Dark secrets ~ Rengoku x reader

𝑽𝒆𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔

**Y/n's POV**

The first light of morning filtered through the curtains of my room in the headquarters, a gentle reminder that the world still turned even in the midst of turmoil. As I stirred from my sleep, the memories of the night before resurfaced, the confessions and the emotions laid bare in the presence of my mother. I rubbed my eyes, the vestiges of dreams still clinging to my thoughts.

Gathering my belongings, I left the embrace of the infinity castle, its grandeur fading behind me as I set out on a quiet journey back to the headquarters. The world around me was painted in the soft hues of morning, a serene landscape that contrasted sharply with the storm within me.

Upon entering the headquarters, I was met with the immediate concern of those closest to me. Obanai, Sanemi, and Rengoku formed a protective circle around me, their voices blending in a chorus of worry. Senemi's voice rang out above the others, his tone a mixture of anger and concern. "Where have you been? Shinobu went to check on you last night and found that you had vanished. Tell us, where did you go?"

I took a breath, the words sitting heavily on my tongue. "I went to see them..." I began, my voice trailing off as Rengoku's gasp cut through the air. His gaze locked onto me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice laced with both worry and confusion. I reached up to touch my face, my fingers coming away damp. It was only then that I realized tears had escaped my eyes, their silent testimony to the inner turmoil that still gripped me.

"I've just been... sad lately," I managed to say, my voice wavering as I struggled to find the right words. Stepping past them, I made my way to my room, a sanctuary where I could gather my thoughts away from their watchful eyes.

**Time Skip**

The sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting warm beams of light that filtered through the windows of my room. The passing hours had done little to ease the weight within me, but the day had progressed, and so must I. As I readied myself, my thoughts were drawn to the evening ahead.

Rengoku had made a dinner reservation for the two of us, a gesture that both warmed my heart and filled me with a sense of trepidation. The intricacies of my emotions, the lingering shadows of my past, seemed to cast doubt over the path before me. Yet, as I stood before the mirror, adjusting the mask that concealed my face, I found a quiet determination taking root within me.

The mask I wore hid more than just my features; it hid the depths of my heart, the complexities of my identity, and the scars of my past. But it also held a promise, a promise to protect those I cared for and to navigate the uncertain path that lay ahead.

With a steady breath, I stepped out of my room, my steps carrying me toward the evening that awaited. The dinner with Rengoku held the promise of a new chapter, a chance to reveal parts of myself that I had long kept hidden. As the day unfolded, I found myself hopeful, a ray of light breaking through the shadows that had clouded my heart.