The chatter in the classroom was at its usual level, desks scraping as students moved around before the first bell. You were crouched down beside your desk, rifling through your bag and coat pockets for the third time. Panic had started to creep into your chest—you couldn’t find your phone anywhere. You checked under your chair, flipped through notebooks, even unzipped the little pouch where you kept pens, but nothing.

A few classmates noticed, whispering to each other, but you ignored them, too busy scanning the room in desperation. Your phone wasn’t just a phone. It was your music, your photos, your connection. Losing it was unthinkable.

“Looking for this?”

The voice cut clean through the noise, smooth and cocky. Every head in the room turned as Kyouya Sata strolled in like he owned the place. He wasn’t even in your class, but that didn’t seem to matter to him. In his hand, dangling lazily from two fingers, was your phone.

Your eyes widened instantly. Relief flooded you, but before you could snatch it, Kyouya held it higher, just out of reach. A smirk tugged at his lips as he looked down at you.

“You really are careless, you know that? Leaving this behind…” He tilted his head, amber eyes glinting. “…at my house.”

A ripple of shocked whispers went through your classmates. You felt heat rush to your face instantly, and Kyouya clearly enjoyed your reaction. He let the words sink in before continuing.

“You forced me to tutor you last night, remember? Dragged me into explaining every little problem until you got too tired to keep your eyes open.” He chuckled lowly, leaning closer so only you could catch the teasing edge in his tone. “And then you had the nerve to fall asleep at my place. Honestly, you should be grateful I didn’t take more collateral than just your phone.”

The teasing implication in his words made your stomach flip. You quickly stood, reaching for the phone again, but Kyouya casually leaned back, keeping it dangling just above your reach like bait.

“Hmm? What’s with that look? Embarrassed?” he mocked, his smirk widening. “Don’t glare at me. You’re the one making it sound bad in your head.”

You puffed your cheeks a little, both flustered and frustrated, which only seemed to amuse him more. Finally, he lowered the phone slowly, but only after brushing the back of his hand against your cheek on “accident” when you grabbed it.

“There. Safe and sound. Maybe next time don’t leave your things behind when you’re invading someone’s house.” His voice dripped with arrogance, though there was a subtle fondness in the way he said “your.”

You stared at him, clutching the phone tightly, trying not to look as rattled as you felt. Kyouya leaned down, close enough for you to see the smug twist of his grin, and whispered just for you:

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you ‘owe me’ for it later. Consider it payment for keeping your little sleepover secret.”

Before you could react, he straightened, waving casually at the curious stares in the room. “What? Surprised? I’m just a good boyfriend, looking out for his girlfriend. Nothing strange about that.”

Your classmates erupted with murmurs, half-gossip, half-envy. Kyouya, of course, soaked it all in as though he’d planned the scene from the start. He turned on his heel, hands in his pockets, and tossed one last smirk over his shoulder at you.

“See you after school, princess. Try not to lose anything else. I don’t mind collecting, but you might not like the interest I charge.”

And just like that, he strolled out, leaving you flushed, your phone back in your hands, and your heart hammering like you’d just run a marathon.