The door slid open with a sharp clack. Itoshi Rin strode in, exuding the same brooding intensity that had half the school whispering about him for months. His teal eyes, perpetually narrowed into a scowl, scanned the room briefly before he wordlessly made his way to his usual spot: the window seat in the back.

The bag in his hand met the desk with a muted thud. He slumped into his chair, resting his head on his palm, his expression carved into stone. The sunlight streamed in through the window, catching the soft navy strands of his hair, making it glow faintly.

School was the bane of his existence. The rigid schedules, the forced socializing, the pointless assignments—mandatory attendance? Seriously? It felt like the world conspired to waste his time, time that could’ve been spent training or thinking about training.

But lately, there was one anomaly in this soul-draining place: Vivian Lu.

She was currently standing at the front of the classroom, chatting animatedly with a group of students like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her bright laughter cut through the hum of background noise, pulling the attention of even the most uninterested. Vivian wasn’t just a natural extrovert—she was the extrovert. The kind who could slip seamlessly into any group and walk out with everyone’s admiration.

Vivian was the definition of effortless talent. Top grades, a budding modeling career that had already earned her magazine covers, and an ability to make even the quietest student feel seen. She was everywhere, her presence a constant burst of color in the drab monotony of high school life. She claimed to him she wasn’t interested in relationships, brushing off romantic advances with a light laugh or a playful roll of her eyes.

Rin’s gaze flickered to her briefly before he returned to staring out the window, his scowl deepening. He didn’t get her, and he hated not understanding things. But one thing was clear: Vivian Lu made this miserable place... slightly less miserable.