Chapter 3: The Man Behind the Smile
The classroom remained silent.
Dozens of eyes shifted between the two boys at the back.
One stood with a warm smile that instantly drew people in.
The other remained seated, half-slouched in his chair, looking as if he would rather be asleep.
Yet somehow—
Arata's silence felt heavier.
Yuto swallowed.
"...You two seriously know each other?"
The handsome boy chuckled.
"That hurts. We go way back."
Arata looked at him lazily.
"I don't remember inviting you here."
The class laughed softly.
The boy only smiled wider.
"Still rude as ever."
Then he turned toward the teacher's desk and bowed slightly.
"My apologies for the disturbance. I'm Kaito Himura. I transferred here today."
The teacher, who had been stunned for a moment, cleared her throat.
"Y-Yes. Everyone, this is Kaito Himura. Please welcome him."
Girls immediately straightened their posture.
Several boys clicked their tongues in annoyance.
Kaito gave the room an effortless smile.
"I look forward to getting along with everyone."
The response was instant.
"He's so polite..."
"Way better than certain people."
Someone glanced at Arata.
Arata yawned.
"There's one empty seat near the back," the teacher said.
Kaito looked over.
Conveniently—
the desk beside Arata was empty.
"Perfect."
He walked over and sat down.
Yuto leaned toward Arata.
"Why do I feel like trouble just sat next to you?"
"You finally developed instincts," Arata replied.
Kaito laughed softly.
"I missed this side of you."
"I didn't."
At the front of the room, Ayame quietly watched.
Riku leaned close.
"You know him?"
"No."
"You looked at him twice."
"I blinked."
Mika crossed her arms.
"He seems fake."
Hina tilted her head.
"He seems nice."
Mika looked at her.
"That's why you'd get kidnapped first."
Hina gasped.
Class resumed.
Or at least, it tried to.
Every few minutes someone looked back at Kaito.
He answered questions perfectly.
Spoke politely.
Smiled naturally.
Even the teacher looked impressed.
Meanwhile—
Arata placed his head on the desk again.
Kaito glanced sideways.
"You're still wasting yourself."
"Mhm."
"You could at least pretend to care."
"You already do enough pretending for both of us."
For the first time—
Kaito's smile paused.
Then returned.
"Sharp tongue."
"Leave me alone."
"Not yet."
Lunch break.
The moment the bell rang, girls surrounded Kaito's desk.
Questions came from every direction.
"Where did you transfer from?"
"Do you play sports?"
"Are you single?"
Yuto stared.
"He adapted fast."
Sora whistled.
"Monster-level face card."
Daichi ate in silence.
Arata stood up.
"I'm going to the rooftop."
Kaito rose too.
"I'll join."
"No."
"I wasn't asking."
The rooftop door opened.
Warm wind moved across the open sky.
Arata walked to the fence and leaned against it.
Kaito stood a few steps behind him.
For a moment—
neither spoke.
Then Kaito sighed.
"You still live like this."
"Meaning?"
"Detached. Lazy. Empty."
Arata glanced over his shoulder.
"You came here to insult me?"
"I came because you disappeared."
"I improved your life then."
Kaito smiled faintly.
"You know why I'm here."
"No."
"You're lying."
Arata turned back toward the city.
"I'm bored already."
Kaito's voice lowered.
"You're still with her, aren't you?"
Silence.
The wind continued to blow.
Then—
Arata spoke without emotion.
"Careful."
Kaito's smile thinned.
"So it's true."
Arata slowly looked at him.
And for the first time since morning—
the laziness was gone.
His eyes were cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"You should leave before you ruin your first day."
Kaito chuckled.
"There you are."
The rooftop door burst open.
Yuto, Sora, and Daichi entered carrying food.
They froze.
"...Did we interrupt a murder scene?" Yuto asked.
Sora looked between them.
"I vote yes."
Kaito instantly smiled again.
"Not at all. We were catching up."
Daichi looked at Arata.
Then at Kaito.
Then sat down.
That alone said enough.
The boys ate together awkwardly.
Mostly because Kaito somehow blended into the group as if he belonged there.
He joked with Yuto.
Helped Hina when she accidentally dropped her drink after coming upstairs to deliver something to Yuto.
Complimented Sora's terrible hairstyle.
Even Daichi gave one short reply.
Within minutes—
everyone found him easy to like.
Everyone except Arata.
Arata watched in silence.
Then muttered—
"Same disease. Different victims."
Yuto blinked.
"What?"
"Nothing."
After school—
The mansion gates opened.
Arata entered quietly.
Inside, the house was calm.
Ayame sat at the dining table surrounded by books.
She looked up.
"You're late."
"You sound disappointed."
"I'm annoyed."
"Close enough."
He sat beside her.
Ayame studied his face.
"...Something happened today."
"No."
"You're lying."
"No."
"You only use one-word answers when irritated."
Arata looked at her.
"You pay too much attention."
Ayame looked back.
"You're easy to read."
He almost laughed.
That was completely false.
She closed her notebook.
"The new transfer student."
Arata's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What about him?"
"He knows you."
"Unfortunately."
"Who is he?"
"No one important."
Ayame stared.
"...That answer means he's very important."
Arata sighed.
Then leaned back.
"Kaito Himura."
She waited.
"That tells me nothing."
"It's enough."
Ayame frowned.
"You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"Acting like silence solves problems."
"It usually does."
"No. It delays them."
For a moment—
neither spoke.
Then Arata stood.
Walked behind her chair.
Placed one hand gently on top of her head.
Ayame froze.
"What are you doing?"
"Changing the topic."
"It's not working."
He lightly pressed her head downward toward the book.
"Study."
Ayame's cheeks warmed.
"You're shameless."
"And you're behind schedule."
She tried to stay annoyed.
Failed.
An hour later—
books lay scattered.
Ayame leaned against his shoulder while reading.
Without noticing when it happened.
Without moving away.
Arata continued solving problems one-handed.
"You're using me as a pillow," he said.
"You're using me as a student."
"Fair trade."
She smiled faintly.
Then after a pause—
"...Does he still matter to you?"
Arata knew who she meant.
"No."
That answer came too quickly to be false.
Ayame relaxed.
But Arata's eyes moved toward the darkened window.
Outside, night had fallen.
Inside—
something old had returned.
And it had no intention of leaving quietly.
At the same time—
In another part of the city.
Kaito stood on a balcony overlooking the lights below.
A phone pressed to his ear.
"Yes," he said calmly.
"I found him."
A pause.
Then he smiled.
"No."
"He hasn't changed at all."
His eyes darkened.
"But this time..."
"I won't let him walk away."
End of Chapter 3