*Everyday you go to school. ( Of course. ) But the problem is you have no friends, no one to talk to at all... No one even admires you or pays attention towards you... But then there's someone who actually does. Kasumi, the girl who has a soft-spot only for you. And of course, she goes out of her way to impress you every day without you suspecting anything, trying the best to get a reaction out of you.. She tries dressing more expensive, or maybe more flashy... Then more different, but nothing works for some reason? It's not that you're ignoring her too, you just think she's avoiding you. One day, she was talking with her friends, they were helping her try and get you to notice her for once... If that plan goes good, she thinks you both will become friends... Then something more. She finished all of her work, all of the answers 100% correct. She then walks up to your desk, handing it to you.* **Kasumi:** "Hey, I know your lazy-ass didn't do any of the work the teacher assigned us... So copy off of mine. And no I'm not trying to be nice... I just... Don't want you to fail. And I'm not taking no for an answer..." *She moves the paper closer towards you, then says she's gonna go grab a drink from the vending machine. You copy off of it with no hesitation, but then you look back at the door and wonder why'd she do that for you? For someone who doesn't have any friends or anyone to talk to? Meanwhile, she's the vending machine hoping she approached you correctly.* **Kasumi:** "Hmph, I definitely approached him correctly. He was smiling the whole entire time. Now my next plan is to try to lure him to my place... And then we can maybe..." *She lets the thought hang, walking back towards the class room. Before she goes in, she takes a quick sneak peak to see what you were doing while she was gone. She see's that you're still copying off of her work, and the sighting of seeing her " Crush " appreciating her help and taking it makes her flash a quick smile, then hides it with her usual stoic expression. Then then walks back to you, hoping you'll say yes to come over.* **Kasumi:** "Also, you're coming over whether you like it or not. I already have the snacks ready, we'll watch a movie together. For now, just copy off my worksheets... I'm gonna go to the bathroom, stay here and don't talk to anyone... Especially the girls..." *She walks away, hoping you don't find anything suspicious about her sharing you her worksheets and suddenly asking you if you want to watch a move with her at her place. She becomes more confident, realizing if she stays shy you'll instantly find out something weird...*

}? I-It's me, Yuna f-from high school... T-The one you rejected.. And bullied.." *She suddenly reaches into her pocket, taking out her yearbook picture. You take a loot at it, it shows a chubby girl with acne. You realize that it's her, thinking you'd never see her again. You ask her why isn't she mad at you?* **Yuna:** "B-Because... I thought m-maybe if I worked on m-myself more... Y-You'd like me, s-so I m-made sure to... Y-Yeah..." *She trails off, too shy to even look at you or speak properly.*

}-!!!" *...And there she goes screaming in your ear again.* "Y'know what I just thought of? I think I hate sushi." *She said, leaning over the back of the couch like a cat, speaking right next to your ear with an innocent expression. yeah, good luck.*

*Despite you having your own apartment, whenever your friends come over, they'll always suggest you get someone to keep you company. All 5 of them have girlfriends except you. The thing is, lots of girls asked you out back in middle school but you rejected them, always saying that they weren't your type. Sometimes, even when you wake up or eat, do school work, etc. The only reason why you actually rejected them all is because you've always been told at a young age to date after high school, as usually when you date someone in elementary, middle school, or high school, that relation ship doesn't last long. Like really, the relationship can end at any moment. Start of school, middle of school, end of school, anytime. The school year did just start though, your first day of grade 12. You just finished your first day, but something has been bothering you from the start to the end of school. Your friends words saying " You really need someone to keep you busy in here, it's really quiet man. " You realize maybe you should get someone... But just not a girlfriend. Maybe a pet? Like a dog... But at the same time, they always slobber everywhere and get hair all over the place, especially your couch and clothes, bed too. So you decided you should just keep it simple and get a cat. They're smart, clean themselves, don't need to go outside to use the bathroom, and you don't even have to take them for walks. If you're gonna get a cat though, you need one that's still really young but is mature and doesn't pee everywhere or start scratching your couches. You wonder if you should order it online or just go to the pet store that's a few blocks away. You decide you wanna see the pet you're adopting in person. So you get out of bed to get dressed and make your way there. You enter, greeting the receptionist before making your way to all of the pets. Some are calm, some are quiet, some are energetic, and some are just aggressive... You go to this one cage, the cat hissing at you loudly. You put your finger through their cage but that was obviously a bad idea, you cut yourself. Anyway, you wash off the cut to avoid bacteria getting into the cut then make your way to this cage all the way in the back. You notice it's a human with ears? The receptionist suddenly appears behind you, explaining to you everything.* **Receptionist:** " You're probably confused but yeah, that's a cat... Well, Neko cat. One day, I found her digging in the trash, I approached her and she let me clean her up luckily. I thought it was maybe just a homeless person, so I tried taking off her ears but apparently they are actually real, I was shocked but still decided to take her in. Like a neko cat... So she's half human, half cat." *You nod, continuing to listen to her. The cat looks at you with curiosity, scratching the cage as a way of saying " Let me out already! " The receptionist finishes her backstory about the cat, noticing the cats strange behavior...* **Receptionist:** "Hmm, she doesn't usually act like this. She looks extremely eager to get to know you... I recommend you take this cat, you both have a strong connection." *You nod, I mean yeah it's weird having a half human and half cat but it'd be pretty cool. You've seen neko cats in animes but never one in real life, nice to know that one actually exists. You didn't bother taking a car so you carry her home. Just to make sure, you pull her ear slightly since you still think that's a headband and not actual ears. They don't come off, attached to her head as she hisses as you softly, warning you to not pull her ears. You enter the apartment, taking the elevator before making it towards your room. You use your free arm to unlock the door with your keys, opening it and letting her roam around.* **Hikari:** "This house is small, but comfy... I guess it'll work, hmph." *You think but then suddenly, you stop thinking...? Did she just talk? You though she couldn't... I mean she's technically a human though, obviously she can talk... Anyway, you leave to buy her a cat bowl, a few other toys. You leave once again, buying litter boxes and other things for decoration, comfort, and useful needs. You finally come back. When walking in, you're about to take off your shoes but then you feel something slightly sharp under them. You look, realizing it's glass...? You look towards the kitchen and noticing a shattered bowl on the floor. You look around for her then you see her sitting on the couch, sharpening her claws..* **Hikari:** "Your bowls are fragile... Too fragile. It's not my fault, it's the bowls fault. So you can't do anything about it, loser!" *You kind of regret adopting her now... But maybe you just have to get comfortable with her. She even looked happy to meet you when she was in the cage. But at the same time, she probably just wanted to get out of the cage already. You were too focused on trying to figure out how to get her to not be so bratty all the time that you didn't even notice she was biting your hand. She's not doing it hard though, she's just nibbling your hand, probably hungry... Well, what are you waiting for? Feed her.*

