Just three seconds before her alarm was set to go off, Sayori's eyes snapped open, fixed on the ceiling of the dimly lit room. It was a small, precious victory—a way to feel like she held time in her own hands before anyone else could claim it. For Sayori, control wasn't just a habit; it was a survival mechanism.
The dormitory room was submerged in a deep silence as the first light of dawn washed over it. Pale grey light filtered through thin tulle curtains, casting ghostly shapes on the bare walls. The room was sparse and sharp, much like Sayori's own character: two beds, two wardrobes, and a small desk pushed against the window. The opposite bed had been empty for weeks. The taut, untouched state of its linens only amplified the strange sense of loneliness in the room.
Sayori sat up slowly. As her feet touched the cold floorboards, a thin shiver traveled up her body, sweeping away the last lingering fragments of sleep.
"Let today be calm," she murmured to herself. Her voice echoed faintly off the walls before vanishing.
Her morning routine was as precise as a ritual. As she tied her hair, she didn't allow a single stray strand. She smoothed every line of her school uniform. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she was satisfied with what she saw: neat, controlled, and wearing her emotions like a suit of armor.
When she stepped into the corridor, the silence was replaced by the morning bustle. It wasn't long before Sakura's energy pierced through the atmosphere. Sakura arrived out of breath as usual, her hair slightly disheveled.
"Good morning!" Sakura chirped, looking like she'd just run a marathon.
Sayori offered a faint smile at her friend's inexhaustible energy. "Did you run here again?"
"I hit snooze three times..." Sakura scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. "I can't face the math teacher's glare one more time."
Just then, Kyoko joined them. Even Kyoko's walk felt analytical; her eyes scanned their surroundings, reading people's moods like a computer. She joined the group without saying a word, giving only a slight nod. As the trio headed toward class, everything seemed "ordinary."
However, minutes after entering the classroom, that ordinariness shattered like a glass vase.
The whispers in the room didn't stop when the teacher entered—not until they saw the shadow behind him. Every gaze locked onto the boy standing right behind the instructor. The hum of the classroom died down into a heavy, curious silence.
"We have a new student joining us," the teacher said, his voice more distant than usual. "Kunon. He will be with you from today on."
No further explanation followed. No last name, no origin, and the reason for his mid-term arrival remained a total mystery.
Kunon took a step forward. He had an athletic build, but an invisible weight on his shoulders made him look older than he was. His gaze was cold—not an empty coldness, but like a massive block of ice built to keep everyone out. His stance mirrored that of a soldier on guard, ready for either an attack or an escape.
Sayori noticed something different from the rest of the class. Newcomers were usually intimidated by the attention, unsure of what to do with their hands. But Kunon... he was just there. He scanned the people around him, gauging whether they were threats.
"Kunon, you may take a seat," the teacher said, pointing to an empty spot.
Kunon moved to the desk two rows behind Sayori. His movements were silent and efficient. Even the way he slid his pen across the paper had a rhythm to it. He didn't make eye contact or raise his hand for questions, but Sayori could feel him absorbing every word and movement like a sponge.
When the bell rang for recess, the "curious" crowd immediately swarmed Kunon's desk. Social needs were about to collide with the invisible wall around him.
"Welcome, man. I'm Kaito," one of the boys said, extending a hand.
Kunon only gave a slight nod. He didn't shake the hand.
"Where are you from? Out of town?"
"North," Kunon said. His voice was as deep as a well.
Sakura cut in with her relentless friendliness. "Are you a transfer? Did your family move here too, or are you staying at the dorms?"
The moment the word "family" echoed in the classroom, it felt as though the humidity in the air dropped to freezing point. Even without turning around, Sayori felt the shift in Kunon's gaze on the back of her neck.
"That's none of your business."
His tone hadn't risen. He hadn't shouted. But those five words were the sharpest version of a barbed-wire fence being pulled shut. Sakura paused, her smile freezing on her face.
"I just... I mean, I wanted to meet—"
"Curiosity," Kunon said, standing up. He snapped his book shut. "Doesn't always lead to good results. You should learn your boundaries."
As Kunon walked out of the classroom, he left a frozen crowd in his wake. Sakura stood rooted to the spot. "Did I overdo it?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kyoko murmured as she watched the door Kunon had exited: "He's not running from something. He's protecting himself from something."
