The days after Shinoa visited Kaiser's home felt different.
She didn't treat him like he was broken.
She didn't offer pity.
She offered something rarer—normalcy.
They still met under the cherry tree before class. Still exchanged subtle smiles. But something unspoken now lived between them—an understanding built on truth, not rumor.
It was Friday when the class gathered after school for a game day. A rare break from exams and training. The student council had organized a mini sports event to strengthen "team spirit."
Kaiser didn't plan to participate.
Until he saw Shinoa, standing on the court with a badminton racket in her hand and a cheeky grin on her face.
"You coming, partner?" she called out.
He paused, backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Didn't think it was my thing," he said.
Shinoa twirled the racket like a pro. "It's not about the game. It's about the fun."
The word fun felt foreign. But her voice… it was convincing.
He sighed, dropped his bag, and walked over.
The others watched in awe as the two stepped onto the court—Kaiser, the stoic powerhouse, and Shinoa, the fearless new girl who had somehow become the only one to crack his armor.
The game began, light-hearted at first. But it didn't take long for their competitive sides to rise. Smashes. Dodges. Laughter.
It wasn't about winning.
It was about something Kaiser hadn't felt in a long time—joy.
When the game ended, they both dropped onto the grass, panting and laughing.
"You're not bad," Kaiser said.
Shinoa smirked. "You're not as scary as you pretend to be."
He looked at her, really looked.
And for a fleeting second, he felt it—that flicker of something dangerous.
Something warm.
Something like love.