"Somehow, I find that endearing," Satori said, his lips curving into a lopsided smile that made her heart skip.

The conversation flowed easily after that, like water finding its natural path. Satori asked about her family, coaxing stories about her childhood from her with genuine interest. He wanted to know about her design sketches

He listened—really listened—to her answers, occasionally prompting her with insightful questions that showed he was truly paying attention, not just going through the motions of conversation. When she spoke, his eyes remained fixed on her face, never wandering to the other attractive girls who occasionally passed by their window.

It was... nice. Better than nice. It was intoxicating. For a little while, Emi could almost forget about the chaos of the academy, the terrifying Dr. Death, the crushing pressure of training, the curious stares of other students.

Here, in this cozy corner of the café, it was just the two of them, wrapped in a bubble of warmth and casual intimacy that felt both new and somehow familiar.

"By the way," Satori said, setting down his empty coffee cup, a mischievous gleam entering his eyes. "Thank you for earlier. In the golf cart." His eyes crinkled at the corners, warm and teasing. "You make the best pillow I've ever had."

Emi had just taken a large sip of hot chocolate. At his words, she inhaled sharply in surprise—and instantly regretted it. Hot liquid shot up her nose and sprayed across the table as she choked and sputtered, the burning sensation making her eyes water instantly.

"Oh my god," she gasped, mortified, as chocolate dripped from her nose and dotted the pristine tablecloth. Her face burned hotter than the drink that now stained her uniform. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Satori burst into laughter—not the controlled chuckle he sometimes used in class, but a genuine, unreserved laugh that transformed his entire face, making him look younger and lighter, as if a mask had momentarily slipped. Before she could reach for a napkin, he leaned forward and gently wiped her face with his own, his touch unexpectedly tender as he dabbed at her burning cheeks and nose.

"Cute," he said simply, his fingertips lingering against her cheek for just a heartbeat too long, the touch feather-light but leaving an imprint on her skin that felt like a brand.

Emi wanted to crawl under the table and die of embarrassment. Instead, she grabbed more napkins and dabbed frantically at her burning face, unable to meet his eyes as she tried to regain her composure.

"You did that on purpose," she accused, trying to sound stern but failing miserably as her voice came out high and squeaky.

"Maybe," he admitted, not looking remotely sorry. In fact, he looked thoroughly pleased with himself, a mischievous glint dancing in those mesmerizing eyes that seemed to see right through her. "Your reactions are always worth it. They're so honest—like you don't know how to hide what you're feeling. It's refreshing in a world where everyone wears masks."

As she frantically cleaned up the mess, dabbing at the chocolate spots spreading across the pristine white tablecloth and the growing stains on her uniform, Emi found her thoughts spiraling down an unwelcome path. Satori was being so attentive—charming, thoughtful, remembering tiny details about her life that she'd mentioned in passing, things she hadn't expected anyone to notice, much less commit to memory. The way he leaned forward when she spoke, like every word mattered. But was any of it genuine? Was this the real Satori or just another performance?

She couldn't help but recall the Monopoly game the night before, catching those quiet, intimate whispers exchanged between him and Natalia—her best friend—their heads bent so close together they almost touched, sharing secrets that made Natalia's eyes light up in a way Emi had never seen before.

The confidence with which he'd carried Soomin after the entrance exam, his hand deliberately placed on her rear, the pink-haired girl blushing furiously but mysteriously not protesting despite her usual shyness.

The lingering, appreciative glances he gave Skylar when he thought no one was looking, the effortless, flirtatious banter with Akari that flowed between them as naturally as breathing.

Who is the real Satori? she wondered, studying him across the table as he casually signaled for the check, his movements graceful and assured.

This kind, attentive boy who remembers my favorite chocolate flavor and makes me laugh until my sides hurt? Or the calculating, ambitious "Stray Dog" who boldly declared he doesn't need friends at the orientation?

"Something on your mind?" Satori asked suddenly, catching her stare with those penetrating eyes, his perceptiveness making her stomach flip nervously.

"N-nothing," Emi lied, dropping her gaze to her empty plate, tracing meaningless patterns in the remaining chocolate crumbs with her fingertip, hoping he couldn't see the confusion written all over her face.

"We should probably head back soon. Natalia will organize a full search party with tactical squad divisions if we're gone much longer."

