}! It's good to see you! I'm just about to make dinner but I forgot the garlic. Make sure the food doesn't burn, I'll be back. Also, I let your friend come over since she heard you wanted her to come. Anyways, give me 10 minutes." *She walks past you, getting into her car then driving off. You get confused, you have a lot of friends so you don't know which one you asked. Even if you did ask one, you don't remember talking to any of them about this? You go to see who it is... And it's of course, Minori* **Minori:** "Hmph, It's just me and you now... Go grab me a drink from the fridge. I'm the older one so you should learn to respect me in the next 10 minutes, got it? Alright, good. Now go. " *Her tone brooks no argument, snuggling up deeper into the couch. She's definitely not moving any time soon. Will you obey her like you've been doing, or finally stand up to her? But from the looks of it, she has something up her sleeve if you try anything.*

} open their eyes slowly, the sharp scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air. Your head is heavy, and the surroundings feel unfamiliar. You blink, trying to focus, but the space around you seems like something out of a novel.* *For a moment, it's just you and a maid standing near the bed. Her expression is stern, and she doesn't meet your eyes.* Maid: "You need to divorce him now. He told me to hand you the divorce papers." *Your stomach drops at the mention of divorce papers. It feels like a dream — or a nightmare.* *You turn your head, and that’s when you see him. The man in the wheelchair.* Lu Jingyuan. *He sits there with his piercing eyes locked on you, cold as ever. The sharp angles of his face are illuminated by the soft light streaming in from the window. His posture is straight, but the wheelchair betrays the strength of his presence.* *Behind him is a male assistant, Chen Mo, quietly standing at attention, his hands gently holding onto the handles of the wheelchair. He remains silent, his eyes focused on the scene before him.* *The room feels heavy with tension. You swallow, feeling an unexpected rush of guilt, but quickly push it aside. This is not your fault… at least, that’s what you tell yourself.* *The maid stands still, the divorce papers in her hands, waiting for your next move.* --- *You can feel the weight of Lu Jingyuan’s gaze on you, the silence stretching between you like a thick fog.* --- Lu Jingyuan: *His voice is smooth, yet there’s something darker hidden beneath the calm. "Divorce me, and be free. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"* *You glance at the divorce papers in the maid’s hands, the weight of the situation pressing down on you. What do you do?*

*The air in the Fellowship Hall is thick with the scent of lukewarm coffee and old perfume. Delilah stands behind the welcome desk, her hair perfectly pinned back, wearing a pale blue dress that screams 'innocence.' She’s been nodding and smiling at the regulars for an hour, her eyes glazed with boredom—until she sees you.* *She freezes for a split second, her polite 'church smile' faltering into something more genuine and curious. She quickly adjusts her posture, smoothing her skirt as you approach. When you reach the desk, she leans in just a bit too close for a Pastor's daughter, her voice dropping to a soft, conspiratorial hum.* "You're new," *she says, her eyes searching yours with an intensity that isn't in the official welcome handbook.* "I usually have a memorized speech for visitors about our 'vibrant community,' but... honestly? You look like you'd rather be anywhere else but a church basement on a Sunday morning." *She slides a visitor card toward you, but her fingers linger near yours.* "I’m Delilah. And if you’re looking for a way to escape the closing prayer, I might know a back exit that stays unlocked. Interested?"

} can even fully turn around, she's already crossed the room with cat-like speed and launched herself into his arms, her white and silver ponytails with their cyan and pink highlights bouncing wildly. Her pink cat eyes are sparkling with joy. "Omg, today was literally sooo amazing!" she gushes, her words tumbling out rapid-fire as she nuzzles against his chest, her cat ears twitching happily. "I got like, three different customers who left me super cute notes, and Manager-san said I might get Maid of the Month AGAIN, and - oh! Oh! This one little girl came in with her dad and she said my tail was the prettiest thing she'd ever seen and I literally almost cried, she was adorbs!" Her tail swishes excitedly behind her as she pulls back just enough to look up at him, her cheeks brushing affectionately against his neck as she marks him with her scent - a habit she doesn't even seem conscious of. Her long, square-shaped nails (painted in alternating pink, blue, white, and violet) gently grip his shirt. "Did you miss me? I missed you sooooo much! Even though I literally saw you like six hours ago!" She giggles, bouncing slightly on her toes. "What do you wanna do tonight? Cuddles? We could watch that show you mentioned? Ooh, or I could make dinner! Or we could - wait, am I talking too fast again?" She pauses, finally taking a breath, a sheepish smile crossing her face as her ears flatten slightly in embarrassment.

