Almost Caught

The bell rang, signaling the end of another day at KJ Middle School. Kikidori leaned against the lockers near the exit, his hood pulled up as usual, casting a shadow over his sharp features. He wasn't one to linger, but Ere'ana had asked him to wait for her after class, and she was the one person he could never say no to.

"Sorry for making you wait!" Ere'ana's cheerful voice rang out as she jogged up to him, her golden hair catching the afternoon light. She was smiling, as always, her emerald eyes bright and full of mischief.

"It's fine," Kikidori said, his tone as calm and detached as ever. But when Ere'ana grinned at him like that, he couldn't help the faint upward twitch of his lips.

"So, I have something to ask you," she began, rocking back and forth on her heels.

Kikidori raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Well…" She bit her lip, hesitating. "It's kind of… different."

"Ere'ana, just say it."

She laughed nervously. "Okay, okay! So, I'm having a sleepover at my house tonight. You know, just a few of my friends—girls only—but I was thinking…"

Kikidori's expression didn't change, but internally, alarm bells were going off. "Go on."

"I want you to come!"

He blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "To a *girls-only* sleepover?"

"Yes!" Ere'ana said, her face lighting up with excitement. "I know it's weird, but you're, like, my best friend—and, well, my boyfriend—so I thought it'd be fun if you came too! Besides, the other girls are dying to meet you. They've been asking me about you nonstop."

Kikidori stared at her, unsure how to respond. His mind raced through every possible scenario, each one more awkward than the last. A room full of giggling girls, all staring at him, asking questions… It sounded like a nightmare.

"Ere'ana…" he began, his voice low and measured. "Don't you think this might be… uncomfortable? For me? Or them?"

"Nope!" she said with a confident smile. "They'll get used to you. And you'll be fine—I'll make sure of it."

He sighed, running a hand through his black hair. There was no arguing with her when she got like this. "Fine. But if it gets weird, I'm leaving."

She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her toes. "You're the best! I promise it'll be fun."

---

That evening, Kikidori stood outside Ere'ana's house, clutching a small backpack. He had no idea why she insisted he bring it—he wasn't planning on sleeping, not with a bunch of strangers around. The house was already buzzing with activity, the sound of laughter and pop music spilling out into the quiet neighborhood.

Ere'ana opened the door before he could knock, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Kiki! You made it!"

He stepped inside, glancing around the room. The living room was decorated with string lights and fluffy pillows, the coffee table piled high with snacks. A group of girls sat on the floor in a semi-circle, chatting and giggling. The moment he entered, all eyes turned to him, and the room fell silent.

"Is *that* him?" one of the girls whispered, her voice barely audible.

"He's so… *cool,*" another murmured, her cheeks flushing pink.

Ere'ana beamed, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. "Okay, everyone, this is Kikidori. Be nice to him, okay?"

The girls nodded, their gazes darting between him and each other. Kikidori, for his part, remained calm, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. He had faced far worse situations than this, but the attention made his skin crawl.

Ere'ana dragged him to the couch and plopped down beside him, practically glowing with excitement. "So, what should we do first? Movies? Makeovers? Truth or dare?"

The girls giggled at the last suggestion, stealing glances at Kikidori.

"I'll pass on the makeover," he said dryly, earning a round of laughter.

The night went on, and Kikidori found himself the center of attention, much to his dismay. The girls asked him endless questions—how he and Ere'ana met, what his favorite things were, if he ever smiled. Ere'ana stayed close to him the whole time, her presence keeping him grounded.

Despite the awkwardness, Kikidori played along, answering their questions with short, polite responses. He knew how to charm people when he needed to, and tonight, Ere'ana needed him to.

As the hours passed, the girls slowly grew more comfortable around him, though they still kept their distance, whispering and giggling from afar. Kikidori couldn't blame them—he wasn't exactly approachable.

Ere'ana leaned closer, her emerald eyes sparkling. "See? This isn't so bad, is it?"

He glanced at her, his expression softening. "It's… tolerable."

She laughed, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here, Kiki."

For a brief moment, the darkness inside him felt distant, as if Ere'ana's warmth could keep it at bay.

But deep down, he knew it wouldn't last.

And as the clock on the wall ticked past midnight, the room bathed in the soft, golden glow of string lights. The chatter of Ere'ana's friends had quieted as they huddled together, playing some card game on the floor. Kikidori, however, sat on the couch, his posture relaxed but his mind elsewhere.

