“Worried?”

The moment Hayato grabbed Koji by the shirt, pulling him up roughly, the air in the hallway seemed to shift. His mocking grin was firmly in place, his sharp eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to Koji's reddening face.

"Where do you think you're going, huh? The buffet?" he sneered, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "Running so fast—you're sweating already. What's the rush, Porky?"

Koji clenched his jaw, his hands trembling as he tried to push Hayato away, but it was no use. His strength was no match for Hayato's lean but firm grip. Shun and the others laughed, their voices bouncing off the walls, adding to the suffocating tension.

"Maybe he's late for the slaughterhouse," Shun quipped, sending another ripple of laughter through the group.

Before anyone could throw another insult, a sharp, clear voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Let him go."

Everyone froze, including Hayato. He turned his head slowly, his grip still tight on Koji's shirt. Standing just a few feet away was Lily, her green eyes locked on Hayato's with a determination that made his smirk falter for a fraction of a second.

She took a step forward, her hands balled into fists at her sides. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it, but she pushed down her fear. She wasn't going to stand by and let them do this.

"I said," she repeated, her voice soft but steady, "let him go."

Hayato tilted his head, his grin returning, though there was a flicker of surprise in his golden eyes. "Well, look who's playing hero," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "What are you going to do, princess? Save him with your shiny smile?"

Lily didn't answer. Instead, she closed the distance between them and did something that made Hayato's breath hitch for the briefest moment.

She grabbed his shirt.

Her hand tightened on the fabric, pulling him away from Koji with a surprising strength. Hayato let go of Koji instantly, more out of shock than anything else, stumbling slightly as Lily stepped between them. She wasn't even looking at him—her focus was entirely on Koji.

For a moment, he wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying. All he could see was her face—her flushed cheeks, her slightly parted lips, the way her green eyes sparkled with a mix of anger and nerves.

She was beautiful.

And he hated that loser like Koji was getting that attention. But why did he hate this feeling?

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softening as she glanced over her shoulder.

Koji blinked, wide-eyed, and managed a small nod. "Y-Yeah…"

Hayato straightened up, brushing off his shirt with exaggerated slowness. A slow grin spread across his face as he studied Lily. "Well, well," he drawled, his tone lower now, almost flirty. "Didn't know you had that in you."

Lily turned back to him, her hands trembling slightly, though she kept them hidden behind her back. "Leave him alone," she said, her voice quieter now but no less firm.

Before Hayato could respond, Shun let out a sharp laugh, elbowing one of the other boys. "Looks like Porky's got himself a girlfriend."

The group erupted into laughter, the sound echoing through the hallway.

Lily's face flushed, but her expression didn't waver. "I'd rather be Koji's girlfriend," she said, her voice calm despite the tremor in her chest, "than ever stand next to someone like you."

The laughter stopped.

For a moment, the hallway was silent, save for the faint buzzing of the overhead lights. Hayato's grin faded, replaced by a look of mild surprise. Then, slowly, his expression shifted again, his sharp features softening into something unreadable.

"Oh," he murmured, his voice quieter now. He stepped closer, his gaze locked on hers. "That's cute, really. But I don't think you know who you're talking to."

Before Lily could move, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. The suddenness of the action made her heart leap, and her breath caught in her throat as he leaned down, bringing his face level with hers.

"Leave Koji alone." she murmured with her shaky voice.

"Otherwise? Are you really wasting time for this pig?"

"He's not a pig, you are."

But as Lily said those words the grip on her wrist became tighter and more resolute.

"You'll regret those words," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His golden eyes burned into hers, and for the first time, she felt a flicker of fear she couldn't entirely suppress.

But she refused to back down.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, her voice trembling but resolute.

Hayato's lips curled into a slow, crooked smile, his grip tightening even more slightly on her wrist. "You're even prettier when you lie," he murmured, his tone taking on an unsettling softness. "But it's a shame, isn't it? A princess like you siding with the pigs instead of the kings."

The words sent a shiver down her spine, but before she could respond, another voice broke the tension.

"That's enough."

Tsubasa stepped forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as he glanced at Hayato's hand still gripping Lily's wrist. He didn't look concerned or angry—his expression was as calm and unreadable as ever. But there was something about the weight of his gaze that made Hayato pause.

"Hayato," Tsubasa said evenly, his tone carrying a quiet authority. "You're going to break her wrist if you keep that up."

Hayato blinked, his grin faltering as he looked down at Lily's wrist. Slowly, he loosened his grip, stepping back with a soft chuckle.

"Relax, Tsubasa," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I was just having a little fun."

Tsubasa didn't respond, his gaze flicking briefly to Lily before returning to Hayato.

Hayato ran a hand through his hair, his grin returning, though it was smaller now. "Well, princess," he said, his tone light again, "this was fun. But you might want to be careful. Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong can be… dangerous."

He turned to leave, gesturing for the others to follow. Shun and the rest hesitated for a moment, their gazes flicking between Lily and Hayato before they trailed after him.

Lily stood frozen in place, her wrist still tingling from Hayato's grip. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths as she watched them disappear down the hallway.

"Lily," Koji said quietly, his voice trembling. "Are you okay?"

