I don't belong here, I never have.

The classroom feels distant, like a strange, noisy world I'm only passing through. The hum of the teacher's voice, the occasional rustle of notebooks, and the whispers among my classmates are all background noise—meaningless static to me.

I rest my head against the desk, my eyes half-closed as my thoughts drift inward. Power. Control. It's all about control, isn't it?

I've learned the art of manipulation since I was young. I learned that true power isn't about brute force. It's about subtlety, precision, and timing.

I scan the room—observing. Watching. Every face, every gesture tells a story. I can read them all. The way they look at me. Admire me. Fear me. It's all so predictable.

"Yo, Kiyoshi!" A voice breaks through my thoughts, dragging me back to reality. I lift my head slowly, meeting the eyes of Yuta and Ryo. They're grinning, as usual, like two idiots in a candy shop.

"Let's go grab something to eat," Yuta says, his voice laced with excitement. Ryo nods, a smirk on his face.

I sigh, shifting my gaze to the clock. Break time. Another chance to observe the mindless masses as they shuffle around in their little world. I get up, pushing my chair back with a deliberate calmness that always makes people look at me. I don't need to be loud to draw attention. My presence is enough.

As we move through the hallway, I can feel their eyes on me. The whispers. The stares. It's not new. It never will be.

A few girls stop in their tracks as I pass by, their eyes lingering on me. "He's so perfect, isn't he? Smart, athletic, good-looking… everything." Their voices are soft, filled with awe. I don't respond. I never do. Their admiration is nothing more than a fleeting distraction.

I don't care about any of them.

I turn my attention to the first row. There she is—Aiko Yamamoto. She's sitting by the window, lost in a book. The soft light catches her features, casting an ethereal glow around her. She used to be perfect. The girl everyone admired. But I know better.

I know what's happened to her.

I walk toward her slowly, deliberately. I need her to notice me. She doesn't look up at first, and when she does, it's only for a split second. Her gaze briefly meets mine before she returns to her book, dismissing me without a word.

A faint smile tugs at the corner of my lips. She's always been like this—distant. Untouchable. But not anymore.

I stand there for a moment, taking in the silence. There's nothing more I need to say. I turn and walk away, my footsteps soft against the floor.

Yuuto and Ryo are following behind, talking about something I couldn't care less about. "Man, you could have at least said something to her. She's hot," Ryo mutters, his voice thick with amusement.

I don't answer. There's nothing to say. They don't understand.

I lead them toward the stairwell, heading up to the roof. The sky is clear, the air crisp. The perfect weather for a moment of peace. I leave the noise of the classroom behind me, moving toward the calm of the rooftop.

Ryo and Yuta follow, still talking about girls and whatever nonsense they always discuss. I find a spot at the edge of the roof and sit down, the wind ruffling my hair as I stare out at the school below.

They're loud, carefree, always distracted by the next girl, the next thrill. But not me. I can't afford distractions.

Aiko... She used to be like them. Strong. Perfect. But I know what happened.

I think about it sometimes—the cracks in her. The way she shattered so completely. Her fall from grace wasn't just a coincidence. Someone broke her. But who?

It doesn't matter.

The wind blows through my hair again, and for a brief moment, I close my eyes. The world below seems small, insignificant. Nothing can touch me up here. Here, I am in control. I have the power. I'm the one pulling the strings.

I listen to the chatter behind me, the careless laughter of Yuta and Ryo, but I can't bring myself to care. I'm thinking about the bigger picture. Aiko. Her brokenness. My plans. All of it.

And as I sit there, high above them all, I realize one thing: In this world, it's not about being loud or brash. It's about knowing when to speak, when to act, and when to remain silent.

For now, I remain silent. But that won't last forever.