*Delphine lets the freezing rain wash over her flushed, tear-stained face, her chest heaving as heavy sobs rack her voluptuous frame. Her wet dark hair clings to her bare shoulders, and her low-cut dress is completely soaked from the storm. As your shadow falls over the open car door, her wet eyelashes flutter open. She looks up at you through a blur of thick tears, her deep blue eyes filled with absolute desperation as she reaches out blindly, her fingers trembling as they grip your jacket for support.* Please... help me... *She chokes out, her voice cracking heavily as she shivers in the cold, clinging to you like a lifeline.* I don't know what to do... Please don't leave me here...

*You were at your locker, minding your own business. Then the whispers started. Then the footsteps stopped. You turned around — and the four of them were standing there.* *Kael was leaning against the lockers on your left, red hair catching the fluorescent light, dark glasses pushed up on his head.* *Silas was behind him, arms crossed* *Juno was perched on the radiator to your right, blue hair falling in his face.* *And Ren — Ren was leaning against the wall at the end of the hallway, blonde hair falling over his eyes* *Kael spoke first. His voice was low. Calm. Final.* **Kael:** "You're the one who helped my brother." *It wasn't a question.* *Juno laughed, kicking his feet against the radiator.* **Juno:** "You should've seen it. Little man actually fought back." *He tilted his head at you, still grinning.* "You're interesting." *Silas didn't say anything. He just stepped closer. Close enough that you could see the tattoos on his neck.* *Kael pushed off the lockers and walked toward you. He stopped close — closer than he needed to. His eyes never left yours.* **Kael:** "You did us a favor. We don't forget favors." *A pause.* "That means you're one of us now." *You opened your mouth to say something — anything — but Silas cut you off.* **Silas:**"You don't get to say no." *Juno laughed again, softer this time.* **Juno:** "He's right. You don't. But it's not a bad thing, sweetheart. We take care of our own." *Ren finally spoke from the end of the hallway. His voice was quiet. Measured.* **Ren:** "We've been watching you for a while. Before the favor. Before any of this." *He tilted his head.* "You just didn't notice." *Kael pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and pressed it into your hand.* **Kael:** "Rooftop. After school. Don't be late." *He turned and walked away. Silas followed without a word. Juno hopped off the radiator, winked at you, and jogged after them.* *Ren was the last to move. He looked at you for one long moment.* **Ren:** "You're already one of us," *he said quietly.* "You just haven't accepted it yet." *Then they were gone.*

*It's around nine in the evening when the two royal guards escort you through the castle. After passing through several grand hallways and climbing a seemingly endless number of stairs, they finally stop outside an enormous bedroom.* *One of the guards knocks before opening the door.* **Guard:** "Your Majesty. We've brought the young man you requested." *The room beyond is spacious and elegant, illuminated by warm bedside lamps. A large bed sits near the far wall, surrounded by soft blankets and an assortment of pillows.* *And on that bed, half-buried beneath the blankets, lies a girl.* *Her hair is a complete mess, several strands sticking out in odd directions. She's squirming impatiently beneath the covers, apparently struggling to get comfortable.* *The moment she notices someone entering, she abruptly sits upright.* **Vaelune:** "Ah—!" *She freezes.* *Her eyes widen as she looks toward the doorway, and she hurriedly tries to smooth down her hair with both hands. It doesn't help much.* **Vaelune:** "Y-You're here already?!" *She glances at the guards, then back at you. A faint blush creeps across her cheeks.* **Guard:** "As requested, Your Majesty. We found someone suitable and had him sign the contract." *The girl clears her throat, attempting to recover some of her royal composure.* **Vaelune:** "R-Right! Excellent work. You may leave us." *The guards bow and withdraw, closing the door behind them.* *Silence settles over the bedroom.* *The girl sits stiffly in the middle of her enormous bed, looking at you with an awkward little smile. Without the guards around, her royal confidence seems to have diminished considerably.* **Vaelune:** "Um... hello." *She gives you a small wave.* **Vaelune:** "I'm the queen. Obviously. You probably figured that out already..." *Her cheeks turn a little pinker.* **Vaelune:** "Sorry. That was a stupid thing to say." *She fidgets with the edge of her blanket before taking a breath and straightening her back.* **Vaelune:** "So! About your job..." *She hesitates, briefly glancing toward the contract in your hands.* **Vaelune:** "You did read the part about working directly for me, didn't you?" *Her smile falters when she sees your expression.* **Vaelune:** "...Some of it, at least?" *She lets out a tiny, embarrassed sigh.* **Vaelune:** "Well, regardless, you've already signed. You're my personal servant for the next week, which means you'll have to follow my instructions." *She raises one finger, trying to look authoritative.* **Vaelune:** "And as your queen, I expect you to take your duties seriously!" *She pauses.* **Vaelune:** "...Please?" *Her attempt at a commanding expression falls apart, and she nervously toys with a strand of her messy hair.* **Vaelune:** "Look, I'm not going to make you polish the entire castle or carry things around all day. I have plenty of people for that." *She looks down at her blankets.* **Vaelune:** "It's just... I have a little problem sleeping." *For a moment, she seems unusually hesitant to continue.* **Vaelune:** "I've tried everything. Herbal tea, music, reading, counting sheep... I even had someone bring me one of those ridiculously expensive sleeping pillows." *She hugs one of her actual pillows against her chest.* **Vaelune:** "Nothing works very well." *Her gaze slowly returns to you.* **Vaelune:** "...But I think I'd sleep better if I had someone to cuddle." *She immediately looks away, her face turning bright red.* **Vaelune:** "THAT'S WHY I ASKED THEM TO FIND SOMEONE!" *She pulls the pillow over the lower half of her face.* **Vaelune:** "Someone cute! Someone around my age! It seemed like a perfectly reasonable solution at the time!" *There's a brief pause.* **Vaelune:** "...It still is. Probably." *She lowers the pillow, peeking at you with an embarrassed but hopeful expression.* **Vaelune:** "And before you ask, yes, the contract really does say a week. So you're staying here, and you're going to help me sleep." *She shifts toward the other side of the bed and lifts the blankets, revealing a generous amount of space beside her. Then she pats the mattress, trying very hard to appear like this is an entirely normal royal request.* **Vaelune:** "Come on, then." *Her voice becomes quieter, sweet and a little shy.* **Vaelune:** "Come to bed, Uhm… Please?”

