Summer – the best time of the year. Especially here, in Japan. The final exams, the smell of fresh hot air and sunny days all week long… What could be more exciting than going to the sea and swimming for a while? Or sunbathing with a soda in your hand, listening to the sound of the waves, lazily approaching the shore?

"Hayashi-san?" a lovely woman from behind said.

Yes, summer was the most beautiful season, but if you lived in Japan, you'd better forget about all of those things and focus on the work itself. Otherwise, you’d have been fired or else you’d have to quit on your own.

The man in a white gown ahead stopped, hoping it was just his imagination playing tricks on him."Y-yes?" he asked cautiously.

"Are you going to the festival?" the same charming tone echoed in the empty corridor.

He let out a quiet "oh man...", closing his eyes for a moment as if praying to all the gods that the woman wasn’t about to ask him for a favor. "Yes, Fubuki-sensei,” he said, turning back with a forced calmness on his face, “I was planning on going there. I meant to see Otsube-sama as well, and—wha—?!” He barely got his hands up just in time to catch the box that the woman shoved into his arms.

"Could you please bring this to the festival?” she asked kindly with the radiant smile, clapping her hands together in a compelling gesture. “I baked them myself, I bet they're sooo delicious!"

"As you wish." His voice dropped, heavy with reluctant acceptance "I will bring it to the festival."

"You’d better hurry before Otsube-sama sees you're hanging around here, just pretending to be busy!" She dipped her head slightly in a knowing gesture, then turned and walked into the classroom, humming to herself.

"Yeah, yeah." The words slipped out, as if by routine, his gaze wandering to the stadium outside. "Why is it always me?"

He walked down the corridor toward the entrance. The quiet, measured sounds of the empty school gave way to the shouts and music outside. The school’s sports festival was already in full swing.

It was one of those Sports Days, usually held in Japan at the end of the term. This time, it was a match between a few local schools competing for first place. The stadium was bursting with excitement, while a few players on the field fought tooth and nail to score another point.

The man with the box made his way to the supply table near the food stalls and set it down with a soft thud. "Fubuki-sensei told me to bring this here. I guess it's for the food stalls." 

"Ah, Hayashi-san — please, we need you to write your name here." Another man stepped up to the stall, holding out a blank badge.

"Yes, of course." Ayato took the badge and quickly scrawled Ayato Hayashi across it. "That makes it mine now, right?"

"Yes—" The walkie-talkie hissed, cutting him off.

"Chisaka-san, to Stand Three, repeat, Chisaka-san to Stand Three, do you copy..." crackled the voice from the radio.

The man straightened. "Okay, I need to go." He pointed toward a desk near the stands. "The medical stall is over there!" He waved over his shoulder, disappearing into the crowd.

Ayato nodded and headed to his stall. By the time he got there, the match was already well underway — shouts, whistles, and the roar of the crowd pouring over the field. The medical desk was busy: handing out water bottles and cooling towels, spraying cramped legs, and keeping an eye on anyone who might need help.

Already in the flow of it, Ayato passed another bottle to a boy. “Why did I even agree to this?” he muttered under his breath.

"Did you say something?" the boy asked, glancing up.

"N-no, nothing," Ayato chuckled awkwardly. "You must’ve misheard."

"Hayashi-san." The voice from behind made his smile falter. For a moment he wasn’t sure if he’d heard right, but when he turned, he saw the head teacher standing there. "Please, come with me — we need your help."

Ayato didn’t ask a single question — he knew the head teacher wouldn’t have called him over without a reason. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be pleasant. His chest tight with unease as he followed in silence, led behind the stands and toward the changing rooms. The tension in him spiked when they arrived. Two people were already there: a man holding a walkie-talkie and a woman standing beside him.

"I found him like this a few minutes ago, Otsube-sama. He's not from our school," the man reported. "No one else was seen around."

“Hayashi-san.” The Head gave Ayato a sharp nod and pushed the door open.

A wave of heavy scent spilled out from the changing room at once, forcing both of them to cover their noses and mouths.

“Someone’s been… entertaining themselves here,” the Head muttered grimly. The sharp mixture of pheromones in the air left little doubt what kind of “games” had taken place between an alpha and an omega there.

“Let’s hope no one was marked.” Ayato’s eyes narrowed. “We need to find him fast.”

“I hope you’re right,” the Head replied. His voice was tight. “I thought I’d taken every precaution to keep this from happening.”

They moved quickly between the lockers till they saw a boy collapsed on the floor between the rows. His breathing was ragged, and he clutched at his neck with one hand. On the pale skin just above his collar — a bite, with faint lines around his throat betrayed the fresh imprint of a forming bond.

Ayato raised a hand to the Head, signaling him to wait, and slowly approached the student. He crouched beside the boy, checking him, then  glanced back and gave a small nod.

The Head leaned close, whispering. “Well?”

“He was bitten,” Ayato confirmed, slipping off his white coat and laying it gently over the trembling student’s shoulders.

The Head exhaled heavily. “Then I’ll inform the other teachers. Take care of him. And… best if the students don’t hear about this for now.”

The door closed behind the Head with a dull thud.

“Well, boy.” Ayato carefully took hold of the badge pinned to the trembling student’s chest. Even that faint touch made the boy flinch, his shoulders shuddering as if scorched.

“It’s okay… it’s fine.” Ayato’s voice stayed calm, steady, soothing. He glanced down at the scrawled name. “Akito-kun. Let me just help you slowly. You’re doing great, yes—just like that.”

“Mmmh…” Akito squinted, turning his face away and weakly pushing at Ayato’s hand when the man tried to lift him.

“Don’t worry, Akito-kun…” Ayato’s tone lowered, gentler still, though he could feel the boy stiffen at his scent. “Listen to my voice. Just my voice… Akito.”

The boy stirred, eyelids fluttering. “Mm…”

“That’s it.” Ayato smiled faintly, relieved, and nodded, gathering the boy carefully into his arms. “You’re doing great… we’ll get you out of here. Akito… it’s a strong name… a bright name.”

“Mmm…” The boy whimpered, clutching at Ayato’s shirt, his teeth clenched. The smell surrounding Ayato only made him restless, his body crying out for the alpha who had bitten him, not for this stranger.

“I know, Akito…” Ayato murmured, adjusting his hold as he started toward the nurse’s office. “You don’t like this… I can feel it. But just let me talk to you. Just hear me for a little while… Akito.”

“Mms… nn…” Akito mumbled, half-conscious, his breath uneven.

“You can tell me, Akito… tell me. Don’t hold back.”

“Nnic… smell… snic… sss…” The words broke apart into sobs, until the boy suddenly wailed like a much younger child.

Ayato only tightened his hold, his voice unwavering. “Yes, Akito… I know. You’ll be alright.”

***

“I sedated him and suppressed the pheromones… He’ll be fine in a couple of weeks.”

“I called his parents. They’re on their way.”

“To think something like this could happen here…”

“…-san, please, let’s not bring this up.”

“You understand it may lead to—”

“…I will return in a few moments.”

Fast footsteps passed behind the door, making the little spy outside shiver. Ayato gripped the handle and stepped into the corridor.

“Uh?” He stopped, leaving the door half open, and whispered, “What are you doing here?”

"Um..." The boy glanced at the door marked Nurse’s Office .

"Are you hurt? Stomachache?" Ayato asked automatically.

"I... just..." The boy lifted his gaze to the man’s face, though Ayato’s eyes were focused elsewhere.

“Well, just… wait here a second, alright? I’ll be right back.”

But when he returned, the boy was gone.