Snow fell in slow, steady waves, blanketing the courtyard in a pristine, undisturbed white. Kanda stood by his car at the edge of the lot, his breath puffing out in short, visible bursts against the cold. The last of his bags was already packed in the trunk, but he lingered, his sharp eyes scanning the winter-stilled campus.
Far across the courtyard, a single figure stood out against the pale backdrop. Lavi stood in the open, not sitting or huddling for warmth like someone waiting for a train but standing stiffly, his weight shifting from one foot to the other. His scarf hung loose around his neck, his heavy coat barely seeming to ward off the cold. Red hair gleamed under the faint light of the snow-covered sky, stark and unnatural against the surrounding whiteness.
Kanda's gaze lingered on him, his grip tightening on the strap of his bag. It wasn't concern that held his attention—it was the same bitter mix of emotions that always surfaced when Lavi was nearby. Hatred. Distrust. Confusion.
Lavi had admitted it himself: he was the one who killed Kanda's parents all those years ago. The memory was seared into Kanda's mind, as vivid now as it had been that night. The fear, the horror, the helplessness—it all came rushing back every time he looked at the man who had torn his family apart.
And yet, despite everything, Kanda couldn't look away.
What is he waiting for?
Lavi stood perfectly still now, his head tilted slightly back as if watching the snow fall. His hands were stuffed deep into his coat pockets, his posture tense despite the casualness of his stance. He didn't fidget, didn't shift again. It was as if he were bracing himself for something—or someone.
Kanda's eyes narrowed.
Lenalee and Komui were late, though not by much. Across the courtyard, the faint crunch of snow underfoot signaled their approach, their figures emerging from the dormitory steps. Lenalee's bright, cheerful voice broke the stillness of the winter air as she waved in Lavi's direction, her knit scarf bouncing slightly with her movements. Komui trailed behind her, half-buried beneath the weight of a comically oversized suitcase.
The change in Lavi was subtle but immediate. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and the faintest trace of a smile curved his lips. He didn't wave back, but he tilted his head in acknowledgment, his breath visible as he spoke a few words to her when she drew near.
Kanda's gaze shifted, drawn to another presence lurking at the edge of the scene.
Allen stood beneath the arch of an ivy-covered bridge, his silver hair blending almost seamlessly with the snowy surroundings. He was watching Lavi, his expression unreadable but intent. There was something about Allen's stillness, the sharp focus in his silver eyes, that sent a chill through Kanda.
He doesn't trust him either.
That much was clear, but Kanda wasn't sure if Allen's fixation on Lavi was born of distrust or something else entirely. The tension between them had been growing for weeks, as tangible as the frost in the air. Allen was good at hiding things, but Kanda had always been observant. He'd noticed the way Allen's gaze lingered on Lavi, the way his movements seemed calculated, deliberate.
Allen wasn't just watching him. He was studying him.
After a long moment, Allen turned and walked away, his boots crunching softly in the snow. He didn't glance back, didn't acknowledge anyone else as he disappeared into the swirling white.
Kanda exhaled slowly, the steam of his breath curling into the cold. Whatever Allen was planning, it was clear he didn't intend to share it with anyone. That suited Kanda just fine—he had no intention of meddling in Allen's business. Not unless it crossed paths with his own.
From across the courtyard, Lenalee's laughter rang out, warm and bright against the winter silence. She and Komui were now standing beside Lavi, the three of them exchanging light-hearted chatter. Komui was gesturing dramatically to his suitcase, while Lavi smirked and said something that made Lenalee laugh even harder.
Kanda's stomach twisted at the sight.
Lenalee didn't know the truth about Lavi. She didn't know what Allen was either. She trusted too easily, too willingly, and it made her vulnerable in ways that Kanda found difficult to watch.
He turned back to his car, yanking the door open with more force than necessary. He climbed inside, shutting out the chill as the heater sputtered to life. The engine rumbled softly beneath him, but he didn't pull away immediately. Instead, he sat there, gripping the steering wheel tightly as his gaze drifted back to the courtyard.
Lavi and Lenalee were heading toward the train station now, Komui trailing behind them with his ridiculous luggage. The three of them looked like any other group of friends traveling home for the holidays, their laughter and easy camaraderie a stark contrast to the tension simmering in Kanda's chest.
He didn't look at them for long.
By the time Kanda pulled onto the snow-covered road, the train station was fading into the distance behind him. He gripped the wheel tighter, feeling the weight of his thoughts as he left the campus behind, the distant laughter of his peers fading into silence.
The long, winding drive to Tiedoll's house stretched out ahead, the icy roads glittering faintly under the pale light of the setting sun. The barren trees and endless white seemed to echo his unease, their shadows lengthening as the sun dipped lower, as if warning of the darkness yet to come.
The drive gave him too much time to think.
The images came unbidden: Lavi's stiff posture, the way Allen had watched him like a predator circling prey. The laughter Lenalee shared with Lavi, so warm and genuine, so unaware of the blood that stained his hands. Kanda's grip on the wheel tightened, his knuckles white.
By the time he arrived, the sun was sinking below the horizon, casting the world in shades of blue and gray. Tiedoll's house stood at the edge of the forest, its warm lights glowing like a beacon in the cold. Kanda parked the car and stepped out, the chill biting at his skin despite his coat.
The scent of burning wood greeted him as he approached the front door. Before he could knock, it swung open, revealing Tiedoll with his usual exuberant smile.
"Kanda! You're finally here!" Tiedoll exclaimed, pulling him into a quick but firm hug.
"Let go," Kanda grumbled, shrugging off the embrace as he stepped inside.
Tiedoll didn't seem bothered by the reaction, merely chuckling as he closed the door behind them. "The roads must have been terrible in this weather. I'm glad you made it safely."
Kanda muttered something noncommittal, kicking off his boots and setting his bags by the door. The warmth of the house seeped into his skin, the smell of tea and stew filling the air. Tiedoll's home always had this strange ability to disarm him, even when he didn't want it to.
"Sit down, sit down," Tiedoll said, ushering him toward the kitchen. "I've got a stew on the stove and tea ready for you."
Kanda didn't argue, though he remained silent as Tiedoll poured him a cup of steaming tea. The old man's cheerfulness was both comforting and irritating, a reminder of simpler times that Kanda had long since left behind.
Tiedoll paused mid-stir, glancing over his shoulder. "You seem distracted, Kanda. Everything all right?"
Kanda's reply was a noncommittal grunt, but Tiedoll didn't press further, his quiet understanding filling the space between them.
As he stared into his tea, his thoughts drifted back to Lavi. To Allen. To the uneasy tension that seemed to hang over them all. The barren trees outside the window swayed faintly in the winter wind, their skeletal branches tapping softly against the glass.
Kanda didn't know what would come of it, but one thing was certain: the peace of winter break wouldn't last forever.