Chapter Text
It was the last day of winter break, and the start of a brand new year.
Kinich lay on his bed, eyes fixed on his phone screen, refreshing his class app for any notifications or updates. Nothing yet.
Last year had drained him—his first year at Sainte Bronya College. The new environment, the constant pressure to socialize… It was exhausting. Kinich wasn’t antisocial, just selective. He worked better alone. Fortunately, his old teacher had seen his family’s academic history and allowed him to work solo last year.
Not that anyone protested. He had walked into class with a stone-cold expression, the kind that practically screamed “don’t talk to me.” People listened.
Just as he was about to give up and toss his phone aside, a notification buzzed to life on his screen.
Yearlong Architecture Project Assigned. All students will be partnered or grouped.
There are no exceptions. Your assigned partners will be uploaded shortly.
Kinich’s eyes widened. His chest tightened in quiet disbelief.
No exceptions?
Maybe he could still reason with the professor—
Another ping. An attached message.
Please welcome our new student transfer!
Her name is Mualani, and she transferred from the Akademiya in Sumeru. Please give her a big, warm welcome!
Below was her profile.
She had striking blue eyes that faded into sunset orange. Her hair was white at the roots, blending into soft blue at the tips. Kinich assumed it was dyed. The contrast between her tanned skin and pale hair was eye-catching.
He’d be lying if he said she wasn’t a little pretty.
But his curiosity ended there—until the next attachment came in.
Your assigned partner: Mualani
Unknown Number: hey
Unknown: HEY
Unknown: helloooooooo???
Unknown: i can see you reading my texts.
Unknown: …
Unknown: scruffy guy?
Unknown: black hair dude?
Unknown: black hair green eye dude??
Unknown: hey! if u answer this msg, u get a 70% discount at the Springs People Surf Shop 🏄♀️💸
Unknown: hmm how can i get u to reply…
Unknown: o right. the old school way.
Unknown: hi!! it’s mualani! the prof gave me ur contact for the architecture project! ur kinich right???
You: Hello.
You: Yes, I’m Kinich.
Mualani: HA!
Mualani: got u to reply
Mualani: ur stuck with me now 😎
Mualani: partner for the year-long project!
Mualani: u got the prof's message, right?
Mualani: anyway, he told me u have to give me a campus tour
You: Fine by me.
Mualani: ok thanks!!!
Mualani: cya tmr!
pause
Mualani: …
Mualani: UR SUPPOSED TO SAY IT BACK 😭
Kinich sighed, already updating the contact name to Mualani before tossing the phone aside. He started packing his bag.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
“Welcome back to a new year at Sainte Bronya College! We’re excited to see so many juniors returning, and we’re thrilled to introduce our new transfers. Please give them a warm welcome!”
Kinich sat in the auditorium with the other juniors, tuning out the assembly announcements. His eyes were half-lidded. He was more focused on the hum of his own thoughts than the principal's voice.
“All juniors must participate in clubs this year—debate, architecture, arts & crafts, science, and many more. As previously mentioned in your emails, this year will feature partner-based projects.”
He already knew. He remembered that part far too clearly.
Kinich let his mind drift—to his family, his mother, and her possible whereabouts. The thought swallowed him up until—
BANG.
Two hands slammed onto the table in front of him.
“Hey, Kinich!”
Startled, he jerked back, his chair tipping dangerously. Before he could fall, a hand grabbed his arm and yanked him forward.
He blinked up into familiar mismatched eyes—blue melting into orange.
Mualani.
“Oh—sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you. But your reaction was kinda funny,” she chuckled.
Running a hand through his hair, Kinich sighed. “Don’t sneak up on me like that. Just… don’t.”
Still grinning, she handed him his bag from the floor. “Hehe, my bad! Anyway, let’s go! Professor Mavuika—Mavika? Mavo… whatever—said we should head straight to our clubs!”
“…No, I wasn’t listening.”
“That’s okay! You’ve been here a year already. Probably knew what she was gonna say anyway!”
They made their way to the room labeled Architecture 7-B. Mualani talked the whole way there, but Kinich didn’t mind as much as he thought he would.
“I almost joined the music club, since my cousin Xilonen’s in it! Do you know her?”
Of course he did. Xilonen was on the student council, ran the music club, and worked as a part-time school counselor. He’d spoken to her once, about… things. Things he didn’t talk about.
“She’s also got a little sister named Kachina in Year 7. I babysit her a lot. She’s so cute! But yeah, tons of clubs. Too many, honestly. I ended up picking architecture since I helped my parents build our surf shop back in Sumeru. You ever heard of Springs People Surf Shop?”
That made Kinich glance her way. “You have architecture experience?”
“Yep! Though surfing and swimming are really my thing. I wanted to join the water sports club, but you need official experience. I beat everyone in their team during the holidays, but—rules are rules.”
He tilted his head slightly. “Couldn’t you join an outside club?”
“Would’ve, but my parents are away on business. I’m in the dorms now, and the school needs a guardian’s signature for off-campus clubs. The college won’t sign because my parents are still alive, and my parents won’t sign because… well, they’re either busy or lazy. Doesn’t matter. Architecture is fun.”
She kept talking, and Kinich gave short, quiet answers—but he listened.
As the two settled into work, designing a multi-floor surf and water gear store using a model of her parents' shop, something in the corner of his eye caught Kinich’s attention.
A hooded figure stood behind a shelf stacked with design manuals. Short, slightly hunched, long hair half-tucked under the hood.
They were watching him. Watching them.
No one should’ve been here. Everyone had been assigned a club and told to stay there.
His fingers paused above the keyboard.
That posture. That presence.
He recognized it.
And he knew exactly what this meant.