ICE's POV

I was on my way home when I realized I had forgotten where I put the key to my unit. I decided to go to the receptionist to borrow a spare key.

"The girl living in Room 310 always comes out at dawn, and when she comes home, she has a box of cup noodles."

"310? Are you referring to Miss Hyra Fukushima?"

"Yes, she's the only girl there, the others are—"

“Hyra Fukushima?" They were surprised when I joined their conversation. I had been standing there for a long time, unnoticed because they were chattering.

"Yes, Sir Lukas, Hyra Fukushima. You both go to the same school, so you might know her," said a receptionist while bowing.

"I don't just know her; I know her very well," I smiled, then took the spare key they handed me.

The world is really small. I never thought we would just live in the same building.

I took the elevator. My unit was Room 121, but I didn't go straight there. Instead, I went to Room 310.

"Buzzzzz, buzzzzz, buzzzzz."

I've been buzzing for a while, but no one has come out yet. Is anyone here? The receptionist said Hyra was home.

"Buzzzzz, bu—"

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?"

She came out while rubbing her eyes. It looked like she had just woken up. She was just wearing an oversized white T-shirt, and her hair was messy.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course not—" She was about to close the door, but my foot prevented it from closing.

"Thank you so much for agreeing."

"What? Hey, get out of here."

I ignored what she said and looked around. This room is big for just one person and the surroundings are clean as if she doesn't live in it.

THIRD PERSON's POV

"Are you done looking around? You can leave now; trespassing is what you're doing, you know that?"

Hyra said as she followed Ice. She worried that Conan or Cris might come while Ice was there.

"You're the only one living in this big unit?" Ice asked in surprise.

"Is it obvious?" Hyra rolled her eyes, and "Croooooo!" Her stomach growled.

"You have not eaten yet?"

"Not yet, I'm too lazy to cook."

"Then let me cook for you."

"You know how to cook? No! Wait, you don't have to—"

"Let me borrow your kitchen."

Hyra did nothing but sit down. She watched Ice cook, and with every move, she was amazed.

'Wissshhhhhhh!

'Wosssshhhh!

'Shhhhhh!

"This is bad. It smells like he cooked something delicious," Hyra mumbled to herself. She shifted her gaze to Ice and the clock hanging on the wall.

"The food is ready; you can eat."

She didn't realize Ice had already served the food in front of her.

"Wow!" Hyra's eyes widened, and her saliva started dripping because of the food in front of her.

"Eat!" After Ice said that, Hyra immediately grabbed the food. Ice secretly smiled, and when he realized he was smiling, he immediately made a poker face as he always did. "What's wrong with me? Why am I smiling while watching her eat?" Ice asked himself.

"By the way, Maniego, why are you so nice to me now? Do you need anything?"

"Actually, I want to ask you for a favor."

"Anything."

Ice took a deep breath, then clenched his fist secretly. He looked straight into Hyra's eyes. "Let's date."

Hyra was surprised by what Ice said. She couldn't remove the fork from her mouth and just nodded at Ice.

"What does your nod mean? Do you agree?"

*Nod, nod*

"Tch." Ice clicked his tongue, then approached Hyra and removed the fork from her mouth. "D-do you agree?" Ice repeated his question.

"YES!" Hyra smiled broadly and gave Ice a hug.

[VIXEN HEADQUARTERS]

"What is this meeting for?" Ice asked, wearing his famous poker face.

Twelve masks were currently at Vixen HQ on a sudden summons.

"Yeah, what's this for? It's 9 pm; it's time for me to sleep," Jared said with a yawn.

"We called you here to find out what's going on. Do you have a lead on Demon's whereabouts?" asked one of the thirteen Elders. They sat in the far corner with their faces covered.

"So it's about Demon?" Brizon asked himself angrily.

“So far, all we know is that she has entered the Caribbean—"

"WHAT?" One of the Elders slammed his desk and stopped Nathan from speaking. "Is what I heard right? Demon has already entered the University?"

"Yes," Sky answered.