Satori paid the bill despite her protests, waving away her offers to split it. They stepped back into the morning sunshine, the day having fully awakened during their time in the café.

The campus was alive now, with students hurrying between buildings for morning classes, their voices creating a background hum of activity.

Satori took her hand again as they walked, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, his fingers interlacing with hers in a way that felt both protective and possessive. His thumb occasionally brushed across her knuckles in a gesture that seemed almost absent-minded but sent tingles up her arm each time.

He filled the journey back with entertaining stories, keeping her attention so completely that she barely noticed the stares they continued to attract. His impression of Raphael's outraged face was particularly spot-on, complete with the explosive gestures and colorful language that made Emi giggle despite her lingering doubts.

The way he described Braxton's lazy teaching style, mimicking the instructor's drawling voice and perpetually bored expression, had her doubled over in laughter.

As they rounded the final bend in the path, the trees opening up to reveal their destination, Onyx House came into view—the sprawling Japanese mansion with its slightly weathered appearance, sitting atop its small hill like an aging dowager queen who had seen better days but retained her dignity.

But Emi's laughter died in her throat when she spotted the figure waiting on the porch steps, her slender silhouette immediately recognizable.

Natalia.

Her best friend stood with arms crossed tightly over her chest, one foot tapping impatiently against the wooden step. Her lavender hair caught the morning light, giving her an almost ethereal appearance despite her obvious displeasure.

Her expression was perfectly composed, a mask of cool indifference, but Emi knew her well enough to read the storm brewing in her violet eyes. Those eyes flicked from Emi's face to their joined hands, then back up again.

Guilt surged through Emi like an electric current, jolting through her body and making her stomach clench painfully. She dropped Satori's hand as if it burned, taking a half-step away from him instinctively.

"Nat! We were just—I mean, Carmen left us at the infirmary, and we got lost, and Satori said I needed to eat because I used too much of my Aspect healing him, and—" The words tumbled out in a desperate, breathless rush, each one tripping over the next in her haste to explain.

"Breathe, Emi," Natalia cut her off, her voice carefully neutral, though Emi could detect the subtle undertone of tension beneath the practiced calm. "I was just concerned. You both disappeared after training." Her eyes lingered on Satori for a moment, something unreadable passing between them that made Emi feel suddenly like an outsider.

Satori stepped forward slightly, positioning himself between the two girls in a subtle but unmistakable gesture of protection that Emi wasn't sure she needed—or wanted. There was something deliberate in the movement, a statement being made that she couldn't quite decipher.

"It was my fault," he said, his tone casual but his eyes watchful as they held Natalia's gaze. "I got us turned around after leaving the infirmary. Emi was a huge help this morning. She kept me from bleeding all over Dr. Death's floor. Her healing abilities are impressive."

Something shifted in Natalia's expression at the mention of Emi's healing—a softening around the eyes, a slight relaxation of her shoulders that spoke of genuine relief beneath the jealous tension. Emi knew that look—Natalia always worried about her, always tried to protect her, even when she pretended to be cold and disinterested.

"You're both okay, then?" she asked, her gaze softening as it landed on Emi, the concern in her voice unmistakably genuine.

"We're fine," Emi assured her, relief washing through her as the tension in the air dissipated slightly. "Satori just needed some sugar after the treatment, and we lost track of time. The café was so nice, Nat—you would've loved their pastries. They had those little fruit tarts you like..."

Natalia nodded slowly, her eyes moving between them with an unreadable expression, something calculating and cautious in her gaze. "Well, you're just in time. Braxton's called a team meeting in twenty minutes. Something about individual training schedules." She paused, her eyes lingering on a spot of chocolate still visible on Emi's collar. "You might want to change your uniform first."

The three of them stood there on the steps of Onyx House, a triangle of unspoken feelings and complicated loyalties. Emi looked from Natalia—her best friend since childhood, the person who knew all her secrets and insecurities—to Satori, the enigmatic boy who made her pulse race and her thoughts scatter like cherry blossoms in a spring breeze.

She stood between them, caught in a web she hadn't even realized was being spun around her. The morning sunlight illuminated them in stark clarity, casting shadows that seemed to stretch and connect them in ways she couldn't fully understand.

What have I gotten myself into?

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