Yu slid into his seat like he was trying to disappear. His notebook and pencil case came out with military precision, head ducked low, bangs falling forward like a curtain. If he stayed quiet, maybe—just maybe—no one would—
"Yu-chan, you made lunch for two, right?"
One boy teased from the next row over.
"Did Arifukua carry your bag all the way here again?"
A girl giggled, leaning across her desk.
"Wait, wait—someone said you two are living together now?!"
Another voice chimed in from the back.
Yu's entire body stiffened. His face heated until it felt like he was steaming.
"W-we are NOT—!!"
His voice cracked embarrassingly.
"He just—! I mean—we're neighbors, so—!!"
The laughter and chatter rolled over him, merciless. Every desk felt like a spotlight, every whisper a dagger digging at his ribs. He buried his face in his arms, wishing for invisibility.
"Princess and the Beast."
Someone whispered dramatically, and the room rippled with laughter.
Yu groaned. He hated that nickname. It made it sound like—like he was some fairy-tale prize Taichi had snatched up. He should've been furious, humiliated, crawling out of his skin—
—but instead… his chest squeezed strangely warm.
Because beneath the embarrassment, beneath the attention, the whispers weren't cruel. They weren't mocking Taichi the delinquent or sneering at him. No one was talking about bullies or blackmail or scars. They were gossiping about a couple. About them.
And hearing "Yu and Arifukua" said together like that, in voices that sounded—fond? curious? maybe even jealous?—was dizzying.
He peeked up, just enough to see Taichi slouched in his own seat at the back, chin propped on his hand, eyes locked on Yu like the chaos didn't exist. Not a smirk, not a scowl—just this ridiculous, open pride, like of course everyone should know he belonged to Yu now.
Yu buried his face again, heart fluttering wildly.
"Thursday,"
He mumbled into his arms.
"I hate Thursdays."
DK01 beeped quietly in his head.
[Host, you seem to be experiencing high embarrassment levels counterbalanced by moderate-to-strong positive affect. Translation: you like it.]
Yu kicked the side of his desk.
"Shut up…"
The chatter only grew as the bell rang and the teacher walked in, students still buzzing with the newest installment of Princess and the Beast. Yu hunched low, ears pink, heart warm, and prayed the gossip would burn itself out before lunch.
---
Homeroom teacher Mr. Kuroda, a wiry man with graying hair and sharp glasses who always smelled faintly of chalk, cleared his throat at the front of the class. He had the perpetual air of someone who wanted to be anywhere else but here, yet somehow still managed to keep the room in line with nothing more than a glance.
"Hokohayashi,"
He said, holding out a thick stack of papers.
"Take these down to Mr. Nakahara in the faculty office. He'll know what they're for."
Yu blinked, pushing himself halfway out of his seat—only for the papers to vanish right from in front of him.
"I'll do it!"
Taichi rumbled, tucking the stack under one arm like it weighed nothing. His other hand briefly brushed Yu's desk, just enough to ground him.
"You wait here. We'll go to lunch after."
Yu hesitated, then nodded with a small smile.
"Thanks, Taichi."
The tall boy gave a grunt that almost sounded smug before striding out of the classroom.
Almost immediately, Fumiko Fujimori stood up, slightly leaned across her desk, hair swishing over her shoulder.
"Bathroom run. Don't leave without us."
Sakura Sato flashed a peace sign.
"Two minutes. Promise."
Yu nodded again, and just like that, for the first time all day, he was alone in the classroom.
The buzz of the hallway filtered in through the open window. Chairs squeaked faintly as other students filed out in groups for lunch, laughter echoing away as they. Yu fidgeted with his pencil case, acutely aware of the strange stillness around him.
And then—
Click.
The classroom door slid open.
Yu's head jerked up.
A boy stepped inside. His brown hair caught the sunlight like burnished copper, and his sky-blue eyes were bright enough to feel unreal. His presence seemed to change the air itself—confident but calm, like the room bent itself around him without resistance.
Yu's breath caught. His stomach lurched. Because standing there wasn't just any boy.
It was him.
The same face. The same impossible eyes.
The same features as Icarus Smithers—the hero of Yu's old world.
"Yukio Hokohayashi?"
The boy said, his voice steady, practiced, carrying a kind of weight Yu recognized all too well.
"Is something wrong? I know I've been absent for a while but this…"
[Alert,]
DK01 pulsed softly inside Yu's head.
[Isuke Sasaki makes his appearance. Status: Student Council President. Academic ranking: 2nd in the entire school. Role in the world: protagonist.]
Yu's nails dug into his thigh.
'Protagonist?'
DK01's tone softened, almost amused.
[Affirmative. In this world's narrative framework, Isuke Sasaki is positioned as the central hero figure. Analogous to… well… the "Icarus Smithers" you once knew.]
