Shadows and Secrets

The photo was everywhere by morning.

It wasn't explicit. Just a girl in a school uniform standing too close to a man in a leather jacket, surrounded by fireflies under a starless sky. But it didn't need to be scandalous—it just needed the right caption.

And someone had written the perfect one:

"Local biker seducing high school student? Who is Ayumi .?"

By the time Ayumi arrived at school, whispers followed her down the hall like ghosts.

"She's the one from the photo, right?"

"Is it true?"

"I heard he's a dropout. Older. Dangerous."

"Gross. Isn't that illegal?"

Ayumi clenched her jaw, keeping her head down. Her stomach twisted every time someone looked at her a beat too long, or turned away just as she passed.

In her classroom, her best friend Mina whispered, "You okay? This is getting out of hand."

Ayumi nodded stiffly, eyes unfocused. "Yeah. Fine."

But she wasn't.

After School – Behind the Gym

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown number:

Still think he's "gentle"? Better watch yourself, Ayumi-chan. People are looking. I've got more pictures. Say the word, and they're everywhere.

She gripped her phone so tightly her fingers went numb. Her vision blurred. Who was this? A jealous classmate? Someone from Kaito's past?

She didn't know. But they wanted her afraid. Alone.

Too bad she wasn't either.

That Night – Sora Motors Garage

Kaito looked up from his workbench as the door slammed open.

"Ayumi?"

She stormed in, face pale, hands shaking. "They sent me another message. A photo. Said they'd spread it if I didn't stay away from you."

His expression darkened instantly, jaw clenching. "Let me see it."

She showed him the phone. He read it once, eyes narrowing.

"They're threatening you now?" he said, voice low. "No way in hell I'm letting that slide."

"Kaito," she said quickly, grabbing his arm, "you can't go storming into school or picking a fight. That's exactly what they want. To prove you're dangerous."

His eyes softened, but only slightly. "You shouldn't even be caught up in this."

"You think I care about rumors?" she shot back, heart pounding. "You think I regret last night?"

Kaito froze, caught off guard.

"I don't," she said, softer now. "I just… I'm scared. But not of you."

He pulled her into his arms then, one hand cradling her head, the other pressed firmly to her back.

"I've lived with people calling me trouble for years," he murmured into her hair. "But they don't get to touch you. Not while I'm here."

She closed her eyes. "Then let's find out who's doing this. Together."

He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. "You're sure?"

"I'm done hiding," she said, voice steady. "Let's expose whoever's behind this. Before they do worse."

Kaito's smile was small but fierce. "Damn, I like you."

Later That Night – Unknown Location

A figure sat in the dark, scrolling through photos. A blurred shot of Kaito's bike. Ayumi's smile. The fireflies.

They zoomed in.

Then hit "send."

A message lit up:

"You were right. She's with him. Time to move to phase two."

To be continued…