The morning sun spilled through the dorm window, warm and golden — but Aika felt nothing but cold.
She'd barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt Kaito's lips again, heard his voice daring her silence, saw the smirk that knew too much.
She sat at her desk, gripping her pen so tightly it snapped. Mina stirred awake behind her.
"Whoa," Mina yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Rough night?"
Aika forced a laugh. "Just… assignments."
But the guilt was a weight pressing down harder with each lie. Mina trusted her, leaned on her, believed in her. And Aika was breaking that trust, piece by piece.
---
In class, she avoided Kaito's gaze. She kept her answers sharp, her focus steady, her expression blank.
But when their eyes did meet — just for a second — it was like the air burned between them.
She looked away first, her chest tight. I can't do this. I can't keep doing this.
That night, she ignored his text. Library. Midnight. She shoved her phone under her pillow and pretended to sleep.
But her body betrayed her. At 11:58, she was already slipping on her jacket.
---
The library was dark, quiet, suffocating. Kaito was already there, leaning against a table.
"You're late," he said.
"I shouldn't have come," Aika whispered.
"And yet," he murmured, stepping closer, "you did."
Her pulse thundered as he brushed his hand along hers, testing, daring. She trembled but didn't pull away. His lips grazed hers —
And then—
"Aika?"
The voice cut through the air like a blade.
Aika froze. Kaito stilled.
From the doorway, Mina's silhouette was framed in the dim light, eyes wide, shocked.
She had come looking. And she'd found them.
---