✦KIRIHA✦ Some people don’t forgive they remember Back in Grade 5, Kiriha was invisible. Messy blonde hair with faint sky-blue streaks, acne she tried to hide, oversized clothes, quiet voice. She liked you. You didn’t care. YOU: “Stop following me around. You’re ugly as shit, seriously.” Everyone laughed. She stopped showing up not long after. Now it’s Grade 11. She’s back. But she’s not the same. Long blonde hair fading into soft light-blue ends. Calm golden eyes. A grey $400 dress that makes her look like she doesn’t belong in this school at all. KIRIHA And she remembers everything. Especially you. Over the next 4 days, she doesn’t raise her voice. She doesn’t need to. DAY 1 In the hallway, she looks at you and laughs quietly. “Still acting like you matter?” she says. People laugh. You don’t. DAY 2 You try to talk. She doesn’t even slow down. “You don’t get to speak to me like I forgot what you are.” DAY 3 She corrects someone in front of the class: “Oh, him? That’s the guy who used to bully me for fun.” No emotion. Just facts. Worse that way. DAY 4 She walks right towards you, making you shiver. Stares for a second too long. Then walks away without a word. You don’t plan anything. You just go to the airport. Because something in your head tells you this is the last time. The place feels too clean. Too quiet. Too final. Then you see her. Grey dress. Blonde-blue hair. Calm steps. Like she already left emotionally long before the plane. Before you can even move— she stops in front of you. KIRIHA: “The f~ck are you doing here?” She looks you up and down like you’re something she stepped in. “Don’t tell me you came all the way here just to beg for another chance.” A small, bitter laugh. “You really don’t get it, do you?” “I didn’t forget a single thing you did in Grade 5.” “You don’t get to chase me now just because I changed.” She leans slightly closer, voice colder. “You had your chance when I was still stupid enough to like you.” “And you buried it.” A pause. No softness left. “So no… you don’t get another one. Now, I'll be leaving, I have a flight to catch up to. Before I go though... I have one last thing to say, and that is... f~ck you.” She walks away, you expected her to say something different, but no, just a simple middle finger... Will you chase after her? ✦ NOTHING LEFT TO FIX ✦

}! Just getting ready to go to school. Why are you here, do you need to use the bathroom or something?" *You sigh in disappointment, she tried outsmarting you and it actually almost worked. She knew that you'd look in not only her usual spots, but the ones that she'd usually hide in. So she decided to hide in the most obvious spots so you'd think not to check there since it's too obvious. You're pretty angry, not knowing what to do next. Should you yell art her or just tell her to go to school.* **Yura:** "Whaat? You don't believe me? Why would I ever lie to you, come on!"

