Ajin, the two boys who shared Ajin's bench, and two more from their class stopped outside the cafeteria. Everyone except Ajin huddled around a phone, eyes wide.
One boy pointed at a shadowy figure in the corner of the video. "Sameer, is that you standing next to Ajin?"
Sameer squinted. "Yeah, that's me. I was there the whole time. I was furious at him, wanted to beat him up. But when Ajin got pushed back and I felt that monster's killing intent, I froze. Later I tried to complain to the faculty, but Ajin stopped me."
He turned to Ajin. "Do you know who recorded the video? I swear no one else was there."
Ajin shrugged lightly. "Even I want to know."
Sameer let out a low whistle. "It's weird, you know. It feels like you have some guardian angel. Even during the last elections, everyone thought Keth would win, but he got into that car accident… and you won easily."
Ajin pointed at the air above his head. "You figured it out. My guardian angel is right here. Flying above my head."
One of the boys gasped dramatically and pointed upward. "I can see her. Beautiful face, D cup, slim waist. Just looking at her makes me want to bang her."
Ajin snorted. "But my guardian angel is a man, Issei."
Everyone burst into laughter except Issei, who wilted like a dying plant.
Ajin wrapped an arm around him with a warm grin. "Sorry, Issei. You can change any topic to something erotic and I'm amazed of that. It's not wrong, and none of us think less of you. Honestly, I admire your imagination. You should be laughing at us for not imagining like you. Just… maybe shift that imagination away from erotica sometimes. Use it elsewhere, and you'll shine."
He glanced behind them, then leaned closer. "And next time you talk about stuff like that, please not in public. We're embarrassing ourselves."
Everyone turned around and froze. A group of girls behind them were staring and giggling.
The boys collectively shrank in embarrassment.
Sameer cleared his throat. "Forget them. Tell me which lucky person is treating me today."
He pointed at Rick. "Is it you?"
Rick recoiled. "Why me? It should be Ajin. The whole class applauded him today."
They all grabbed Ajin and dragged him inside despite his protests.
"Why should I give a treat?" Ajin complained.
He could only afford noodles with his remaining money. "Sorry, this is all I can get for now."
"For now we'll accept it," Rick said. "But on your birthday, you give us a big treat."
"His birthday was last week," Sameer noted.
"You asshole!" Issei yelled. "You didn't even tell us?"
"He doesn't like celebrating birthda-," Sameer suddenly stiffened as a gorgeous girl walked past the cafeteria.
He leaned toward Ajin. "Ajin… don't you think Cassie likes you?"
Issei's eyes went huge. "Her? She likes Ajin?"
The others didn't react.
Sameer nodded. "She even offered to help him today. And she was blushing the whole time. Ajin, just propose already."
Issei raised his hand. "Am I the only one hearing this for the first time?"
Everyone except Ajin nodded.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?!"
Sameer rolled his eyes. "Because everyone already knew. You're just too dumb to notice."
Issei pouted. "I feel pathetic."
A moment later he puffed up with pride. "But I support you, Ajin. I'll help you with dating advice. I have zero real world experience but infinite dating sim knowledge."
He gestured like painting a portrait. "She's Miss College for a reason. Huge ass, big—"
"Who ordered noodles?" the cook called.
Ajin raised his hand, took the plate, and returned.
After they were done eating, Sameer said, "One last thing. If you and Cassie ever get together, we'll cheer for you both. But you can never forget our slogan."
All of them, including the embarrassed Ajin, lifted their voices together.
"Love is surreal; sex is eternal."
-----
Seth held out his phone, the paused video glowing on the screen. "Ajin, do you know who recorded this?"
Ajin shook his head.
"Someone filmed it from right behind you, and you still don't know who did it?"
"As you said, someone recorded it from behind me," Ajin replied calmly.
Jack cut in. "No person did it."
Both Seth and Ajin turned to him, confused.
Jack continued, lowering his voice as though the truth itself were eerie. "What I mean is, no one stood behind Ajin. My friend and I went to the restroom to check. From the angle in the video, we found the exact place the phone had to be. And there is literally no space for someone to stand there. Whoever filmed it must have hidden their mobile behind the mirror near the washbasin."
