EVEN IF I BURN ( f. sakuya ) ?

The cup hit the floor in a crash of porcelain and tea, splashing dark liquid across the white tile like a sudden wound.

Everyone jumped.

"Whoa!" Yushi yelped as he lifted his legs. "Leo, what the hell? I nearly lost a leg."

Leo didn't answer.

He was still staring at her. Eyes wide and unblinking. His lips barely parted as though he was trying to speak but couldn't remember how. The room had gone silent again,  as all attention was suddenly drawn to the golden boy's rare moment of... something.

Fear? Shock? Recognition?

Selene stood her ground, though a sliver of unease glinted in her eyes. "...Did I do something?"

The words broke the trance.

Leo blinked rapidly, then forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "N-No! No, not at all!" He crouched quickly, gathering the shards with his bare hands. "Sorry, sorry—I just... I didn't see you there. Clumsy me. Tea betrayed me again."

Sakuya narrowed his eyes. "Dude, you were literally looking straight at her."

"I was?" Leo laughed a little too loud. "Oh no. Did I make it weird? I swear I'm not weird."

"You're definitely being weird," Riku mumbled.

Leo coughed a she was flustered. "I-I'm Leo, by the way. Leo Caelum—just call me Leo. Welcome to HQ! I heard that you'd be joining our squad. That's... that's great. Really great. Super great."

Selene arched an eyebrow at him. "Thanks. Are you... alright?"

Leo looked like a deer caught in a supernova. "Yes," he said quickly. "I just had a long day. Meetings. You know how it is."

He stood up, holding the tea-stained shards awkwardly in his hands. "Excuse me. I should clean this up before someone steps on it or blames it on Ryo."

"Hey!" Ryo snapped. "Why is that your default blame?"

Leo offered a guilty smile and all but fled toward the sink, mumbling something about cloths and consequences.

Selene watched him go, her expression unreadable. "Is he always like that?"

"No," Sakuya said, eyes narrowed. "That was... new."

"Suspicious," Yushi added, licking icing off his fingers. "The Leo I know wouldn't flinch if the ceiling fell. He just saw you and combusted."

"I didn't combust," Leo called from the sink, his voice pitched high with embarrassment.

"You kind of did," Jaehee muttered with a grin.

Selene exhaled through her nose, clearly deciding not to engage further. She turned to the others. "So. What were you all up to before I got here?"

"Pastries," said Riku, holding up one like a prize.

"And then a movie," Sakuya chimed in, still eyeing Leo warily. "We were going to vote on what to watch."

"I vote action," Jaehee said. "Something bloody. I'm in the mood."

"Of course you are," Yushi sighed.

Selene smiled faintly. "Mind if I join?"

"You're literally part of the squad now. You have to join," Sakuya grinned.

As the group settled back in, Leo stood by the sink as he dried his hands slowly. His reflection stared back at him from the darkened window above the counter. He was haunted, his breath caught.