As the teacher entered the classroom, Asher sat up straight, trying to shift his focus back to the lesson. But his thoughts drifted… again and again.
No matter how he tried, he couldn't stop his eyes from wandering toward the empty desk beside the window—Mei's desk.
Yes, he was worried.
Can you imagine someone who always greeted you with a smile, talked with you every morning, suddenly vanishing without a word?
That's what it felt like.
The seat that once held warmth and quiet joy was now just… empty.
Asher sighed and slowly slid his phone out beneath the desk, using his bag to hide the screen from view. He scrolled the news—again.
Still nothing.
No movement from Cocolia. No headlines about Raiden Ryoma being accused.
With a slight breath of relief, he tapped into his messages and typed:
[Ash: Mei, you there?]
He waited.
The screen remained still.
Just then, the teacher's voice snapped through the room.
"Asher, can you solve this problem?"
Asher blinked, quickly locked his phone, and stood. "Ah, yes."
He walked to the front of the class and solved the equation on the board with practiced ease—but his mind remained distant.
-----------
After school.
Asher walked along the familiar streets, hands in his pockets, the cool air brushing against his uniform. He could've gone straight home… but instead, he turned toward a different direction.
Mei's home.
He'd been there once before—when he walked her home after that long day. It wasn't far.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
[Mei: I'm a bit sick today so I can't come to school.]
Asher stopped walking for a second, exhaled deeply, then smiled a little.
So that's all it was.
[Ash: I see. Rest, then, Mei.]
[Mei: Um.]
[Ash: By the way, Mei… do you mind if I come visit?]
[Mei: Ah, um…]
[Ash: If it's no, then it's fine.]
[Mei: No, no! I'm happy if you visit me. So feel free to come.]
[Ash: Alright.]
He locked his phone and placed it in his pocket again.
The air felt a little lighter now.
Asher adjusted his pace and turned the final corner.
Today… he just wanted to make sure she was okay.
------------------------------
Asher stood in front of the tall gate to Mei's home.
He pressed the intercom button. "I'm here to visit Mei," he said calmly.
A short pause followed before the gate opened with a soft mechanical hum.
The sight before him never failed to make him pause—a grand mansion, elegant and proud, standing at the end of a neatly paved path.
Even after seeing it before, Asher couldn't help but feel a little out of place. In his past life, places like this were distant, untouchable. Yet here he was.
He approached the main door, raising his hand to knock—but before he could, it opened.
A maid stood there, bowing politely. "Master Asher, Lady Mei has been expecting your arrival," she said with grace.
He nodded silently and followed her inside.
The mansion was quiet, dignified in its silence. She led him up the wide staircase and through a long hallway before stopping in front of a door.
"This is her room," the maid said.
Asher nodded and stepped forward, gently knocking.
"Mei, it's Ash," he said.
Inside, a flurry of shuffling noises followed. "Ah—Ash?! Wait, wait a second!" Mei's flustered voice came through the door, followed by more scrambling and a soft thud.
Then the door creaked open.
Mei stood there in soft pajamas, a slight blush on her cheeks, her hair a little messy from resting.
Asher blinked. "You're sick, aren't you? Shouldn't you be resting in bed?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A-Ahem… right," she muttered and stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter.
Asher walked in, careful not to glance around too much.
It wouldn't be right to snoop—especially in a girl's room.
"Go lie back down. Don't get up just because I came," Asher said, pointing to her bed like a scolding older brother.
Mei nodded and crawled back under her blanket, hiding up to her nose. Only her eyes peeked out.
Asher, satisfied, took the chair by her desk and sat down beside the bed.
He leaned back a little and stared up at the ceiling, humming softly.
Mei just stared at him quietly.
Neither spoke. A faint awkwardness settled in the room.
Well… now what? Asher thought, scratching the back of his head.
Then the door opened again.
The same maid entered, holding a tray with a single bowl of warm porridge.
She placed it gently on Mei's desk and turned to Asher before leaving.
"Lady Mei is still sick. If possible, Master Asher, would you assist her by feeding her?"
Then, without waiting for a reply, the maid bowed and left the room.
Asher blinked, then turned his gaze toward the bowl… and then to Mei.
Mei looked between the porridge and Asher, flustered.
"I-I can eat by myself!" she stammered, her cheeks already flushed from fever.
"Okay," Asher replied plainly.
But the faint disappointment on Mei's face was impossible to miss.
She was trying to be strong. Trying not to trouble him.
She really is bad at hiding her feelings, he thought, an amused smile forming on his face.
Without a word, Asher stood, took the bowl, and sat on the edge of her bed. He scooped a small spoonful and gently blew on it.
"It's still hot. Hold on…" he said softly.
After a few seconds, he nodded. "Alright, it's cooled a bit."
Mei's eyes widened slightly as she watched him.
Then slowly, she opened her mouth.
He fed her carefully.
She chewed quietly, eyes lowering.