Yu's heartbeat thundered in his ears as those sky-blue eyes locked with his.
Those same eyes that glared down at him as he pointed a holy sword at him and his lord.
Isuke Sasaki crossed the room with an ease that made Yu stiffen in his chair. Up close, the resemblance was even worse—exactly like Icarus, down to the sharp line of his jaw, the calm, balanced way he carried himself.
He stopped at Yu's desk, his hand resting lightly on the stack of textbooks Yu hadn't touched yet.
"I should introduce myself properly."
Isuke said, voice even.
"Isuke Sasaki. Student Council President. My mother was sick and so I couldn't come to school until now. Mr. Kuroda will give my introduction later but since you're already here, I figured…"
His tone wasn't arrogant, but it carried the polished weight of someone used to being listened to.
Yu swallowed, forcing his voice to steady.
"…Yukio Hokohayashi."
Isuke's gaze flicked over him, sharp but not unkind.
"I know. I remember you but, Yukio… you're out of uniform."
The words landed like a stone in Yu's chest. He jolted upright, hands clutching at the hem of his blazer.
"I—I'm not, technically!"
His words tumbled out too quickly.
"This is 'in uniform', it's just… the one for girls. I-I thought it looked good on me."
The silence stretched. Yu's ears burned red. Desperate, he blurted.
"I-Is that… you want me to change? Because I don't look cute in it?"
Isuke blinked, his expression faltering for the first time. Then, to Yu's shock, he backed off a step, a faint flush coloring his face.
"…No,"
He admitted after a moment, voice quieter.
"That's not it. If it's within regulation, then I have no grounds. And if you can maintain your performance, I don't intend to interfere."
Yu's breath stuttered in his chest.
'Performance…'
DK01 hummed in his head, almost like a smirk.
[Isuke is ranked second in the entire school. Observational note—he deliberately maintains this position. Reason: unclear.]
Isuke's gaze softened, as though reading Yu's unease.
"As long as it doesn't affect your grades, Hokohayashi, it's fine. That's all I'll say."
Yu nodded quickly, relief crashing through him.
"O-Okay. Thanks. I'll do my best."
There was no smile on Isuke's lips, but there was something in his eyes—something like respect.
DK01 piped up again, almost teasing.
[Hypothesis: Isuke intentionally yields first place… because he knows you need the scholarship more.]
Yu blinked, stunned.
"…What?"
But before he could press DK01 or Isuke further, voices spilled in from the hall—and Yu was left staring up at Isuke Sasaki—the spitting image of Icarus—with the strange realization that, for now at least, they stood on equal ground.
Yu was still reeling from DK01's whispered observation, cheeks pink, when the classroom door slid open again.
"Yu—"
Taichi's voice cut off mid-call. He stood framed in the doorway, one hand empty now that he'd delivered the stack of papers, his gaze zeroing in immediately on Yu… and the tall boy standing at his desk.
Yu's stomach dropped.
Taichi's eyes narrowed.
"...What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The words weren't loud, but the air shifted, heavy and tense.
Isuke didn't flinch. He turned calmly, posture perfect, as though Taichi's stormy energy didn't faze him in the slightest.
"I was introducing myself. That's all."
Taichi stepped forward, the weight of his presence filling the room.
"You don't need to. He already has me."
His hand landed firmly on Yu's shoulder, possessive, protective, almost crushing.
Yu let out a nervous laugh, heart hammering.
"T-Taichi, it's okay! He's the student council president, that's all—"
Isuke's gaze flicked down to the hand on Yu's shoulder, then back up, his eyes cool but not unfriendly.
"If, Hokohayashi, you are experiencing any form of harassment, please inform me. For now, I have nothing more to add. Excuse me."
With that, he turned and walked out, unhurried, utterly unshaken.
Yu sagged in his seat, the tension in his shoulders threatening to snap him in two.
DK01 muttered dryly in his head.
[Observation: Conflict scenario triggered. Taichi = 'Antagonist archetype.' Isuke = 'Protagonist archetype.' Warning: Collision course has been established.]
Taichi, still standing beside Yu, leaned down close enough that Yu could feel the warmth of his breath.
"Don't talk to him ever again."
Yu blinked, startled.
"W-What? But—"
"I mean it."
Taichi's voice was low, raw.
"You're mine. Not his. Not anybody else's."
Yu's throat went dry. He could only nod, even as his heart twisted.
And that was the sight Fumiko Fujimori and Sakura Sato walked into—Yu caught between Taichi's looming frame and the memory of Isuke's steady blue eyes.
The moment Fumiko Fujimori and Sakura Sato walked back in, Yu froze like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Taichi was still leaning over him, hand gripping his shoulder like he was staking a claim, and Yu felt every nerve in his body screaming oh no oh no oh no.
