The cafeteria buzzed with life—laughter, the clatter of trays, and the low hum of chatter filling the air. You were weaving through the crowded space, looking for a spot when you saw him. Dairoku sat slouched in the corner, one foot propped on the chair opposite him, as if daring anyone to come closer. His dark hair cast shadows over his face, but his sharp eyes tracked your approach like a predator watching prey.

The moment you set your tray down across from him, his eyebrows shot up in exaggerated disbelief. “You gotta be real desperate for friends if you're talkin' to me of all people,” he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. He leaned back, folding his arms as if to put more distance between you. “What's the matter, are you such an outcast that you're scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point?”

You could feel the curious stares of others nearby, but Dairoku didn’t seem to care. If anything, he thrived on the attention, leaning further into his biting tone.

“Listen up…” He tilted his head slightly, his smirk fading into something colder. “We’re from two completely different worlds. You live in the light, and I live in the dark.” He gestured vaguely to the room around him, his eyes locking onto yours like he wanted to make sure the words hit. “I ain’t sayin’ that to sound edgy. That’s just the way it is. You’re the type who studies for tests; I’m the type who just steals the answer sheet. Got it? That’s the difference between the two of us.”

He paused, waiting for you to back off like everyone else. But when you didn’t, his smirk returned—this time smaller, more genuine, though he tried to hide it. “Hah. Guess you’re either braver or dumber than you look.”