Chapter 3: The Gathering Storm
The next morning dawned with a cloudy sky, mirroring the unease in Kaito's heart. He stood at the window of his dorm, staring out at the sprawling campus. Despite his best efforts to stay unnoticed, it seemed like fate had other plans.
"Rise and shine, hero!" Simmy chirped from the desk, hovering over Kaito's notebook. "Another day, another chance to attract a legion of admirers."
"Don't remind me," Kaito muttered. He rubbed his eyes and turned to face the teasing sprite. "I'm going to stay out of everyone's way today. No unnecessary conversations. No eye contact."
Simmy folded his arms. "You say that, but you're forgetting one thing: you're cursed. Destiny has a funny way of ignoring your plans."
"Not if I'm careful."
With that declaration, Kaito quickly got ready. He opted for a simple white shirt and dark pants, hoping the plain attire would help him blend into the background. He grabbed his bag and headed out before Simmy could offer any more unwanted commentary.
The campus was already lively by the time Kaito reached the main building. Students hurried to and fro, chatting and laughing as they made their way to class. Kaito kept his head down, his heart pounding with every step.
"Morning, Kaito!"
He flinched. Turning slowly, he found himself face-to-face with Aiko. She wore a soft smile and a light blue dress that seemed to accentuate her natural elegance.
"Oh, hey," Kaito said, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Heading to class?" she asked.
"Yeah. Just trying to stay on time."
"Mind if I walk with you?"
Every instinct screamed at Kaito to say no. But rejecting her outright would only draw more attention.
"Sure. Why not?" he said reluctantly.
They walked in silence for a few moments. Kaito's eyes remained fixed on the path ahead, but he could feel Aiko's gaze on him.
"You're different," she said suddenly.
"Different how?"
"It's hard to explain. There's something about you—an aura, maybe. People are drawn to you."
Kaito's grip on his bag tightened. "I'm just a regular guy."
"Maybe you believe that. But I don't."
Before Kaito could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. A tall figure approached from the side, his expression dark and brooding.
"Aiko, there you are," Ryuu said, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Kaito.
"Ryuu. Good morning," Aiko said pleasantly.
"What are you doing with him?" Ryuu asked bluntly.
Kaito bristled at the accusatory tone but said nothing. He had no desire to escalate the situation.
"We were just walking to class," Aiko replied calmly.
"You should be careful who you associate with," Ryuu said, his gaze never leaving Kaito. "Not everyone is what they seem."
"Neither are you," Kaito muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Ryuu's eyes flashed with anger.
"Nothing. I'll see you in class, Aiko." Kaito turned and walked away before the situation could escalate further.
"Wow, you're popular already," Simmy commented once Kaito was out of earshot. "One girl likes you, and one guy wants to punch you. Classic high school drama."
"I'm not interested in either," Kaito said.
"Keep telling yourself that," Simmy teased.
---
By lunchtime, Kaito had successfully avoided any further encounters. He found a secluded bench beneath a large oak tree and settled in with a sandwich. The quiet was a welcome change from the constant tension.
"Mind if I join you?"
Kaito nearly choked on his sandwich. He looked up to see another girl standing before him. She had bright red hair tied back in a ponytail and an infectious grin.
"I'm Emi. You're Kaito, right?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Great! I've been looking for you." Emi plopped down beside him without waiting for an invitation.
"Looking for me?" Kaito repeated, confused.
"You're new, and I like meeting new people. Plus, word around campus is that you're pretty interesting."
Kaito groaned internally. "I'm really not."
Emi leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "That just makes me more curious."
Simmy appeared beside Kaito, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, this one's trouble. I like her."
Kaito ignored the sprite. "I'm just trying to get through the day without any drama."
"Boring!" Emi declared. "Come on, live a little."
"I'm fine where I am."
"We'll see about that." Emi's grin widened.
Kaito had the distinct impression that avoiding her would be next to impossible.
---
The rest of the week passed in a blur of unwanted attention and close calls. Aiko continued to hover around him, her intense gaze never wavering. Ryuu watched him like a hawk, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. And Emi—true to her word—made it her mission to drag Kaito into every social situation possible.
Despite his best efforts, Kaito felt the walls closing in. The more he tried to distance himself, the more the others seemed determined to stay close.
"This isn't working," Kaito muttered one evening as he paced his dorm room.
"I could've told you that," Simmy said.
"So what do I do?"
"Embrace the chaos. You're cursed, remember? Fighting it only makes it worse."
Kaito scowled. "That's not an option."
"Then you'd better come up with a new plan fast. Because something tells me this storm is just getting started."