She turned to him, forcing a small, shaky smile. "I'm fine," she said softly, though her legs felt like jelly. "Are you okay?"

Koji nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

She reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Koji," she said gently. "You're my friend. I'd do it again if I had to."

The sincerity in her voice made Koji's chest tighten, and he swallowed hard, blinking back his tears.

"Come on," Lily said after a moment, her voice steadier now. "Let's get to the cafeteria before all the melon bread is gone."

Koji managed a small laugh, nodding as he followed her down the hallway. But as they walked, Lily couldn't shake the feeling of Hayato's piercing gaze and the faint, lingering echo of his words in her mind.

<(｀^´)>

The atmosphere in the abandoned stairwell was heavy. It was their usual spot for regrouping when things got tense—or when someone needed to vent. This time, it was Rika, pacing back and forth with her arms crossed, her polished nails tapping furiously against her elbows.

"Can someone explain to me what the hell happened back there?" she snapped, her dark eyes cutting toward Hayato. "You let her—her—make you look like a fool in front of everyone?"

Hayato leaned casually against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets, but his jaw tightened ever so slightly. "Relax, Rika," he said smoothly, though the sharp edge in his tone betrayed his irritation.

"She didn't make me look like anything."

"Oh, really?" Rika shot back, stopping mid-step to glare at him. "Because from where I'm standing, it sure looks like Little Miss Foreign Exchange just humiliated you in front of half the hallway. And for what? To protect her little pet pig?"

Shun let out a low whistle, shaking his head as he leaned against the stair railing. "She's got guts, I'll give her that," he said with a faint grin. "Didn't think she'd actually stand up to you like that, Hayato. Kind of impressive, honestly."

Hayato's golden eyes flicked to Shun, narrowing dangerously. "Watch it" he warned, his voice low.

Shun raised his hands in mock surrender. "Just saying. It's not every day you see someone grab you by the shirt and live to tell the tale."

"Enough," Tsubasa muttered from his spot by the wall. His arms were crossed, his gaze sharp as it flicked between Rika and Hayato. "Arguing isn't going to fix anything. We need to figure out what to do about her."

"Do about her?" Rika repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "I'll tell you what we do. We remind her exactly who she's messing with. She thinks she can walk in here and play hero? Let's see how long that lasts."

Hayato's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, don't worry, Rika. She'll learn. Everyone does eventually."

But even as he spoke, his mind wandered. He could still see her face—flushed with determination, her green eyes blazing as she stood between him and Koji. The way her blonde hair caught the light, framing her features like she'd walked straight out of a painting. And that voice—soft, almost trembling, but somehow unshakably firm.

He clenched his fists, hating the way the memory lingered, refusing to leave him alone.

"Hayato," Rika snapped, pulling him back to the present. "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively, pushing off the wall and straightening his blazer. "You want payback. I get it."

Rika's lips curled into a smirk, satisfied for the moment. "Good. Because I'm not letting some outsider make a mockery of us. Especially not in front of him." Her eyes darted toward Arata, who had remained silent the entire time.

He was seated on the lowest step of the stairwell, his long legs stretched out in front of him, one hand resting lazily on his knee. His expression was unreadable, his dark, piercing eyes fixed on a spot just beyond them.

"Arata" Rika said, her voice softening slightly as she turned toward him. "You're awfully quiet. What do you think we should do?"

Arata didn't respond right away. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting to Hayato. "She grabbed you by the shirt?" he asked, his tone almost bored.

Hayato's smirk faltered. "Yeah. So what?"

For the first time, Arata's lips curved into the faintest semblance of a smile—cold, calculating, and entirely without warmth. "Interesting and pathetic. Just like her."

Rika frowned, stepping closer. "Interesting? That's all you have to say? She embarrassed Hayato, insulted all of us, and—"

"And she's new" Arata interrupted, his voice quiet but commanding. "New people make mistakes. They don't know the rules yet."

"Exactly," she said, her tone sharp. "So we need to teach her."

Arata's gaze flicked to her, and the faint smile disappeared. "Patience, Rika. She's already standing out more than she should. Let her dig her own grave."

They fell silent, the weight of his words settling heavily over the group.

"But what about Koji?" Shun asked, breaking the tension. "She's gonna keep sticking her nose into our business if we keep messing with him."

Arata leaned back slightly, his dark eyes narrowing. "Then make sure she doesn't want to."

Hayato straightened up, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Now that," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "is something I can handle."

Tsubasa, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up. "Just don't make it obvious," he said flatly. "The last thing we need is more attention."

"Relax," Hayato said with a chuckle. "I've got it under control."

But as the group began to disperse, Arata remained seated, his gaze distant.

Rika lingered for a moment, crossing her arms as she studied him. "You're not worried about her, are you?"

Arata's eyes flicked up to meet hers, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Worried?" he repeated, his tone almost amused. "No. She's nothing more than a variable."

Rika frowned, but before she could press further, Arata stood, brushing off his blazer.

"Come on," he said, his tone dismissive. "Let's not waste any more time on her."

As they left the stairwell, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty space. But in the back of Arata's mind, Lily's image lingered—a spark of defiance he hadn't expected, and a puzzle he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to solve. Or that he was interested in solving.