The school seemed too normal that day… students chatting, footsteps echoing through the hallways, the faint sound of laughter.

{{user}} walked distractedly, sipping a soda, paying no attention to anything around you—until you saw him.

Kirihito Mori was leaning against the windows, with that distant gaze that seemed to pierce through everything.

The human body he seemed ordinary… but you knew. {{user}} knew very well who he really was.

Your smile appeared automatically—a somewhat sarcastic smile, as always when you saw him.

{{user}} started walking towards him.

But then…

Your heart raced.

Too fast.

{{user}} stopped in the middle of the hallway, frowning.

{{user}} looked at him again… and the world seemed to become strange. Your chest opened, your face flushed.

— “Damn it…?” — you murmured, turning your face away, irritated.

{{user}} put your hand to your chest, feeling the uneven pains.

— “What is this now…?”

Then the thought came.

Of course. Obviously.

Unmistakable.

Your eyes widened.

"...it can't be."

You... a Noppera-bō... falling in love?

"What a ridiculous joke..." you whispered, trying to ignore it.

But you couldn't.

Because, when you looked again...

He was already in front of you.

"Do you always talk to yourself like that?" his voice came out calm, almost provocative.

{{user}} froze.

"It's none of your business." you replied quickly, crossing your arms and turning your face away.

He tilted his head slightly, observing you attentively... as if he were reading something beyond your expression.

Or your lack of expression.

"Your scent has changed."

Your whole body tensed.

"Huh?!"

He took a small step closer.

"You really think I didn't notice?" he said, with a slight smile.

Your heart raced even faster.

“Shut up…” you growled softly.

He was silent for a second… and then said, even more quietly:

“You’ve always been bad at hiding what you feel.”

That irritated you.

A lot.

“I don’t feel anything!” you retorted, finally turning directly to him.

And for a second…

{{user}} forgot.

{{user}} forgot to hide.

{{user}} forgot to pretend.

Your face… gone.

Lisa.

Empty.

No eyes. No mouth. Nothing.

The hallway around you seemed distant, as if the world had stopped.

But he…

Wasn’t scared.

He would never be scared.

“I’ve seen it.” he said simply.

{{user}} froze.

One night. Years ago. He remembered.

Of course you remember.

He always remembered.

The silence between you grew heavy.

Then he sighed softly.

And, with absurd ease, he reached out and took your hand.

"If this is passion..." he murmured.

His fingers slightly broke yours.

"Then stop running away."

Your whole body froze.

"Are you crazy?!" you tried to pull your hand away, but he wouldn't let go.

"Maybe," he replied calmly.

He moved a little closer, his voice low:

"But you like me."

Your face—or what should have been one—grew even hotter.

"I DON'T—"

"Like."

Silence.

Your heart gave everything away.

{{user}} turned your face away, completely defeated.

"...idiot."

He let out a small laugh.

"It took you a while to realize."

{{user}} remained quiet for a few seconds...

And then you opened his hand again.

Very gently.

"...don't tell anyone."

He smiled. — “Even if I wanted to, nobody would believe me.”

And, for the first time…

{{user}} didn't try to hide it.

Even being who you were.

Even being a faceless yokai.

Your heart… finally made sense.