Chapter 1
—Flirty Strain.—
The cafeteria was unusually quiet. As Kiyotaka Ishimaru stepped inside, his ever-sharp gaze scanned the room. Something was... off. Of course, several classmates had been infected by the new motive, the Despair Disease, by now, so it is only natural the cafeteria felt lonely.
But none of this concerned Kiyotaka as much as the sight of Mondo Owada lounging at one of the tables, looking far too relaxed for the "Ultimate Biker Gang Leader." His usual fiery intensity had softened, replaced by an air of playful confidence.
"Kyodai!" Mondo called, his voice dripping with an almost melodious cheer as he waved Kiyotaka over.
Kiyotaka stiffened but strode forward, his sense of duty overpowering the unease stirring in his chest. "Mondo, are you feeling alright? Everyone here is acting quite bizarrely due to the stress, and I—"
Mondo stood up as Kiyotaka approached, his smirk widening in a way that made Taka’s heart skip. "Oh, I feel great, better than ever. And you, my dear kyodai, look like you’ve been workin' yourself too hard."
The sudden change in tone, the almost silky way Mondo spoke, made Kiyotaka freeze mid-sentence. "M-Mondo, what are you talking about?"
Before he could take a step back, Mondo grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer with surprising ease, forcing Kiyotaka to sit on his lap. The sudden shift made the moral compass’s cheeks ignite.
"M-Mondo!" Kiyotaka stammered, hands flailing for balance as he found himself awkwardly perched on the biker’s lap. "This is entirely inappropriate! You’re violating—uh—multiple school regulations!"
Mondo chuckled, his deep voice sending an unfamiliar warmth through Kiyotaka's chest. "Ah, come on, Taka. Ain’t nothing inappropriate about showing some love to my favorite guy."
Kiyotaka’s face flushed a deep crimson as he sputtered, "Mondo! W-we’re in the cafeteria! Public displays of affection are strictly prohibited in educational institutions! A-and, wait, are you...are you flirting with me?!"
Mondo tilted his head, flashing a grin that was equal parts playful and serious. "Flirting? Nah, I’m just tellin’ you the truth. Can’t a guy compliment his favorite kyodai?"
The flirtation was so uncharacteristically smooth that Kiyotaka momentarily forgot to breathe. His protests faltered as a small, flustered smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Mondo, I—I don’t understand… Are you feeling alright? Should I call for help?"
"You’re help enough, kyodai." Mondo grinned, his hands resting firmly on Kiyotaka’s waist. "But if you wanna help me more, maybe I’ll let ya take care of me—like the amazing guy you are."
"M-Mondo Owada, I must insist you stop this ridiculous behavior at once! I—" He hesitated, his voice softening as he glanced into Mondo’s unusually tender eyes. "You’re really not yourself… What’s happening to you?"
Just then, Byakuya Togami passed by, scoffing. "The ‘Despair Disease,’ evidently. It’s made him irritatingly charming. Feel free to keep him contained, Ishimaru. The rest of us have had quite enough."
Kiyotaka blinked. "D-Despair Disease? But why—"
"Doesn’t matter why," Mondo interrupted, his voice low and teasing. "What matters is I’ve got you here, and honestly? Disease or not, you make my day a helluva lot brighter."
Kiyotaka wanted to scream, scold, or maybe even take disciplinary action—but instead, he found himself speechless. There was sincerity in Mondo’s voice, an odd yet comforting warmth in his embrace.
Was this just the Despair Disease at work? Or was there a glimmer of sincerity behind those words?