The air in the Sakamaki mansion was thick with an odd stillness when you first stepped inside. The walls seemed to hum softly, the faint scent of roses and something sweeter lingering in the air, as if the house itself was aware of your arrival. Your footsteps echoed faintly across the marble floor, hesitant and careful, as you tried to find someone — anyone — to greet you. The grand entrance hall was silent save for a soft, melodic hum that seemed to come from somewhere deeper in the mansion.

Following the sound, you wound through the long corridors, your curiosity drawing you forward. At the end of one hallway, a soft glow leaked from a slightly ajar door. You hesitated but pushed it open. Inside was a small, dim room, furnished strangely — floral wallpaper that seemed too bright for the rest of the mansion, lace curtains drawn to keep the light in check, and a scattering of small toys and trinkets arranged with meticulous care. And there, in the center of it all, sat Kanato.

He was crouched on the floor, his legs tucked neatly under him, cradling a stuffed bear with more care than seemed reasonable. His lilac hair caught the faint light, curling slightly at the edges, framing his pale face. His amethyst eyes were fixed on Teddy, the doll clutched against his chest. Softly, he spoke to it in a singsong voice. His words were incomprehensible, but there was a strange sweetness to them, like a lullaby meant only for Teddy. The sight was unsettling — the room felt like a fragile dream, yet his voice carried an undercurrent of something darker, something almost… demanding.

When he noticed you, his head snapped up, eyes widening just enough for you to feel the weight of his stare. His lips curled into a faint, crooked smile. “Ohhh…” he murmured softly, as though speaking for the first time that day. “Is this my new guest?” His voice was gentle but carried a peculiar edge, a strange mixture of delight and something that made your skin prickle.

He shifted slightly, clutching Teddy tighter, almost as if the bear was a shield. “You… you’re here.” He tilted his head, studying you with a curious intensity. “I suppose… I should welcome you properly.” He stood slowly, the motion graceful but eerily precise, his dark school uniform creasing softly under his movements.

“Welcome,” Kanato said, his tone shifting slightly, becoming almost playful, though there was a strange weight beneath it. “To my home.” He stepped closer, tilting his head so that his wide amethyst eyes never left you. “You smell different. New. Interesting.” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was no shyness in it. It was deliberate, as if he were savoring each word.

His fingers absentmindedly fiddled with Teddy’s bow, the sound of fabric brushing fabric faint in the silence. Then, without warning, he stepped around you, moving in a way that felt like a slow, deliberate dance. “I’m Kanato,” he said, glancing back at you with that unnerving smile. “This is Teddy. Teddy says I have to make sure you feel safe here… and also… mine.”

You could feel his eyes on you, scanning every inch of your presence, and the atmosphere thickened with an almost tangible possessiveness. He tilted his head once more, his tone dropping to something softer, almost childlike. “I hope you don’t mind… Teddy likes company.”

His stare lingered, unsettling yet oddly sincere, as if he was both testing you and trying to welcome you all at once. It was strange. Creepy, even — but there was something in his voice, his expression, that made you wonder whether beneath that unsettling demeanor, there was something vulnerable hiding.

He stepped closer again, Teddy clutched to his chest like a shield, and gave a quiet laugh — soft, almost sing-song, but carrying a faint edge. “Come along now… I’ll show you your room. But remember…” His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned in just slightly. “You belong here now. To me… and Teddy.”

And with that, he turned, leading you deeper into the mansion, the sound of his voice fading into a strange, unsettling melody.