"How did she get in? Aren't you the one holding that place, Sky? And you, Rain, you're in charge of university security. How did she get in?" It was obvious from the elder's voice that he was angry.

"She used a door," Jared whispered, but he whispered so loudly that everyone heard him.

"Mr. Monteverde, if you have nothing good to say, be quiet," another Elder threatened Jared.

"As far as I can see now, you haven't taken any steps to kill Demon."

Brizon could no longer restrain himself and he answered the Elders. "Why are you so eager to kill Demon? Is she a threat?" Brizon asked, calming himself.

"Have you forgotten that she inherited the thirteen masks? As long as she lives, she will continue to take the masks back from you, and when that happens, many innocent people will be affected," the elder explained. He then turned slightly to Ice. "Demon also killed Ice's mother."

“I will kill Demon for killing my mom, and I will make sure she suffers—"

"Hey, young man," they all shifted their attention to an elder who spoke. "Don't underestimate Demon." He walked towards the masks, then jumped on the table. "Demon is the almighty god of the underground. Many people want to kill her, but she is still breathing. Do you know why?" The elder walked back and forth on the table. "Because half of the population in the underground are Demon's underlings. No one has seen her yet, and even the four rulers can't do anything to beat her. She rarely shows up, and if she does, there's a bloodbath."

"Looks like you know a lot about her. Are you a fan of hers?" Ice asked the elder in front of him.

"I'm a fan of her? Of course not." The elder's expression changed as if something had entered his mind that he did not like. "But do you know what's amazing? Her blood-colored eyes. Scientists want to study them, so when you get them, there's a big reward."

"Uno, you've said enough."

The elder called Uno dropped his shoulder, then returned to his seat. But before he sat, he glanced at Ice and smirked.

"But don't forget what I said: her eyes are worth a lot. Give me a small amount when you get them," Uno added, then finally sat down.

"Ehem!" The highest-ranking elder cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention. "I found out that there is a transfer student who made a ruckus inside the university, and she is close to you, Sky. Is she the reason why you neglected your duty?"

Sky bit his lip so hard he didn't want to answer the question because he didn't want Hyra to get involved in their problem.

"ANSWER HIM!" One of the elders stood up and shouted.

"You don't have to force him. It's not Sky's fault, and the transfer student you're referring to—don't touch her because we're already dating." Ice was annoyed by what was happening.

"WHAT?" Eleven Masks and Uno said at the same time.

Everyone turned to Uno because of his reaction. "I'm sorry, I was just carried away by my emotions," Uno excused.

"Ice, what the hell are you saying?" Nathan asked him.

"Hyra and I started dating," Ice replied calmly, then peeked at Sky. "That's okay, Sky, isn't it?"

"Hyra and I are just friends, so don't worry," Sky's straight response. He looked calm, but his palm was bleeding because he clenched his fist tightly.

"Then there's no problem." Ice stood up, then put his hand on the top of the table. "You can't blame Sky and Carl for what's happening at the University. It's also your job to keep an eye on it, isn't it? This meeting is over."

Ice left, and the other masks followed him, leaving only Sky and Jared.

"No matter what, don't leave her like I did, because I still regret it," Jared said to Sky, then followed the masks that had left earlier.

"Cris, if you were in my situation, what would you do?" Sky whispered.

THE NEXT MORNING

"KYAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"

The students were very lively every morning, especially when the elite entered at the same time. It was like they were at a fashion show, and the field was their runway. From a distance, Hyra stood with a frown on her face, covering both ears. She didn’t like the screams of elite fans.

"SKY!!"

Her face lit up when she saw Sky, but he just passed her and ignored her. Hyra frowned even more.

"Hey! Are you going to class? Let's go together," Jared saw what was happening, so he immediately approached Hyra and took her belongings.

"Did something happen to Sky?" Hyra asked, wondering.

"Sky? Don't worry, there's just a small problem, but that'll be okay. Sky is smart."

They kept walking until a girl stopped in front of them.

"Hyra!"

"Yes, Jasmine?"

