The next day, Kouga headed to school while Kiana stayed at home, lazing around like usual.When he walked through the classroom doors, it was the same scene as always: Raiden Mei, surrounded by half the class like a queen with her court.
Kouga didn't bother giving it a second glance. He just slipped silently to his seat near the back, pulling out his notebook.
But then—he noticed Mei's gaze. She had looked up, violet eyes meeting his for the briefest of moments. A soft smile graced her lips.
Kouga, ever composed, gave a small nod and faint smile in return. It was a quiet exchange, invisible to everyone else who kept crowding around her. Then the bell rang, and class began.
When lunch break came, the classroom buzzed with activity as people packed up, joked with friends, and made their way toward the cafeteria.
Kouga was halfway through standing when a shadow fell across his desk."Hayata-san," Mei's voice came, polite but clear.
Kouga looked up—only to see Raiden Mei standing there, holding a neatly wrapped bento box.
"…?"
"Would you like to have lunch with me?" she asked, her tone gentle but direct.
And just like that—
The classroom froze.
Chairs stopped screeching. Bags slipped from hands. Someone actually dropped their water bottle with a clang.
Half the class gawked like they'd just witnessed a meteor strike, while the other half stared daggers into Kouga's skull.
Kouga's eye twitched. "…Seriously?"
Later, at the cafeteria—
Kouga and Mei sat together at the same table.
Well, tried to.
Everywhere around them, students craned their necks, whispering, staring—not at Mei, but at Kouga, like he'd just broken the sacred laws of their little universe.
Confusion, jealousy, disbelief—it was written all over their faces.
Kouga calmly picked up his chopsticks, ignoring the heavy atmosphere.
As the cafeteria noise hummed around them, Kouga set down his chopsticks and gave Mei a sidelong glance."…So why did you invite me to lunch, exactly?"
Mei blinked, her expression soft but sincere. "The last time we spoke, you said you don't interact much with others. I thought… maybe by doing this, you'd have more chances to make friends."
She smiled gently, her tone carrying no judgment—just kindness.
Kouga stared at her for a moment, then sighed. "…You really…"
Before anyone could react, he leaned forward and—flick!—lightly tapped her forehead with his finger.
The entire cafeteria froze. Chopsticks clattered to trays. A cup fell over somewhere. A collective gasp rippled across the room.
Even Mei herself sat stunned, her violet eyes wide as she touched her forehead.
Kouga went back to his meal like nothing happened. "While I'm grateful you're thinking about me," he said calmly, "I think I can handle finding friends on my own."
Mei's cheeks flushed ever so slightly, her usual composure cracking just a bit. "T-That was… unnecessary," she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.
But Kouga only shrugged, continuing to eat as though the moment had passed.
Meanwhile, the students around them looked like they'd just witnessed a crime.He touched her forehead? HE TOUCHED HER FOREHEAD?!Murderous glares sharpened on Kouga's back, the kind usually reserved for villains in dramas.
Unbothered, Kouga simply chewed another bite, while Mei tried to regain her composure—her embarrassed flush refusing to fade.
After the final bell, the halls began to empty. Kouga slung his bag over his shoulder, heading for the stairs, when three girls suddenly stepped in front of him. Their uniforms were immaculate, ribbons perfectly tied, but their expressions were anything but friendly.
The one in the center—the leader type—folded her arms and glared at him."You should stop talking to Raiden Mei," she said coldly, like it was an official decree. "It'll ruin her reputation."
Kouga blinked, tilting his head. "…What?"
"She has status," another girl chimed in, brushing her hair back with a smug flick. "Everyone respects her. She's from an important family. Being seen with someone like you… it makes her look bad."
For a moment, Kouga just stared at them, lips pressed in a thin line. Then he gave a quiet, exasperated sigh and smiled faintly. "Right."
The leader smirked, misinterpreting his reaction. "She probably just felt sorry for you. Don't mistake her kindness for anything else."
