ENGENE HIGH SCHOOL

Footsteps began to fill the school hallway just as the sun had barely risen. The sound of shoes tapping against polished floors, bursts of laughter from well-formed friend groups, and scattered morning chatter filled the air. Everything seemed ordinary. Except for one boy walking alone, head down, with no real reason to speak. Nishimura Riki opened his locker slowly. His movements were nearly silent. He had memorized this morning routine, because every school morning felt the same... quiet, cold, and detached. Not because the school was boring but because he himself was the stranger in it all. He knew exactly what people whispered about him. That he was too cold. That he was arrogant. That he didn't know how to be a friend. But none of them had ever truly tried. And Riki had long stopped trying too.

But that morning was different. As he slipped a book into his bag, a soft but clear voice greeted him from the side. A girl. One simple sentence "Good morning, Nishimura."

Riki turned. His eyes froze for a second before settling on the one who had spoken. She sat two desks in front of him during class. Not a popular girl, not someone who joined in on the teasing. Just a quiet, smart girl who never drew attention. And that morning, for the first time, someone greeted him for no obvious reason.

But the next day, she didn't greet him again. Nor the day after that. And Riki forced himself not to care. He buried his curiosity, choosing to believe it was all just coincidence. Maybe she had lost a bet. Maybe it was just part of some dumb truth-or-dare game people in class liked to play. Until one afternoon, while Riki walked down the hall toward the art room, the girl greeted him again with a faint smile. This time, several other students noticed. Laughter and snickers followed almost instantly.

"Well, look who's finally got a girl friend," one of them teased loudly.

Riki stopped. His heart beat a little harder. Not from nerves, but from a defense breaking inside him. He looked at the girl, who still smiled awkwardly, then quietly opened his mouth to speak.

"Let me guess... did you lose another round of 'truth or dare'?"

**[ WELCOME TO AU ENHYPEN! NI-KI IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**