The morning started like any other. The usual hum of Neo-Kyoto greeted Hiroki as he trudged through the crowded streets on his way to school. Neon signs flickered against the gray morning sky, and the smell of fried food from nearby stalls made his stomach growl. But today, there was something different in the air.
As he stepped onto school grounds, he couldn’t help but notice the throngs of students gathered in tight clusters, whispering excitedly to one another. It was rare to see this level of commotion so early in the morning. Normally, the student body was still half-asleep until lunch.
Hiroki tried to ignore it. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with him. He kept his head down, dodging past groups of chattering students.
“Hey, did you hear? A transfer student!” a girl whispered loudly to her friend as he passed by.
“And he’s, like, totally hot,” another added with a squeal.
“Rumor is he’s loaded too. His family’s got serious money.”
Hiroki rolled his eyes, adjusting the strap of his bag as he walked faster. Great, just what this school needs—another rich kid to make everyone drool. He’d seen it all before. Someone new, shiny, and interesting would show up, and the whole school would lose its collective mind for a few weeks.
As he entered the classroom, the energy was even more electric than usual. The teacher, who usually looked like she was one bad day away from quitting, was practically glowing with excitement. And then Hiroki saw the reason why.
Standing at the front of the room was the new student. Tall, with a perfectly pressed uniform and an air of casual confidence that bordered on arrogance. His hair was a sleek, dark brown, perfectly styled, and his smile seemed to have its own gravitational pull. Hiroki could practically hear the collective sigh from the girls in the room.
The teacher clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone, settle down! I’d like you all to welcome our new student, Takeshi Kurogane.”
A murmur of recognition rippled through the class at the mention of his last name. The Kurogane family was well-known, even among those who paid little attention to the city’s elite. To most, they were the wealthiest real estate developers in Neo-Kyoto, controlling vast sections of the city’s skyline. But Hiroki knew there was more to them than just buildings and cement. Arkan had hinted at it yesterday, but Hiroki hadn’t pushed for details.
Takeshi scanned the room with a practiced, almost bored expression, his eyes flicking over each student as if assessing their worth in a single glance. But then his gaze stopped. Locked. Right on Hiroki.
Hiroki froze. The intensity of that gaze was like a jolt of electricity straight to his nerves. Takeshi’s eyes lingered for just a moment longer than was polite, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips, before he moved on.
“What’s his deal?” Hiroki muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that had crawled up his spine.
Arkan’s voice was a whisper in his mind. “This one’s interesting. He’s not just here to make friends and get good grades. Keep your guard up.”
Hiroki grimaced. “Yeah, because I really needed another person to keep tabs on,” he muttered sarcastically, ignoring the curious looks from the students around him. Talking to himself—or rather, to Arkan—had become a habit he couldn’t quite break.
---
As the morning wore on, Takeshi’s presence quickly became the center of attention. During lunch, the cafeteria was a sea of students trying to get closer to him. The girls giggled and fluttered around him like moths to a flame, while the boys, desperate to impress him, invited him to join their sports games or hangouts.
Takeshi took it all in stride, smiling, laughing, and throwing out casual jokes that made everyone around him double over. He was the kind of person who could walk into a room and own it within minutes. And Hiroki hated that.
Hiroki sat alone in his usual corner, poking at his lunch with a pair of chopsticks, trying to ignore the scene unfolding across the cafeteria. But it was impossible to escape the chatter.
“Did you see him score that three-pointer in gym class? He’s like a sports prodigy!”
“Yeah, and I heard his dad owns half the city. Can you imagine being that rich?”
Hiroki rolled his eyes. So what if he’s rich and talented? He couldn’t care less. But then, why did it bother him so much?
“You’re seething again, kid,” Arkan’s voice cut through his thoughts like a knife. “What’s the matter? Jealous that someone’s stealing your ‘lone wolf’ spotlight?”
“Shut up,” Hiroki muttered under his breath. But he couldn’t deny it. There was something about Takeshi that irked him. It wasn’t just the easy charm, the money, or the looks. It was the way Takeshi’s gaze kept finding him, even across a crowded cafeteria, like he was looking for something.
Arkan let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I get it now. He’s got his eye on you, doesn’t he? And not in the way all those girls do.”
“Why would he be interested in me?” Hiroki whispered back, keeping his eyes on his food. “I’m nobody.”
“Maybe that’s exactly why,” Arkan replied cryptically. “Or maybe he knows more than you think.”
