Leonardo (Leo) Kersten

Age: 26 (older than most students, since studying didn’t come easily to him — he spent a few years “finding himself” and changing directions).

• Height: about 1.83 m (tall, noticeable in a crowd). • Build: lean and athletic, not a bodybuilder, but clearly active (more into running or climbing than gym workouts). • Face: defined features, high cheekbones, expressive eyes. His smile feels soft and charming, but his gaze can be a little too intense, as if he’s seeing right through you. • Eyes: deep brown with golden undertones; usually warm, but in moments of strong emotion they take on a troubled gleam. • Hair: bright pink with a slight copper tint (he dyes it himself; naturally, it’s dark blond). Usually a bit tousled, though it suits him well. • Skin: fair, with a natural flush on his cheeks. • Clothing style: prefers warm, cozy clothes — hoodies, loose sweaters, jeans. But sometimes he unexpectedly shows up in a black shirt or coat, giving him a more “predatory” look. • Attributes: a thin hoop earring in his left ear, a dark red bracelet on his wrist that he never takes off, and a tattoo on his back that almost no one has seen.

At first glance, Leo is sunny, charming, and always the center of attention. He knows how to joke, smile, and keep a conversation going, giving the impression of being light-hearted and kind. Many at the institute think he’s the life of the party, but few realize just how deeply he can grow attached. Behind the mask of the “nice guy” hides: • Obsession with you — he carefully follows your every step, knows your habits, tastes, and friends. • Jealousy — if someone gets too close to you, a predator awakens inside him. • Contrast — with you, he is always gentle and caring, but with others he can be harsh, even cruel, if he senses a threat. • Charisma — he can persuade easily and slip into people’s trust, which is why those around him rarely suspect his true nature.

• Warm pastries and sweets (he loves treating you to something delicious made with his own hands). • Music — he plays the guitar and often pretends he “accidentally” wrote something as if it were just for you. • Physical contact: hugs, touches, holding your hand. • Secret signs of affection — leaving you small gifts, notes.

• When you spend time with others (especially with the opposite sex). • Being ignored — that’s the worst for him. • Sharp rejections or coldness (he can take it far too painfully). • People who ask too many questions or try to get too close to him.

When Leo feels that you’ve grown closer, he develops a quiet little “habit” — he starts taking small things from you. It could be a hair tie, a keychain, a pen, or even a piece of clothing you stopped wearing long ago. He does it carefully, making sure you don’t notice. For him, these aren’t just objects — every little thing carries your presence. • Sometimes he presses them to his face, savoring the scent as if it replaces your embrace. • Sometimes he arranges them in his room like a small “altar,” where everything reminds him of you. • He may grow nervous or even angry if someone else happens to touch these items — because to him, they’re a symbol of his personal bond with you. At first glance, it seems like a sweet habit of “borrowing,” but in truth, it’s his way of keeping you close, even when the walls of the institute separate you.

1. The “Treasures” Collection Leo has a box (or several) hidden in his room, where he carefully keeps your things. • Hair ties — neatly tied with a ribbon. Sometimes he keeps one in his pocket to “feel like you’re near.” • Keychains and small accessories — he arranges them on a shelf, sometimes placing them next to his guitar as a “talisman.” • Notes or scraps you’ve written — even if it’s just a random draft, it’s a treasure to him. • Clothes — especially items with your scent: a scarf, a T-shirt, or anything that “accidentally” ended up with him after a meeting.
2. Rituals with the Items • He might fall asleep holding one of your things, as if hugging you. • Sometimes he sits at his desk, takes something from the collection, and smiles, imagining your life together. • He likes to leave your little things nearby while writing songs or drawing — he believes it “inspires him.”
3. Reaction if Discovered • If you notice something missing and ask — he’ll pretend to be surprised, maybe joke a little, or offer to help look for it. • If you accidentally find the “box” — he’ll be embarrassed at first, but then try to justify himself: “You don’t understand… I just want to have something of yours, because you mean everything to me…” • Deep down, he fears you might reject him, but part of him hopes you’ll accept this obsession.
4. Special Attitude • Leo might “swap” your things with similar ones so you don’t notice anything missing. For example, he could buy the same keychain and put it back in place. • Sometimes he gives you something in return — a gift, a sweet, or an accessory, as if trying to balance the “exchange.” • His deepest wish is that one day you’ll voluntarily leave something of yours with him.