And then again—another spoonful, gently cooled, then brought to her lips.
Neither of them spoke.
Asher just fed her… and Mei just quietly ate.
A few minutes later, Asher placed the empty bowl aside.He reached over to Mei's desk, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to her.
Mei sat up slightly, taking the tissue. She dabbed her lips quietly, then glanced at him.
"…Ash, am I bothering you?" she asked softly.
Asher blinked, caught off guard. He turned to face her, a little confused."Why would you be bothering me, Mei?"
"Because… you came all the way here. You fed me, took care of me… I just thought…" she trailed off, voice even quieter.
Asher watched her for a moment, then shook his head with a calm smile."Well, Mei… didn't you say we were friends?"
Mei looked at him, eyes lingering on his face."…Friends," she echoed, almost like she was testing the word. "So… this is how friends treat each other?"
Asher nodded simply. "Yeah."
A short pause followed.
"…Has anyone ever visited you when you were sick?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Mei shook her head slowly."No. This is the first time. Usually, they just message me and ask how I'm doing… when I'm already back at school."
Asher went quiet for a moment, thoughtful.
Maybe I'm the strange one, he wondered briefly. Then shook his head to dismiss the thought.
Instead, he leaned back in the chair slightly and kept the conversation going—casual things, light things. Mei's voice grew livelier little by little as they spoke. Her smile came more easily, her eyes a little less tired.
They didn't notice the time passing.Nor did they notice the figure quietly peeking in through the door—watching silently with an unreadable gaze.
Eventually, Asher glanced at his phone.
The sky outside had dimmed.He stood. "Well, Mei. It's getting late. I should head out."
Mei sat up in bed. "Let me walk you to the door."
"There's no need. You should rest," he said, waving a hand gently.
"…Okay," she murmured, watching him walk to the door.
But as Asher opened it…
He was greeted by a tall man with sharp features—and the same deep violet hair as Mei.The man was smiling.
Asher froze slightly.
Raiden… Ryoma? he thought.
Mei's father.
The man's presence filled the hallway, calm but somehow heavy. His eyes, though polite, held a subtle weight as they looked directly into Asher's.
"Young man," Ryoma said smoothly. "Why leaving so soon? Won't you stay for dinner with us?"
"D-Dad?!" Mei called from behind.
"You don't mind, right, Mei?" Ryoma asked, glancing back toward her room.
Mei's voice came, soft and surprised.
"Um… no. I don't mind…"
That answer only seemed to make Ryoma's gaze sharpen.
He turned back to Asher, still smiling—but that smile carried a different edge now.
Asher straightened slightly, feeling a strange pressure settle in the air.
Why does it feel like he's sizing me up…?
--------------------
At the dinner table, Asher sat directly across from Raiden Ryoma.
Despite his calm expression, Asher couldn't shake the unease crawling up his spine. The way Ryoma stared at him—it wasn't hostile, but it wasn't casual either. It was the kind of gaze that felt like it could see through a person, layer by layer.
He's definitely done a background check on me, Asher thought.I mean, he's the CEO of M.E Corp… and I'm just a regular student. It wouldn't even be hard for him.
Silence stretched over the table.
Mei, sitting between them but closer to Asher, discreetly pulled out her phone, probably intending to message him something—maybe to ease the tension.
Before she could type a word, her father's voice cut through the air.
"No phones at the table."
Mei flinched slightly. With a small sigh, she tucked her phone away without a word.
Then, Ryoma turned his gaze back to Asher.A smile played on his lips, calm but… unreadable.
"So, young man," he said evenly. "Did you know Mei always talks about you?"
"?!" Mei's eyes widened. She immediately shot her father a panicked look. "Dad!"
Asher blinked in surprise and looked at Mei, who now desperately avoided his gaze, face slightly red.
He turned back toward Ryoma, unsure how to respond.
"Yes," Ryoma continued smoothly, eyes still locked on Asher. "Every single time."
There was kindness in his tone—but it didn't match the way his eyes observed him, calculating and intense.
Then came the question.
Straightforward. Sharp.
"I'll be direct. What's your relationship with Mei?"
Asher froze.
Mei practically jumped in her seat. "Dad! W-Why are you asking that?!"
Ryoma didn't even glance at her. He was locked in on Asher, his voice calm but firm.
Asher exhaled slowly and met the man's gaze.
He thought for a moment, weighing his words carefully. Then, he answered simply.
"We're friends."
The room went still for a second.
Ryoma's eyes didn't waver. He seemed to be studying every twitch of Asher's expression.
Mei, meanwhile, had quietly dropped her head onto the table in pure secondhand embarrassment.
After a tense pause, Ryoma leaned back in his chair.
"I'll accept that answer… for now," he said quietly. "But just so you know… I'll be watching."
Asher felt a chill. He could only nod slightly.
Ryoma didn't say more. Instead, he raised a hand and calmly gestured to the dishes laid out.
"Well then. Let's eat."
(A/n: say something🥀💔)