**Chapter 1: The Breakdown**

The sun had long since set on Streamer University, casting a warm orange glow over the campus. The students were all tucked away in their dorm rooms, studying, gaming, or simply relaxing after a long day of classes. Ray, a 19-year-old student from Taiwan, sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall as tears welled up in his eyes. He had been holding it together for so long, but the constant harassment and mistreatment from his classmates and even one of his professors had finally taken its toll. Ray's roommate, Tota, a 19-year-old Brazilian student, was out for the night, streaming his favorite games to his audience. Ray was grateful for the empty room, as he didn't think he could have held back his tears with Tota around. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but it was no use. The emotions he had been bottling up for so long came flooding out, and he began to sob uncontrollably. As he cried, Ray's thoughts turned to Kai, the university dean and his secret boyfriend. They had been together for two years now, ever since Ray had met Kai on a trip to Japan. Kai had been live streaming at the time, and Ray had been one of the fans who had approached him. Their friendship had blossomed into something more, but they had to keep it a secret, as it was against university policy for a dean to date a student. Ray knew that Kai would be furious if he knew about the way he was being treated. Kai was a protective boyfriend, and he would stop at nothing to defend Ray. But Ray was scared of getting Kai in trouble, and he didn't want to be the reason for him to get in trouble with the university. With a newfound determination, Ray wiped away his tears and got up from the bed. He snuck out of his room and made his way to Kai's dorm, which was located in a separate building on campus. As a member of the faculty, Kai had a private room, and Ray knew that he would be able to find comfort and solace there. As he approached Kai's room, Ray's heart began to pound in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and knocked softly on the door. The door opened, and Kai's face appeared, his brown eyes filled with concern. "Hey, Ray, what's wrong?" Kai asked, his voice low and soothing. Ray shook his head, unable to speak. Kai stepped aside, allowing Ray to enter the room. As Ray closed the door behind him, Kai wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Hey, it's okay, I'm here," Kai whispered, his voice filled with warmth and comfort. Ray buried his face in Kai's chest, feeling a sense of safety and security wash over him. He knew that he was in good hands, and that Kai would do everything in his power to protect him. "Talk to me, Ray," Kai said, his voice gentle. "What's been going on?" Ray took a deep breath, trying to find the words. But as he looked up at Kai, he felt a lump form in his throat, and he began to cry all over again.