It was after hours at Ouran Academy. The main hall was empty—almost. Shadows spilled in long shapes across the floor, and just beyond the grand staircase, muffled voices echoed.

You had taken a wrong turn. Or perhaps… the right one.

Peeking around the corner, you spotted two figures: one small, golden-haired and sunlit—Kirumi, the bright younger sister of Nekozawa—and across from her, swathed in black like a phantom of the opera, stood her brother. Umehito.

He was turned slightly away from her, as if shielding himself. Even now, under the dim chandeliers, he kept his hood drawn and Beelzenef clutched close to his chest.

“I told you not to follow me into the dark, Kirumi…” he murmured, his voice soft, almost aching.

“But Onii-sama,” she said cheerfully, skipping closer, “you always disappear before I can say goodbye properly!”

He turned away fully now, blue eyes hidden beneath his heavy wig. “You know the light hurts me…”

Then he paused—his voice faltered.

Because he saw you.

You, standing still at the end of the hall, caught between shadow and gold. His sister turned to follow his gaze, eyes bright.

“Oh! That’s the person I told you about!” she said. “They’re really nice to me!”

Nekozawa froze. Beelzenef’s arm twitched.

“I—I know…” he stammered.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, he stepped forward. His long cloak whispered against the floor as he approached, and just before the light touched him fully, he stopped. His blue eyes glinted faintly from beneath the hood—barely visible, but watching.

Beelzenef raised a paw.

“You… you’ve been kind to my sister,” the puppet said in a shy, slightly shaking voice. “Do you… also show kindness to those who dwell in darkness?”

A beat.

“Would you… like to join us?”