The world thought Kaito Renji was a genius. Professors praised him. Students envied him. Even enemies couldn't deny his charm.
But Kaito knew the truth: he was nothing without control.
Control kept the chaos at bay. Control kept the past buried.
He remembered nights in his old town — the whispers of his father's debts, the way people's eyes followed him with pity, disgust, or both. He learned early that pity was poison, but fear… fear was power.
And on this campus, he had perfected the art of fear dressed as admiration.
Still, Aika unsettled him.
She wasn't supposed to dig so deeply. She wasn't supposed to look at him like she could see both the monster and the boy beneath. That was dangerous.
And yet… addictive.
---
Meanwhile, across campus, Aika plastered on her brightest smile as Mina waved a flyer in her face.
"C'mon, it's a mixer! Free snacks, free soda, cute guys! You need this after moping for days."
Aika laughed, too loudly. "I'm not moping."
"Uh-huh. And I'm secretly a princess from Mars. Let's go!" Mina tugged her toward the quad.
Inside, the mixer buzzed with music and chatter. Lights strung above shimmered, casting everyone in a dreamlike glow.
But for Aika, it was suffocating. Every laugh around her sounded fake. Every glance felt suspicious. And somewhere, she knew, Kaito was watching.
Her hands trembled so badly she spilled her drink. Mina frowned, finally noticing. "Okay, seriously. What's wrong?"
Aika opened her mouth, but no words came. Her chest tightened, breath hitching.
She bolted.
Outside, in the cool night air, she collapsed onto the steps, tears stinging her eyes.
Why can't I just forget him? Why can't I stop?
And as if summoned by her breakdown, a shadow fell across her.
Kaito.
"You wear that mask well, rabbit," he murmured, crouching down. "But it's cracking."
Aika choked on a sob, hating that he was right — and hating even more that she couldn't bring herself to run.
---