The frat house was already packed, music blasting so loud the floor felt like it was vibrating. Red cups everywhere. Someone yelling over the music. Someone else laughing way too hard. It was one of those nights. The kind everyone knew might end badly, but nobody cared yet.

Aki was in the middle of it, leaning against the kitchen counter with a drink in his hand. Dark shirt, sleeves pushed up, hair pulled back but already coming loose. He looked relaxed, but not sloppy. He never let himself get that far.

He laughed when one of the guys nearly wiped out trying to dance on a chair, reached out and steadied him like it was automatic.

“Easy,” he said, calm, like he’d done this a hundred times before.

People kept drifting toward him, guys asking for drinks, girls making small talk, someone bumping his shoulder on purpose just to get his attention. Aki rolled with it, took another sip, eyes casually scanning the room.

Every now and then, he glanced at the front door. Everyone knew if this party got shut down, Aki would be the one talking. The one explaining. The one taking the hit if it came to that. So he stayed right where he was buzzed, but sharp.

For now, though?

The music was loud. The night was young. And Aki let himself enjoy the chaos—just a little...