Kashime reached the room where Akarum was trapped. "Kind of" trapped.
She unlocked the door.
Akarum's face lit up in surprise and relief.
Then she blinked.
And closed it again.
"My memory," she muttered in frustration, blaming herself for forgetting she had punished him.
"Let me get outside. I won't do it again!" he shouted from inside.
She didn't answer.
She glanced down the long hallway, then walked to the courtyard with a broom in her hand. Her grip tightened around the handle. Her expression unreadable.
The broom brushed against the dirt, pushing dust forward. She shut her eyes to keep it from getting in. The sun was bright that day, almost aggressively so, matching the restlessness inside her.
"I was thinking… something… what was that?" she muttered.
Her hands moved deliberately, sweeping in steady strokes. Yet the dust kept rising and settling back onto her long green dress. The Tiny mirror-work trailed from the front of her sleeves, coiling like a snake around her body, crossing her back, and ending at the front of her neck shimmered in the light, forming a subtle snake pattern that could be missed at a glance.
"This is weird."
She gathered fallen leaves from every corner. Even then, her thoughts circled Akarum. Flint. And whenever they tried to drift toward Kiyo, she shook her head sharply, pushing them away. She didn't want to think about her. Or what her mother had said. Though her mind in background was running stimulations on village of Queens what is the situation now ? If I were more aware of the situations that wouldn't have happened though she didn't give them attention, counsciously.
Her movements became automatic. Mechanical. Distant.
After piling the leaves together, she went inside, still holding the broom, and entered the storeroom. It was dim. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, unlit.
She picked up a hand-broom and dustpan and returned to the courtyard.
Grabbing the fabric at her waist, she folded it upward before kneeling. Carefully, she swept the leaves into the dustpan.
"Still remaining," she said quietly.
Not complaining. Just observing.
She tossed the leaves away from Kaatoumo, then collected the rest and discarded them too.
Back inside, she returned the tools to the storeroom.
"Done."
Without pausing, she headed toward Flint's room. The door was open.
Asami sat beside him, listening carefully.
"What happened to you?" Kashime asked from the doorway, her palm resting against the frame.
"Beats me. I almost had it… but I was losing control when I tried to resist. I lost focus. And that happened." His voice was low. He didn't look at them.
Kashime facepalmed, clearly annoyed.
"You were supposed to give in. Don't you know that? You can be stupid sometimes."
"What?" He lifted his head, confused. All that tension for nothing.
"You're not trying that again. Got it?"
Asami's face tightened with concern. "You aren't."
"But… Grandma," he protested. He had spent days working on it.
"I said you aren't. I can't risk losing you too." Asami's gaze softened as those words left her throat.
The air shifted. The tension was immediate and heavy.
"I have to go free an angel," Kashime said abruptly, almost childishly dodging the atmosphere.
"An angel?" Asami and Flint looked at her.
"I mean, Akarum."
She walked to his room and knocked.
"I am inside, trapped by a… very wise woman," he called sarcastically.
"Stop being sarcastic."
She unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"Here. You're free to fly." She stared at him firmly, trying to look angry. Successfully.
"I have a question," he said, attempting to soften her with his usual antics.
She turned away without replying.
"Hey. Stop being so grumpy."
Nothing.
"Stop acting like that kid."
That did it.
"Oh, I am not a kid. Watch your tongue." She swung toward him, pointing a finger in frustration.
"You don't have to be angry over a simple thing." He crossed his right leg over his left.
"Simple thing?" Her voice dropped dangerously low.
"What if you didn't have healing? Then what? It would still be simple, right?"
He looked down. "Sorry about that."
"What would I do with that 'sorry'? Unless you promise not to engage with Divines." She crossed her legs, tapping her toe against the floor.
He hesitated. If he agreed, he wouldn't talk to Bluesy or any Divine again.
I might miss many things. But I don't have a choice right now.
He looked at Kashime, who clearly disliked waiting.
"I accept your condition."
"Very well. Now you're free from emotional damage too. I guess. Good kid." A smile spread across her face.
She was clearly enjoying this.
Akarum stepped into the courtyard where Flint sat with a book he didn't seem happy reading.
I couldn't read books. They're so boring.
Asami sat nearby.
"Oh. I forgot to ask her about that black thing I was in." He tapped a finger against his cheek.
"Perhaps I'll ask Mrs. Asami."
He walked toward her.
"What is it?" she asked, noticing him approach.
"I want to ask a question."
"Sure. Go ahead."