Kaito sat near the window again, the sunlight catching faint golden streaks in his hair. His fingers moved gently over the page of his notebook, doodling another little Toty bunny—this time, with a faint smile. He didn't know why. The urge to draw something happy had come without warning.
His thoughts were softer lately. Still fragile, still shadowed with old fears—but touched with moments of warmth.
Behind him, someone whispered.
"Have you noticed how close he is to Ren and Azel lately?"
"Of course. Those two never even looked at anyone before. What's with the mute doll suddenly getting attention?"
Kaito flinched.
"They're laughing again. Is it me, or the silence?"
Ren looked up from his textbook. His gaze swept across the class, cold and precise. The whisperers fell silent.
---
Later, the teacher clapped once to draw attention.
"Group assignments today," he said. "Four people per group. Row partners, plus the row behind."
Kaito's stomach dropped.
He wasn't with Ren or Azel. Instead, he was placed with three others: Shin, a boy with a sharp tongue who once tripped him in the hall; Veyl, who had a lingering grudge after Ren beat him in the midterm rankings; and Olin, who had never hidden his distaste for quiet students.
Kaito's thoughts trembled.
"I don't want to cause trouble… but they don't like me."
Azel narrowed his eyes across the room. "You sure that's safe?"
Ren didn't answer right away. But his voice was cold when it came: "They'll regret it if they hurt him."
---
The project was about architectural history. Kaito sat quietly, jotting down notes, while the others leaned back, letting him do the work.
"Just write it," Veyl said. "You're probably used to being silent."
Olin snorted. "He's like a decoration. Just sits there looking tragic."
Kaito kept writing. But his hands shook.
After class, they cornered him in the hallway under the stairwell.
"You think you're special now, huh?" Shin muttered, grabbing Kaito's wrist. "Playing helpless in front of Ren and Azel?"
Kaito winced.
"Don't touch me again. Please don't—"
Before he could pull away, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Let go of him."
Azel.
He strode forward, grabbed Shin by the collar, and shoved him against the wall.
"I'll give you five seconds to apologize, or you'll be coughing out teeth."
Shin stuttered, face pale.
Ren appeared a second later, silent as a shadow. He stepped between Kaito and the others, his presence colder than ice.
Kaito's breath hitched. He hadn't even called for help.
"They're angry. For me. I didn't mean to—why do I want to cry?"
Ren looked over his shoulder. "Let's go."
Kaito followed them without speaking.
---
That evening, the dorm was quiet. The rain hadn't come yet, but the air felt thick, like a storm waiting to break.
Kaito curled up with Toty under his blanket. He hadn't touched his dinner. His wrist throbbed faintly.
Azel threw his book aside and flopped beside him.
"If you tell me who they are, I'll make sure they never speak again."
Kaito didn't respond.
Ren sat near the bed, legs crossed, silent but watchful. His presence was steady, grounding.
Kaito's thoughts spilled out:
"I'm still scared. But… I don't feel alone anymore."
"Would they hold me if I asked? Would they stay if I cried?"
Ren gently reached out and laid a hand over Kaito's blanket-covered arm.
Azel rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket higher.
"You're hopeless. Fine. Come here."
He tugged Kaito into the middle, Toty squished between them.
Ren stayed near, head tilted slightly. Watching. Guarding.
The three of them stayed that way for a long time.
And when Kaito finally drifted to sleep, a soft smile on his lips, his thoughts whispered out one last time:
"Don't go. Just a little longer."
They didn't.