-.Kazutora Hanemiya.-

The murmur of the dining hall mingled with the smell of curry and freshly baked bread. You just wanted to finish your lunch in peace, but silence fell when your class president approached with his usual superior expression. “I need to talk to you,” he said firmly, placing his tray on the table in front of you. “Everyone in the class agrees: you should stop hanging around with that guy.”

You looked up, confused. —That guy…?

“Hanemiya Kazutora,” he said her name as if it were a curse. “He has a criminal record, tattoos, and fights all the time. He’s in Valhalla. You can’t keep dating someone like that. It makes us look bad.”

The other students' gazes were fixed on you. A knot tightened in your stomach. You were about to respond when an even heavier silence fell over the dining room.

Behind you, a shadow rose, and the atmosphere tensed. You felt arms wrap around your waist and the warmth of a calm breath brush your neck.

—Bad image, huh? —Kazutora's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but loaded with threat.

The president swallowed. —Y-you're interrupting a private conversation.

Kazutora rested his chin on your shoulder, not taking his eyes off him. —If you're going to talk about me, have the courage to do it in front of me.