Yui didn't sleep. Not really.
She lay in bed, eyes wide open, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. Haruto's words looped through her mind like a chant she couldn't escape.
"You don't get to choose, Yui. Prey never chooses."
She pressed her blanket tighter to her chest, willing herself not to shake. Why her? He could have any girl—any girl at all. There were dozens who threw themselves at his feet daily, enchanted by his danger, his looks, his smirk.
So why was it her? The quiet one. The soft one. The girl who wanted nothing but to stay invisible.
When dawn finally broke, she moved like a ghost through the house.
Her brother noticed. "Yui," he said softly, standing in the kitchen doorway as she poured herself a glass of water. "Are you… okay?"
Her hand trembled, the water sloshing against the rim. She forced a smile, shaking her head quickly. "I'm fine. Really. I just… miss Mom and Dad again."
His gaze softened, but concern lingered in his eyes. "You've been missing them a lot lately."
Yui looked away. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
It was a lie. And she hated how easy it came out.
By the time she stepped into the school gates, whispers had already bloomed like weeds.
"She's his.""Didn't you hear? Yui belongs to Haruto now.""She's so plain. What does he even see in her?""Maybe he's just pitying her. Or worse… maybe she's letting him use her."
Yui's stomach twisted. She kept her gaze low, each step heavier than the last.
It wasn't just whispers. The looks came too. Girls glared openly, jealousy sparking like flames in their eyes. Boys smirked, whispering crude jokes as she passed.
Everywhere she turned, she felt the brand on her skin.
Haruto's girl.
Things only worsened as the day stretched on.
She had gone to the washroom between classes, splashing cold water on her face to calm herself. For a moment, she let herself breathe. But the moment she stepped out—
Splash!
Ice-cold water drenched her from head to toe.
Yui gasped, shivering instantly. Laughter erupted around her. A group of girls, perfectly made-up and cruel-faced, stood with empty bottles.
"Oops," one of them sneered. "Did we get the little pet wet?"
Another leaned in close, eyes sharp with disdain. "Don't think just because Haruto looked your way once, you're special. You're nothing. You'll always be nothing."
Yui's hands shook as she clutched her books to her chest, water dripping down her uniform.
"Please… stop…" Her voice cracked, barely a whisper.
"Stop?" The girls laughed louder. "Why would we stop when it's so much fun?"
Her throat tightened. Tears burned, threatening to fall. She wanted to fight back, to scream, to claw—but fear clamped her down. She couldn't.
She was cornered. Again.
And then—
"Enough."
The voice was sharp, clear, cutting through their laughter like a blade.
Yui blinked, stunned, as another figure stepped forward. A boy—tall, broad-shouldered, his uniform crisp, his expression stern. His hair was lighter than Haruto's, his eyes softer, but his presence was commanding.
The girls stiffened immediately. "R-Riku…"
Riku Kuroya.
The name spread in whispers even faster than Haruto's ever did. The top student of the school. Polite, intelligent, admired by teachers and adored by girls. He was everything Haruto wasn't—light where Haruto was dark, warmth where Haruto was fire.
And he was Haruto's brother.
Riku stepped closer, removing his jacket and draping it gently over Yui's trembling shoulders. His eyes softened when they met hers. "You're freezing. Don't listen to them. They're cowards."
Yui's breath hitched. No one had ever defended her like that.
For a moment, she felt safe.
But then her blood ran cold.
Because just beyond the crowd, leaning lazily against the lockers, was Haruto.
His eyes locked on her, sharp as knives, his smirk gone.
He had seen everything.
That night, Yui stayed late in the library, trying to avoid the crowded halls. She thought maybe, if she waited long enough, Haruto would get bored and leave.
She was wrong.
When she finally stepped outside, the parking lot was empty—except for a sleek black car parked near the gate.
And leaning against it… was Haruto.
Her heart stopped.
Before she could run, he moved. Swift. Precise. His hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward, shoving her into the passenger seat.
"Let me go!" Yui cried, struggling, but his grip was iron. The door slammed shut beside her.
Haruto slid into the driver's seat, the engine roaring to life.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, panic rising in her chest.
He didn't answer. Not at first. He drove in silence, his jaw clenched, his bruised face more dangerous than ever.
Finally, he spoke. Low. Calm. Deadly.
"You think Riku can save you?"
Yui froze.
Haruto's smirk returned, sharp and cruel. "He can't. He's nothing. And you—" He glanced at her, eyes burning. "You're mine. Only mine."
Her throat closed. "Please… stop…"
He leaned closer, his voice a whisper against her ear.
"The real game hasn't even started yet, Yui. And when it does…" His lips curved into that maniacal smile she feared most. "You'll break. And I'll enjoy every second."
Yui trembled, tears spilling silently down her cheeks as the car sped into the night.
And for the first time, she realized—she might never escape him.
The car door slammed shut, sealing her in like a prison cell.
Yui's chest rose and fell rapidly as panic seized her. She fumbled at the handle immediately, jerking it up—locked. The windows? She slammed her palms against them, but they didn't budge.
"Let me out!" Her voice cracked, more desperate than defiant. "Please, Haruto, I'll do anything—just let me out!"
Haruto didn't even flinch. His hands rested casually on the wheel, long fingers tapping once, twice, before gripping tight. His eyes stayed fixed on the road as the engine purred beneath them.
The car glided out of the school grounds, the night swallowing them whole. Streetlamps streaked past, their pale glow flashing across his face—half-shadowed, half-illuminated. His bruises looked harsher under the harsh light, and the faint tattoo peeking under his shirt's collar shifted with the movement of his throat.
Yui pressed herself against the passenger door, every muscle coiled to bolt. Her fingers kept tugging uselessly at the lock, her heartbeat a frantic drum.
"Where are you taking me?" she whispered, fear lacing every syllable.
He finally looked at her. Just once. A side glance, sharp and lingering.
"Somewhere quiet," he murmured.
She swallowed hard. "Why…? What do you want from me?"
That smirk curved on his lips, slow and dangerous, as if he relished the question.
"Everything."
Yui's breath hitched.
The silence stretched, filled only by the growl of the engine and the rush of wind outside. She tried again, desperation clawing her throat.
"If this is about Riku—"
His hand shot out, gripping her chin so suddenly she gasped. He forced her face toward him, his thumb pressing against her trembling lips. His touch was rough, unyielding.
"Don't," Haruto whispered, his voice low and venomous. "Don't you dare say his name."