The living room was filled with laughter and rustling fabric as the group scrambled to put the finishing touches on their Halloween costumes.
Yu stood near the mirror, flushed pink, tugging nervously at the hem of his glittery gown. The silken skirts brushed the floor, and the little tiara perched atop his head wobbled dangerously each time he fidgeted.
"D-Do I really have to be the princess?"
He asked in a small voice, cheeks hot as he caught his reflection—delicate, pale, long white hair falling over his shoulders like something from a fairy tale.
"Yes!"
Sakura Sato chirped, already twirling in her own outfit—a frilly little witch's dress complete with striped stockings and a pointy hat that kept slipping to one side.
"You're perfect for it, Yu-chan!"
"Besides…"
Fumiko Fujimori added with a grin as she adjusted her black cat ears.
"Someone's gotta balance out Taichi's scary prince thing. A beast needs a princess, right?"
Taichi Arifukua appeared from the hallway in his costume at that exact moment, dramatically pulling on his half-mask that covered the upper half of his face. His cloak swept behind him as he straightened with a theatrical bow.
"A cursed beastly prince…"
He declared, voice deliberately deep and rough,
"In need of a fair princess to break his spell."
He extended his hand toward Yu.
Yu squeaked and looked away, but his hand was gently pulled into Taichi's anyway, the group bursting into giggles at his mortified expression.
Meanwhile, Yamato Yamada and Souma Satou nearly doubled over laughing at each other's costumes—garish, oversized outfits, they were characters from some kid's show complete with giant foam accessories.
"We look ridiculous!"
Yamato admitted, but the sparkle in his eyes said he didn't mind one bit. Souma, on the other hand, puffed out his chest as if it were the most serious armor ever worn.
Even Haruka Minami had joined the fun, showing up in a glossy wig and elaborate getup from a popular anime heroine. The detailing was sharp, almost too professional compared to everyone else's thrown-together costumes, but she smiled softly when the others praised her for it.
The warmth of the moment was thick in the air—playful teasing, chatter about candy, half-hearted arguments about which scary movies were too scary for Yu. Even Yu found himself smiling in between his nervous protests, caught up in the safe cocoon of his friends' energy.
---
By the time night fell, the group was walking together under strings of jack-o'-lantern lights and paper ghosts hung from neighborhood porches. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn leaves and faint woodsmoke.
"We'll grab snacks from the convenience store first…"
Fumiko suggested, flicking her black tail playfully at Yu's arm.
"Then back to my place! I've got the living room all cleared for us."
"Don't buy all sweets!"
Sakura scolded, though her arms were already looped around her trick-or-treat bag filled with lollipops.
The group's chatter echoed as they strolled down the quieter street toward the store, costumes rustling, little bursts of laughter breaking through the still night. Yu, in his princess gown, walked at Taichi's side, half-embarrassed, half-comforted by the reassuring presence.
But not far behind them—far enough to stay unseen, close enough to follow—the shadows shifted.
Another beastly prince trailed their steps. The mask was nearly identical, the same beastly grin hiding his face. His wig, black as night, was styled to match, his movements practiced. In the darkness, he could have been Taichi's twin.
The group didn't notice, not yet. Yu's laughter carried on the breeze as he clutched his tiara, Haruka teasing him about holding his skirts like a real princess.
The warmth lingered—unaware of the silent figure watching, waiting.
The walk to the convenience store was filled with chatter that bounced between them like fireflies. Souma swung his foam prop around as if it were a sword, earning a yelp from Yamato when he nearly clipped him in the shoulder. Sakura darted ahead in her witch's hat, pretending to cast spells on passersby, while Fumiko's black-cat tail flicked whenever she skipped a step.
Yu, still flushed, tried to keep his skirts from dragging, his tiara slipping every few minutes. But instead of embarrassment burning his chest, there was something softer now—warmth. Every time Taichi offered a hand to steady him, every time his friends laughed and pulled him back into their orbit, it felt like he was caught in a net of kindness.
He almost forgot the warehouse. Almost forgot the nights he'd woken up shaking. Almost.
Even Haruka, normally quieter than the rest, had joined in, gently adjusting Yu's hair so the tiara sat just right.
"There!"
She said, smiling faintly.
"Now you look like a real fairy tale."
The street itself was calm, lined with faintly glowing pumpkins and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. For Yu, it was as if the night held no threats—just laughter, costumes, and the faint promise of candy.
