"So this is the cafeteria."
"The dorm's storage area."
"And here's the bathroom!" The gingerhead practically kicked the door open like he was revealing treasure.
"Hey, watch it!" came a chorus of annoyed voices from inside.
Kaia's eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of a bunch of naked guys mid-shower. He scoffed, turned his head, and walked off like he'd just seen a particularly stupid species of insect.
"What's with that look!?" one of them shouted indignantly.
Kaia didn't bother replying. He just kept walking, long legs taking him farther away as the ever-bubbly gingerhead bounced right behind him.
Something's off. Kaia's brow twitched. We've been touring this damn dorm for almost an hour, and this guy's battery hasn't drained even a little?
"I'll show you our room next! Oh, and I'm your roommate!" the chatterbox grinned, beaming like it was the best news in the universe. "I personally asked the professor for that!"
Kaia's pace quickened.
Seriously, why!?
But of course, the ginger menace wasn't one to give up.
"Ohh? Are we taking another lap around the dorm?" he chirped, utterly unfazed.
Kaia broke into a sweat. Of all the things he hated in the world—clingy guys who latched on like gum to a shoe topped the list.
Without even thinking, he started running.
"Haha!" The guy sprinted ahead of him—laughing.
What the hell is he laughing at!?
***
"Ha… huff…"Both of them slumped against a wall, breathless.
"You walk way too fast," the gingerhead wheezed, still managing a grin.
Kaia clenched his jaw. Fuck…Too winded to even bother with a snarky reply, he looked up at the sky. It's getting dark already...? The sun dipped low, casting gold streaks over the dorm's edge.
"Phew! Honestly, that felt like a solid workout," the ginger chirped, stretching like he'd just left the gym.
Kaia's gaze turned sharp.
"Mind if I ask something?"
That caught the ginger off guard. He blinked, only to find Kaia locking eyes with him—no escape.
"Why were you so eager to escort me?" Kaia's voice was flat, but his stare? Icy.
The gingerhead laughed—awkward, forced. "Oh, that?"
The smile dropped.
He straightened, suddenly serious.
"…Let's talk somewhere else," he said quietly. "I know a place."
Kaia pushed open the attic door, stepping out onto the sloped rooftop. The wooden tiles creaked under his feet. A breeze brushed past as he climbed up and sat down casually, his gaze fixed on the night sky. Behind him, the gingerhead followed—holding two glasses and a cold drink bottle like they were on some kind of midnight picnic.
They didn't speak for a while. Just sat there. Side by side. Staring at the moon.
Kaia shut his eyes.The pale light washed over him. His mind, however, drifted elsewhere—back to the last time he sat under the moon, back when his sister's laughter still echoed in his memories.
"Here."The ginger offered a glass after pouring the fizzy drink.
Kaia took it with a quiet "Thanks." As if the moon had melted away his tension—just for a moment.
Fingertips brushing against the glass, he slowly reached under his shirt and pulled out a small locket. The silver surface glinted faintly, and the carved moon on it caught the light just right.
"Is that… a gift?" the gingerhead asked, leaning in for a closer look.
Kaia, without hesitation, pushed his face away. "I suppose it might be," he muttered, tucking the locket back under his shirt.
"Oh? You don't remember who gave it to you?"
"I—I…"He hesitated. A dry click of his tongue."Dunno," he said at last, eyes never leaving the glowing moon.Then, voice sharpening—"Speak."
The ginger blinked. "What?"
"The reason you brought me here," Kaia said, turning just enough to glare at him from the corner of his eye.
"Oh… right."The ginger looked down at the drink in his hands, gripping the glass tighter."I guess… I must've looked really desperate to you, huh?"
His voice cracked on the edges of a laugh that never really came. He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Kaia turned his body to face him fully. His stare—unblinking.The ginger kept looking at the soda, almost like it might say something instead.
"…Well. I was desperate."
"They mentioned something about merit points," Kaia said quietly, unusually calm. "Is that what this is about?"
"Y-Yeah…" the gingerhead mumbled, nervously twitching his fingers. "I'm sorry I approached you just for those damn points."
Kaia tilted his head slightly, one eyebrow raised. "It's not just about points, is it? What exactly are these merit points?" he asked, leaning in with a calm, probing tone.
The ginger shifted uncomfortably. "If your merit points fall too low… you get expelled."
Kaia's voice dropped into something close to concern. "You don't want to leave this place?"
"That's not it," he sighed, eyes clouding. "It's just… this school—getting in isn't easy if you're not rich, or noble, or from a powerful magician family. It's everything. It decides everything." He ruffled his hair with a frustrated groan. "And me? I'm none of those things."
I guess Kiki was swimming in gold coins then, Kaia thought bitterly, imagining her backstroking through a sea of money. He gritted his teeth, then spoke aloud again, "But why this school? You could've chosen somewhere else."
"It's not that simple…"He hesitated. His body tensed.
"I… I guess I can trust you. Just—please don't tell anyone."His voice wavered. Vulnerable. Hesitant.
Friend?Kaia's eyes darkened for a moment. That word always felt like a thorn—bittersweet and sharp."…Yeah," he said finally. "As a friend."
The ginger nodded faintly, then took a breath. "There's this professor… and—" he swallowed, "he's blackmailing me."
Kaia's posture shifted, sharp and still. "How?"
"My parents owe him. A massive debt. They… they basically sold me to him."
Kaia's eyes widened. That wasn't what he expected. He'd assumed financial trouble—not this level of cruelty.
"He let me into this school, yeah… but he used to beat me. A lot. After begging and begging, he agreed to let me study here—but only on one condition. I have to do whatever it takes to stay. If I get expelled, I go back to being his slave."
Kaia clenched his jaw. A vein popped on his neck. That bastard…
"Who is this professor?" Kaia growled.
"He's from the Trial of Ashlan house. He teaches there mostly, but sometimes takes our classes too. I don't even know his name. I try to avoid him… try not to hear his voice. At his home, he wouldn't even use my name. Just slurs. Insults."
Kaia stayed quiet. Listening. The night felt colder.
"I'm not bad at magic," the ginger muttered. "But the others here? They've had elite training since birth. I couldn't keep up. I fell behind. My rank dropped. My merit points vanished."
He gave a weak smile. "You were a chance. Helping new students boosts our points. That's why I chased you around like a maniac."
Kaia looked at him for a long moment. The guy stared into his drink like it held all his answers.
"…I see," Kaia finally said, voice softer than before. He turned his eyes back to the moon."I'll help you earn those merit points."
The ginger looked up, stunned. "Really?"
Kaia smirked. "Yeah."
The guy let out a breathless chuckle and raised his glass. "Fine."