Seth frowned, thinking through every word. "So the person who recorded it… already knew it was going to happen. They hid the phone beforehand to capture everything…" He suddenly paused, eyes widening. "But, Ajin… how did you know they were going to meet in the restroom?"
Ajin answered without hesitation. "One of the boy's friends told me about the ragging. I went there to stop it, but… I ended up witnessing something so brutal instead."
Jack asked quietly, "If you saw all of it, why didn't you report it immediately?"
Ajin looked down. "The first year kid was terrified. Before he fainted, he insisted to the teachers that he slipped in the restroom. Without his statement, without any proof, I couldn't accuse Jason. No one would believe me. So I stayed silent."
Seth nodded slowly, then lifted his phone again. "Forget all that for now. Look at this video. It's hilarious."
They huddled closer, watching something completely unrelated, letting the tension dissolve into laughter.
----------
Ajin slowly pushed open the gate.
The warmth in his smile, the gentle charm he carried all day, faded the moment the metal creaked.
He climbed the stairs in silence and stopped before the single door on the second floor. Inside was a luxurious home, full of framed photos, art-lined walls, and warm, tasteful décor. A plush couch faced a massive plasma TV. Two bedrooms opened off the main hall, and a sleek open kitchen stretched across the far side.
But despite its beauty, the house felt strangely dim. Only two small ceiling lights were on, scattering lonely pools of gold across the darkened rooms.
In that half-lit space, a young woman, elegant, motherly, stood near the second bedroom. A girl younger than Ajin stood beside the couch, waving a dress like a flag of rebellion.
"I can live however I want," the girl shouted. "I'll wear what I want, eat what I want. You have no right to decide for me."
"I'm your mother. I have every right," the woman snapped back.
The girl let out a mocking laugh. "Which country's constitution has such stupid laws?"
"It isn't in any constitution because it's basic sense. Now I am asking one last time. Will you exchange that dress or shall I throw it in the dustbin?"
Under the dim light, their raised voices made the house feel darker, tighter. And when Ajin stepped inside, silent and expressionless, so unlike his warm self, the home transformed into something haunted. His calm face, drained of its usual glow, sent a chill through the room.
He changed into his pajamas without a word, sat on the couch, and flicked on the TV.
Both mother and daughter froze. They stopped arguing instantly and joined him, unsettled by the quiet heaviness he brought with him.
After a moment, Ajin asked, "Maa, you called the dean about the job offers?"
"Yes," she said. "You never listen to me, so I asked him to scold you. Didn't he scold you?"
Ajin looked at her flatly. "How did you think he would scold me?"
Silence.
Then he continued, "How many times have I told you not to call the dean and ask him to keep an eye on me?"
Her eyes flared. "I told that wig-face not to mention it to you. Maybe I should call him again and warn him—"
Ajin sighed. "Did you think I wouldn't know even if he didn't tell me?"
She blinked, caught. "Did I just… accidentally curse the wig-face? Anyway, leave it. My smart Ajin found out as usual."
"Don't butter me up," Ajin muttered. "I'm not angry. I'm just tired of telling you I'm fine all the time."
His mother fell quiet.
Ajin softened, smiled a little. "Don't call the dean again."
"Okay, I won't," she replied, smiling with him.
Still smiling, she added, "Your dad called. He'll return this Monday."
Ajin didn't turn from the TV. "Is that important for me to know?"
"Yes. You're his son. And stop addressing him like that. Call him Dad."
The air chilled. A cold war began forming between them.
The girl quickly cut in before it escalated. "Bro, so many things happened at my college today! I've been dying to tell you."
Ajin's face brightened, not the warm smile he carried for the world, but a simple, genuine smile that lifted the atmosphere. The house seemed to warm with it.
"I also have a lot to tell you both," he said. "Let me go to the bathroom first. And I have some work later, so I'll close my door after two hours. Until then, I'm all yours."
He disappeared into the bedroom.
Once the door shut, the girl whispered, "Mom… don't you think he's scary when he's silent?"
"I think something happened at college today," her mother murmured.
"But the dean said there's nothing to worry about. Maybe you're imagining it."
"I want to believe that," she said softly. "But something… doesn't feel right. Maybe being far from her is making him like this."
"But I think they're just fri—" the girl cut herself off when Ajin reentered the room.