Yui walked slowly through them, her steps hesitant. The weekend had done little to erase the chaos. In fact, if anything, it made it worse. The rumors that had simmered over the break were now boiling hot and fresh, passed like candies between whispering lips.

She tightened her grip on her bag and avoided eye contact.

“Did you see her?”

“I heard she climbed into his car that night.”

“Such a pick-me girl.”

“I bet she begged him to touch her—”

Yui flinched, but didn’t turn. Their words were like needles, but she had grown used to thorns.

Karin caught up to her by the shoe lockers, arms crossed and expression unreadable. “You okay?

“Are you even listening to them!? What sort of fantasies do they even have!?” Yui said. “I’m tired of being their soap opera. Should I start crying and beg them to stop like a pitiful typical SOAPY SHOUJO MANGA PROTOGNIST!!?”

“Calm down, what are you even saying? Sigh...... You’re better than them. It’s not your fault Sanada-kun is too pretty and brooding for his own good.”

Yui nearly choked. “What—!? He is not—!”

But the sentence stopped midair. The image from the other night—the one of her nearly nose-to-nose with Yuki in a tangle of blankets—flashed through her mind.

Karin narrowed her eyes. “Araa- by any chance you remembered something...? Sonething sinister maybe?” she smirked teasingly.

“What are you saying!!!?” she snapped, face heating more. “ We’re not—he’s not—I don’t even like him!”

"Argh...what am I even saying... " 

Karin sighed. “Right. Of course.”

------

The whole day in the classroom, she could feel hostile gazes piercing through her as if she had done some sort of a crime. As she buried herself into books as usual the teacher called,

“Yukimura-san, please collect the assignments.”

She moved to gather the papers, but the class’s energy shifted the moment she approached. Whispers escalated, eyes followed her, some curious, some amused, some downright hostile. Girls gave her glares sharp enough to slice through steel.

“Careful with those, Yukimura-san,” one girl hissed under her breath. “Don’t drop anything—might ruin the picture-perfect story we’ve got going.”

Yui swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay composed. she picked up each stack as the weight of every glance, every judgment pressing down on her.

At the front, the teacher continued, oblivious to the subtle war in the room. “Remember, midterms are next week. Make sure your notes are complete and reviewed. No excuses.”

The words barely registered. Midterms? Her stomach twisted. She had completely forgotten about the upcoming midterms because she was too busy with Louis’s enigmatic threats, her upside down life with yuki, and the looming, unavoidable weight of her family’s expectations.

------

The hallway buzzed faintly with echoes of after-school chatter as Yuki made his way toward the library wing. His footsteps were steady—until he heard his name.

“Yuki-sama!”

Three girls in neatly pressed uniforms stood by the window, their eyes wide and eager. One of them, stepped forward with a pout. “Do you have a minute?”

Yuki paused. “What is it?”

The girls exchanged looks. She fiddled with the edge of her ribbon, her voice laced with false concern. “It’s about Yui… we just thought you should know.”

He didn’t answer, but the brief flash of interest in his gaze gave them permission.

“She’s been seen a lot with Louis Kisaragi-kun lately,” one whispered dramatically. “It’s not just coincidence. The way she talks to him—so… familiar.”

“And now she’s always with you too,” The girl added. “It’s suspicious, isn’t it?"

The third chimed in, “Maybe she’s playing a game. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl tried to climb higher.”

A cold silence fell. Yuki’s gaze, calm but razor-sharp, shifted to them.

“She’s not someone you should trust too easily, Yuki-sama,” The girl dared, clasping her hands. “We’re only looking out for you.”

His voice, when it came, was polite—but each word was dipped in frost.

“I didn’t ask you to.” He smiled coldly. 

The smiles faltered.

“I don't appreciate gossip dressed as concern,” he continued, tone still cool. “Especially from people who speak behind someone’s back but not to their face.” with that he walked away without a second glance.

------

Yuki left the library. He came across Louis who seemed to have wanted to talk to him about something. Reluctantly, he followed him to the abandoned music room located at the west wing. 

Louis straightened with a light smile. "Here!" 

He held out a white and gold envelope.

“My birthday party,” he said with a hint of amusement. “The grand birthday party Wouldn’t be complete without the school’s perfect prince.”

Yuki didn’t move to take it. “That’s it? I didnt know we were that close to attend each other's parties considering I never even talked to you before.”

Louis tilted his head slightly. “Very true. But we do have something in common.”

He let the silence linger before continuing, voice silked with suggestion.

“Yui.”

Yuki clenched his fists. “What about her?”

“She’s… delicate, isn’t she?” Louis said softly, walking to the piano and gently pressing a single key. “You shouldn’t make her cry, you know.”

“ Cry? What does she have to do with me? We are not that close to begin with.” Yuki replied flatly.

“Oh?” Louis chuckled. “Well, it’s hard to tell.”

He turned and locked eyes with Yuki. “That night at the café… she looked very shaken. I assumed you knew about us, but… perhaps not.”

Yuki’s brows knit, but he didn’t respond. The word “us” rang louder than it should have.

Louis smiled to himself, letting the misunderstanding blossom in the silence. “I suppose it was foolish to think she’d tell you. Secrets like that don’t stay hidden forever, though.”

Yuki finally took the invitation from his hand, slow and deliberate. “If you’re trying to say something, say it.”

Louis leaned in ever so slightly, his tone lighter—but the edge beneath was unmistakable.

“Relax. I’m just saying… people talk. And people see things. You and her… it’s quite a storm you’ve stirred up. I’d hate for the pressure to get to her.”

Yuki’s expression didn’t shift, but his grip on the envelope subtly tightened. “Is that a threat?”

“Not at all,” Louis said with his usual angelic smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s an invitation.”

He turned his back, letting the conversation end like a dropped curtain.

As Yuki walked away in silence, something cold settled in his chest. He didn’t know what Louis meant exactly—but the implication was clear:

There was something he knew and he was going to make sure to drive Yuki crazy.

--------

Later near the shoe lockers,

Yui stared at the envelope in Louis’s hand like it was a loaded weapon.

“I’m not coming,” she said firmly, arms crossed.

Louis smiled like he didn’t hear her. “It’s my birthday, Yui. You wouldn’t want to hurt my feelings.”

She narrowed her eyes. “After everything going on? You want me to show up to your mansion in front of half the world? Are you insane?”

He took a step closer, smile sweetening. 

His voice dropped, velvety soft. “If you don’t come… I might accidentally let something slip.”

Yui froze.

Louis gently placed the envelope in her hand. “Secrets have a way of surfacing, don’t they?”

“What… are you planning?” she whispered, eyes empty.

He leaned in just enough for her to hear. “Nothing. Yet.”

Then he straightened, all charm and elegance once more. “I’ll be waiting, Yui.”

He walked off with a slight wave, leaving her clutching the invitation with trembling fingers—and a storm brewing behind her eyes.

------ 

Back home, the quiet of her room was almost a relief, but the silver band in her hand reminded her of everything waiting beyond these walls. Yui held it in her palm, spinning it slowly. Her chest tightened as a quiet, undeniable realization surfaced: she didn’t actually hate Yuki—not really. Not in the way she’d been trying to convince herself.

"I… care about him more than I thought."

A small, determined smile curved her lips. If Yuki was somehow tangled in Louis’s games, she couldn’t stand by idly. She needed to understand what Louis was planning and to find it out she had no other choice but to attend his birthday drama.