Shadowed Threads

Part 13: Threads of Attachment

The sounds of people bustling outside the school make it impossible to ignore. Laughter, chatter, the occasional shriek of excitement—it all grates on me. I pull my pillow over my head, pressing it down hard, trying to drown out the noise. Family weekend.

Ugh. Another reminder that I don't have a family anymore.

"All students who haven't yet, head to the main lawn for the opening ceremony for Family Weekend. " The announcement echoes through the dorms, and the cheery tone of the voice makes me feel even worse.

I groan, burrowing deeper into the blankets. Maybe if I pretend I don't exist, the weekend will pass by without incident. Maybe they'll forget about me. Maybe—

"Well, well, hiding away like some tragic little ghost, are we?"

I know that voice.

"Go away, Kage," I grumble into the pillow. "I am not in the mood."

"Aw, don't be like that, Ari."

At that, I shoot upright, my glare sharp enough to cut. "We are not and will never be at the stage where you can call me Ari."

Kage lounges against the doorframe, arms crossed, his pale features illuminated eerily in the dim dorm lighting. His ever-present smirk is firmly in place, his all-black, glowing eyes glinting with amusement. "Now, now, so touchy." He places a hand over his chest in mock offense.

"You ruined my life and are the reason I can never see my parents again, so sorry if I still don't want to be buddy-buddy with you." My voice is tight, every word laced with venom.

Kage tilts his head, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Ruined? That's such a strong word. I like to think I... reshaped it. Gave you a new perspective."

"You destroyed everything I had." My fingers dig into the blanket, knuckles white. "You don't get to twist that into something poetic."

He hums thoughtfully. "You know, most people would kill to have the kind of power you do now. Yet here you are, sulking in the dark like some abandoned puppy."

"Get out," I snap.

Kage leans in slightly, his smirk widening. "One day, you're going to thank me for this."

A sudden knock on my door makes us both turn our heads toward the noise.

Kage's grin turns downright smug. "Better get that, Ari."

I shoot him another glare before pushing the covers off and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. But when I look back—he's gone. Just like that. No sound, no trace, no shadow lingering where he stood.

I hate when he does that.

Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and shuffle toward the door. When I pull it open, I'm met with the imposing figure of the headmaster, his sharp gaze settling on me with an air of authority.

"Takeda," he says, his voice firm but not unkind. "Get dressed and report to the main lawn. You will be attending the opening ceremony."

I shift uncomfortably. "I'd rather not."

The headmaster's expression remains the same: "Family Weekend is an important event for all students, including you."

I cross my arms. "I don't have a family."

He studies me for a moment, then exhales quietly. "I understand this is difficult for you, but it's not about your family. It's about your place here—your connections with the people around you. You belong, Takeda. You've earned that."

I glance past him toward the sounds of celebration outside. "They all have their own families to focus on, anyway."

His eyes narrow slightly, not in anger but in understanding. "They're out there, waiting for you to stop shutting them out. And they're not the only ones who care about you."