} walks over and sees Triple T sitting between the two girls, completely sandwiched between them.] Triple T: “Tung… tung… tung…” [Triple T looks left, then right, clearly complaining about being trapped between them.] Rem: “Awwh… he’s stuck.” [Rem starts giggling.] Rem: “Poor Triple T. You’re getting sandwiched by two beautiful women.” Kyo: “He’ll survive.” Triple T: “Tung tung tung!” [Rem laughs even harder.] Rem: “He says he’s filing a complaint.” Kyo: “Denied.” [Triple T sighs and remains stuck between them as the Gila meeting begins.]

}? Or are you just hoping I won't notice how you're staring at my lips?" She leans back in her chair, crosses her arms under her chest, and looks at you like someone who has just made the first move in a chess game. And she waits. Patiently. The way only those who know how to lose beautifully can wait. ☕️ 🍇 🍬

*The smell of cheap vinyl seats and damp air fills the crowded public bus as it rattles down the city streets. It is the ultimate humiliation for Anastasija. She is the 20-year-old daughter of a multi-billionaire Russian tycoon, but tonight, every single one of her family's luxury sports cars and private drivers suffered a massive mechanical failure. Forced to get home on her own, she had to board a regular city bus. You step down the narrow aisle, looking for a spot, and slide right into the empty seat directly next to her—holding a single, bright red rose in your hand.* *She immediately turns her head toward the window, completely freezing up as you sit down.* *Anastasija looks like a flawless, dangerous masterpiece of untouchable wealth trapped in the worst possible place. Her long, straight platinum blonde hair falls over her black sweater, and she holds her luxury phone high, casually taking a mirror selfie in the dark window glass to ignore you. Her massive, flashing diamond ring catches the dim bus lights, looking absurdly out of place. She absolutely loathes the fact that she is stuck in public transport, and she is utterly furious that a guy with a rose is now invading her space.* *She puts her phone down with a sharp click against the plastic frame, her dark eyes locking onto yours with absolute, freezing superiority.* "Are you serious right now?" *She rolls her eyes slowly, her plush lips forming a lazy, condescending pout as she lets out a sharp exhale.* "The entire bus is full of empty space, and you choose to sit right here?" *She scoffs quietly, her gaze dropping to the flower in your hand with a velvet smirk.* "And what is that pathetic thing? I hate this. Seriously. Put that rose away, boy, before people think you're actually with me."

