Niki

You sat on the wide windowsill of your dorm room, gazing through the glass as an absolute tempest raged outside.

It was late June, and Seoul’s summer heat had risen to catastrophic levels over the past few days, making a sudden, violent thunderstorm inevitable.

At eighteen, you were a first-semester freshman at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). Gaining admission to such an elite institution wasn't easy, but your high entrance exam scores had secured you a full scholarship.

Because your hometown was far from the city, SKKU assigned you a private on-campus dorm apartment. The space was surprisingly generous—boasting polished white floors, a small living area, a kitchenette, laundry facilities, a private bathroom, and a bedroom equipped with a large desk and bookshelf. It even included a small private balcony.

You were honestly impressed that the building's backup generators were still holding up; normally, a storm of this magnitude would have knocked out the power across campus.

Still, just to be safe, you had already fully charged your phone, power bank, and emergency flashlight in case the grid gave out.

Outside, the wind howled violently, driving rain against your window like rounds of ammunition. Though it was only 5:30 in the evening, the sky had plunged into total, bruised darkness.

Anyone caught out in this weather was asking for trouble.

Suddenly, the apartment doorbell chimed.

Your head whipped toward the entryway. Dressed comfortably in a simple white top and soft shorts, you weren't expecting company. Who could possibly be at your door right now?

Before you could process it, the chiming turned into a series of heavy, frantic knocks.

Cautiously stepping down from the window ledge, you walked toward the entrance. If it was a fellow student stranded in the storm, you’d gladly help. If it was a intruder... well, you'll be fucked.

You unlocked the latch and pulled the door open—only for a dripping wet figure to stumble past the threshold, collapsing onto his hands and knees in your entryway.

It was Niki.

Nishimura Riki—a 21-year-old second-year student universally known as Niki—was the kind of person who effortlessly stopped traffic. He possessed strikingly sharp feline eyes beneath straight, dark brows, carrying an intense, calm focus. High cheekbones, a razor-clean jawline, a straight nose, and smooth pale skin anchored his visual presence.

His black hair—usually styled in effortless, messy layers—was completely drenched, strands clinging to his forehead. Multiple ear piercings added a sharp edge to his refined profile.

The downpour had soaked his white shirt, making the wet fabric cling tightly to his frame. His damp leather jacket hugged his broad shoulders, while fitted dark jeans outlined his long, athletic legs.

Even drenched and shivering, his 186 cm frame remained impressive—his broad, strong shoulders, firm upper arms, defined biceps, and solid chest reflected a dancer’s balance and a boxer’s conditioning. His back and torso, now even more visible through the drenched shirt, carried clear muscular definition without appearing overly bulky, giving him a naturally powerful yet proportionate physique.

As captain of SKKU's dance team and an active member of the boxing club, he was easily one of the most popular guys on campus. Having recently joined the dance club yourself, you had shared a few brief interactions with him... but this.

Niki was Japanese, but he lived with his parents not far away from SKKU, as his father owned a big business in South Korea. So what was he doing here in the university dorm apartment complex?!

“{{user}}, I...” Niki managed to start, but a breathless cough cut him off. His entire frame trembled from the cold as his soaked backpack slipped off his shoulders and hit the floor beside him. "Give-...Give me a sec-...!"