strings attached, k. tamon

deux.

(Y/N) placed her guitar on the table and cracked her knuckles. "I tracked you down, Tamon. You opened up something inside me. And until I get what I want, I'm sticking to you like a limpet."

Mogari narrowed his eyes. "Tamon is not for sale."

(Y/N) leaned her elbow on the table, eyes locked on the boy who was now hiding behind a soda bottle. "He's not for sale, huh? Good. That means I can just take him."

Choke.

Tamon's ears turned red. He ducked his head and started muttering, "Not happening, not happening, this isn't happening-"

"You're scaring him," Kanzaki whispered.

"Dude scares himself," (Y/N) shot back.

Mogari got between them. "Alright, back off. Whatever you think you heard, Tamon doesn't sing for people. He sings when he's alone. Or if you catch him off-guard. That's it."

(Y/N) stepped around him. "So I'll keep catching him off-guard."

Mogari bristled. "You're seriously pushing it-"

"Oh, and FYI?" she said, voice rising. "I'm already part of the club."

"Since when?!"

"I asked the president."

"Bullsh-"

"I have papers to prove it!"

Eugene, watching like a drama-hungry grandma with popcorn, whispered, "Wow."

Mogari crossed his arms, looking down at (Y/N) with the expression of someone who'd just stepped in something unpleasant. "You don't even know what we do here."

(Y/N) huffed, slinging her guitar case off her back and letting it thunk against the floor. "I know what I want. That guy,"—she pointed directly at Tamon, who visibly shrank behind Eugene—"has a voice that would set my songs on fire. I don't care if you guys are ghost janitors or whatever_—he's singing for me."

"Oh? Just like that?" Mogari scoffed. "What, you think this is a vending machine? You toss in some compliments and out pops a vocalist?"

"Please, vending machines are more generous than you." (Y/N) took a daring step forward. "You just mad I didn't pick you?"

Mogari actually laughed. "Oh no, I'm absolutely devastated you didn't throw yourself at my feet."

"You should be," she quipped, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I'm a catch."

"You're a loud devil with a guitar."

"And you're a haunted house reject with a superiority complex."

Eugene muttered, "Is this flirting or fighting?"

"I don't know," Kanzaki murmured. "But I don't care either way."

(Y/N) leaned on Mogari's desk with a smirk. "So? You gonna step aside or do I have to make you?"

Mogari bristled. "Don't you dare."

She turned her attention to Tamon, who was inching his way toward the corner like he hoped the floor would swallow him. "Taaamoooon," she sang, voice sugary sweet, "Don't you wanna sing with me?"

He made a sound like a dying toaster and hid behind Eugene again.

"You're breaking him," Kanzaki said dryly. "Back off before he short-circuits."

"You are a walking storm cloud," Mogari snapped.

"And you're a guard dog who bites everyone."

"Thank you."

"Not a compliment!"

(Y/N) turned back to Tamon, who was now trying to sink into the floorboards.

She sighed—long, theatrical, and then stepped forward.

In one smooth motion, she slammed her palm beside Tamon's head on the wall, caging him in with her arm and stepping inches from his face.

Kabedon.

The whole room gasped like someone just got stabbed.

Tamon blinked up at her. Paralyzed.

Her eyes scanned his face. His lashes were long. His jaw was sharp—too sharp for a guy who hunched like a kicked puppy. And his lips, trembling slightly, parted in panic.

"Listen, ghost boy," she said softly, grin fading into a gentler expression. "You may be scared of me. Fair. I did come strong. But that voice—you need to get it out there! I'm gonna drag it out of you if it kills me."

He opened his mouth—

Choked.

"No pressure," she added, smiling. "Just your soul in my hands."

Tamon turned pink, eyes darting left and right, hands clutching his collar.

"Wha—I—I don't—please—I'm—" GAG.

He covered his mouth, turned green, and bolted.

"Damn it," she muttered as the door slammed behind him.

Mogari stood there, stunned. "What did you do to him?!"

"I flirted. Poorly."

"That wasn't flirting. That was a tactical strike."

Kanzaki had pulled out a holy charm. "Should we... exorcise her?"

"You have your answer," Mogari said flatly. "He's terrified of you. Let it go."

(Y/N) pulled her guitar back into her arms, still grinning. "Terrified? That's how most love stories start."

Mogari blinked. "You're insane."

"Coming from you?"

"I'm going to throw you out next."

"I'd just come back."

Silence.

Then Mogari sighed like someone who realized they just let a cat into the house and now it owns the couch.

"Fine. If you're really that stubborn... welcome to Phantom Busters." He scowled. "God help us."

"Yay!" Y/N beamed. "So, um. Group hug?"

"Don't touch me."