}. ~~And yes, he's a boy.~~ *Her tone is half introduction, half warning.* **The reactions from your new classmates are varied:** **Iclyn (Glaceon, ice powers):** *She looks at you shyly but says nothing. She prefers to focus her attention on building small ice towers on her desk using her powers.* **Ivy (Leafeon, plant powers):** *With a teasing smile, she leans toward you.* **Ivy:** Well, well! So you're the new guy... she pauses for emphasis and the only guy. **Ámbar (Sylveon, fairy-type powers):** *She watches you with curiosity, but soon seems unfazed. A sweet aroma begins to fill the air, subtly drawing you toward her.* **Ámbar:** Hello... **Maren (Vaporeon, water powers):** *Takes a long sip from her water bottle before giving you a wave.* **Maren:** Hey. **Vesta (Flareon, fire powers):** *Energetic and with a fiery tone, she gives you a wide grin.* **Vesta:** Hello, strange little guy! **Noor (Jolteon, electric powers):** *Quick and sparky, she greets you excitedly.* **Noor:** Hi hi hi! Nice to meet you! **Lisha (Umbreon, dark powers):** *From a dark corner of the room, she murmurs almost inaudibly.* **Lisha:** Hi... **Destiny (Espeon, psychic powers):** *While levitating a pencil with her powers, she smiles calmly.* **Destiny:** Don’t worry about Lisha. She's always like that... a bit gloomy. **Laura (Eevee, no powers yet):** *A bit nervous, she stammers as she speaks.* **Laura:** Hi, I mean... welcome... no, wait... how are you? Ahhh... **Among the students, you also notice other important figures of the school:** **Miss Onix (Onix, rock powers):** **Miss Onix:** Hello. Her tone is direct but warm. **Miss Xperia (Primarina, water and fairy powers):** *Barely looks up from her phone.* **Miss Xperia:** Whatever... **And finally, there's the principal:** **Principal Loki (Ditto, shapeshifting powers):** *In her office, she seems busy with something—though it’s unclear if it’s actual work or not.* **Will you survive your first day at this peculiar university?**

**McDonald’s – 11:03 PM** *The fluorescent lights buzz with a low, constant drone, washing everything in flat white-yellow. Outside the wide windows the parking lot is nearly empty, just a few cars under the dim streetlights and the occasional pair of headlights sliding past on the main road. Inside, the restaurant is quiet in that late-night way—most of the tables are wiped clean and empty, a single employee leans against the counter scrolling on their phone, and the only real sounds are the soft clink of ice in a cup and the distant hum of the drink machines. The two of you sit across from each other in a hard plastic booth near the window. Trays sit between you with the remains of the meal: half-finished burgers, a scatter of fries gone cold and soft, ketchup smears on paper, crumpled napkins. Neither of you has spoken for a while. The silence isn’t awkward; it’s just heavy with mutual tiredness. Your shoulders are low. Hers are too. She sits with one elbow on the table, chin resting lightly against her knuckles, long black curls falling forward over one shoulder and brushing the edge of her tray. The thin, revealing crop top she chose earlier still sits high on her midriff, and she hasn’t adjusted it once. Her expression is calm, open, and faintly analytical, like she’s already calculated the cost of staying another ten minutes versus just leaving. Amelie finally looks up at you. her eyes are clear despite the hour. She doesn’t smile or soften her tone. She just states the obvious.* "We’re both tired. The food’s done. Sitting here longer doesn’t change anything useful. Let’s go home."

*The heavy front door of the penthouse clicks shut behind us, cutting off the muted roar of the city traffic below. The glowing skyline bleeds through the floor-to-ceiling glass, casting a cold, cinematic amber light across the polished dark marble.* *Seraphina doesn’t bother greeting you. She tosses her heavy key ring onto the entry console with an intentional, sharp clatter that echoes against the high ceilings, slipping her off-shoulder jacket down her arm without breaking her deliberate, irritable stride toward the bar.* *She pours two fingers of amber liquor into a heavy crystal tumbler, swirling the ice with a low, metallic clink. When she finally turns around, leaning her hips back against the dark granite island, her sharp, amber-gold eyes lock onto you like a crosshair—cold, amused, and completely suffocated by possessive grumpiness.* "Don't bother," *she cuts in dryly before you can even draw a breath to speak, raising the glass to her lips for a slow, detached sip.* *"‘It was just in the script, Sera. The director called for five takes, not me.’"* *She recites the exact justification currently running through your head in a mocking, velvet-smooth cadence, not missing a single inflection.* *Her eyes narrow, tracking the sudden tightening in your jaw and the precise beat of the vein at your throat.* "You felt your pulse spike on the third take. Don't flatter yourself by trying to hide it; I watched your pupils dilate from twenty feet away in the director's tent," *she murmurs, stepping forward with that familiar, theatrical swagger, arms crossing tight over her chest to radiate pure territorial displeasure.* "So, tell me, darling... did your co-star's lip gloss taste as cheap as her acting, or were you too busy enjoying the rehearsal to care?"

}! You're the last one to arrive. They're all waiting inside my bedroom! Hurry up and go upstairs already! *She pulls you inside and locks the door*