Jared's eyes widened, and he pulled Hyra away before looking around.

"Why are you talking to her? Don't you know that's forbidden?" Jared said softly enough for only Hyra to hear.

"I hate rules, so I'll do what I want," Hyra smiled, then passed Jared and approached the girl named Jasmine. "Hi, Jasmine, what do you want to say?"

“Hyra, for you— SWOOOOOOOSH!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone screamed as they saw Jasmine fall, an arrow stuck in her forehead.

"W-what?" Hyra knelt down, lifting Jasmine's head. Her hands shook, and her eyes changed color.

"H-hyra?" Jared immediately approached Hyra, hugging her and hiding Hyra's face on his shoulder to prevent many people from seeing her eyes.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The students continued screaming in fear. Security forces arrived and examined Jasmine's lifeless body.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Conan arrived angrily, immediately pulling Hyra away from Jared. "Don't touch her," he threatened Jared.

Jared could do nothing but let Hyra go, as seeing Conan's angry face was terrifying.

"What happened here?" The other masks also arrived, and Jared was asked what had happened.

"They're targeting Hyra."

"What do you mean?" Ice asked.

"If that woman hadn't come, Hyra would have been hit by the arrow."

–

"Leave us," Conan ordered, and the nurses immediately left the infirmary room. He gently laid Hyra on a bed and brushed strands of hair from her face.

"Am I being targeted?" Hyra asked softly, resting her head on Conan's shoulder.

"Don't worry. Cris has already taken steps; he knows what to do."

"Are you worried? Yes, it must be because I was the target," Hyra mused.

Conan chuckled softly, brushing Hyra's hair back. "Yes, I'm worried. I almost blew up this place just thinking about you," he replied sarcastically, then handed Hyra a pair of contact lenses. "These are good, and I always bring extra," he said proudly.

"What are we going to do about Jared? He saw my eye," Hyra asked while wearing the lens Conan had given her.

"Let's just let it be. He won't speak, I'm sure."

"You seem pretty sure."

"Of course. I've watched over them for five years," Conan said, smirking as Hyra brought her face closer to his.

"Am I beautiful now?" Hyra asked with a playful smile.

"You're always beautiful," Conan replied, pulling Hyra closer and kissing her. He gently caressed her waist, and Hyra moved her body, eliciting a soft growl from Conan.

Conan couldn't resist the warmth of Hyra's lips against his, and soon, they were lost in the softness of each other's embrace. His hands gently caressed her back as they kissed, the moment filled with a mix of longing and tenderness. Hyra responded eagerly, her fingers threading through Conan's hair, pulling him closer.

Their kiss deepened, a silent exchange of emotions and desires that spoke volumes without words. Conan's heart raced with a mixture of passion and caution, mindful of their surroundings even as he yearned to lose himself in Hyra's presence.

Again his hand trailed over Hyra's body, unclasping her bra, before he realized what he was doing. Pulling away from the kiss, he looked at Hyra with concern.

Hyra smiled innocently, resting her head on Conan's chest.

"I got carried away. Besides, this isn't the right place, and aren't you and Shawn dating?"

Hyra's mouth twitched, but she gently patted Conan's forehead. "Now's not the time," she replied, buttoning up her uniform as she rubbed her cheek against his.

"So what? Maniego and I were just dating," she teased, kissing Conan again.

Conan sighed, shaking his head with a slight smile. "You're incorrigible."

ICE's POV

"Where was she taken?"

"In the infirmary, she's resting."

I nodded and went straight to the infirmary where I found her sound asleep.

"How is she?" I asked the nurse who was there.

"She's okay. She didn't get hurt, just shocked by what happened, so she fainted."

"Okay."

I looked at her sleeping face, a serene expression that contrasted with the chaos around us. I found myself smiling involuntarily. Hyra looked peaceful, like an angel in repose.

When I impulsively asked her to date me, it had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. I didn't plan for it, but now, seeing her here, it felt right. Claiming we were dating had also protected Sky and Carl from the Elders' scrutiny. I had kept Hyra out of harm's way because of Nathan's trust in me.