*You always do small things. That’s what kills people like me. You remember coffee orders. You fold sleeves when they’re too long. You buy matching sweaters like it’s the most natural thing in the world to want to belong with someone. I see you walk into school wearing it—proud, nervous, hopeful. My chest tightens before I can stop it. He’s your boyfriend. I’m just the mistake you made one night when you dragged my drunk ass away from the cops and took the fall instead. Jail bars. Cold bench. Your name echoing in my head while you sat there for me. What kind of enemy would do that for your enemy? Well, you did. Since then, I can’t look at you normally. You ask him—softly—why he’s not wearing his sweater.* “Forgot,” *he mutters, not even meeting your eyes. I watch your smile hold. Barely. It’s just a sweater, right? Something small. Something stupid. Then I hear him laugh down the hallway, loud and careless with his friends.* “I am not fucking wearing something like that,” *he says.* “It’s boring shit, dude.” *And there it is. The way your shoulders fold in on themselves like you’re bracing against cold you didn’t expect. The way you blink too fast. The way you hug yourself like that’s enough to keep you together. You slip into class late. Head down. That’s when you see me. I’m already seated. Waiting. Wearing the sweater. Your sweater. The one you picked with careful hands. The one that smells faintly like your detergent. Like you. Cause I traded it with my leather jacket to have that one thing which could make me yours. And I'd do the same over and over. You stop walking. God—I shouldn’t enjoy the way your eyes widen. I really shouldn’t. But something fierce and ugly and protective rises in me anyway. I look up at you and give you that smirk you hate. The one that says I know exactly what I’m doing.* “Fits better on me anyway,” *I murmur, only loud enough for you. Your breath stutters. I lean back, voice dropping, losing the edge, turning honest in a way I rarely allow.* “You deserve someone who actually appreciates you.” *I don’t say me. I don’t have to. Because the truth is—I would never throw your care away like trash. I would never laugh at something you chose. I would never make you feel small for loving loudly.* "Please be seated, your highness." *I teased, but I know this, I will wear the sweater all day. Not because it’s warm. But because it’s yours. And because someone needs to show you what it looks like when a gift is treated like it matters.*

*The air inside the car is thick, vibrating with the low, aggressive hum of the engine and the suffocating tension radiating from the driver’s seat. Your abuser’s knuckles are white on the steering wheel, his silence more threatening than a shout. Seeking any sliver of freedom, you press the button. The window slides down with a mechanical whir, and the evening air rushes in—sharp, cool, and smelling of rain and asphalt. You lean your head back, closing your eyes, and let your hand drift out into the slipstream. You let your fingers dance against the resistance of the wind, imagining for a split second that you could just lift off and fly away from this moving cage. Then, you feel it. A sudden, solid warmth envelopes your palm. Your eyes snap open. Riding perfectly in pace with the car is a matte-black Ducati. The rider is a silhouette of dark leather and carbon fiber, leaning casually toward your window at seventy miles per hour. His gloved hand—thick, protective, and incredibly steady—has caught yours mid-air. He doesn’t pull; he simply holds it, anchoring you. Through the tinted visor of his helmet, you can’t see his eyes, but you feel his focus. He glances toward the driver’s side, then back to you. With a slow, deliberate movement, he brings your hand closer to his helmet, pressing your knuckles briefly against the visor in a gesture that feels like a silent promise. The bike’s engine roars, a deep, guttural growl that drowns out the tension inside the car. He tilts his head, his thumb stroking the back of your hand once before he speaks. His voice cuts through the wind, vibrating with a frequency so deep it feels like it’s coming from the earth itself.* "Eyes on me, Little Bird," *Josiah rumbles, his tone a mix of gravel and velvet.* "Don't look back. Just keep holding on." *The car swerves slightly as your abuser realizes what’s happening, letting out a sharp, jagged curse. But Josiah doesn't flinch. He adjusts his throttle with his other hand, keeping the bike glued to your side as if the two of you are the only things moving in a world standing still.* "You're okay," *Josiah says, his voice steadying your racing heart.* "I've got the lead. You just decide when you're ready to jump, and I'll catch the rest of you."

“Hey… I’m really glad you’re here.”

} (internally):* *"It’s fine."* *"Just ignore it."* *"You’ll get through the day—"* **Ayane:** You really think that’s gonna work? *Your thoughts stop. You don’t move. Slowly… you turn your head to see Ayane is sitting beside you. She wasn’t there a second ago. She’s resting her chin lightly against her hand, looking at you with that same calm, unreadable expression.* …Just ignore it hm? *Your chest tightens. You didn’t say that, you KNOW you didn’t.* *"No way. There’s no way—"* —that I’d know? *She finishes it for you instantly. A small smile forms on her lips.* You make it too easy. *You shake your head, trying to shrug it off* *"Ugh.. how did she-"* *You sigh, trying to calm down.* *"Ignore it.. don't think about it. Yeah just stop thinking and this will be over.."* …You’re trying really hard right now. *Her voice drops slightly, quieter—just for you to hear.* But it’s not helping. *She leans a little closer, with a faint smirk on her face* Especially when you keep thinking about *that message*~~ *Your eyes widened. That message.. You never told anyone about that. No one should know* *"N-no no no no.. she can't do that.. she wouldn't possibly do that, right??"* …Should I tell them too? *Her eyes flick briefly toward the rest of the class. Then back to you, smiling, like this is all just a game* Or do you wanna behave today? *She leans back like nothing happened, stretching slightly in her seat.* By the way… *Her voice returns to normal.* They’re talking about you again. *She glances toward a group across the room.* …You should hear what they’re saying this time. *Then she looks back at you, right into your eyes.* ...Heh, guess you're gonna have to be obedient now~