Still, every now and then, there was a prickle at the edge of his awareness. A flicker of movement behind them when he glanced over his shoulder. A shadow that seemed too close to the glow of the streetlamp. But then Yamato would burst out laughing at Souma's antics, or Sakura would tug Yu forward with a teasing grin, and the feeling dissolved like mist.
By the time they spilled out of the convenience store with bags full of snacks—pocky, chips, chocolate, even a box of cheap Halloween cupcakes—Yu was laughing too, a sound that felt unfamiliar but good.
---
Fumiko's house was only a few streets away, and when they reached it, the porch light glowed warmly against the autumn dark. The Fujimori house wasn't grand, but it radiated the kind of lived-in coziness Yu had always envied—pumpkin decorations clustered on the steps, little paper bats taped to the windows.
The door opened before they could knock.
"Welcome, welcome!"
Fumiko's mother beamed, her apron dusted with flour. Her father waved from the kitchen, a mug in hand, and Fumiko's little brother dashed forward in his own cheap pink superhero costume, tugging at her sleeve.
"Whoa! You all look amazing!"
He squeaked, eyes wide at Yu's princess gown in particular.
"You're the prettiest of them all!"
Yu flushed scarlet, ducking his head as everyone laughed and teased him. Taichi gave an exaggerated bow, his beast mask slipping slightly, and announced.
"This princess is under my protection."
"Just don't knock anything over with those cloaks."
Fumiko's father chuckled.
"Shoes off, snacks to the table, and keep the noise down after nine!"
The warmth wrapped around Yu the moment he stepped inside, the smell of home cooking mixing with the sugary scent of their treats. For the first time in weeks, he let his guard down fully. Between his friends' laughter, the gentle bustle of Fumiko's family, and Taichi's steady presence beside him, the shadows outside felt impossibly far away.
For now, Yu was safe. Completely safe.
The Fujimori living room quickly transformed into a nest of laughter and clutter. Candy bags spilled across the table, Taichi's cloak got tangled in the couch cushions, and Yu found himself coaxed into playing a silly party game where they had to guess characters drawn on scraps of paper.
"Yu-chan, you're a ghost!"
Sakura announced dramatically, placing the paper to his forehead.
"I—wait, am I supposed to ask questions? Uh… do I wear clothes?"
Yu stammered, which only made everyone collapse in laughter.
Haruka, sitting cross-legged near the edge of the group, even cracked a small smile.
"Depends on the ghost!"
She teased.
The room was filled with warmth—Fumiko's mother bringing out little cups of cider, her father chuckling at their antics before retreating back to the kitchen, her younger brother weaving in and out of the room, trying to sneak candy from the pile. The air buzzed with the kind of joy Yu had nearly forgotten he could feel. For hours, they played games, swapped snacks, and argued over which scary movies were tolerable.
Yu found himself smiling, even laughing outright, his cheeks aching with the unfamiliar stretch. Every so often, Taichi's hand brushed his, or Fumiko's little brother would insist the "princess" sit in the middle of the circle, and Yu felt something fragile but precious—safety.
Time slipped away faster than anyone noticed. The clock crept past midnight, the hum of the neighborhood outside falling into silence as porch lights clicked off one by one.
Fumiko's father eventually stepped in, clearing his throat with a good-natured smile.
"Alright, party's over for me. If anyone needs a ride home, let's do it now before I fall asleep on the couch."
Haruka rose gracefully, smoothing her skirt. Yamato and Souma groaned but admitted it would save them the long walk. They gathered their things, still teasing each other about their ridiculous costumes.
"I'll sleep over!"
Sakura declared, clinging to Fumiko's arm, which earned her a grin.
That left Yu and Taichi, who exchanged a look before Yu shook his head.
"We're not far. Walking's fine."
"Alright, but be careful…"
Fumiko said, pressing a small bag into Yu's hands—snacks, neatly bundled class notes, and a CD she promised he'd love.
"And bring that back in one piece!"
"Mn, I will!"
Yu promised softly, his smile a little shy but genuine.
"Thank you."
The doorway was crowded with farewells—waves, sleepy smiles, promises to meet up again soon. Fumiko's little brother saluted Yu dramatically, declaring:
"Goodnight, Princess!"
Before scampering back inside.
And then the door closed behind them, muting the warmth, the chatter, the soft lamplight.
The street outside was silent.
Almost all the porch lights were dark now, faint trails of jack-o'-lantern smoke curling in the cold air. Houses stood quiet, their candy bowls emptied, curtains drawn tight. Halloween night was over.
