Morning sunlight spilled into the classroom, painting the wooden floor with golden streaks. The air was thick with chatter as students greeted each other, trading gossip about weekend parties, sports scores, and exam results.
Kaito Ren sat in the last row, his back against the wall, his hood pulled over his head. A half-finished notebook lay open on his desk, but his pen hadn't moved in the past ten minutes. His gaze was fixed on the window, where raindrops from the night before still clung to the glass.
The events of last night wouldn't leave his mind. The Crimson Lotus Club. Toru Sato. And her—the girl in white.
The classroom door slid open with a sharp shhk. The teacher, Mr. Tanaka, entered, followed by a figure that made every head in the room turn.
She was dressed in the school's standard uniform, but it looked… different on her. The white blouse seemed to shine brighter, and her pleated skirt moved with a quiet grace. Her long black hair fell in smooth waves, and her eyes—calm, deep, and unreadable—scanned the room before settling briefly on Kaito.
"This is Aika Yukimura," Mr. Tanaka announced, his voice carrying the usual cheer he reserved for new students. "She has transferred here from the north. Please make her feel welcome."
Aika bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." Her voice was soft, but there was a sharpness beneath it, like a blade wrapped in silk.
The murmurs began immediately.
"She's gorgeous…""Yukimura? Like the clan?""Don't be stupid, it's just a coincidence."
Kaito's jaw tightened at the name. Yukimura. Not just a coincidence. The seal on last night's letter had been burned into his memory.
The teacher pointed to the empty desk next to Kaito's."You can sit beside Ren-kun. He's quiet, so he won't bother you."
Aika approached, her steps unhurried. Kaito didn't move as she slid into the seat beside him, placing her neatly organized pencil case on the desk.
For a few moments, neither spoke. The rest of the class faded into background noise as Kaito felt the weight of her presence.
Then, without looking at him, Aika said quietly, "You were at the Crimson Lotus Club last night."
Kaito's pen stopped mid-stroke. "You must be mistaken," he replied, his voice low.
She finally turned to face him, her eyes meeting his directly. "No mistake. You were watching someone. A man. Older, scar on his jaw. Am I wrong?"
Kaito's grip on his pen tightened. "You seem to know a lot for someone I just met."
"And you seem to hide a lot for someone who wants revenge," she said, her lips curving into a faint, almost teasing smile.
The teacher's voice called them back to the lesson, but Kaito couldn't focus. His mind churned. How did she know about Toru Sato? How did she know about his intentions?
At lunch, Kaito slipped away to the rooftop, where the breeze carried the scent of blooming sakura from the courtyard below. He leaned against the railing, trying to piece the puzzle together.
The door creaked open. Aika stepped onto the rooftop, holding a small carton of milk.
"You're not easy to follow," she said casually.
"I didn't ask you to follow me," Kaito replied without turning.
"No," she agreed. "But I think we both know we're caught in the same storm."
She leaned beside him, her gaze drifting over the city. "The Yukimura clan wants you dead, Kaito Ren. And they want me dead too."
Kaito turned sharply to face her. "You… from the clan?"
"I was born into it," she admitted, her voice steady. "But I am not loyal to them. In fact…" She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the milk carton. "…my father leads them. And he's the same man you're hunting."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. The image of Toru Sato burned in his mind. And now this girl was telling him her father was the same man?
"You expect me to believe you?"
"I don't care if you believe me," she said simply. "But if you keep moving blindly, you'll die before you can even touch him. I can help you—if you're willing to help me."
Before Kaito could respond, the rooftop door banged open. Three boys in black jackets—upperclassmen with smug grins—stepped out.
"Well, well," the leader drawled. "Ren, the silent freak, has a girlfriend now?"
Aika didn't flinch. "We were just talking," she said calmly.
"Don't care." The leader stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "We heard you've been sneaking around the Lotus Club. People are saying you're spying. Maybe we should teach you to mind your own business."
Kaito sighed and straightened. "Walk away," he warned, his voice quiet but deadly.
They laughed. The first punch came fast—but Kaito's hand was faster. He caught the boy's wrist, twisting it until the crack of bone echoed in the air. The others lunged, but Kaito moved like water, ducking, striking, and sending one sprawling to the ground.
The last boy swung wildly. Before Kaito could move, Aika stepped forward, her hand flashing to her skirt. A small, gleaming blade appeared in her grip, and with a swift motion, she pressed it to the boy's throat.
"You should leave," she said, her voice as cold as winter steel.
They fled, stumbling over each other.
Kaito stared at her, the fight still buzzing in his veins. "That blade… you've been trained."
Aika slid it back into the hidden sheath at her thigh. "You're not the only one with secrets, Ren."
She walked past him toward the door, pausing just long enough to say, "Meet me tonight, 9 p.m., at the old riverside bridge. If you want answers."
And then she was gone, leaving Kaito alone with the wind, the sakura petals swirling around him like whispers of the past.