Sayori couldn't take it. Her own internal control mechanism had been triggered by this boy's rule-breaking attitude. She stood up and walked into the corridor. Kunon's long strides were already heading for the stairs.
"Wait a minute!" Sayori called out.
Kunon didn't stop. His pace remained steady.
"My friend was just trying to be kind," Sayori said, catching up to him. "She didn't mean any harm."
Kunon's steps slowed and finally stopped. He turned slowly toward Sayori. Although the height difference increased the pressure on her, she didn't back down.
"People need to learn their boundaries," Kunon said.
"Is this how?" Sayori asked, frowning. "By hurting people?"
"This way," Kunon said, looking into her eyes clearly for the first time. "They learn faster. We don't waste time."
Sayori saw the deep loneliness and stubbornness in his eyes. "You seem to have learned that lesson quite fast yourself," she said cuttingly.
There was a momentary flicker in Kunon's dull expression. It was as if someone had touched a hidden wound. "Yes," he said simply. Then he turned and walked away.
The rest of the day passed with whispers about Kunon. By the time school ended, Sakura was still shaken. Her shoulders slumped as the three of them walked toward the dorms.
"I really didn't say anything bad," Sakura said, pouting.
"We know," Kyoko said reassuringly.
Sayori smirked slightly to cheer her friend up. "Forget him, Sakura. He's just playing the 'cool guy' role for now. You'll see, one day when he really gets to know you, those ice walls will melt and he'll be at your feet."
Sakura stopped, her eyes wide. "What? Don't be ridiculous!"
"I'm serious," Sayori continued. "Right now he's just acting distant. But no one can resist that endless energy of yours for long. I bet in a week he'll be coming up to you asking, 'Sakura, can you share those notes?'"
Sakura's face flushed, but a smile finally broke through. "Really? One hundred percent?"
"One hundred percent. Just be patient and don't give him too much attention."
They reached the dorm entrance amidst laughter. However, the staff member at the ground floor blocked Sayori's path. "Sayori, the Director is waiting for you in his office."
Sayori frowned. She rarely had business with the Director. "Alright, I'm coming."
After saying goodbye to Sakura and Kyoko, she headed for the stairs. A strange unease washed over her as she knocked on the Director's door.
"Come in, Sayori," the Director said, not looking up from the files on his desk. "We need to talk about your room."
"Is there a problem, sir? Did I break a rule?"
"No, no. Quite the opposite. That empty bed finally has an owner."
Sayori took a deep breath. "The new student?"
"Yes. Kunon. He's... a bit of a special case. I expect you to be understanding toward him."
The strange tone in the Director's voice didn't escape Sayori. It was as if he was hiding something or was hesitant to speak. But Sayori didn't ask further. She nodded and left the office.
When she entered her room, she slowly organized her things. Kunon's icy gaze kept spinning in her head. In the same room? This is going to be a disaster, she thought. As a scholarship student, she knew her options were limited. So, she didn't object.
About ten minutes later, there were two sharp knocks on the door. Sayori straightened up. "Come in."
The door opened slowly, and the figure crossing the threshold was exactly who Sayori expected: Kunon. The boy entered showing neither surprise nor offering a polite greeting. He dropped his single backpack next to the empty bed.
He scanned the room. His gaze lingered on the order of Sayori's books, the neatness of her desk, and finally landed on Sayori herself.
"So this is it," Kunon said, as if checking a hotel room.
Sayori crossed her arms. "Coincidence?"
Kunon looked at her. "I don't know."
He began to unzip his bag and take out his belongings. His movements were so silent that it was hard to feel there was a stranger in the room.
"I hope you don't ask too many questions," Kunon said, his back turned to her. It wasn't a request; it was an emphasized warning.
Sayori took a step forward to defend her boundaries. "I have a hope too..." she said, her voice filled with icy determination. "...I hope you won't be too much of a problem."
Kunon's movements stopped for a second. He slowly turned his head, and his eyes met Sayori's. This time, his gaze wasn't flickering away; on the contrary, he was measuring just how resilient his opponent was.
That small room had suddenly become a collision site for two different worlds. This wasn't just a room share. This was the first act of a secret war starting between two stubborn souls.
And neither of them seemed to have any intention of backing down.