— — — — — —
From the back of the group, Lubbock couldn't help but smirk, his tone dripping with amusement. "Looks like big bro is doing it again. Thank god someone else is taking the heat this time—I've suffered enough!"
Despite his rugged, macho looks, Bulat was… well, into men.
Another damned gay.
"Ahem," Wave cleared his throat awkwardly, still feeling weirded out but trying to keep his cool. "As for the guys, it's just me, Run, and Mr. Bols so far. Add you two, and that makes five."
"This Emberlight Unit lives up to the name—every member's a Teigu user. I use the Teigu Grand Chariot. It's an Armor-type."
"Oh?" Bulat's eyes lit up. His grin widened, and his gaze at Wave grew even more... suspicious. "Carnage Incarnate: Grand Chariot, huh? That's one of those full-body armor types, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Wave nodded, feeling a little proud—though he wasn't sure why Bulat looked so interested.
"Heh heh heh…" Bulat chuckled, sounding way too pleased. "What a coincidence! I use Incursio, the Demon Armor: Incursio. Another armor Teigu. Looks like we're perfectly compatible, huh?"
Wave: "???"
We are NOT fucking compatible at all!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Mr. Bulat, please respect some boundaries! I'm a guy!" Wave cried, panicking as he squirmed to break free from Bulat's overly friendly hold.
But there was no escaping—Bulat was way stronger. Wave struggled like mad, but the guy wasn't letting go.
"So am I," Bulat said with a wink. "Isn't that just perfect?"
"We are so alike."
Wave's entire body broke out in goosebumps. With a desperate burst of strength, he finally yanked himself out of Bulat's grasp and backed off like his life depended on it.
"Hell no."
"I'm Wave—male, straight, and absolutely not interested in any of that! Please take your weird elsewhere!"
"I'll show you the rooms now," he added, speed-walking down the hallway like the building was on fire behind him. He didn't care if the others kept up or not—he just needed distance.
Soon enough, he led them to the male dorms.
"These rooms are all empty. Pick whichever you want. I've got other stuff to do. Later!" Wave said quickly, practically shoving them inside.
"Hey, don't rush off!" Bulat called after him, still smiling like a cat that just found a mouse. "Aren't you going to give us a proper tour? By the way, which room are you in? Want us to take the one next door? Or hey, we could even share~"
"Like hell that will happen! I'm out!"
Wave took off like he was running for his life, his voice echoing from down the hall:
"This day is cursed! Absolutely cursed!"
Seriously, who would've guessed that buff, handsome guy turned out to be that kind of guy? Wave felt like his entire worldview had been flipped upside down.
He swore then and there—he'd keep his distance from Bulat. Forever. Too dangerous.
"Bro, can you please tone it down a little?" Lubbock said, exasperated. "We just got here. You're gonna scare off all our future teammates."
He figured Bulat would dial it back a bit after that… but no.
Instead, Bulat slung an arm around Lubbock and smirked. "You're not so bad yourself, y'know? Different type than Wave, but still pretty cute!"
"Hey hey hey! Cut that out or I'm telling Boss!" Lubbock warned, inching away fast.
— — —
Meanwhile, on the girls' side…
Kurome led Akame and the others in silence. The whole way there, no one said a word. The atmosphere was tense—awkward, even.
"Psst, Mine," Leone whispered, elbowing her in the side. "Doesn't that girl up front—Kurome—look just like Akame? Even their names are nearly the same."
Mine nodded. "Pretty sure that's her little sister. Akame mentioned she had one, remember? And both were trained in the Empire's assassination unit, so it makes sense."
"But hey, that's a good thing, right? At least now they're on the same side. No more tragic sibling showdowns."
Just the thought of that made Mine feel kind of relieved. That young emperor's reforms really had changed people's fates.
"Yeah," Leone agreed with a grin. "Guess things are better now."
"We're here," Kurome said, stopping in front of the dorms. She pointed at the rooms on either side. "They're all empty. Pick whichever you want."
Then, for the first time, she turned to face Akame directly.