---
The rest of the day played out like a scene from one of those high school dramas Hiroki despised. Takeshi was invited to play basketball after school, and naturally, he was amazing at it. The girls cheered every time he made a shot, while the guys slapped him on the back like they’d been friends for years.
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Hiroki stayed on the sidelines, pretending to scroll through his phone. But he couldn’t help but watch. Takeshi moved with a confidence that was almost unnatural, like every step, every smile, was perfectly calculated.
A third-person narrative digs deeper into Hiroki’s isolation:
Hiroki was far from ugly. In fact, if he bothered to put in any effort, he might even be considered attractive. But there was a distance in his eyes, a wall that separated him from everyone else. And people could sense it, like an invisible force field that pushed them away.
It wasn’t that Hiroki didn’t want to connect with people—he did. But somewhere along the way, he’d stopped trying. The more he tried to fit in, the more people seemed to avoid him. It was a vicious cycle. He told himself he was fine being alone, that he preferred it that way. But the truth was, he was angry. Angry at the world, at the people who ignored him, and most of all, at himself for caring so damn much.
“Brooding again, huh?” Arkan’s voice was a dark whisper in his mind. “You’re like a bad soap opera. It’s almost entertaining.”
“Why don’t you shut up for once?” Hiroki shot back, clenching his fists.
Arkan let out a low laugh. “Easy there, tiger. You don’t want to let that anger slip out in front of everyone, do you? I thought you liked playing the ‘invisible boy’ card.”
Hiroki ground his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. But then, as the day drew to a close, he noticed it again—Takeshi’s eyes were on him, that same calculating gaze.
What’s his angle? Hiroki wondered. Why the hell is he so interested in me?
Arkan’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “Something tells me you’re about to find out. And trust me, you’re not gonna like it.”
Hiroki’s heart skipped a beat as he realized that maybe, just maybe, the quiet life he’d so desperately tried to cling to was about to get a whole lot more complicated.
Hiroki could still feel the weight of Takeshi Kurogane’s gaze long after the school day ended. That unnerving sense of being watched clung to him like a shadow, prickling at the back of his neck. He couldn’t shake it off, no matter how hard he tried. Every time he turned a corner or looked over his shoulder, he half-expected to see Takeshi standing there, watching him with those calculating eyes.
It wasn’t paranoia if it was real, right?
Arkan had been uncharacteristically quiet about the whole thing, which only made Hiroki more uneasy. The Wraith was rarely one to keep his thoughts to himself.
“You’re awfully quiet today,” Hiroki muttered under his breath as he made his way down the deserted hallway. Most students had already left, and the school was bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.
“Just enjoying the show, kid,” Arkan finally replied, his tone a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “You’ve got quite the admirer, haven’t you? Kurogane’s been eyeing you like you’re his next science project.”
“Yeah, well, he can take his curiosity somewhere else,” Hiroki grumbled. “I don’t need anyone snooping around my life.”
“Oh, but you do,” Arkan countered, almost teasingly. “After all, it’s not every day someone like you pops up out of nowhere with a fully-formed bond. You’ve caught his interest, alright. And I, for one, am curious to see how this plays out.”
---
As the last bell rang and the final stragglers filed out of the building, Hiroki could feel that prickling sensation again—the one that told him someone was tailing him. His nerves were already frayed, and the idea of being followed was pushing him to the edge. If Takeshi was still watching him, it was time to put an end to it.
Alright, let’s see if this guy is really as good as he thinks he is, Hiroki thought, turning down a rarely used hallway on the first floor. This part of the school was old, almost forgotten, with dusty lockers and peeling paint. He slipped into an empty office, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him.
The room was dimly lit, filled with discarded desks and old textbooks that hadn’t been touched in years. Hiroki pressed himself against the wall beside the door, holding his breath. His pulse was racing, the tension in his muscles coiling like a spring.
“Really leaning into the whole ‘spy thriller’ vibe, huh?” Arkan’s voice came through, dripping with sarcasm. “Very dramatic. I like it.”
“Can you shut up for once?” Hiroki whispered harshly. “I’m trying to focus.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much,” Arkan replied with a chuckle. “If it’s who I think it is, he’s already caught on to your little game.”
The sound of soft footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing closer. Hiroki’s grip tightened on the handle of the paper cutter he’d swiped off one of the desks. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but it was better than nothing.