Yu and Taichi walked hand in hand down the chilled street. At first, Yu clutched the bag close, comforted by the warmth still clinging to his skin. But with each step, the silence pressed heavier. Their footsteps echoed louder than they should have. The air bit sharper.
And beneath it all, the fragile cocoon Yu had felt earlier began to fray. His heart gave a nervous twitch, and the thought came unbidden—something bad is going to happen.
The street seemed endless in its silence. The only sounds were the shuffle of their steps and the faint rattle of Yu's plastic bag swinging at his side. He clutched it close, the CD and notes inside suddenly feeling more precious than any candy.
Taichi gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Relax, baby."
He murmured, his voice muffled slightly by the mask.
"We're almost home."
Yu nodded, trying to match his pace to Taichi's calm stride, though the pit in his stomach only deepened. Every passing shadow seemed to stretch too long, every rustle of leaves too sharp in the still air. His breath puffed white in front of him.
Then—
A blur shot from the darkness of an alley. A boy, masked, taller than Yu, slammed into him with enough force to wrench the bag from his grasp. Yu stumbled, falling to his knees, the tiara clattering to the pavement.
"Ah!"
His cry cracked high with shock.
"My bag—!"
The thief was already sprinting away down the street, clutching the bag tight.
Yu's hands shook as he scrambled up, eyes wide with panic.
"No—! The CD—Fumiko's notes—I promised her I'd take care of them!"
His voice broke with desperation.
"Yu!"
Taichi was at his side in an instant, gripping his shoulders firmly. His steady presence cut through Yu's rising fear.
"It's okay. I'll get it back."
"But—"
"Stay here."
Taichi's tone left no room for argument. He pulled Yu's tiara gently from the ground, pressing it into his trembling hands.
"Don't move. I'll be right back."
And then he was gone—cloak whipping behind him as he sprinted after the masked boy, his figure swallowed by the night.
Yu stood frozen, clutching the tiara to his chest, his breath shallow. He wanted to chase too, to help, but his feet refused to move. Taichi told him to stay put. He'd listen. He trusted him.
Still, his heart hammered painfully as he stared at the corner where the thief had disappeared. He strained to listen—footsteps pounding, growing faint, then faint again.
What Yu couldn't see was what waited just beyond that corner.
The masked boy had slowed, glancing behind him before slipping into the shadow of a hedge. Another figure loomed there, waiting—another beastly prince in mask and cloak. Hair black, eyes hidden. A twin to Taichi, only colder in the stillness.
Without a word, the thief thrust the bag into the man's hand, then bolted again, resuming his desperate sprint as if nothing had happened.
A heartbeat later, Taichi rounded the corner, still chasing, never realizing the handoff had already been made. His pursuit carried him further, further away.
And then, when the street was silent again, the shadow stepped forward.
Isuke adjusted the mask, tugged his cloak as if shaking off the stillness. He waited until Taichi's pounding footsteps had faded into the distance. Only then did he move—emerging from the darkness, bag in hand, his stride brisk and purposeful.
When he rounded the corner back toward Yu, his voice carried before his figure came fully into view, mimicking the rough edge of exertion.
"Yu—! I got it back."
To Yu, trembling in the cold and clutching his tiara, it looked as though Taichi Arifukua had just returned to him.
---
Yu's breath caught in his throat when he saw the familiar figure rushing back around the corner. Cloak billowing, mask slightly askew, chest heaving with the sound of effort.
"Yu—!"
The voice was strained but steady, the same timbre Yu had come to know so well.
"I got it back."
Relief washed through him so quickly his knees almost buckled.
"Taichi…!"
Yu's eyes brimmed, his chest loosening from the knot of fear that had gripped it.
The beastly prince approached, slowing his stride as if to steady himself before reaching Yu. In his hand was the bag—the plastic crinkling softly as he held it out.
Yu took it in trembling fingers, clutching it to his chest like a rescued treasure. He peeked inside quickly, heart leaping when he saw the CD case, the neatly folded notes, the snacks all still there. Not ruined. Not gone.
"Thank you."
Yu whispered, voice breaking on the words.
"I—I thought…"
His throat closed, and he shook his head, forcing a laugh that sounded almost embarrassed.
"You always come through for me, don't you?"
The beastly mask tilted just slightly, as if in a smile. A gloved hand rose and settled on Yu's shoulder—warm, firm, grounding. The kind of touch that said you're safe.