"Y-Yo! You're back already!"
Yu blurted, his voice higher than normal. He tried to squirm, but Taichi's fingers only tightened slightly.
The girls stopped short.
Their eyes darted from Yu's nervous smile to Taichi's looming shadow. The atmosphere was heavy enough to choke on.
Fumiko leaned close to Sakura, voice low but sharp.
"That's not normal. He's cornering her."
Sakura's lips pressed thin.
"Creepy. Overprotective. He looks like he's about to eat her alive."
"Should we—"
"We're doing something!"
"Oi, Taichi."
Fumiko's voice was steel.
"Why are you acting so weird and scary to Yu?"
Taichi stiffened, his jaw clenching. He opened his mouth, but Sakura was already stepping forward, tugging gently at Yu's wrist.
"C'mon, let's go."
Yu blinked, startled, as Taichi reluctantly let go. The two girls flanked him like bodyguards, whisking him away toward the hall.
Once they were out of earshot, Sakura turned on him.
"Yu, you can't let him do stuff like that."
Yu tilted his head, confused.
"Stuff like… what?"
"Hovering over you like you're a possession,"
Fumiko muttered, arms crossed.
"It's not right. You need to establish boundaries."
"Boundaries?"
Yu repeated, blinking.
"What are those?"
Both girls groaned in unison.
"It's… like,"
Sakura started, fumbling.
"Rules! Lines he can't cross. Things that are okay in a relationship, and things that aren't."
"Like him grabbing you so tight you look like you're about to pass out? Not okay."
Fumiko pointed out, her voice trembling with worry.
"It scared me just looking at it."
Yu's lips parted.
"Oh… boundaries are like… rules for not being scared."
"Exactly."
Sakura sighed.
"You have to tell him when something he does crosses a line. Otherwise he won't stop."
Fumiko's frown deepened, the protective big-sister vibe radiating off her.
"Honestly, I'm worried about you being with him at all. Maybe… maybe we should talk to Taichi ourselves."
Yu paled.
"T-Talk to him?!"
Fumiko nodded firmly.
"Someone's got to make him understand that if he hurts you, he answers to us."
Sakura smirked at Yu's wide eyes.
"Yeah, princess. Don't worry—we've got your back."
Yu clutched at the hem of his skirt, heart pounding. He didn't know if he should feel relieved… or terrified for Taichi.
---
Yu sat at the cafeteria table, chopsticks trembling faintly in his fingers.
'Boundaries…'
The word kept rolling in his head like a marble rattling inside an empty box.
'Rules for not being scared. Lines Taichi wasn't supposed to cross.'
He stole a glance at his "boyfriend," who was, at that exact moment, glaring daggers at anyone who looked in their direction. Taichi hadn't even touched his own food—he was too busy peeling the skin off the poor students who whispered "Princess and Beast" three tables over.
Yu quickly ducked back down to his lunchbox.
'…If I told him not to glare so much, would that be a boundary? Or would he just glare at me instead?'
"Eat up, Yu."
Sakura chirped, nudging him gently from across the table. She'd plastered on her brightest smile, but he caught the way her eyes flicked toward Taichi's scowl every few seconds.
"Yes, eat,"
Taichi echoed, his voice lower, possessive.
"Don't let anyone bother you."
Yu froze mid-bite.
'…Would telling him I like talking to people be a boundary too?'
His brain felt like overcooked ramen.
---
The hours dragged. Yu scribbled notes, nodded politely to classmates who waved at him, and tried very, very hard not to think about Taichi looming at the edge of his vision every time he raised his hand.
DK01 piped up in his head.
[You're processing something new. Good. Boundaries are important. Think of them like dungeon traps—if you don't set them up, monsters will just rush in.]
Yu's pen slipped.
'…So Taichi's the monster?'
[Not necessarily. But he's certainly testing the walls.]
Yu chewed his lip. He wasn't sure if he liked being compared to a dungeon, but the thought did make things click a little.
---
When the final bell rang, the halls filled with chatter and slamming lockers. Fumiko and Sakura exchanged a long glance over Yu's head as he packed up his books.
"You're still thinking about it."
Sakura whispered.
"Obviously,"
Fumiko replied, her jaw tight.
"Did you see the way he grabbed her earlier? It's not normal."
"So what's the plan?"
"I'll talk to Taichi directly. He needs to hear this from someone who won't back down."
Sakura hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay. I'll distract Yu. Get her out of earshot so she doesn't panic."
Both girls turned back to where Yu was blinking at them, his hair ribbon slipping loose.
"What are you whispering about?"
Yu asked, tilting his head.
"Nothing, princess,"
Sakura sang, looping her arm through his.
"Come on, you and I are gonna grab some sweet bread before it sells out, okay?"
Yu blinked, flustered but easily led along.
