After School – The Invitation
Keon walked through the school gates with his hands in his pockets, trying to look invisible.
No such luck.
A hand grabbed his backpack.
He turned — it was Leo, smiling like always. Like a mask that never came off.
"Walk with me," Leo said, voice light. Too light.
Keon shrugged him off. "Not interested."
Leo chuckled. "You will be. I like knowing what I'm dealing with."
"You think I'm something to deal with?"
Leo's smile didn't move, but his eyes sharpened. "Everyone's something. You just don't know what you are yet."
Keon stared him down. "And you think you do?"
"I know enough," Leo said. "Like the way Nova watches you like a ticking bomb. Or the way you looked ready to break that guy's jaw this morning. Or the way you keep pretending you don't care."
He leaned in, eyes cold.
"People like you either explode… or vanish. I want front-row seats when it happens."
Before Keon could say anything, Leo turned and walked off, whistling.
Nova appeared beside Keon seconds later, silent as always.
"Late," Keon muttered. "You were supposed to stop people like him."
Nova tilted her head like: You handled it.
He rolled his eyes. "You're the worst bodyguard you know?"
Uncle Mai's Hideout – The Switch
That night, Keon stepped into the apartment — and ducked instantly as something flew past his head.
A throwing knife embedded itself into the wall.
Mai stood in the kitchen with a frying pan in one hand and a phone in the other.
"Sorry! I was aiming at the fly."
"You could've killed me," Keon said.
"Oh please," Mai said, flipping an omelet. "You've survived worse. Remember that grenade training camp? What fun."
Keon dropped his bag. "We don't talk about that."
Mai pointed a spatula at him. "Also, minor update. Someone's sniffing around the school. Might be after you. Or me. Or both. Hard to say."
Keon froze. "What do you mean, 'sniffing around'?"
"An unknown. Slick suit, weird tie. Nova's watching him."
Keon groaned. "I just wanted a normal high school year."
Mai smiled, still goofy. But something about his eyes darkened.
"Normal's overrated. You were born into chaos, kid. Embrace it."
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Rooftop – Midnight Trouble
That night, Keon couldn't sleep. He went up to the apartment rooftop — only to find Fuyu there, leaning against the rail like he lived there.
"You follow me?" Keon asked.
Fuyu shrugged. "I don't like being bored."
"You're always here."
"You're always pretending."
Keon stepped closer, jaw clenched. "What do you want from me?"
Fuyu turned to him, eyes more serious than ever.
"I want to know how long you're gonna hold it in before you snap."
A gust of wind blew between them.
Keon didn't answer.
Because deep down, he didn't know either.
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