Yu leaned into it without thinking, his heart still racing but slowly calming in the presence of his protector. The night air was still cold, but the weight of the bag in his arms and the closeness of "Taichi" wrapped him in warmth again.
He didn't doubt for a moment.
This was Taichi.
This was safety.
The street stretched on, lined with hushed houses and hollow-eyed jack-o'-lanterns whose candles had long since guttered out. Yu walked close beside "Taichi," clutching the bag tightly to his chest, the adrenaline slowly draining from his body and leaving him shaky.
"That really scared me back there…"
Yu admitted softly, voice muffled by the night air.
"I thought I lost everything. Fumiko would have been so upset."
"Taichi" glanced down at him, the beast mask hiding his expression but his hand reaching again, brushing against Yu's hair as though to soothe.
"But you didn't."
He said quietly, voice calm, steady, convincing.
"I told you I'd come back, didn't I?"
The warmth in those words made Yu's chest ache. His steps slowed, comforted, anchored by the steady presence beside him. He looked up, wanting to thank him again, but before he could, a gloved hand tipped his chin up, gentle but firm, tilting his face toward the mask.
Yu's eyes widened just as the distance closed—lips pressing against his own in a kiss that was deep, unyielding, far more intense than he'd expected.
His heart jolted, pounding hard against his ribs. Taichi had kissed him before—hesitant, teasing, enough to fluster him into hiding his face or stammering—but never like this. This kiss was greedy, claiming, leaving Yu breathless.
He broke away with a gasp, cheeks burning scarlet.
"Ta-Taichi…?"
The beastly mask tilted closer, shadowing the eyes behind it.
"Reward…"
The voice murmured, low and insistent.
"For bringing it back to you."
Yu froze. The words sank in wrong. Reward. That wasn't Taichi's way. His Taichi would have taken pride in comforting him, in seeing him smile through the nerves—not in demanding something for himself.
And yet… Yu didn't push him away.
Somewhere inside, buried deep, his incubus soul stirred. A heat curled in his chest, whispering that the kiss felt good, that being claimed felt good. Wrong, but tempting.
So he didn't fight back. He let "Taichi" close the gap again, lips pressing firmly against his own once more. His breath hitched, his fingers trembling against the bag in his arms as he surrendered, caught between unease and that dangerous, unbidden hunger.
For Yu, this was Taichi. It had to be.
Even if something about the moment felt just slightly, unbearably off.
Yu's breath fogged faintly in the chill, the bag clutched close, his lips still tingling from the kiss he couldn't stop thinking about.
'That wasn't like him…'
He thought, cheeks hot, confusion tangling in his chest.
'Taichi wouldn't… demand something like that.'
But when "Taichi" tugged him gently toward the shadow of a side street, Yu followed without thinking, still clinging to the belief that he was safe.
They stopped at a narrow stretch of wall, brick damp with the night air. Suddenly, Yu felt himself pressed back, the bag wedged awkwardly between his body and the wall as "Taichi's" weight bore into him. His breath caught, eyes wide as the beastly mask loomed closer.
"Ta—"
Yu barely got the name out before his lips were captured again, the kiss harsher this time, hungrier. Hands roamed down his sides, over the silken fabric of his costume, groping as if to claim every inch of him.
Yu gasped into the kiss, trembling. His heart hammered, but this wasn't the fluttering warmth Taichi gave him—this was sharp, invasive, suffocating. He turned his head, muffling his words against the mask pressing him down.
"Taichi… stop… please—ah! Taichi. Taichi, wait—Taichi—"
The hands on him tightened, grip turning bruising. The kiss grew harsher, punishing. A growl reverberated against his lips as "Taichi" broke away just enough to snap, voice low and laced with fury.
"Stop calling me Taichi."
Yu froze. His blood ran cold. The air itself seemed to shatter around him.
He stared up into the mask, trembling, words breaking out of him in a whisper that barely scraped past his throat.
"… W-who are you?"
And before the figure could answer, a calm, chilling voice rose from within Yu's mind. DK01.
[That boy…]
The voice said, clear and certain.
[The one kissing you, holding you like a lover—it is none other than Isuke Sasaki. The supposed protagonist of this world… who now walks the path of a villain.]
The world tilted under Yu's feet. His chest tightened, his breath shallow, his whole body pinned between the wall and Isuke's weight.
His Taichi hadn't come back to him at all.