The Contract Of Hearts

Crossing Paths Again

The gates of Kyoto University loomed ahead as Zane parked the 240SX in the student parking lot. The sprawling campus was an intricate blend of modern buildings and traditional Japanese architecture, a testament to its rich history and forward-looking philosophy. He stepped out of the car, slinging his duffel bag over one shoulder, and stared at the campus for a moment, taking a deep breath. This was it—his new beginning.

After asking for directions at the administration office, Zane made his way to the principal's office, where he was greeted by a neatly dressed middle-aged man with a kind smile.

"Zane Callen, welcome to Kyoto University," the principal said warmly, extending a hand. Zane shook it firmly, nodding in return. "You've been assigned dorm room 241. It's a two-bedroom unit on the second floor of the east dormitory. I trust you'll find it comfortable."

Zane blinked. A two-bedroom? That was unusual. Back in Europe, dormitories had often housed four to six students in one room. But he wasn't about to complain. He thanked the principal, collected his room key, and headed toward the dormitory building.

The east dormitory was a quiet, modern structure with neatly landscaped gardens surrounding it. As Zane walked through the hallways, his long silver hair swayed with each step. It had grown considerably since his school days, a stark contrast to the chubby, bespectacled freshman he had once been. His reflection in the glass panes of the dorm doors reminded him of just how much he had changed.

Stopping in front of room 241, Zane fished the key out of his pocket. Sliding it into the lock, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. The scent of a newly cleaned room greeted him, mingling with a faint trace of floral perfume. He stepped inside, his sneakers barely making a sound against the polished wooden floor.

The room was small but cozy, with two neatly made beds on opposite sides, a pair of desks, and a large window that overlooked the campus gardens. Zane's eyes scanned the space, pausing when he noticed someone sitting on one of the beds this place is really nice he said to himself.

The figure was hunched over a tablet, long black hair cascading over her shoulders. She was wearing a stylish outfit, the kind that screamed both wealth and high maintenance if anyone sees it. It wasn't until she shifted her position, finally glancing up, that her face came into full view.

Zane froze. His grip on the door tightened, the weight of recognition hitting him like a tidal wave, his eyes widening.

Kanami?

She looked different—older, more polished—but her sharp eyes and haughty demeanor were unmistakable. Kanami blinked, staring at him for a moment as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her lips parted slightly, and then her gaze traveled up and down, taking in his towering frame, his broad shoulders, and the confident way he carried himself. Her surprise was evident, but it quickly shifted into something else: amusement.

"Well, well, well," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't Zane Callen. Or should I say... the Zane Callen? What happened to you? Did someone swap you with a model or something?"

Zane sighed inwardly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. He didn't respond right away, instead placing his bag on the unoccupied bed. Kanami's voice still held that same bratty edge, the one that had grated on him so much back in high school.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Zane said evenly, unzipping his bag and beginning to unpack. He had learned over the nearly decade, not to let her words get under his skin, learning form the lessons taught by past mistakes, though being in the same room as her after all this time was testing his resolve.

Kanami swung her legs off the bed, crossing her arms as she watched him. "You're seriously going to ignore me? Wow, you've changed in more ways than one. Back in freshman, you'd have stammered and run out of the room by now."