𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓.

── .✦ 4

Y/n let out an exasperated sigh as she juggled a mop, a bucket, and a precarious tower of cleaning supplies in her arms, stumbling awkwardly down the dimly lit hallway. The faint scent of disinfectant clung to the air, a constant reminder of her humiliating assignment.

"Why is this my life?" she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with irritation. It felt like every time she dared to relax, Aoi Ryugoku from the student council swooped in with another menial task. This time, it was cleaning up some water spill that she hadn't even caused.

The memory of their earlier conversation still made her skin prickle with annoyance.

"Y/n!" Aoi had called out, her sharp voice cutting through the chatter in the hallway like a blade. "You still owe me for ditching the last task."

Y/n had stopped in her tracks, already dreading where this was going. She turned, feigning innocence. "Wait, that wasn't my fault! You didn't—"

Aoi's piercing glare stopped her short. "You want me to report you to the president for misconduct?"

Y/n had clenched her jaw, swallowing her frustration. "No," she muttered under her breath.

And so, here she was, sentenced to another round of janitorial duty while the rest of the school carried on as normal.

She finally reached the janitor's room, balancing the mop awkwardly against her shoulder as she fumbled for the doorknob. Her arms ached, her fingers slipping against the cold metal. "Seriously?" she mumbled, the bucket wobbling in her grasp.

The inevitable happened: everything tumbled to the floor with a loud clatter that echoed through the empty hallway.

Y/n groaned, sinking to her knees as she gathered the scattered supplies. "The universe just loves me today," she grumbled to herself, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

As she reached for the fallen mop, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She paused, sitting back on her heels as she pulled it out.

The screen lit up with a name that made her heart skip a beat.

Ayato.

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly in surprise. What was he texting her for? She hadn't expected him to initiate a conversation—ever, really.

His message was short and to the point.

Yan-kun: Where are you?

Y/n blinked, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she typed back.

Y/n: In the janitor's room. Got stuck cleaning... again.

His reply came almost instantly, and she could picture his flat, deadpan expression as she read the words.

Ayato: What?

Ayato: Isn't that what the janitor's for?

She let out a snort, shaking her head at her phone. "Right? That's what I've been saying," she muttered, her irritation momentarily forgotten.

Y/n: I don't know. Aoi Ryugoku practically threatened me with student council doom if I didn't do it.

Three dots appeared, then disappeared. She waited, her curiosity growing. When his next message finally came, it made her pause.

Ayato: Stay there. I'll come, Murakami-san.

Y/n: Okay, Aishi-kun.

Within minutes, Ayato appeared at the doorway, his presence quiet but commanding. He stood there for a moment, staring at the gray door as if contemplating whether this detour was even worth his time. With a faint sigh, he twisted the knob and stepped into the cramped janitor's room.