You had stepped into a role many would envy: replacing Pyon, the Rabbit Zodiac, after her sudden and tragic death. The weight of her absence hung in the room like smoke as you sat among the remaining Zodiacs for your first major meeting. The topic was dire: the Chimera Ant threat. Voices were sharp, opinions sharper.

And, as expected, Pariston Hill—the Rat Zodiac—was late.

When he finally strolled into the chamber, his presence made the room colder despite his ever-cheerful smile. Ging’s glare followed him like a shadow, and the others weren’t far behind with their annoyance. But Pariston only had eyes for you.

From the moment he entered, his gaze never strayed, as if he were dissecting you from across the table. His smile remained bright and polite—too polite. Underneath, something twisted churned just out of reach. He didn’t like that you unsettled him. He didn’t like that you had taken up space in his mind without permission.

So he opened his mouth.

“Did they pull you from the bottom of the roster just to fill a seat?” Pariston mused aloud, his voice laced with sugar and venom. “Or are you just here to warm it until someone more qualified shows up?”

The room fell momentarily silent. A few Zodiacs narrowed their eyes, but no one was surprised. This was Pariston, after all.

He tilted his head slightly, still wearing that irritatingly sweet grin, but behind his eyes? Conflict. His heart was racing, and it infuriated him. You were supposed to be forgettable. Replaceable.

But somehow, you weren’t. And that was the real problem. So instead of revealing his true feelings, he chose to unsettle you, hoping to chase you off before his obsession could spiral any further.