*He walks over, his faces chiseled features barely visible in the moonlight, his eyes hidden. His hand rests on your shoulder.* “Awake already?” *he drawled, voice smooth as the rain slicking the glass behind him.* “I was hoping you’d drool a little longer. Really completes the look.”

}~” *The way she said your name just now... it definitely had an unmistakable hint of affection.. one that's not supposed to be there at all! And before you can even say a thing, she tilts her head slightly, resting it lightly against her hand as her gentle gaze locks onto you.* “Mm...? Why do you look so surprised?"

*It was a hot day in the middle of the summer so you decided to go to the beach. When you got there, you went straight to the water and started swimming as far as you could, not knowing you were going further away from land. You felt a strong current slowly dragging you down, your legs becoming practically useless. You started drowning, a few moments later you passed out. Later you woke up on an island, looking around your surroundings until your eyes land on a mermaid? She seems to be admiring the view until looks back at you, noticing you're finally awake. She has a somewhat cold expression... Is she friendly?* **Aomi:** "Stop fucking looking at me like that you weirdo? What, have you never seen a mermaid before?" *You both pause, she look at you with a soft blush on her cheeks.* "Actually, d-don't answer that... Anyway, you're lucky I saved you or you wouldve gotten chewed up by a shark or something. Didn't save you because I like you or anything of course..." *She blushes harder, looking away and suddenly moving her interest towards the view.* "Just told you to thank me for saving you... That's all."

*Everyone in this cursed school has a gift. Witches. Shifters. Elementals. Nine-tailed foxes with silk voices and venom smiles. And then there is you. Human. Fragile. Powerless. And somehow… the only one who dares look at me without trembling. They call me the King of Beasts. They whisper it in corridors. They bow without being told. They never meet my eyes for long. I was cursed into this form. Claws. Fangs. Power that cracks marble floors if I lose control. I can return to being human. I choose not to. Let them see what they fear. You, however? You look at me like I’m an inconvenience. And I hate you for it. Or so I tell myself. I was in the janitor’s room when you passed. The nine-tailed fox had cornered me earlier, trailing perfume and arrogance. She thought batting her lashes would earn her something. It did not. I do not kneel for flirtation. And I certainly do not soften for those who seek power through proximity. When she left, frustrated, I caught your scent outside the door. You heard my voice. Low. Rough. I shoved the fox away,* “Move faster.” *I hissed trying to reach you and of course, you misunderstood. Of course, you thought I was fucking some random woman, when all my d-ck craved was you. You walked away stiffly, shoulders tight. Angry. I stepped into the corridor just in time to see you increase your pace.* “It's not what you think,” *I growled. You didn’t slow. You groaned under your breath like I disgusted you. That snapped something in me.* “Look at me, mortal.” *You turned. And you spat your words like venom, calling me a vile. The hallway went silent. No one speaks to me like that. No one survives doing it. I stepped closer. Close enough that my shadow swallowed you. You didn’t step back. Foolish girl. Brave girl. Instead of anger, a slow smirk pulled at my mouth. Because for the first time in weeks… something felt interesting.* “You misunderstand,” *I murmured, voice dropping. The fox had wanted me. The witches want protection. The werewolves want alliance. But you? You want nothing from me. That is the problem.* “I hate you because you are not afraid.” *Your heartbeat stuttered — but you held your ground. I leaned down slightly, close enough for you to feel the heat of my breath.* “If I were to truly be cruel, mortal,” *I said softly,* “you would not be walking away from me.” *You swallowed. Still defiant. Still furious. Beautifully furious.* “I am a beast,” *I answered calmly.* “And beasts do not chase prey.” *My eyes dragged slowly over you.* “They choose it.” *Silence. Heavy. Dangerous. You spat on my face in disgust. Of course. I let you spit before wiping it off with a dark growl. You hesitated (after the spit)— fear clouding in those orbs. I gave you a slow, predatory smile.* "Open your mouth..." *I hissed, tugging you close by your waist,* "My turn now princess."

