Yukimura Household – Night
The maid's footsteps were barely audible against the polished floor as she made her way down the hallway, carrying a dinner tray with practiced care. When she reached Hanae's bedroom door, she paused for a moment before knocking softly.
"Miss Hanae... dinner's ready," she called out, keeping her voice gentle.
Nothing.
She waited there, holding her breath and hoping to hear something—anything—from the other side. But the silence stretched on, heavy and unforgiving.
The maid's shoulders sagged slightly as she turned away, retracing her steps back through the sprawling hallway. In the sitting room, she found Lilika and offered a respectful bow.
"Ma'am... Miss Hanae still won't come out. She hasn't touched any food since this morning."
Lilika Yukimura remained exactly where she was, draped in silk and looking like she'd been carved from marble. The lamplight played across her face, but her expression never changed.
"Don't bother with her," she said, her voice carrying that familiar edge of dismissal.
The maid bowed once more and retreated, leaving Lilika alone with the bodyguard who stood like a shadow beside her chair.
When she spoke again, her tone shifted just enough to show she was actually paying attention. "You're absolutely certain it wasn't our guy?"
The bodyguard's response came without hesitation. "Positive, ma'am. He'd never make a move with Miss Hanae around. This was definitely someone else."
Something flickered across Lilika's perfect features—just for a split second, but it was there. Cold and calculating.
She reached for her phone, fingers moving with the efficiency of someone who'd made this type of call before.
"I need you to look into someone for me," she said once the line connected. "Keep it quiet. I want everything—background, recent movements, the works."
The call ended as abruptly as it had begun.
Lilika sat motionless for a long moment, staring at nothing in particular.
This time I'll handle it myself. I'm not making the same mistake twice.
---
Next Morning – Hanae's Room
Dawn crept through the sheer curtains, painting soft patterns of light across the walls. Hanae's eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the gentle brightness that filled her room.
But the warmth of morning sunlight couldn't touch the coldness that had settled in her chest.
Her mother's hand across her face. Kira shaking in that alley. The fear that still clung to everything.
She felt like she was suffocating.
Moving on autopilot, Hanae dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom. The girl staring back at her from the mirror looked exhausted, hollowed out—but she barely registered her own reflection.
Her maid was waiting outside, another breakfast tray balanced in her hands. The woman's face brightened with hope.
"Miss Hanae... I brought you something to eat. You didn't have anything last night, and I thought—"
But Hanae walked right past her, eyes fixed on some distant point.
Not a word. Not even a glance.
Just footsteps echoing down the hall, steady and determined.
The world outside seemed too bright, too loud, too much. But she kept walking anyway.
---
Keio High School – Front Gate
Students flowed around her like water around a stone, chattering and laughing as they headed to class. Hanae moved through them all, completely disconnected from their energy.
"Morning!"
Renn's voice cut through the noise. He was posted up by the gate, waving at her with that easy smile of his.
"You doing okay today?" The concern in his voice was unmistakable.
"Yeah," she managed, though she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
Renn started to say something else, then stopped himself. Some things couldn't be fixed with words.
"Rika?!"
The sharp smack to his back made him jump. Rika stood behind him with her arms crossed, wearing that knowing smirk she was famous for.
"Something going on with you two?"
"She's just having a rough time," Renn said, rubbing his back. "You and Kaori should probably—"
"Say no more!" Rika's eyes lit up with determination. "Consider it handled, senpai!"
"We've got this!" Kaori bounced up beside them, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
As they all walked through the gates together, Kaori suddenly let out a squeal that made everyone within fifty feet turn and stare.
"Oh my God, senpai! Did you see Luna's announcement?! She's finally doing a public performance! I can't believe I'm actually going to see her in person!"
Renn couldn't help but smile a little. "Yeah, I saw that. Should be interesting."
The group gradually separated as they headed to their respective classrooms, their voices fading into the general buzz of the school morning.
Renn found himself walking alone, lost in thought.
Kira... what am I supposed to do now?
---
Kira's Apartment – Morning
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, warming the small apartment bit by bit. Kira stirred under her covers and slowly opened her eyes.
9:03 AM.
Her head was pounding, and yesterday's events came flooding back all at once. She sat up carefully, feeling like she'd been hit by a truck, and tried to make sense of everything that had happened.
That man in the alley... the knife... how did he know who I was?
Her hands tightened around the blanket.
And whoever saved me—that voice... was that really...?
Kairos sent me that video. Why would he do that if he's the one trying to hurt me? Unless he was watching me cry... but that doesn't make any sense.
She stared up at the ceiling, feeling completely lost.
Mom... why did you leave me in the middle of all this mess?
When she tried to get out of bed, her ankle immediately reminded her why that was a bad idea. Pain shot up her leg, making her gasp and grip the bedframe for support.
But she pushed through it anyway, limping toward the bathroom. Each step was agony, but she was stubborn enough to keep going.
That's when she felt it—that crawling sensation between her shoulder blades.
Someone was watching her.
She spun around as quickly as her injured ankle would allow, but the apartment was empty.
Buzz.
Her phone lit up on the nightstand.
"Having trouble getting around?"
Her blood ran cold. She stared at the message, then deliberately ignored it.
Buzz.
"Want some help with that?"
Frustration boiled over, and she grabbed the phone to type back:
"Leave me alone."
Ding-dong.
The doorbell.
Kira's heart stopped.
Who could that be?
---