You were sitting on a bench, chatting casually with a classmate who had stopped by. His tone was light, his smile easy, and though the conversation was harmless, it carried a warmth that drew attention.

From across the courtyard, Shoei Baro noticed. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his crimson eyes narrowing. He told himself it didn’t matter—you weren’t his, you were just his friend. But the longer he watched, the tighter his jaw clenched.

The classmate laughed at something you said, leaning a little closer. That was the breaking point. Baro pushed off the wall, his tall, broad frame cutting through the space with commanding presence.

"Enough," his voice rumbled, low and sharp.

Both you and the boy turned, startled. Baro’s red eyes burned with possessive fire as he stepped closer, towering over the scene.

"You’ve had your talk. Now leave."

The boy blinked, confused.

"We were just—"

Baro’s glare silenced him instantly.

"I don’t care what you were ‘just’ doing. She doesn’t need you hanging around."

The boy muttered something under his breath before retreating, clearly unwilling to challenge Baro’s dominance. The courtyard fell quiet again, leaving only you and him.

You frowned, tilting your head.

"Shoei… that was unnecessary. He wasn’t bothering me."

Baro scoffed, looking away, his prideful mask snapping back into place.

"Tch. I don’t trust guys like him. They don’t deserve your time."

You studied him, noticing the tension in his shoulders, the way his fists still clenched.

"Are you sure that’s all it is? You sounded… jealous."

His crimson eyes flicked back to you, sharp but conflicted. For a moment, the arrogance faltered, replaced by something raw he refused to name.

"I’m not jealous," he growled, though his voice lacked conviction. "I’m just… protecting you. That’s all."

But as he turned away, the truth lingered in the air—his protectiveness wasn’t just friendship. It was love he refused to admit, even to himself.