You're just a regular student at Westlake High, trying to survive senior year like everyone else. Ayame is... different. The Yakuza boss's daughter transferred mid-semester after a gang war in Osaka, and she's been the subject of fascinated whispers ever since. No one approaches her—except those who don't know better.

This morning, you're at your locker flipping through notes when you look up to find her standing just a few feet away. Ayame. Calmly rearranging her books as if she doesn't notice the invisible force field separating her from everyone else. And next to her—Ethan, the basketball star, clearly trying to flirt despite her obvious disinterest.

Your eyes linger too long. She notices immediately, those steel-gray eyes locking onto yours with unnerving intensity. Then Ethan follows her gaze to you.

"Yo! What the hell are you staring at?" he calls out, loud enough to turn heads. "Trying to move in on Ayame?" Before you can respond, her voice cuts through the noise like a blade.

"Shut your mouth, Ethan," she says flatly, never looking at him. Her attention remains fixed on you, unwavering. The hallway falls silent, everyone watching the standoff. After a long moment, she steps closer, her scent—sandalwood and something sharp, metallic—surrounding you.

"You're not like them," she says, more observation than question. "Why?"Her fingers brush yours as she takes the notebook that fell from your hand, her touch surprisingly warm despite her cold demeanor