On her way back home, it started to rain.
She stopped by the coffee shop she'd passed earlier. It was serene, quiet… peaceful in a way that made her appreciate the smell of fresh ground coffee in the air.
She walked over to her usual seat by the window and set her bag down.
Not long after, a familiarly short, green-haired girl came by.
"You're back." Teio said with a warm smile.
Akira nodded. "Yeah, thought I'd stop by until the rain passes."
Teio nodded, pulling out her mini-notebook. "Want me to get you the usual?"
"Yes, please."
"Sure thing."
Akira remained seated, watching Teio move around the shop, taking orders with ease.
There it was again.
That small, awkward pang of guilt and jealousy as she watched the younger girl share brief laughs with other customers.
"She looks so normal—"
"Mind if I take a seat here?"
Akira's eyes snapped back to her table.
A tall redhead stood there, looking directly at her, waiting.
Her fingers twitched slightly as she straightened unconsciously. "Oh—Y-Yeah, sure…" she said quickly, making space she didn't need to make.
He sat across her, placing his bag on the table.
The quiet thud made her ears twitch. She glanced at it briefly.
Strange…
It looked small, yet felt heavy somehow.
"You come here often?" the redhead asked, his tone relaxed, easy.
The sudden question made her pause.
Akira shifted slightly. "Yeah, I just… come here when I need to unwind."
He nodded, his gaze drifting to her hands.
They lingered there a second too long.
"Hm."
"—Here you go, Akira."
Teio returned, balancing two trays.
A plate of rice and vegetables with grilled chicken.
Two drinks.
And three generously sized plates of Ohagi.
"Go easy on the Ohagi this time. Don't want you getting dizzy again." Teio winked.
Akira flushed, a small smile slipping through. "Yeah… okay…"
"And what can I get for you, sir?" Teio asked, pen ready.
"Two burgers. Medium and large. Extra cheese on the large one." he said, holding out a picture of a strange symbol.
Teio's eyes lit up briefly as she recognized it. "Oh—sure, right away."
Akira caught a glimpse of it too.
He was a—
"Don't want to sound rude, but…" he said, tapping the image and dissolving it into green stardust, "…you're a Hybrid, right?"
Akira's heart skipped, hand frozen mid-motion.
"Uhm…" she murmured, "…yeah. I am."
He hummed, nodding slightly. "Thought so."
Her eyes softened. She couldn't tell if judgment was coming.
"Relax." he said, already standing, collecting his takeaway from Teio halfway across the room. "You're good at keeping it regulated."
Akira blinked. "Regulated…?"
No answer.
He walked out into the rain.
Akira's gaze followed him through the window.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Then his hair shifted into a deep green glow.
His body broke apart—like ash caught in a slow wind—until he was gone.
Completely.
She stared a moment longer than necessary, neon reflections sliding across the glass.
"Wow…"
Akira turned.
Teio stood there, eyes wide.
"I've never seen an Ayanaki member before… especially a handsome one—" she stopped herself mid-thought, "Ah, I-I mean… you didn't hear that, right?"
Akira blinked.
Then failed to hide the small laugh that slipped out.
"N-No… I didn't. Promise."
"Hey—"
"Uhm, excuse me? Waiter?" another customer called.
Teio snapped back. "Ah! I'm so sorry!"
Akira watched her go.
This time… the ache wasn't as sharp.
She exhaled softly, looking back at her meal—
and noticed a piece of paper tucked beneath her plate.
"Huh?"
She picked it up.
( "I meant your energy control. It's pretty good. If it were any one of my underclassmen…")
Her eyes widened slightly as she continued.
("…they probably wouldn't have caught on, 'Kira.")
Her head snapped up.
Left.
Right.
Nothing.
She looked back at the note.
Her shoulders felt tense now. Too aware.
"What… who was that?" she whispered.
No answer came.
She slipped the paper into her bag.
"Focus, Aki… your food."
Her gaze drifted to the Ohagi.
And for a moment…
…she almost smiled as she took a bite.