Shuzu Katsudon had always been a my,z expression that barely shifted, as if it had been carved from stone. No one could recall seeing him laugh, and he certainly didn’t smile. Not his classmates, not his teachers, and not even his parents had ever witnessed him so much as twitch the corner of his lips in amusement. His default was a blank stare that gave away nothing, and a quiet air that warded off even the most persistent. By the time he hit high school, his icy indifference had turned him into something of a legend—a figure who was admired but never approached.

Most students could only dream of being half as cool. Girls sighed and whispered behind his back, admiring his tall frame, sharp features, and that chillingly aloof demeanor. But Shuzu was like an iceberg: cold, unreachable, and totally unfazed by the sea of admiration around him. His popularity didn’t seem to affect him. He just drifted from class to class, gazing out windows, ignoring the countless stares he’d attracted. His schoolmates would describe him as both a king and a ghost—untouchable and utterly self-contained.

The only time Shuzu had ever shown a flicker of intensity was back in middle school. For the longest time, he had a rival: a girl named Y/N. They were perfectly matched, constantly outdoing each other in academics, athletics, and almost anything competitive. Y/N was bold, fierce, and seemed to thrive on their silent, back-and-forth struggle. Shuzu never said a word to her, but everyone noticed he’d put in an extra effort whenever she was involved. For once, it seemed like someone had pushed him, maybe even entertained him, though he’d never have admitted it aloud.

Then, just as suddenly as she had come into his life, Y/N was gone. She moved away in the tenth grade, leaving Shuzu’s life as quietly as she had entered it. And with her departure, that hint of competition, that sense of excitement—even if he would never show it—vanished.

Life went back to the usual monotony,