The morning sunlight spilled into the courtyard in gentle slants, painting the stone paths with soft gold. A light breeze rustled the leaves overhead, carrying the faint scent of dew and distant cedar.
Mahito lounged against the low wall, arms crossed, his posture effortless, as though the world itself existed to flow around him. The usual stillness of the early hours suited him perfectly.
Yuji and Kugisaki appeared first, their expressions half-awake, half-annoyed.
Seriously, what was up last night? I thought the walls were going to shake themselves down." Yuji muttered, rubbing at his eyes. "I thought something had broken outside last night."
Kugisaki scowled, stepping forward with her usual sharpness. "Seriously. Whatever was going on in this building, I don't want to hear it again. My ears are still ringing."
Mahito lifted a brow and gave a lazy shrug, as if their complaints barely registered. "You weren't the ones making the noise, were you?" he asked, voice smooth and unconcerned.
Yuji opened his mouth to protest, but Kugisaki elbowed him sharply. "Shut it. It's not worth the argument."
The curse's gaze drifted over them, calm and amused. He could see the annoyance in their eyes, the frustration of not knowing exactly what had disturbed them.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a subtle, self-satisfied smirk. Some things were better left unexplained.
The two were still young at the end of the day, and Mahito didn't feel like being the one to have 'the talk' with them.
But Megumi had no such reservations.
"Next time you do anything intimate, please do so outside the dormitories. I will file a complaint with the principal otherwise." His deadpan and tired tone sounded even more frustrated than usual, causing the special grade curse to roll his eyes.
"Huh?!? You mean to tell me those screams were..." Kugisaki seemed to immediately become amused, while Yuji remained confused.
"Yes, and at the same time. I do agree to keep it down from now on~ It had just been a while, went a bit overboard~" Mahito laughed a bit, his feet swaying slightly as he lay down without a care in the world.
Megumi narrowed his eyes, unsure how to even respond to that. Kugisaki just turned slightly red, and Yuji tilted his head to the side in a confused, innocent manner.
"Whatever. Let's go get breakfast... We have training afterwards." Megumi continued onwards, Yuji and Kugisaki following behind.
The latter was handling her new disability nicely enough; she moved swiftly in her wheelchair and was even still willing to be active in certain missions. She wanted to continue training her cursed technique, even as she was.
Her resolve was commendable, but once again, none of Mahito's business.
A few moments passed before a new presence drew his attention. Yuki emerged at the far end of the courtyard, her appearance immaculate as always.
Her hair was perfectly in place, her posture measured, and yet there was a tension in her shoulders that betrayed the effort behind the composure.
"You seem… cold this morning," she said quietly, her voice almost swallowed by the soft hum of the courtyard.
Mahito tilted his head slightly, studying her expression with a slow, calculating interest. "Cold?" he repeated. "What do you mean? My heart's still beating, I am very much warm~"
Yuki blinked, a flicker of hesitation crossing her features. "I mean… after last night, I thought you might…" 'snuggle up with me in the morning or something...' She trailed off, the last part remaining unsaid as she was caught between curiosity and uncertainty.
But it was the truth. She had wanted nothing more than to hug him in the morning after such a passionate night. Yet, the coldness of that room was accentuated when she woke up alone.
The note, although in the same smug and joking tone, hadn't relayed any affection to Yuki; it was just friendly at best.
But Mahito cared for none of that. Unfortunately for her, he was not as blind as she thought.
"Tell me, Yuki," Mahito said, his tone even, almost teasing in its clarity. "What were you hoping to achieve?"
Her confusion was immediate and sharp. The words sank in with the weight of something far heavier than any casual morning remark. Inside, her heart began to twist uncomfortably, a strange type of pain that she had never felt before.
"I… I don't understand," she whispered. The words sounded weaker than she intended, her voice betraying the sudden turbulence of her thoughts.
"I already know," Mahito continued, his eyes steady on hers. "I felt it. The feelings and desires buried within your soul, the ones you attempted to hide."
Yuki felt as if a bucket of cold water had just dropped over her head. The worst part? She couldn't even refute it. Yet, she felt ashamed. And even worse, she felt even more hurt.
"You were not pursuing me out of lust or pure desire, Yuki. You were attempting to achieve something else entirely. So. What do you need from me?"
Her chest tightened. Her pulse quickened, each beat seeming to echo in her ears.
She tried to muster a response, something firm and composed, like she usually could. But the words lodged themselves somewhere between fear and embarrassment.
"I… I will reach out later," she finally said, voice shakier than intended, forcing a small, uncertain smile. "I have something to take care of."
She turned to leave, each step measured yet hurried. The tears threatening to spill were fought back with tight control, but her throat burned and her chest felt heavy. This was unlike her. The hurt was alien, a sensation that left her simultaneously frustrated and raw.
Mahito watched her go, unmoved, his expression unreadable. He had known from the start that she saw him only as a means to an end. He could even guess as to what end due to already knowing of her dreams and life's goals.
He, however, hadn't anticipated her vulnerability. He failed to account for her heart burning in the way it did. To him, feelings, if they existed, had no place in a transaction.
The courtyard returned to its quiet rhythm. The sunlight shifted over the stone paths, warming the air and catching in the dew-laden grass. Mahito allowed himself a small stretch, the corners of his mouth tugging into a faint smirk.
A few minutes passed before Maki and Mai appeared, approaching with purposeful strides. Their eyes were clear, determination evident in every movement.
"We are ready to start the procedure," Maki announced, her voice firm and unwavering.
Mahito inclined his head, the faintest acknowledgement passing over his features. "Very well," he said simply, voice as calm and composed as the morning itself. "Let us begin."