The door creaked open, and a shadow spilled into the room. Whoever it was, they were moving slowly, cautiously, as if they knew they were walking into a trap. Hiroki’s heart pounded in his ears as he waited for the right moment.
Now!
He lunged, grabbing the intruder from behind and pressing the dull blade against their throat. “Who the hell are you?” Hiroki growled, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Easy there,” came a calm, almost amused voice. “You’re going to give someone the wrong idea.”
Hiroki’s eyes widened. He recognized that voice. He released his grip just enough to let the person turn around. Sure enough, he found himself face-to-face with Takeshi Kurogane, who wore that same infuriatingly confident smirk.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Hiroki demanded, keeping the paper cutter raised just in case.
Takeshi raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Relax, I’m not here to hurt you. Well, not unless you make me.”
“You’re following me,” Hiroki accused, not lowering his makeshift weapon. “Why?”
Takeshi shrugged, his eyes flicking up and down Hiroki as if evaluating him. “Curiosity, I suppose. I’ve been keeping an eye on you since I got here. And I have to say, I’m impressed. Most people can’t even see Wraiths, let alone bond with one as quickly as you did. How did you manage it?”
Hiroki’s grip tightened on the handle. “What are you talking about?”
Arkan’s voice echoed in Hiroki’s mind, a mix of amusement and caution. “Careful, kid. He’s fishing for something. Don’t give him more than he needs.”
Takeshi took a slow step forward, and Hiroki instinctively tensed. But instead of attacking, Takeshi leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You’ve bonded with that Wraith of yours so fast… it’s almost unnatural. You realize that, right? Most people take years to develop that kind of connection.”
“Why do you care?” Hiroki shot back, trying to hide the unease that was crawling up his spine. How much did this guy know?
“Oh, I don’t,” Takeshi replied smoothly. “I just find it… fascinating. And if you’re wondering why I’m following you, well, let’s just say my family has a keen interest in people like you.”
Hiroki’s eyes narrowed. The Kurogane family… What’s their angle?
Before Hiroki could respond, Takeshi’s eyes flicked to the side, focusing on something only he could see. And in that split second, he moved. Grabbing Hiroki’s wrist with a grip like iron, Takeshi twisted his arm, forcing the paper cutter from his grasp. Hiroki barely had time to react before Takeshi flipped him over his shoulder, sending him crashing into an old desk.
“Not bad,” Takeshi said, his tone almost admiring. “But you’re going to have to do better than that.”
Hiroki’s instincts kicked in. He planted his feet against the wall and pushed off, flipping himself upright and landing on his feet. There was a wild grin on Takeshi’s face now, one that sent a chill down Hiroki’s spine. He was enjoying this.
“Not bad yourself,” Hiroki muttered, wiping a bit of dust from his sleeve. But inside, his mind was racing. How was this guy so strong? And more importantly, why was he so interested in him?
“Tell me, Hiroki,” Takeshi said, circling him slowly. “Do you even realize what kind of Wraith you’ve bonded with? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve got something far more dangerous on your hands than you realize.”
Arkan’s voice came through again, but this time it was tinged with something that almost sounded like fear. “He’s playing with you, Hiroki. Don’t let him get inside your head.”
But Hiroki could already feel it—that nagging sense of doubt. What did Takeshi know that he didn’t?
Before he could get an answer, Takeshi lunged at him again, this time with a flurry of kicks and punches. Hiroki dodged and countered, his body moving almost on autopilot. The cramped office became a battlefield, with desks and chairs toppling over as they moved.
Despite the chaos, Takeshi kept that same infuriating smirk on his face. “You’re good,” he admitted. “Better than most of the idiots I’ve trained with. But you’re holding back. Why?”
Hiroki didn’t answer. The truth was, he wasn’t sure what he was holding back—or why. All he knew was that letting go felt dangerous, like opening a door he wouldn’t be able to close again.
But before the fight could go any further, a gasp from the doorway made them both stop in their tracks.
There, standing in the entrance, was one of the popular girls from Hiroki’s class—the same girl he’d almost saved from the rogue Wraith attack the day before.
Her eyes were wide with shock, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, as if she was about to record everything.
Of all people, it had to be her.
Hiroki’s stomach sank as he locked eyes with her, knowing full well this was going to blow up in ways he couldn’t control.
“Shit,” he and Takeshi muttered in unison, realizing that whatever fragile normalcy Hiroki had left had just been shattered into pieces.