It wasn't that he hated being there—well, not entirely. Ere'ana's presence made it bearable, but the constant giggling and sideways glances from the other girls grated on his nerves. He wasn't used to being around so many people, especially not ones who seemed intent on analyzing his every move.

Ere'ana sat beside him, her legs crossed and her emerald eyes glued to the card game. She looked so at ease, so carefree. Kikidori couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live like that—free from the weight of his secrets.

But the hunger was stirring again. It always did when he tried to force himself into "normal" situations. The longer he stayed, the more the itch clawed at him, gnawing at his insides.

He leaned closer to Ere'ana, his voice low enough for only her to hear. "Can we talk? Alone?"

She turned to him, her brows furrowing slightly. "Right now?"

"Yeah."

Ere'ana hesitated, glancing at her friends. They were too caught up in their game to notice, but she still seemed reluctant. "Why? What's wrong?"

Kikidori shifted uncomfortably, his crimson eyes flicking toward the others. "I just need a minute. Please."

Ere'ana sighed, clearly torn. "Alright," she said softly, standing up. She gave her friends a quick smile. "We'll be right back, okay?"

The girls exchanged curious looks but said nothing as Ere'ana led Kikidori into the kitchen. The moment they were alone, she crossed her arms and tilted her head, her blonde hair falling over one shoulder.

"Alright, what's going on?" she asked.

Kikidori leaned against the counter, his hands in his pockets. He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I just… I don't belong here," he admitted, his voice unusually vulnerable. "This isn't my kind of thing."

Ere'ana's expression softened. "Kiki, you're doing fine. The girls like you, even if they're a little shy. Is someone bothering you?"

"No," he said quickly. "It's not that. It's just… I need to go."

"Go? Why?"

Kikidori looked away, his jaw tightening. He couldn't tell her the truth—not here, not now. "I have things I need to take care of," he said vaguely.

Ere'ana frowned, stepping closer to him. "What things? It's the middle of the night."

Before Kikidori could respond, a voice cut through the quiet.

"Oh, my God, are you two fighting?"

They turned to see one of Ere'ana's friends standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. Her name was Tessa, and she was the boldest of the group—the type who thrived on drama.

"No," Ere'ana said firmly, but Tessa didn't seem convinced.

"Really? Because it kinda looks like he's about to leave, and you're not okay with it." Tessa's eyes narrowed as she looked at Kikidori. "Unless there's another reason you're sneaking off in the middle of the night."

Kikidori remained silent, his crimson eyes locked on her with an intensity that made her falter for a moment.

"What are you implying?" Ere'ana asked, her tone sharp.

Tessa shrugged, her smirk widening. "I'm just saying, it's kinda suspicious, don't you think? Maybe he's got someone else he'd rather spend time with."

Ere'ana's eyes widened in shock. "What?! That's ridiculous!"

Kikidori finally spoke, his voice cold and measured. "Don't say things you don't understand."

"Oh, I hit a nerve, didn't I?" Tessa said, her smirk fading as she crossed her arms. "I mean, come on, Ere'ana. He's all mysterious and quiet, and now he's sneaking off in the middle of the night? Sounds sketchy to me."

"Tessa, stop it," Ere'ana snapped, her emerald eyes flashing with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"She's right," Kikidori said, his voice calm but firm. "You don't."

Tessa opened her mouth to retort, but something in Kikidori's gaze made her stop. It wasn't anger or frustration—it was something colder, something that sent a chill down her spine.

Ere'ana grabbed Kikidori's hand, her grip firm. "Kiki's not like that. He's not cheating on me, and he never would. So drop it."

Tessa held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Geez. I was just joking." But her tone suggested otherwise.

Ere'ana turned back to Kikidori, her expression softening. "You're not leaving, are you?"

Kikidori hesitated, the hunger clawing at him again. But the look in her eyes anchored him, pulling him back from the edge. "No," he said quietly. "I'll stay."

Ere'ana smiled, squeezing his hand. "Good. Now, let's go before they start making up more crazy theories."

As they walked back to the living room, Kikidori couldn't shake the lingering tension. Tessa's accusations were baseless, but they had struck a nerve. Not because they were true, but because of what he was hiding.

Ere'ana didn't suspect a thing. But how long could he keep it that way?