The soft sound of Fiona's footsteps echoed along the stone corridor leading to the academy's rear garden.A place she never thought she'd go… if it weren't for seeing Kairos walk away from the dueling grounds, wearing a look she had never seen before.
"Monster..."
The word she heard him murmur moments ago felt like a dagger slicing through her heart.
She froze in place — startled, as if pulled back into the past.The image of a boy who bore the weight of everything alone flashed vividly through her mind.
He… who never asked her for anything.He… who always smiled at her, even when she never once returned that smile.
She clenched her fists, holding back the sob rising in her throat.
'We never knew… just how fragile he truly was.'
Stepping out from the shadows, she walked toward the boy sitting beneath the tree — like a fallen warrior no one ever saw.
"...Kairos."
He lifted his face.His crimson eyes, once unwavering, now dulled… as if half his soul had already faded.
"I'm sorry… I just want to be alone right now."
Fiona said nothing.She simply sat beside him, in silence. No words of comfort. No explanations.
She just stayed.
And that alone… was enough to let him begin speaking.
Kairos spoke —Of a childhood without laughter,Of the way people looked at him as if he wasn't human,Of the time he killed someone… and felt nothing.Of the day he stared into a mirror and saw no humanity in his own reflection.
"I don't know… if there's a place for me in anyone's world."
His words pierced her heart like glass.
'This is the same person… who once helped me with his whole heart — asking nothing in return?'
He rose to his feet, leaving her behind.As though he truly believed… he didn't deserve even the comfort of someone by his side.
Days Later
Sunlight streamed softly through the classroom window.The atmosphere was calm — yet filled with silent weight.
Kairos still sat in his usual spot — the corner seat by the window.No one dared come close, even after all this time.
Until…
"Hey, you left this in the training hall."
Fiona's gentle voice broke the stillness, holding out a notebook to him.
Her smile was soft — the same kind of smile he used to give her, long ago.
Kairos reached out slowly to take it.
"...Thank you."
Then, after a pause, his voice dropped lower — laced with guilt.
"...And… I'm sorry. For making things hard for you lately."
Fiona paused — her heart skipped.
A simple sentence,But one that cut deep.Even now… he was still worrying about her, despite how much he was hurting.
She smiled back, soft and unwavering.
"It's alright… really."
She paused, then spoke in a whisper — just loud enough for him to hear.
"Because there was once someone… who did the same for me, expecting nothing in return."
Kairos lowered his eyes.His hand tightened just a little around the notebook.
"...Thank you, Fiona."
For the first time in days — he didn't feel like just a shadow.For the first time… he felt seen.
Later that Afternoon
The classroom was quiet again after lunch.Most students remained, some chatting, some reading, some… secretly eavesdropping on two people by the window.
Kairos and Fiona weren't talking much.Just brief exchanges — seemingly about lessons.
But to some, it wasn't just that.
"Wait… did he just smile?"
Melina whispered excitedly to Aileen beside her.
"Yeah… I think he really did," Aileen nodded with a small smile.
"No way—Fiona! What did you do? You got the Ice Prince to smile!?"
Fiona flushed red, sneaking a glance at Kairos.He remained silent — but his finger had just lost rhythm on the page he was pretending to read.A faint pink crept up one of his ears.
'He heard that...'
A soft giggle spread between Melina and Aileen, catching the attention of others nearby.Soon, whispers started spreading like ripples.
"Was that really… a smile?"
"That guy? The one everyone says is cold as ice?"
People who once feared him were now looking at him with new eyes.Some with curiosity, some… with a hint of understanding.
"He doesn't seem scary at all…"
"He's just… quiet, really."
Kairos remained still, but the slight unclenching of his brow…The way his breath seemed to soften…
It was clear — he'd heard everything.And he was… relieved.
"He's… human. Just like us."
But in one corner of the room…
Kaian West sat quietly.His fist clenched so tightly that the pencil in his hand snapped in two.
His jaw tightened, expression dark.
"Idiots… just one smile, and they all forget?"
His eyes burned with bitter frustration.
"Kairos… your talent alone should've been enough. So why… do you need their attention too?"
A single smile had changed everything.But in its shadow, a deeper resentment was beginning to stir… unseen.