The final bell rang, and the school was a flurry of noise as students packed their bags and rushed to leave. But Kaito didn't move with the rest. His eyes followed Airi, watching her gather her things slowly. She was still a new face here, still adjusting to the rhythm of school life.
With a deep breath, Kaito made up his mind. This was the moment. He approached her, stepping in front of her with a nervous yet determined smile.
"Airi!" he called, catching her attention as she was about to leave the room.
She turned to face him, blinking in surprise. "Yes, Kaito? What's up?"
Kaito's heart raced, but he kept his expression steady. "Hey, can we go on a date?"
Airi's cheeks flushed instantly, her hands frozen mid-motion as her gaze dropped to the floor. "W-Wait, a date? But we just…"
"Yes, a date," Kaito repeated, his smile widening, trying to keep his composure.
Airi hesitated, clearly flustered, her mind working to process the sudden request. "This is kinda fast, Kaito…" Her voice trailed off in a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Kaito tilted his head, giving her a playful look. "Let me think for a minute."
Airi paused, her gaze darting between him and the ground, as though considering his words carefully. After a long moment, she finally nodded, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, let's go on the date," she stammered.
Kaito's heart surged with excitement. "YESSS!" He couldn't help himself. His grin was wide, as though he had just won a prize.
Airi blinked, surprised at his overjoyed reaction. "Why are you so happy, Kaito?" she asked, unable to keep a smile from forming despite her own flustered state.
"Nothing," he replied with a wink, trying to keep his calm. In truth, he was beyond thrilled, but there was something else—the urgency of the situation gnawing at him. Every moment felt like it was slipping away.
As they walked out of the classroom, Kaito couldn't help but notice Ryuu standing in the hallway, watching them intently from a distance. His gaze was cold, calculating.
"Found you, Airi," Ryuu's voice rumbled, a hint of possessiveness in it. Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly, his body tensing.
Airi, still unaware of the tension between them, smiled awkwardly at Kaito. "He's… kind of intense, isn't he?"
Kaito didn't respond. Instead, his attention was caught by Koji, who was casually leaning against the lockers. As if by instinct, Kaito stepped toward him, his expression shifting to something more serious.
"Koji!" Kaito called out, his voice lowered, a sense of urgency creeping in.
Koji looked up, flashing a grin. "Yo, Kaito! How's it going?"
"I'm good," Kaito said quickly, stepping closer, keeping his voice low. "I need your help with something."
Koji raised an eyebrow, curious but intrigued. "What is it? You're kinda acting strange."
Kaito leaned in closer, his whisper just audible enough for only Koji to hear. "You know Ryuu, right?"
"Yeah, I've heard of him. Bad reputation, bullies a lot of people." Koji frowned. "Why do you ask?"
Kaito's voice dropped to a whisper, urgent now. "I need your help. Ryuu… he's a problem. We need to keep him away from Airi, for her sake."
Koji didn't even flinch. He was used to Kaito's sudden requests, and this one sounded serious. He gave a slow nod, his face hardening. "Alright, let's do it."
Without missing a beat, the two of them broke into an exaggerated pose—cool and dramatic. Koji threw his hands up, striking a pose with his usual cocky grin, and Kaito mirrored it, the two of them looking like they were ready to take on the world.
Airi, who had been watching them in confusion, raised an eyebrow. "What the heck is that?" she muttered to herself, her cheeks flushed from the awkwardness of it all.
Despite the ridiculousness of the moment, Kaito couldn't help but feel a bit of relief. It was a small step—fighting back against Ryuu, protecting Airi, and moving toward something that felt right. But beneath it all, a deeper fear lingered. How long would this last? How many times would he have to repeat these moments before something changed?
Ryuu was still watching them from a distance, his eyes cold and calculating, and Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. But for now, he would enjoy this brief moment of calm.
"Let's go, Airi," he said, trying to shake off the unease. "We've got a date to go on."
Airi hesitated for just a second before nodding, her smile returning, albeit a little uncertain. But Kaito could see it—she was starting to warm to the idea, despite her initial doubts.
And maybe, just maybe, they could both find a way to escape the looming shadow of Ryuu and whatever else might come their way.