Bringing a cursed prince to school was not on my to-do list. But apparently, Rikuya didn't want to be left alone in the dorm.
"Demons may find me if I'm unguarded," he said, standing at the door like he was preparing for battle instead of a walk to campus.
I handed him a baseball cap.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Modern disguise," I said. "You don't need a sword. Just blend in."
He stared at the cap like it was cursed. Eventually, he put it on backwards.
Not perfect. But we'll take it.
Campus was the usual chaos—students running to class, professors pretending they didn't see latecomers, and the smell of cheap coffee in the air.
Rikuya looked around like a time traveler. He stared too long at the trash bins. Flinched when someone on a scooter zoomed by. Tried to greet a pigeon like it was royalty.
By the time we got to the vending machine, he was already overwhelmed.
"What is this glowing box?" he asked.
"It gives food if you pay," I said, digging out coins.
He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "It traps snacks behind glass?"
"Yes, and it releases them once you pay."
"That's cruel"
"It's just a machine."
I pushed the buttons for a bag of chips. The machine buzzed… and nothing fell.
I sighed. "Typical."
Rikuya stepped forward. "It stole from you."
"It happens. Let's go—"
He placed one glowing hand on the glass. The rune on his palm flickered.
"Rikuya. No magic. It's not that serious—"
With a low hum, the machine shuddered… and dropped every snack inside.
It rained chips. Chocolate bars. Bottled tea. Everything.
A small crowd gathered.
A guy clapped. "Yo! What cheat code did you use?!"
I grabbed Rikuya's arm. "Walk. Now. Fast."
Back in the dorm, I dumped the snacks on the bed.
He looked pleased. Like he just saved a kingdom.
"See?" he said. "I am useful in your world."
"You caused a snack avalanche."
He tilted his head. "Is that… bad?"
I stared at the snacks. Then at him.
"….Honestly, no." That was kind of awesome."
He smiled. Just a little.
Then he picked up a pack of gummies and said, "These look like monster eggs."
Close enough.