The classroom buzzed with low chatter, the scratching of pens, and the dull drone of the teacher's voice echoing off the walls.
Kai Asterian leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the board.
Numbers.
Equations.
Pointless.
"…and if you substitute the value of x—"
Kai let his head fall into his palm, eyes half-lidded with boredom. His pencil rolled lazily across the desk before dropping to the floor with a soft clatter.
He didn't bother picking it up.
Maths was useless.
None of this mattered.
Not when he lived in a world where power decided everything.
Not when his brothers were monsters.
Kai exhaled sharply and muttered under his breath, "This is torture…"
A girl sitting nearby glanced at him and giggled.
He frowned immediately.
Annoying.
Flirtatious girls were the worst. Always whispering, always staring—especially when Edgar was around.
Kai turned his head toward the window, resting his cheek against his arm.
He should've just skipped.
A sudden knock echoed through the classroom door.
The teacher paused mid-sentence. "Come in."
The door opened.
And just like that, the entire atmosphere shifted.
The air felt… heavier.
A few students straightened instantly.
Some whispered.
Others froze.
Standing in the doorway was Edgar Asterian.
Tall. Composed. Effortlessly perfect.
Black hair falling neatly over his forehead, sharp blue eyes scanning the room with quiet confidence. His presence alone pulled attention like gravity.
Of course.
The most popular guy in school.
Kai clicked his tongue softly and looked away.
"…Sorry to interrupt," Edgar said calmly, his voice smooth and controlled. "I need to take Kai."
The teacher didn't hesitate. "Of course."
Of course.
Kai rolled his eyes but pushed himself up from his seat anyway, dragging his bag along the floor.
As he walked past Edgar, he muttered, "You always have the worst timing."
Edgar didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he turned and walked out of the classroom, fully expecting Kai to follow.
Kai scoffed quietly but did.
The door shut behind them with a soft click.
The hallway was empty.
Silent.
Kai shoved his hands into his pockets. "So? What is it this time?"
No answer.
Edgar kept walking.
Kai frowned. "Oi. I'm talking to you."
Edgar finally stopped.
Slowly, he turned around.
Up close, his expression was different.
Not the charming smile he wore at school.
Something colder.
Something sharper.
"…You went out again last night," Edgar said.
It wasn't a question.
Kai shrugged. "So?"
Edgar's gaze hardened. "Leon knows."
The words hit like a drop in temperature.
Kai's expression stiffened slightly—but only for a second.
"…And?" he said, trying to sound unaffected.
Edgar stepped closer.
"Kai," he said quietly, "you disappeared from the estate. Again. No guards. No notice. Do you have any idea what that looks like?"
Kai rolled his eyes. "Yeah. It looks like I'm not a prisoner."
Edgar's jaw tightened.
"You're not a prisoner," he said. "You're a target."
Kai scoffed. "Please. No one cares about me."
The moment the words left his mouth, the air shifted.
Edgar's expression darkened.
"That's not true," he said, his voice lower now. "You're an Asterian."
Kai's gaze sharpened.
"Yeah," he snapped. "The weakest one."
Silence.
A heavy, uncomfortable silence.
Edgar exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"…That's not something you should say so casually."
"Why not?" Kai shot back. "It's true."
He stepped forward now, eyes burning with frustration.
"Leon's the strongest in the world. You and Cale are right under him. You're all monsters." His voice cracked slightly, but he pushed through it. "And me?"
He let out a hollow laugh.
"I'm nothing special."
Edgar stared at him.
Really stared.
Not as a lieutenant.
Not as the admired senior.
But as an older brother.
"…You think that's what this is about?" Edgar asked quietly.
Kai frowned. "What?"
Edgar's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You think Leon's angry because you're weak?"
Kai hesitated.
"…Isn't he?"
A pause.
Then—
Edgar let out a short, humorless laugh.
"You really don't get it."
Kai's irritation flared. "Then explain it!"
Edgar stepped closer again, his voice dropping.
"He's angry," he said, "because you keep putting yourself in danger like your life doesn't matter."
Kai froze.
For a split second—
Just a second—
Something flickered in his expression.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
"Yeah?" Kai said, his tone turning defensive again. "Then he should stop acting like I'm a liability."
Edgar's gaze sharpened.
"He acts like that," he said slowly, "because he's terrified of losing you."
Kai blinked.
Silence.
"…That's a joke," Kai muttered.
"It's not."
Kai looked away, clenching his fists slightly.
"…Leon doesn't get scared."
Edgar didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he reached into his pocket.
Kai tensed slightly.
Then Edgar pulled out his phone and held it up.
"One hour," he said.
Kai frowned. "What?"
"That's how long you've got before we go home."
Kai's stomach dropped slightly.
"…And?"
Edgar met his eyes.
"Leon's waiting."
The hallway suddenly felt a lot colder.
Kai forced a scoff. "So? Let him wait."
Edgar didn't smile.
Didn't soften.
"…Kai," he said quietly, "he already knows everything."
A pause.
Then, more quietly—
"And this time… he's really angry."
Kai swallowed.
For the first time since leaving the classroom—
He felt it.
That familiar, suffocating weight.
Not Leon's aura.
Just the thought of it.
"…Tch," Kai muttered, looking away again. "Whatever."
But his voice wasn't as steady anymore.
Edgar watched him for a moment longer.
Then he turned.
"Come on," he said.
Kai hesitated…
Before following.