"O-okay!"
Fumiko's gaze slid past him to where Taichi was leaning against the doorframe, waiting like a stormcloud. Her fists clenched.
'Time to see what kind of beast you really are.'
The hallways had emptied to echoes and faint sunlight streaking through the windows.
Taichi lingered by the classroom door, hands shoved into his pockets, eyes sharp as always. He didn't even look up when Fumiko stepped in front of him.
"You."
She said softly, almost too softly.
Taichi's gaze finally flicked down, cold and expectant.
"…What?"
Fumiko swallowed, her palms damp, but she stood straighter.
"We need to talk. About Yu."
His jaw flexed at the name.
"…Yu's mine."
Fumiko's chest tightened.
"That's exactly the problem."
She forced her tone steady, measured—like balancing on a high wire above a predator.
"Yu deserves to live a happy life. To smile with her friends. To feel safe. You can't keep her chained to your side like some… some pet."
Taichi's glare deepened, but he didn't interrupt.
"I know you want her close. Always. But it's impossible. She's delicate and pure, yes—but that doesn't mean you get to lock her away. Especially not with those scary moves you pull."
Fumiko's voice cracked slightly, recalling the image of Taichi's hand clamped around Yu's shoulder earlier.
"Grabbing her like that? Staring down everyone who so much as breathes in her direction? It's not love. It's control."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Fumiko's heartbeat pounded in her ears—any second, he could snap.
But instead… Taichi's eyes narrowed, as if something she said had actually landed. His head turned aside, gaze fixed on the floor.
"…I don't want anyone to take Yu away."
His voice was low, tight.
"If Yu smiles at them… if Yu laughs with them… what if Yu stops needing me?"
Fumiko's throat softened. She hadn't expected that.
"That's not how people work."
She whispered.
"Yu won't stop needing you just because she has friends. But if you push too hard—if you make her feel trapped—you'll drive her away yourself."
Taichi's head jerked slightly at that. His fists clenched, then loosened, then clenched again.
Fumiko took a shaky breath, using her last resort.
"If you hurt her, or cage her, you'll only make her sad. And Yu being sad—"
She shook her head, eyes firm.
"—is the last thing you want. Isn't it?"
The words hit like a stone into still water. Taichi froze, chest rising and falling, but his glare was gone. In its place, something darker—thoughtful, unsettled.
"…Sad…"
He echoed under his breath, almost to himself.
Fumiko pressed her advantage.
"Do better. Be better. Or you'll lose her anyway."
For the first time since she'd known him, Taichi went quiet. Really quiet. His usual scowl softened into something unreadable, distant—like he was actually thinking.
Fumiko dared to exhale.
She'd done it. She wasn't sure how much had sunk in, but the seed was there. And for Yu's sake, she prayed it would grow.
---
The silence pressed down after Fumiko's footsteps faded.
Taichi stayed where he was, rooted to the spot, fists hanging loose at his sides.
'Sad.'
The word gnawed at him. He pictured Yu's face—bright, open, guileless—clouded with tears. The thought made something inside him twist hard.
All this time, he thought holding on tighter would keep Yu safe. Keep Yu his. But… if his grip made Yu cry?
He clenched his teeth. That possibility felt worse than anything—worse than Yu laughing with others, worse than Yu walking into a crowd and slipping away from him.
"Damn it…"
Taichi muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
Fumiko's voice echoed:
"Do better. Be better."
It grated him. But it also stayed lodged deep, irritating like a pebble he couldn't shake out of his shoe.
He hated how it made sense.
Taichi leaned back against the wall, scowling at nothing, caught between the urge to fight it and the unwillingness to risk Yu's sadness. His heart thudded faster—not from anger, but from something dangerously close to fear.
He'd never admit it aloud, but maybe… just maybe… he needed to learn a different way.
Meanwhile, Yu sat on the swing set across the street with Sakura, happily nibbling on a pastry they'd picked up at the corner bakery. The sun hit his hair in soft red streaks as he swung his legs lightly, a little smile tugging his lips.
Sakura watched him with amusement, resting her chin in her palm.
"You're really easy to please, you know that?"
Yu blinked.
"Eh? Is that bad?"
"Not at all."
Sakura chuckled.
"It's just… refreshing. You're like a kid who found out candy's on sale."
Yu pouted lightly, cheeks puffed, then laughed at himself.
"Maybe! But it's nice being here with you. Just relaxing. No rumors, no stares, no…"
He trailed off, thinking of Taichi for a moment before brushing it aside.
Sakura tilted her head, studying him. She thought of the boy waiting back at school, all storm-cloud eyes and clenched fists. She thought of the way Yu's innocence seemed to soften even that beast.
And for now, she decided not to say anything. Let Yu enjoy the lightness while it lasted.