The silence after Mina's voice was unbearable.
Aika's breath hitched, her entire body trembling. Kaito's hand slipped casually into his pocket, his expression unreadable — like being caught meant nothing to him.
But Mina… Mina's wide eyes burned with betrayal.
"Aika," Mina said again, louder this time, her voice cracking. "What the hell is this?"
"I— It's not—" Aika stammered, stepping forward, but her throat locked.
Mina's gaze snapped to Kaito. "You. Of course it's you." Her fists clenched at her sides. "Everyone knows you're trouble, but Aika? She's my best friend. She wouldn't— she couldn't—"
"She could," Kaito interrupted smoothly, his smirk sharp as glass. "And she did."
The words cut through the air like a knife.
Mina's eyes darted back to Aika. "Tell me he's lying. Please. Just tell me."
Tears blurred Aika's vision. Her lips parted, but the truth hung heavy between them. She couldn't deny it. Not with the taste of him still on her lips.
"Aika…" Mina's voice broke, raw and shaking. "How could you?"
---
Kaito stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on Aika's shoulder, like staking his claim.
Mina's face twisted with fury. "Don't you touch her!"
"Funny," Kaito said lazily, eyes narrowing, "she doesn't seem to mind."
Mina's rage trembled into silence. The air was thick, suffocating. Aika wanted to scream, to vanish, to rewind time — but all she could do was stand frozen between them.
Finally, Mina spoke, her voice like ice. "If you think I'm going to let you ruin her, you're dead wrong."
Her words weren't just anger. They were a promise.
And then she turned, storming out of the library, leaving Aika crushed under the weight of betrayal.
---
Kaito chuckled softly, as if nothing had happened. "Well. That was fun."
But Aika shoved his hand off her shoulder, tears spilling freely. "You don't get it. I just lost her. My best friend. Because of you."
Kaito leaned in, eyes glinting with something darker. "No, rabbit. Because of you. You made the choice."
And the terrifying part was — he was right.
---