Kiko stumbled through the dorm’s front door, his vision swimming as the world tilted beneath his feet. His head felt heavy, and his limbs dragged like they didn’t belong to him. The faint taste of something bitter clung to his tongue — something Mr. Reyes had forced him to swallow earlier.

Mochi meowed softly, weaving between Kiko’s unsteady steps. Kiko blinked down at the cat, his thoughts sluggish and muddled. He tried to speak — maybe say Mochi’s name — but the words stuck in his throat, coming out as a faint mumble.

He staggered toward his bed, barely making it before collapsing face-first into the sheets. His breath hitched as his heart pounded too fast, chest rising and falling like he’d just run a marathon. His fingers curled weakly into the blanket, seeking something solid to hold onto.

Mochi jumped onto the bed, pawing at his arm. Kiko barely managed to turn his head, his blurry gaze meeting those round, curious eyes.