Chapter 3: A Glimpse of Kaito's Life

The days turned into weeks, and Murie's encounters with Kaito became more frequent. They had met by chance at the bulletin board, bonding over their shared interest in the Cherry Blossom Festival, and now they were inseparable. As they strolled through the campus, Kaito told Murie about his love for literature and music, and she found herself drawn to his creative side. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, and Murie felt like she had known Kaito for years, not just weeks. She was smitten with his charming smile and piercing green eyes, and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way about her. As they walked, Kaito mentioned that he had a favorite bookstore on campus, and he offered to take Murie there. The store was a cozy haven filled with shelves of books that seemed to stretch up to the ceiling. Kaito browsed through the shelves, picking up novels and poetry collections, and Murie watched him with a smile. "You seem to know a lot about books," she said, impressed. Kaito chuckled. "I used to spend hours in this store when I was younger. The owner, Mr. Tanaka, is a friend of my family's. He taught me a lot about literature and encouraged me to read widely." Murie's curiosity was piqued. "Your family's friend? What do you mean?" Kaito's expression turned guarded, and he hesitated before responding. "Oh, just that my family has known Mr. Tanaka for a long time. He's been a mentor to me, in a way." Murie sensed that Kaito was being evasive, but she didn't press the issue. She didn't want to pry into his personal life, not yet. Instead, she asked him about his favorite authors and books, and they spent the next hour discussing literature and sharing their passion for reading. As the sun began to set, Kaito walked Murie back to her dormitory. They stood outside her room, lingering in the fading light. "I'm glad I met you, Murie," Kaito said, his eyes locked on hers. "You make me feel like I can be myself." Murie's heart skipped a beat. "I feel the same way about you, Kaito." Their faces were inches apart, and Murie could feel the tension between them. She wondered if Kaito would kiss her, but he simply smiled and leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek. "Goodnight, Murie," he whispered. As Kaito walked away, Murie felt a sense of excitement and uncertainty. She had a feeling that she was falling for him, hard. But she couldn't shake the feeling that Kaito was hiding something from her, that there was more to him than met the eye. Little did she know that Kaito's secrets would soon change everything.