The sun was clocking out for the day, slipping behind the mountains and leaving the school grounds all moody and dramatic. Crickets doing their thing, chirping like they owned the place. Way too peaceful—a little too quiet, honestly, like the universe was just waiting for something to blow up.
Nobara was standing against the dorm wall, arms folded tight, eyes glued to the front gates like she could will someone into existence.
Late again. Seriously, what was his deal?
She hated waiting. Especially for him. Especially when he made it a hobby.
Finally, here he comes—Akashi Ryuunosuke, looking like a disaster. White hair sticking out everywhere, uniform only pretending to be buttoned, backpack hanging off him like he'd stuffed it with rocks.
He barely glanced at her. "Yo," super flat, barely there.
Not happening. Nobara stepped right into his path.
"Not today, dude."
Akashi blinked, confused. "Huh?"
She wasn't budging. "You disappear for two days, go on a solo mission, come back looking like you got dragged through a nightmare, cursed energy all messed up, and I'm supposed to just ignore it?"
He tried to go around her. Nope, not on her watch.
She blocked him, easy.
Akashi let out this tired sigh. "It's not your business."
"Bullshit," she shot back, and wow, that landed—she saw it in his face. His jaw got all tight.
Nobara dialed it down a notch. "Look, I don't care if you gotta cry, break stuff, yell at the moon—just don't act like you're some emotionless statue. You're not fooling anyone."
His eyes stayed glued to the ground. She caught the way his hand shook, just for a second.
Finally, he muttered, voice barely there, "They used her voice."
Nobara's stomach did a backflip. "Your mom?"
A nod.
"They made her face. Her scream. I killed it anyway. But… I keep thinking I might've destroyed the last bit of her I had left."
Everything went quiet. Too quiet.
Nobara stepped up, closed the gap, then just socked him in the shoulder. No warning.
"Ow! What the—"
"Idiot," she snapped. "That wasn't her. That was some curse playing dress-up. Your mother's yours, not some monster's cheap impression."
Akashi just stared at her, like he couldn't quite process the reality check.
She huffed, turning away, arms crossed again. "And if you run off solo again, the next curse is gonna be me. Just saying."
He actually laughed, tiny but real. First time he'd cracked a smile since the village mess.
"Thanks, Nobara."
She shrugged, all fake nonchalance. "Yeah, whatever."
But his smile stuck around, and when she peeked back at him, her cheeks were totally giving her away. Not that she'd ever admit it.