The sun had long set beyond the horizon, leaving a faint amber glow that spilled through the curtains of the quiet room. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood; the soft sound of breathing filled the silence between two figures tangled on the front door.
Mai's eyes were hazy—half fear, half anticipation—but she still tried to keep her composure as she looked up at the man above her.
"...Hmm?"
She blinked when she noticed Haruto had suddenly stopped moving. His usually teasing expression was replaced by a sigh.
"There's a trade request," he said simply.
The softness in the air vanished.
Mai's expression stiffened as she pushed herself from him slightly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "...Who is it this time?"
Her voice carried a note of jealousy. "Saeko? Or Ayame?"
Haruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Neither. It's Stella."
He leaned back, his expression slightly amused. "And this time... it's a proper trade."
"Proper?" Mai snorted softly. "So you do admit some of those weren't."
Her tone was sharp, but her voice trembled slightly beneath the words. "Am I not enough for you, Haruto? Isn't one of me more than enough?"
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed her deeply—soft, slow, and full of quiet warmth.
By the time he pulled away, Mai's face was flushed, her jealousy melting into something gentler.
Haruto brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes steady. "I'm sorry, Mai. My heart... it isn't one that belongs to just one person. But when I'm with you, you'll have all of me."
Her lips trembled, but she smiled faintly. She already knew she couldn't tie him down. He wasn't someone who could stay still. The leader of the mysterious chat group—someone whose power grew beyond comprehension with every passing day.
"I understand... but when you look at me," she whispered, "I want your eyes to see only me. Don't forget me, Haruto."
He smiled and pressed his forehead to hers. "Never."
The warmth between them lingered for a moment before Haruto got back. The air shifted, and a faint shimmer appeared before his eyes—a message from the chat group.
---
[Incoming Trade Request]
Sender: Stella Vermillion
Message: Haruto, I need your help. Convince Principal Kurono Shinguuji to approve my request for a single dorm room.
Offered Exchange: Dragon God's Possession (Unawakened)
Duration: 3 hours
---
Mai leaned against his shoulder, reading the translucent screen. "Will it be dangerous?" she asked quietly.
Haruto shrugged lightly, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. "Can't say until I get there."
Mai bit her lip, then lowered her gaze. "Please... come back safely." Her voice softened as she fidgeted. "And when you do... I'll let you... cuddle."
Haruto's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?"
Yesterday she'd practically shoved him away when he'd tried to do that.
But before he could say another word, Mai's cheeks flared crimson. "But nothing more! Got it?"
Then, as if realizing her tone was too harsh, she softened again. "Just... give me a little more time, okay? I'll... I'll give you my best self."
Haruto chuckled, his eyes gentle. "Then I'll wait."
And with that, his form shimmered, vanishing from the room.
Mai's fingers lingered in the air where he had been. For a moment, she felt an ache in her chest—but soon, her thoughts wandered elsewhere.
"...I should take a bath," she muttered, her face pink as she stumbled toward the bathroom, walking stiffly as if her legs had forgotten how to move properly.
---
Hagun Academy – Principal's Office
The principal's office was quiet but elegant—dark wood shelves lined with old documents and trophies, the faint ticking of a clock filling the silence.
Stella stood before the desk, her crimson hair shimmering like fire under the morning light filtering through the blinds. Her eyes burned hotter than her magic as she slammed her palms on the desk.
"Why?! Why do I have to share a dorm room with a man?!"
Across from her, a woman with calm gray eyes looked up from her paperwork. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, her expression composed yet slightly amused.
Kurono Shinguuji. Principal of Hagun Academy.
"You burned down an entire dormitory," she replied flatly.
Stella froze for a second, then her anger reignited. "Just because of that, you're making me share a room with some random guy? Do you even know who I am? I'm a princess of the Vermillion Kingdom! Are you trying to ruin my reputation?!"
Kurono didn't flinch. "Those are the rules of Hagun Academy. You break it, you pay for it."
"This is ridiculous!" Stella's flames flared, the air in the office growing hot enough to make the curtains sway. "Do you think my kingdom can't afford to rebuild one dorm?"
Kurono finally looked up, her calm gaze meeting Stella's fiery glare. "Then consider this a lesson in humility, Your Highness."
"...I will not follow your ridiculous rules!" Stella clenched her fists, her pride refusing to yield.
And then—
"Couldn't agree more."
A calm, almost lazy voice interrupted the tension.
Both women turned, startled, as a faint distortion rippled through the air.
Haruto stepped out of it like he was walking through water, his hands in his pockets, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The air shifted instantly. Kurono's eyes narrowed; her expression turned sharp.
"Who are you?" she asked coldly. "And how did you appear here without triggering the barrier?"
Haruto smiled faintly. "Let's just say I was invited... indirectly."
Kurono's gaze hardened. From the start, she hadn't sensed his presence—not his breathing, his aura, or even his mana signature. That was enough to put her on guard.
Meanwhile, Haruto was already scanning her with the group's interface.
---
[Target Identified: Kurono Shinguuji]
Level: 23
Abilities: Causality Time Manipulation, Inherent Device – Propater, Inherent Device – Ennoia
---
Haruto tilted his head slightly. "Causality interference, huh? Now that's interesting."
Kurono frowned. "You know too much for a stranger."
He grinned. "Then maybe you should ask less, Principal."
The faint pressure in the room shifted, invisible tension crackling like static in the air between them.
Stella blinked, realizing for the first time that this man standing before her wasn't someone ordinary.
And as Haruto turned his eyes toward her, his smile softened—playful, yet steady.
"How are you, Princess?"