But when Kouga turned back, his eyes were sharper than they expected."She chose to talk to me. I didn't chase her."
The firmness in his voice made all three falter.
He stepped past them, his tone flat as stone. "Besides… aren't you ruining your own reputations right now by talking to someone like me?"
The girls stiffened, rage sparking in their eyes—but Kouga was already walking away, unbothered, the echo of his footsteps drowning out their frustration.
Without looking back, he muttered, "Petty kids…" before heading off toward his part-time job at ME Corp.
By the time Kouga reached the front lobby of Massive Electric Corporation, the irritation from earlier had already drained away. The towering glass walls and polished marble floor were becoming a familiar sight. He signed in with the receptionist and took the elevator up, arms folded casually.
When the doors opened, Siegfried was already waiting by the hall, leaning against the wall with his usual one-handed ease."Yo, kid," Siegfried greeted with a smirk. "Rough day at school?"
"Same as always," Kouga replied, stepping out. "People making trouble for things that don't matter."
Siegfried chuckled. "That's high school for you. Don't let it get under your skin."
The two began walking together down the corridor. Their footsteps echoed against the sterile, metallic walls, but the mood between them was strangely casual—almost like coworkers who'd known each other longer than a day.
"Speaking of skin…" Siegfried tapped the metal flask at his side with his one hand. "Think you can help me out with this?"
Kouga raised an eyebrow. "What, you ran out already?"
"Hey, don't judge. It's been a long day," Siegfried said with a grin. "I'm curious—since you keep bragging about your million powers or whatever, can you, I dunno… refill it?"
Kouga just sighed and waved his hand lazily over the flask. Instantly, the faint clink of liquid sloshing filled the air as the container topped itself off.
Siegfried blinked, then gave a short laugh. "Damn. I thought you were exaggerating when you listed all those powers. Guess not."
"Believe what you want," Kouga said evenly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "But try not to rely on me for free drinks every day. I'm not your bartender."
Siegfried chuckled again, lifting the flask in a mock toast. "Fair enough. Still—cheers to having you around. Makes my job a hell of a lot more interesting."
Kouga only shook his head, an amused smile tugging at his lips, as they continued down the hall toward their assignments.
After splitting from Siegfried, Kouga was handed a quick orientation packet and a few odd jobs to ease him into the routine. Filing, carrying documents, delivering data chips between labs. It was all simple enough—until one particular task sent him deeper into the building.
The sign above the wide double doors read:
"Weapon Systems Research Division – Authorized Personnel Only."
Kouga arched an eyebrow."…They really just have a weapons department sitting here like it's the copy room, huh? Neat."
He flashed the visitor's badge stepped inside.
The interior was exactly what you'd expect—rows of sleek prototypes, armed drones resting on magnetic clamps, holographic blueprints hanging in the air. Scientists in lab coats rushed around, arguing over numbers and equations scribbled across transparent boards.
"Damn it, the targeting array's overheating again!" one of them shouted."Reboot it!" another snapped. "We don't have time, the CEO's expecting the report by tonight—"
Kouga, carrying the data tablet he was supposed to deliver, stopped mid-step. He tilted his head, watching the group of scientists panicking over a weaponized drone the size of a motorcycle.
"…Seriously?" he muttered.
He set the tablet aside, walked over, and crouched next to the humming drone. With a casual wave of his hand, sparks of light rippled across its body—the overheated circuits instantly cooling and repairing themselves. The drone whirred, stabilized, and then came online with a steady, smooth hum.
The scientists froze.
"…Wait. Did he just—""The system's balanced? But how—""That bug's been in the software for three months!"
Kouga dusted his hands off and stood up. "You're welcome."
Without waiting for thanks, he picked up the tablet again, tucked it under his arm, and walked off toward the next floor like it was just another delivery. Behind him, the cluster of scientists stood slack-jawed, staring after him as if they'd just seen a ghost fix their million-dollar headache in five seconds flat.