By the time Yuma reached school, something was off.
He spotted Akira almost immediately, leaning against a wall near the front entrance. His face was cold. Not the usual stoic indifference, but something sharper. His brows were slightly arched, tension visible even beneath his controlled exterior.
Anger.
Akira locked eyes with Yuma, the stare commanding without a single word. It felt less like a look and more like an order.
Come here.
As Yuma approached, Akira pushed himself off the wall and started walking, already expecting Yuma to follow.
Annoyed by the complete lack of communication, Yuma did anyway.
Akira never once turned back or acknowledged him as they walked. They climbed stairs, one flight, then another, until Yuma lost track of where they were even heading. After several minutes of silence and elevation, they stepped out onto the rooftop.
It was early morning. The sky was pale, the air cool. With only fifteen minutes before class, they were completely alone.
"You met the glass conduit," Akira said flatly.
It wasn't a question.
"How'd you find out?" Yuma asked, unease creeping in. A touch of anger followed. "You stalking me now?"
Akira exhaled sharply. "Relax. I saw what happened by chance. I didn't interfere. That isn't stalking." He paused, gaze drifting. "Regardless… I know about Hiroshi. I've known for a while. I just never interacted with him since he was never a problem." His jaw tightened. "I don't like unknowns."
So that was it.
An informant.
Yuma leaned against the railing beside him, staring out at the school grounds below.
"Then why not Keisuke?" he asked. "He's friendly. People like him."
Akira leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"That's exactly the issue. Hiroshi is far too antisocial for either me or Keisuke to approach without spooking him." He glanced at Yuma briefly. "But you? You're practically a ghost. He has no idea what your circle looks like." He added, almost casually, "Plus, you saved him, even though nothing would've happened."
"So," Yuma said dryly, "you think I'm a social-less loser."
For the first time ever…
Akira smiled.
Not a smirk. Not a subtle twitch. An actual smile, with teeth.
Then came a sound no one at the school had ever heard.
A laugh.
Short. Real.
Yuma froze.
I could record this and sell it, he thought absently. Make a fortune.
"You said it," Akira replied lightly. "Not me."
Just like that, the cold prince cracked.
For a moment, just a moment, Akira felt human.
Yuma turned away with a quiet sigh, hiding the shift in his perception.
"Fine," he said. "I'll do it. But I've got a question."
Akira looked at him, silent permission granted.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" Yuma asked seriously.
The smile vanished instantly.
Akira's expression hardened, resolve snapping into place.
"No," he said. "And I never will. That's why I go above and beyond to hide Chieno and my abilities."
Yuma blinked.
Same heart.
Worse, Akira knew exactly why he asked. He must've seen everything. He must've had the same conversation with Chieno.
Yuma turned to leave, then paused.
"Before I go," he added casually, "Akame won't like you if you keep acting nonchalant around her."
Akira stiffened.
Yuma didn't look back, but he felt the glare boring into his spine.
The first time Yuma chose to be kind to him, even if it still resulted in the same.
Picking up his pace, Yuma left the rooftop and headed to class.
***
Hours passed in a blur, class after class, hallway after hallway. Eventually, lunch rolled around.
Yuma packed his bag and turned to Keisuke.
"Hey, I've gotta work on something," he said. "Can't hang out today. I'll see you later?"
Keisuke glanced up, smiling brightly. The guilt tugged at Yuma again, but before it could root, Keisuke was already surrounded by others eager to spend time with him.
Yuma waved and slipped away.
At least he won't be alone.
He headed for the library.
Answers awaited. And now, he had a job to do.
***
The library was empty.
That alone was strange, considering the student body, but then again, not really. The library wasn't exactly used for studying. Mostly couples. Mostly trouble.
Stepping inside, the shelves immediately disoriented him. Endless rows of books swallowed the space, and Hiroshi was nowhere to be seen.
Yuma wandered deeper, willingly getting lost.
Minutes passed.
Nothing.
Finally giving up, he slumped into a chair near an empty table.
Then…
Someone was beside him.
Yuma jolted, muscles coiling as he nearly launched at the giant's throat.
Hiroshi threw his hands up instantly.
"R-relax! I-it's m-me!" he whispered frantically.
"You freaked me out!" Yuma hissed. "You could've warned me or something!"
"S-sorry…" Hiroshi said, shrinking slightly. "I-it's… p-pretty bad actually. I g-got a rumor m-made about m-me because of this…"
"Rumor?" Yuma whispered.
"The… g-ghost," Hiroshi said softly.
Yuma froze.
Oh.
That ghost.
Second year. Night break-ins. Whispers about a towering figure roaming the library.
The "Ghostly Giant."
Yuma looked at Hiroshi again.
"…That was you?"
Hiroshi nodded.
And suddenly, everything made sense.