Chapter 1: The Alley Behind the School
Airi Tanaka didn't mean to stay late. But her math teacher dropped a surprise assignment, and the library was warm, quiet, and just the right amount of lonely.
By the time she left, the sky was fading pink, and the school grounds were almost empty.
She tugged her blazer tighter around her. "Crap, I missed the bus…"
Cutting through the alley behind the school was sketchy, sure, but faster. She'd done it a dozen times and survived.
Today was different.
CRASH.
A shout. A punch. A dull thud of someone hitting the ground.
Airi froze. Three men stood in the alley—two on the ground, bleeding. One standing, back turned, black coat fluttering in the wind.
She barely made a sound.
But he heard her.
The boy turned. Slowly. Like he had all the time in the world.
His eyes were cold silver.
Blood splattered across his cheek like red paint. He looked her up and down.
"Tch." He wiped his hands on his sleeves and started walking toward her.
Run.
Her legs didn't move.
He stopped right in front of her, towering over her 5'3" frame.
"You're not supposed to be here," he said calmly.
Airi gulped. "I—I didn't see anything..."
> "I—I didn't see anything..."
---
"Too late," he said, his voice low but oddly calm. His eyes scanned the alley, then landed on her again. "Now you're involved."
Airi took a shaky step back. "Wait—what? I didn't ask to be involved in anything!"
He stepped forward, closing the distance. "You saw me. That's enough."
"I swear I won't say a word! I'll pretend none of this ever happened!"
He sighed. Then, with a surprising gentleness, he took her wrist—not to hurt her, but to pull her out of the alley.
"You can't pretend when people are looking for you."
That's when she noticed the men behind him weren't just unconscious.
They were wearing suits.
One had a gun.
Her knees nearly gave out. "W-What is this?! Who are you?!"
He paused, glancing over his shoulder, then back at her.
"Ren Kurogane. And starting now..." he looked her dead in the eyes, voice deadly serious—
"I'm your bodyguard."
---
Airi sat in the backseat of the black car, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt like a lifeline.
Next to her, Ren leaned back with one arm slung across the seat. Casual. Controlled. Like he hadn't just painted an alley red.
She glanced at him, heart in her throat. "You're seriously in the mafia?"
He didn't answer at first. Just kept staring out the window.
Then—"You saw something you shouldn't have."
Airi's voice shook. "I already told you—I won't say anything."
He turned to her slowly, eyes colder than winter rain. "It's not about what you'll say. It's about what they'll do if they think you might."
A pause.
Then he added, quieter, "And what I'll do if they touch you."
Her breath caught. What?
Before she could ask, the car pulled to a stop.
Ren stepped out and held the door open for her like some kind of gentleman-slash-threat. When she didn't move, he bent down slightly.
His voice dropped—low, dangerous, close.
"I don't like repeating myself, Airi."
She jolted and scrambled out.
---
At her door, she finally snapped. "Why are you even doing this?! I'm no one. Just a stupid girl who took a shortcut."
He stared at her for a long beat.
"You're not no one."
His voice wasn't cold anymore. Just... quiet. Raw.
Then, like the moment never happened, he straightened and walked away.
---
That night, she tossed and turned in bed. Sleep wouldn't come. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those silver eyes. That blood. That strange flicker of softness he let slip.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
> "Don't leave school alone tomorrow."
– R
She clutched the phone like it was a lifeline.
---
The next morning...
"Class, we have a new transfer student," the teacher said. "He's joining us for the rest of the year."
Airi didn't even have time to pray.
He walked in—tall, dangerous, and looking like sin in a school uniform.
He didn't even blink at the stares. He walked straight to the empty seat beside her and sat down.
He leaned in.
"Told you I'd be close."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
What have I gotten myself into?
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End of Chapter 1
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