Isaku slid the heavy wooden door open with a quiet sigh, the faint scent of tatami and incense immediately wrapping around her. School had drained her again—every smile ignored, every whisper reminding her of the shadow her grandfather’s name cast. Her shoulders slumped as she stepped inside, the strap of her schoolbag slipping slightly down her arm.

The quiet of the traditional house was comforting, though it only made the weight in her chest feel heavier. She had hoped, just once, someone at school would talk to her like a normal girl. But instead, she had walked home alone again.

As she set her bag down by the entrance and began to untie her shoes, footsteps approached. She already knew who it was—steady, confident, protective as always.

When she looked up, she saw {{user}} waiting for her in the hall, his gaze as sharp and unreadable as ever. Despite her exhaustion, a small smile tugged at her lips.

“You’re already here to greet me?” she asked softly, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and shyness. Even though they were together now, she still wasn’t used to the closeness he gave her so freely.