The nurse's office at Hollow High Academy smelled faintly of antiseptic and peppermint tea.
Jinx lay on one of the small beds near the window, her face slightly pale as she pressed a hand against her stomach.
Across from her, Pixie sat dramatically fanning her with a notebook.
"If period cramps were a demon," Pixie declared, "you would've slayed it by now."
Jinx groaned and shifted on the pillow.
"I think this one's a boss-level demon."
Behind the desk, Nurse Mira scribbled something onto a clipboard and sighed.
"You need rest," she said firmly, "not sass."
Before Jinx could reply, a voice echoed from the hallway.
"Is she here?"
The door suddenly swung open.
Dante Kurobane stepped inside, his crimson eyes scanning the room sharply.
Ignoring Pixie and the nurse completely, he walked straight to Jinx.
His expression was tense.
"What happened?" he asked in a low voice. "Who touched you?"
Jinx managed a weak smile.
"Just nature," she muttered. "And maybe Satan."
Dante clicked his tongue.
"Useless."
Despite the harsh words, he sat beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Jinx blinked in surprise at the unexpected tenderness.
Pixie placed a hand dramatically over her heart.
"My god," she whispered. "If he gets any softer, he'll melt into a boyfriend."
Dante shot her a sharp glare.
"Out."
Pixie grinned as she hopped off the chair.
"Fine, fine. But not before I post this to the fan page."
She skipped out of the room before anyone could stop her.
A few minutes later, down the hallway, someone stood quietly around the corner.
Rika Akane.
She watched the closed door of the nurse's office, her expression dark.
"He never barged in for me," she murmured under her breath.
Her fingers slowly curled into a fist.
Later that afternoon, the classroom buzzed with quiet energy as students listened to their teacher.
Jinx sat near the window again, a hot water bottle resting against her stomach.
Behind her, Dante sat silently.
Anyone who so much as glanced at Jinx felt his glare immediately.
At the front of the room, Mr. Ryomen wrote something across the board.
"Demonic imprints," he explained, "often bond with mortal energy through emotional proximity. The result is… unpredictable."
Jinx looked up from her desk.
At the same moment, Dante glanced toward her.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Neither of them spoke.
But something unspoken passed between them.
After school, the gym echoed with the sounds of training.
Kazuki stood across from Jinx in the sparring ring.
She moved carefully, clearly slower than usual.
"You shouldn't be here today," Kazuki said as they circled each other.
Jinx rolled her shoulders and raised her fists.
"If I let a little pain stop me," she replied, "I'd never survive in this school."
They exchanged a few light strikes.
Kazuki deliberately held back.
Then the gym door opened.
Dante stepped inside.
He leaned against the wall, watching silently.
His aura flared faintly.
"She's not your training dummy," Dante said coldly.
Kazuki didn't look offended.
"Neither is she yours," he replied calmly.
Dante's crimson eyes narrowed.
"But she's mine to protect."
Jinx groaned and lowered her hands.
"Ugh," she muttered. "I am not a football. Calm down, testosterone twins."
Kazuki chuckled quietly.
Dante looked away, clearly annoyed.
That evening, the rooftop was quiet beneath a sky full of stars.
Jinx sat wrapped in a blanket, the cool night air brushing against her face.
Dante sat beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Dante reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glowing stone.
He placed it in her hand.
"It's a demon core," he explained. "It eases pain when held by someone who cares."
The stone glowed faintly in Jinx's palm.
She looked up at him.
"Do you care?"
Dante paused.
His gaze shifted toward the city lights in the distance.
"If I didn't," he said quietly, "would I be here every time you hurt?"
Jinx stared down at the glowing stone.
Then back at him.
"You're not supposed to make my heart ache worse than the cramps," she said softly.
Dante smirked faintly.
"Then stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
His voice dropped slightly.
"Like I'm your entire world."
The wind moved gently across the rooftop.
Neither of them looked away.