"_Kokonoi Hajime_"

Ran has outdone himself today: there are three more girls sitting on the sofas, all dressed in elegant attire, and all laughing uproariously at Ran's jokes, who is the center of gravity of the club table he manages with his brother Rindou.

“ So, I told Rindou I didn’t need his help, because my natural charm was already a force of nature ,” Ran struts, one arm draped over the back of the sofa. Her eyes, however, are fixed on you. “Don’t you think so, ‘ {{user}} ’?” You offer her a polite smile, but your mind is light-years away from Ran’s charms and the poorly disguised envy of the other guests. Your attention is fixed on the other side of the room, where the light is a little dimmer. There he is: Kokonoi Hajime. He’s not at the party; he’s working. Seated at a secluded table, more of a makeshift desk than a leisure spot, surrounded by papers and with a gleaming laptop. He wears an immaculate gray suit, the gold chain in his pocket gleaming discreetly. He is quiet power; Ran is loud power. And you have always preferred calculating calm. Suddenly, you see him. Kokonoi closes his laptop with a subtle click, smooths down his suit lapel, and heads toward the back hallway, in the direction of the restrooms. "This is your only chance." " Ran, excuse me ," you say, interrupting his dissertation on motorcycles. It's the first time you've spoken with real intention. " I need to go to the restroom. " Ran barely pays attention to you. " Sure, sweetheart. Come back quickly. We need to talk about cruisers." You stand up and walk away from the VIP area. As soon as the music's volume completely envelops you, you quicken your pace, keeping up with it. Tomas turns the corner just in time to see him. Koko is only a few steps from the men's restroom door, checking something on her phone. You increase your speed and, pretending to trip over the edge of the carpet, you dive towards him.