"It's been a long time, sis. Don't you have anything to say to your little sister?"
"Kurome…" Akame's expression softened, her voice full of complicated emotions. She seemed torn, like she didn't know where to start.
"Are you regretting leaving me behind?" Kurome asked, face unreadable.
"Uhhh… this is getting weird," Leone whispered to Mine. "What's the deal with those two?"
Yeah, anyone with eyes could see the tension between the sisters was off the charts.
Akame took a deep breath, her gaze full of guilt. "You're right. I was wrong to leave you. But I didn't want to drag you down with me."
"We were on different paths back then… and I couldn't convince you otherwise. That's why I made that choice. Can you forgive me, Kurome?"
Her words were calm and sincere, her eyes filled with hope.
Back then, she'd never imagined she'd meet her sister again—especially not like this, after being enemies on opposite sides.
But everything had changed because of the new Emperor. Now, they didn't have to fight anymore. They could dream of something else. Something better. For Akame, that was more than enough.
"Just like that? You think I'm gonna forgive you so easily? No way. Life's not that simple."
Kurome turned her head to the side with a little pout, her voice tough—but it didn't quite match her eyes.
Truth was, she'd been thinking a lot these past few days. And honestly, she didn't really blame Akame anymore.
Still, if she forgave her too easily, then what was the point of all the pain she went through?
She needed compensation. Lots of it.
"She better pay me back in snacks. A mountain of them."
She mentally crossed her arms. 'Not accepting an apology without at least a million cookies. Hmph.'
Akame, of course, saw right through her.
With a soft smile, she stepped forward and wrapped her sister in a tight hug.
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
"I understand. I'll make it up to you, I promise. I'll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness. Just being able to see you again like this… it's more than I ever dared hope for."
"This is like… a dream come true."
Kurome's eyes welled up too. "Yeah… it really is. That's why I'm so grateful to His Majesty. You know what, sis?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"I never told you, but… because of all the drugs I was given during training, my body was falling apart. I wasn't going to last much longer."
Akame's face froze. She didn't interrupt, just listened, tense and silent.
"But then I met the Emperor. He healed me—just like that—with some kind of magic. Now my body feels like it did before the drug training even started."
Kurome smiled as she said it, as if the whole ordeal had finally lifted off her shoulders.
"So listen, sis. I'm serious. I won't let anyone betray him."
Her voice was steady—cold, even.
"If you ever go against him… I'll have no choice but to kill you."
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her tone. She meant every word.
Akame nodded slowly. "I support you. If His Majesty truly follows through on his reforms, if he becomes the wise and just ruler he promises to be… then I'll be his blade, too."
She never hated the Empire itself—just the corruption that rotted it from within.
Meanwhile, Leone, Mine, and Sheele exchanged looks.
Oh wow~
Healing magic? The Emperor can do that, too?
Once again, their impression of the young ruler shifted.
---
And then, the reforms began.
The entire capital had already been locked down by General Budo and General Esdeath's armies. Any noble trying to flee? Forget it. They weren't getting out.
Under the Prime Minister's command, the reforms were officially launched—starting right here in the Imperial City.
Both the Emberlight Unit and the military joined the movement.
The purge began.
Anyone—families, officials, nobles—if they were deemed guilty, they were dealt with.
Executions happened by the minute.
Blood ran through the streets of the capital like a river.
And yet, the Prime Minister showed no hesitation. Not even a flicker of mercy.
He pushed forward, iron-willed and cold-blooded.
The purge wasn't limited to just the wicked. Even the nobles and officials who weren't all that bad hated the Prime Minister now.
Because he went too far.
Some of the reform laws hit the nobility right where it hurt most—stripping them of their power, their wealth, and their cherished privileges.
The Prime Minister acted like a madman, no longer concerned with his own status or influence. He simply carried out the most ruthless work without hesitation.
What the nobles couldn't wrap their heads around was that the one leading this brutal cleansing… was one of their own. The most corrupt noble among them. That well-known Prime Minister.
.
.
.