## Chapter 6: Shadows of Deception

The sun was setting over the campus, casting a warm orange glow over the buildings and students scurrying about. Murie and Kaito had planned to meet at the library to study for an upcoming exam, but Murie's mind was elsewhere. She had spent the entire day thinking about the rumors surrounding Akane Nakamura, the CEO's daughter who was rumored to be attending their college. As Kaito arrived, Murie couldn't help but notice the look of concern etched on his face. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, trying to sound casual. Kaito smiled and sat down beside her. "Nothing's wrong, I just had a long day. I was up late working on a project." Murie raised an eyebrow. "A project? What kind of project?" Kaito shrugged. "Just something I needed to take care of. Don't worry about it." Murie's curiosity was piqued. She had noticed that Kaito often disappeared at night, and his phone was always on silent mode. She wondered if it was related to Akane Nakamura. As they studied, Murie found herself glancing at Kaito, trying to read between the lines. She sensed that he was hiding something from her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Kaito, can I ask you something?" Murie said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Of course, what is it?" Kaito replied, looking up from his notes. "Do you know anything about Akane Nakamura?" Murie asked, trying to gauge his reaction. Kaito's expression changed, and for a moment, Murie saw a flicker of something in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by a look of innocence. "Akane Nakamura? No, I don't know anything about her. Why?" Murie hesitated, unsure if she should push the issue further. But something about Kaito's reaction didn't sit well with her. "I just heard that she's going to be attending our college, and there were rumors that she might be a target for kidnapping or assassination," Murie said, trying to sound casual. Kaito's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Murie felt like he could see right through her. "I hadn't heard that," he said, his voice low and even. "But I'm sure the college will take necessary precautions to ensure her safety." As they continued to study, Murie couldn't shake off the feeling that Kaito was hiding something from her. She decided to probe further, trying to get to the bottom of things. "Kaito, can I ask you something else?" Murie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Of course, what is it?" Kaito replied, looking at her with a hint of curiosity. "Do you ever...disappear at night?" Murie asked, trying to sound casual. Kaito's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Murie thought she saw a glimmer of fear. But it was quickly replaced by a look of calmness. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice neutral. "I just meant that you sometimes go out at night, and I don't know where you are," Murie said, trying to gauge his reaction. Kaito shrugged. "I sometimes go out with friends or work on projects late at night. Don't worry about it, I'm fine." Murie nodded, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that Kaito was hiding something from her. As they packed up their belongings and headed out of the library, Murie made a mental note to keep a close eye on Kaito. She had a feeling that her life was about to get a lot more complicated, and she wasn't sure if she was ready. As they walked across the campus, Murie noticed that Kaito's phone was on silent mode. She felt a pang of curiosity and wondered if he was hiding something from her. She decided to confront him about it later, when they were alone. For now, she just smiled and walked beside him, trying to enjoy the evening despite the growing sense of unease in her stomach. But as they walked, Murie couldn't help but feel that she was walking into a web of deception, and she wasn't sure if she would be able to escape.