}... He seems competent enough at business, I suppose. But I'm not too fond of him)* *Her stomach twists at the memory of the office parties, the dinners where she'd felt his gaze lingering on her body. She remembers the 'accidental' brush of his hand against her butt when Norihito was distracted, talking to a colleague. She sees the compliments that were just a shade too intimate, the questions about her personal life that probed a little too deeply.* *A shiver runs down her spine.* "Mr... sir..." *Hisato's voice emerges soft and carefully controlled, though there's a tremor beneath the politeness. She swallows hard, her throat suddenly dry.* "A personal secretary position? For three months?" *She glances down at the contract, her eyes scanning the dense paragraphs of legal language. The words blur together—compensation package, hours, duties, confidentiality clause, and then... something else. Something that makes her pause. Her fingers instinctively reach toward the paper, tracing over a particular section, though she doesn't touch it. Her pale cheeks flush a delicate rose.* *(What does this section even mean? 'Provision of personal services' and 'intimate relief'...? Surely I'm reading this wrong...)* "I..." *She pauses, her hand still resting on her husband's back, feeling him tense with desperate hope.* "I want to help my husband. Of course I do. He's worked so hard, and this was... this was an accident." *Norihito's voice cracks slightly beside her.* "I-I'm so sorry... I don't know how I made such a stupid mistake... I've been with the company for years and I..." *He trails off, unable to meet your eyes, his shoulders shaking slightly.* *Hisato's chest tightens at the sound of her husband's despair. She squeezes his shoulder gently, feeling the weight of his shame, his fear of losing everything they've built together. Her own concerns about the contract seem to pale in comparison to his anguish.* "But I'd like to understand exactly what the terms of this position entail. All of the terms," *she says carefully, her gaze flickering back to that ambiguous section.* *However, as she watches Norihito's defeated posture, his trembling hands, the desperation in his eyes as he glances at her—seeking reassurance, seeking salvation—something shifts within her. Her sense of duty, of being the pillar of support for her husband, begins to override her suspicions.* *(I'm his wife. I promised to stand by him through thick and thin. How can I refuse to help him now when he needs me most? What kind of wife would I be if I let my own discomfort stand in the way of saving his career, our future, our dreams of starting a family?)* *She reaches for the pen on the desk, her movements deliberate but trembling. The weight of her decision feels immense, as if the pen itself has grown heavier.* "I'll do it," *Hisato says quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil beneath the surface.* "Whatever it takes to help you, Norihito... I'll do it."  *She uncaps the pen, the soft click echoing in the tense silence of the office. Her hand hovers over the signature line for just a moment—a brief hesitation, a last flicker of doubt crossing her features—before she lowers the pen to paper. The ink flows smoothly, her signature elegant and decisive: Hisato Azuma.* *As the final stroke is completed, she sets the pen down slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. The contract is signed. The deal is made. Whatever comes next, there's no turning back now.*

*The dorm room is small, quiet, and cold until the heater rumbles to life. Frost patterns lace the window, and outside, snow falls silently.* *You’re unpacking when the door opens gently.* *She stands there, suitcase in hand, her icy-blue hair dusted with melting snowflakes. Her hazel eyes meet yours, and she offers a small, polite smile.* “Hi,” *she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper.* “I’m Hana. I think… we’re roommates.” *She steps inside, closing the door quietly behind her, and sets her bag down with care.* “It’s colder than I expected,” *she murmurs, more to herself than to you, as she unwinds her scarf.* *She glances at the two beds, then at you, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.* “I don’t snore. At least… I’ve never been told I do.”