The rest of the day after the strange encounter with the Ayanaki member went on as usual.
Get home.
Tell Akashi about her day.
A few jokes here and there—
...nothing out of the ordinary.
"Wait, hold on—" Akashi chuckled, turning to face her, "let me get this straight. Some random stranger—"
"Ayanaki member." Akira corrected, taking a sip of the grape juice that wasn't hers.
He waved it off. "Yeah, yeah, Ayanaki member, doctor, whatever," he said, turning back to the stir fry. "They saw you and then just… left a note about how 'good' your energy control is?"
"Yeah, pretty much. It was… kinda creepy…" she muttered, resting her cheek on her knuckles, "but at least I got a discount from the shop. That's something."
Akashi smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "Bet you went crazy on the Ohagi again."
"Shut up."
He huffed a laugh, then checked the time. "Yikes. My shift's starting soon. I gotta go."
"Wh—Who's gonna make dinner?" she called, watching him already halfway past the dining room.
"You have hands!"
By the time she got up to stir the meat, he was already halfway up the stairs.
"Tch. Jerk," she grumbled beneath her breath.
Thirty minutes later, the scent of his body spray filled the room, nearly choking her as she packed his food.
"For the love of—why do you keep using that thing?" she said, pinching her nose as he walked back in.
He grinned, completely ignoring her question. "Thanks for the meal, smallie,"
He flicked her forehead.
"Hey—"
"Best minion I could ask for."
She rolled her eyes. "Just go already."
He laughed, ruffling her hair and chugging her juice before heading out.
She sighed.
He was hopeless.
…but she was glad he was around.
She went to bed not long after, and by the next morning, she was ready by 6:48 AM.
…
The morning air was crisp.
Another cold Thursday.
She made her way to school quicker this time. It wasn't as cold as yesterday.
Still… she slowed when she passed the coffee shop.
Her eyes lingered on the sidewalk.
[ "…you're a hybrid, right?" ]
"—Morning, Akira."
She yelped softly, turning around.
"Oh—! Y-Yui, what are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
Yui chuckled, standing beside her as they waited for the holographic traffic signal.
"I told you my place is this way. Saw you walking and figured I'd tag along." She smiled slightly. "You always look like you're thinking about something."
Akira blinked. "Oh… I do? I never noticed—"
Green.
"Let's go," Yui said, stepping forward. "We'll talk on the way."
"Oh… okay."
Akira followed.
Inside the coffee shop, a certain girl smiled quietly as she mopped the floor.
The conversation felt lighter this time.
Akira didn't feel like she had to guard every word.
And yet...
"You seem like you're half here and half somewhere else," Yui said, glancing at her.
A small warmth ran through Akira's body.
Yui was… perceptive.
Especially for a human.
Or maybe all humans were like this—?
"Akira."
She snapped back just in time to avoid bumping into someone.
"You okay? You're not quite here," Yui said. "Early mornings hitting you?"
"N-No… it's not that…" Akira murmured, staring at her hands.
Pale.
Slightly pink.
Shaking—cold or nerves, she couldn't tell.
She slowed down.
"I just...I wonder sometimes..."
Yui stopped too.
Akira looked at her.
"Why..."
Yui watched her.
And then, the words finally slipped out as her voice lowered.
"Why...Why do you talk to me?"
Yui tilted her head, like the question didn't make sense.
Akira rushed to fix it. "I mean—not that I don't like it, I do, but—"
"Because we're friends, aren't we?" Yui said simply.
Akira froze.
She hadn't dared to believe that all night.
That's why she'd left early.
Why she couldn't sleep.
Because maybe...
Maybe part of her was afraid...
That it might've been true.
But still…
"…maybe you just talk to me because I'm useful."
Someone brushed past her shoulder.
"Oh, sorry, sir—"
"Akira."
Akira's eyes flickered up.
Yui held her shoulders.
"You're my friend. That's it," she said firmly. "Now get out of your head before you freeze."
She walked ahead.
Akira stood there for a second… then hurried after her.
Her heart was acting up again.
Yui glanced back once.
Something soft flickered in her eyes.
Then someone called Yui's name out loud.
"YUI!"
Akira looked up.
Yui waved. "Ren! James!"
"You know them?" Akira asked.
Yui grabbed her hand.
"Come on. I'll introduce you."
Akira froze.
"What—?"
"Hey, Yu." Ren said, hugging her.
"I see you brought a newbie," James added, eyes landing on Akira.
"Guys, this is Akira. She's new—and she's super smart," Yui said, nudging her.
Akira tried to smile.
It… didn't work.
"She's the one I told you about. The one who helped me with the notes."
"Ey, that's cool," Ren said, holding out his hand.
Akira stared at it. "Uhm… what do I—?"
"Easy, Ren," James chuckled. "She's clearly a fragile lily. Don't scare her off."
Akira's armpits itched.
Great.
Just perfect...
"Akira, this is Ren and James," Yui said gently. "They're my people. I trust them."
Ren shrugged as he turned away. "Yeah, cake is cake. I don't judge."
James laughed. "Man, where do you even get that from?"
"Didn't learn it. Discovered it."
"Yeah, alright, Ishiki."
Akira watched them walk ahead.
Her palms were sweating.
"Hey."
She turned.
"I know people have judged you your whole life for something you didn't ask for…" Yui said quietly, eyes on the two ahead.
Then she looked up at her.
"But you don't have to worry about that here. Me, them—we're not like that."
She started walking again.
"So you can trust us, okay? That's what friends are for."
Akira stayed still for a second.
Her chest felt tight.
But she followed.
"…Yeah. Okay," she managed.
Yui smiled softly. "Okay."
And as they stepped onto campus—
"Oh. Mrs Juri… you're early."
"Sit."
their professor had already been waiting five minutes.