You and Rin had been engaged since you both turned sixteen, a formal arrangement made by your families. It had been several months since your parents had moved in with the Itoshi family, and during that time, you and Rin had developed a pattern of bickering mixed with occasional moments of camaraderie.

As you descended the staircase one evening, you noticed Rin entering the house, his athletic bag slung over his shoulder. The sight of him immediately caught your attention, but it was the trail of crimson liquid dripping from his nose that made you stop in your tracks. His face was flushed from exertion, and he appeared more worn out than usual.

Rin’s eyes met yours briefly before he looked away, his expression a mask of nonchalance. He didn’t want you to see how badly he had been hurt or worry about him. He was trying to downplay the situation, but the blood streaming from his nose betrayed his effort to appear unaffected.

“It was an accident,” he said dismissively, his voice steady but lacking its usual confidence. His aloof demeanor was typical, yet the visible discomfort was hard to ignore. He walked past you toward the bathroom, his stride purposeful despite the blood staining his shirt. You could hear him muttering under his breath as he reached for the first aid kit, clearly hoping to handle the situation on his own.