I hope everything goes according to plan.

"What are you doing here?"

Even though we were supposed to be dating, her attitude towards me hadn't changed. She was still as feisty and arrogant as ever.

"I'm worried about my date. Is there a problem?" I replied.

"You're worried about me, but you didn't bring any food when you came here? What kind of lover are you?" Her tone was teasing, but there was an underlying concern. "I'm going to starve to death."

She was clearly overreacting.

"What do you want to eat?"

I pulled out my phone to browse for nearby food options.

"I want to eat...?" She paused, thinking for a moment, then looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Aha! Come closer."

I sighed, knowing she was up to something, and reluctantly moved closer as she gestured.

As I approached, I was taken by surprise when she reached up, cupped my cheeks, and kissed me. I glanced at the nurse, who blushed and discreetly left the room. Once I was sure we were alone, I gently broke away from Hyra's kiss.

"Why are you kissing me without my permission?"

"Why do I need your permission? Aren't we already dating?" She feigned innocence, a playful smirk on her lips.

"Aren't you hungry? I've already ordered food."

I started to stand up, but she pulled me back and kissed me again.

Well, if she enjoyed it, I didn't mind indulging her. I laid her back on the bed and returned her kiss.

THIRD PERSON's POV

"Have you found his whereabouts?"

"Yes, Conan. I have it. I'll send it to you now."

"Good. I'll make him suffer before he dies."

Conan ended the call and gazed down at the city lights from atop the clock tower, contemplating his next move.

*Beep!*

He smiled upon receiving a timely message.

"Perfect timing. I need to vent my anger, and it looks like I've found my prey."

Driving swiftly, he soon arrived at his destination.

"Conan, remember, the person living there is the one responsible for what happened to Hyra," Cris reminded him.

"I've got this, Cris. I'll take care of it."

Conan got out of the car and stealthily entered the house. He moved silently, avoiding detection by the patrolling guards.

"This is easier than I expected," he whispered to himself as he carefully opened a door. This was the room of his target.

"Who are you?"

"Shh, don't make a sound. If you do, everyone here will die."

"What do you want from me?"

"It's simple. Just answer my question, and then I'll decide whether to kill you or not."

Conan approached the man, tightening his grip around his neck.

"Who ordered you to target Hyra?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Conan's grip tightened further at the man's evasive answer.

"Can you still lie when you know who I am?"

Conan released his grip suddenly, putting on the mask he carried. The man's eyes widened in fear as he recognized the figure before him.

"Don't come near me!"

"Do you think you're in a position to give orders? I'll give you one chance to live. Give me the right answer. Who ordered you?"

"If I tell you, they'll kill me."

"Whether you tell me or not, I will kill you. You're wasting my time. Choose who you want to kill you: them or me, the top of the food chain."

"The Elder at the University ordered me to kill the woman named Hyra. He wants her eliminated to clear the path for the Masks."

"That old fool? Hmm. Thanks."

*Swissshhhh*

Conan flicked a kunai, slicing through the man's neck.

*Thud!*

The sound of the head hitting the floor echoed in the room.

"No one can harm what's mine. Not you, not even the Elders, and especially not the Masks."

Meanwhile, back at Vixen Headquarters, tensions were high as the Elders deliberated over recent events. Ice's revelation about dating Hyra had caused a stir among them, but it had also diverted attention from other pressing matters.

"Ice's actions have thrown a wrench into our plans," one of the Elders muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

"We must focus on finding Demon," another Elder interjected, his voice stern and commanding. "Her presence poses a threat to our operations."

"But how do we proceed with Ice's interference?" a third Elder questioned, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

"We cannot afford distractions," the highest-ranking Elder declared, his tone decisive. "Our priority remains the acquisition of the Masks and ensuring our dominance in the underworld."

As the Elders debated their next course of action, tensions simmered beneath the surface. The revelation of Demon's continued elusiveness and the potential repercussions of Ice's involvement weighed heavily on their minds.