're working for him."
Mina gasped theatrically. "How dare you! I would never betray you like that. Unless he offered me free milk tea. Then I'd think about it."
"Mina—"
Too late. Kaito dropped his bag onto the chair across from Aika, leaning back like he owned the café. "Miss me?"
"No," Aika shot back instantly.
He chuckled. "Harsh. You wound me."
The study session was a disaster. Kaito didn't "study" — he leaned close whenever Aika tried to read, whispered sarcastic commentary during Mina's explanations, and stole fries off Aika's plate without shame.
At one point, Mina excused herself to the restroom, leaving them alone.
Big mistake.
"Stop distracting me," Aika muttered, scribbling notes furiously.
"Distracting?" Kaito tilted his head. "Maybe you're just too aware of me."
She froze. Her pen slipped, ink blotting the page.
When she looked up, his gaze was steady, unreadable — half amusement, half something darker. Her chest tightened, heat rising to her face.
Before she could snap back, Mina returned, slamming a tray of desserts on the table. "Emergency sugar! Study group is saved!"
The moment broke, but Aika's pulse didn't.
---
Later that evening, Aika tried to unwind with a walk across the quiet quad. The sky was streaked with violet and gold, the campus finally calm.
Or so she thought.
"Morishima."
She turned sharply. A student she barely recognized — a tall boy from the economics department — stood under the lamppost, glancing around nervously before speaking.
"You should be careful around him," the boy said. His voice was low, almost trembling.
"Who?" Aika asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Kaito Renji."
Her stomach tightened. "Why?"
The boy hesitated, as if the shadows themselves were listening. Then he whispered:
"People who get too close to him… don't end well."
Before Aika could respond, the boy shoved his hands into his pockets and walked off into the dark.
She stood frozen under the lamppost, the words echoing in her mind.
Don't end well.
And though she wanted to dismiss it, though she wanted to believe it was just gossip — deep down, Aika knew something was wrong.
Because every time Kaito looked at her, it didn't feel random.
It felt like a countdown.
---