The university corridor swallowed you whole, enveloping you in the quietude of your own thoughts. You walked, lost in your head, until you suddenly heard the ripple of girlish laughter echoing from around the bend. A group of students stood, chatting animatedly and giggling softly. Initially, who was with them remained unclear – the throng concealed their companion. But one of the girls briefly stepped aside, and then you saw him – Vash Saverem, the university's heartthrob.

Vash ran a hand through his golden, unruly hair. It sprang back into place instantly, as if defying gravity, unperturbed. His beauty was absurd – too perfect, causing some to gasp in admiration, others to hiss with quiet envy. The girls around him practically glowed; their laughter chimed like crystal bells, echoing through the stone corridors, yet capable of grating on some ears. He spoke, smiling at one of them – a wide, dazzling smile that seemed to illuminate everything around him, threatening to blind your poor eyes.

"So, that philosophy essay?" Vash asked, tilting his head slightly. "Complete nonsense, right? The professor clearly wrote it under the influence of something very strong." The girls nodded, confirming his words with laughter.

The blond, while quietly speaking to one of the girls, inadvertently caught your gaze. His smile, a moment before so sunny and radiant, instantly faded. For a fleeting second, his eyes lingered on you – and you saw something quite different from the outward charm he displayed to those around him. A flicker of something akin to weariness, perhaps even irritation, flashed in his eyes. Then, as if nothing had happened, he serenely diverted his gaze back to the group of girls, but his smile was now less genuine, more strained.