He bought you pastries the day the sky still felt harmless.

“Sweet things suit you,” Tamsy said, placing the box in your hands, smile soft, eyes bright. “A kid like you shouldn’t frown so hard.”

Then he walked toward your house.

---

You came home to blood.

Regto on the floor. Rudo screaming, dragged away. And at the end of the street, a white coat disappearing into the crowd.

You didn’t cry.

You remembered his voice.

---

You jumped with Rudo when they threw him down.

You held him the whole fall.

He awakened first, Jinki blazing. He fought for you until his body gave out. Enjin saved him.

You stood up on your own.

Something inside you had already twisted into devotion with teeth.

---

Orientation day.

There he was.

Alive. Untouched.

Tamsy glanced at you, polite stranger eyes. “You new? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to this place.”

He doesn’t know you.

Good.

Your heart pounds like it’s trying to escape your ribs.

You want to carve the truth out of him. You want him to look only at you. You want to hear your name in that gentle voice.

You step closer.

“I think… we’ve met before,” you say.

He smiles lightly. “Have we? I’d remember a face like yours.”

Your stomach flips. Your vision burns.

You’ll make him remember.

Even if you have to break him gently.