The door to Yuuto's room creaked softly as it opened, and the morning light from the corridor flowed in, illuminating half of the dim space.
The air outside felt cooler and fresher, sweeping away the lingering heat of dreams and the echo of the dragon's roar from last night.
Standing at the entrance was a girl.
She wore casual clothing — a soft cream-colored sweater, a simple skirt, and honey-blonde hair that fell neatly to her shoulders.
Her expression was calm, though a gentle nervousness could be seen behind her polite smile.
Both of her hands held a small wrapped gift, tied with a pale pink ribbon.
"Um…"
Her voice was quiet, soothing — a stark contrast to the turmoil Yuuto had endured hours before.
"I just moved here yesterday, and… I wanted to greet my new neighbors."
She bowed lightly, then extended the gift toward him.
"Sorry for disturbing you this early. It isn't much, but… please accept it."
There was a short silence.
Yuuto simply stared at her — still caught between the surreal weight of the night before and the soft normalcy now standing before him.
"Oh… yes. Thank you," he finally replied, his tone gentle — slightly stiff, but sincere.
As he reached out to take the gift, their fingers brushed.
A brief, feather-light touch — enough to make time stop for an instant.
Mahiru Shiina — as she would introduce herself moments later — blushed faintly, though her polite smile remained.
"My name is Mahiru Shiina."
Yuuto looked at her for a few seconds before returning a small, warm smile of his own.
"And I'm Yuuto Kido."
He held the gift carefully, as if it were something fragile that might slip away.
Silence settled between them — broken only by faint footsteps somewhere down the hallway and the soft chirping of birds outside a half-open window.
Then Yuuto spoke again, his voice calm and slightly more natural.
"Um… Shiina-san," he asked gently, "would you mind if I joined you in greeting the other neighbors?"
Mahiru blinked in surprise.
"Eh? Why would Kido-san want to join me?" she asked softly, curiosity in her eyes.
Yuuto scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
"Don't get the wrong idea," he said with a small laugh. "I also moved here recently — about a week ago. But I never got the chance to greet anyone. So… I figured we could do it together."
He lowered his hood, letting the light catch his blonde hair.
"Oh… I see," Mahiru nodded, thinking for a moment.
Then she smiled — small, gentle, and sincere.
"I don't mind. I think it would be nice if we visited them together."
Yuuto's smile grew slightly.
"Thank you, Shiina-san. One moment — I'll grab my prepared gift."
He crossed the room and retrieved a small brown-wrapped package tied with a red string.
"Okay, ready," he said, patting his jacket lightly.
Mahiru nodded softly.
"In that case, shall we go?"
The two walked side by side down the apartment corridor, warm morning light trailing behind them.
The hallway felt peaceful — until they stopped in front of the door to the room beside Yuuto's.
Room 204.
The place where laughter and careless insults had echoed the night before.
Yuuto paused.
His brows furrowed.
For a moment, the taunting voices replayed faintly in his mind—
"That weird guy next door… he'll kill himself eventually."
But before the memory could sink deeper, Mahiru's soft voice broke through.
"Kido-san? Is something wrong?"
Yuuto shook his head lightly.
"No, it's nothing, Shiina-san."
He exhaled, then knocked gently.
Knock knock.
The door opened moments later.
Sakura stood inside — hair slightly tousled, wrapped in a thin pajama.
Behind her, Kenji stood shirtless, looking bored and irritated.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Yuuto spoke first — calm, polite, quick.
"Hello. I'm your new neighbor, Yuuto Kido. And this is Shiina-san, also a new resident. We're greeting neighbors today and brought a small gift."
He handed Sakura the package.
His voice was even, but there was a subtle sharpness beneath it.
Sakura blinked, confused.
She took the gift slowly.
"W-wait…" she murmured.
Yuuto was about to excuse himself, but Sakura stepped forward suddenly.
"A-are you living with your brother next door?"
Yuuto paused.
"…Brother?"
Sakura leaned closer, squinting, trying to match the face she saw with one in her memory.
"Yes — your brother with short black hair… and acne."
Silence.
Yuuto simply stared for a moment, then a faint smile appeared — not warm, but distant.
"Oh, yes. I live with him."
His tone was mild — but his eyes were cold.
Before Sakura could speak again, Yuuto felt a tug on his sleeve.
Mahiru.
Her head was lowered slightly, her hands trembling — not from Sakura, but from Kenji's gaze.
His eyes moved across her — slow, predatory, measuring.
Yuuto understood immediately.
The air around him changed.
Calm vanished — replaced by something sharp, heavy.
He stepped forward, positioning himself between Mahiru and Kenji.
His voice dropped — deep, cold, and absolute.
"Hey," he said quietly, each syllable carrying weight.
"Lower your eyes."
The hallway froze.
Kenji flinched, pupils narrowing.
He knew the words were meant for him.
"H-Hah? What's wrong with you, kid?" he snapped, masking the sudden fear.
"I just looked at your girlfriend for a second. What's the big deal?"
Sakura grabbed his arm. "Kenji, stop—"
But Yuuto's stare cut through the space between them — icy, merciless.
"Those filthy eyes," he said softly,
"have no right to look at her."
The words hit like a blade.
Kenji's pride snapped.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
He swung a punch — fast, strong.
Yuuto moved slightly.
The fist cut through empty air.
Before Kenji could recover, Yuuto's hand rose — and grasped his head.
Firm.
Unshaking.
Unyielding.
He pushed.
Kenji hit the wall — hard.
Yuuto's voice was quiet — terrifying in its calmness.
"You dared to look at her with those eyes."
His grip tightened.
Kenji struggled, breath hitching — fear finally rising.
"No mercy," Yuuto murmured — a sentence, not a threat.
But before the pressure could deepen—
A small pair of arms wrapped around Yuuto from behind.
"Kido-san! Stop!"
Mahiru's voice was soft — pleading.
Something inside Yuuto trembled.
The heavy aura shattered — like glass breaking under gentle hands.
He released Kenji.
Kenji collapsed to the floor, gasping — holding his head, shaking.
Yuuto stared at his own hand — as if he didn't recognize it.
"…Sorry, Shiina-san," he whispered.
Mahiru shook her head.
"It's okay. But…"
She glanced at Kenji.
"You should be more worried about him."
Yuuto looked at Kenji without emotion.
Then at Sakura — who trembled.
"You," he said calmly,
"Take care of him."
Sakura nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes! I-I'm sorry! We'll—"
She hurriedly helped Kenji inside.
The door shut.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Mahiru still held Yuuto's sleeve — her fingers trembling faintly.
Her eyes filled with confusion — fear, awe, curiosity.
Yuuto inhaled slowly.
"Well then, Shiina-san," he said softly, voice gentle once again,
"which neighbor should we greet next?"
Mahiru blinked.
"Oh… um, that way," she said, pointing.
Yuuto smiled.
"All right. Let's keep going."
They walked again — side by side.
But something inside Yuuto had awakened.
An ember of pride.
An unyielding flame that would not go out.