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─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
alone. kunimi had never trusted his gut like this before. throughout his life, he'd always just gone with the flow, letting whatever happened simply happen.
he didn't waste energy worrying about things he couldn't control. but tonight was different. something inside him told him that he couldn't just brush off this feeling.
kunimi was observant by nature. he often noticed things about people that others overlooked, even about strangers.
it was a habit he sometimes hated, especially when he found himself fixating on someone he didn't know. but this time, it wasn't just boredom that drove his observations, nor was it romantic interest.
it was suspicion—mixed with a creeping sense of fear.
"h-hey, akira." the voice that cut through the quiet evening made him jump. he was in the middle of closing the restaurant, the clock having just struck 10 p.m., and he hadn't noticed anyone behind him.
turning around, his eyes widened in shock. standing there, in the dim glow of the streetlights, was murakami yurei—the girl who was always at the restaurant.
the girl who seemed to be everywhere he went.
"oh, hello. how can i help you... at this hour?" he stammered, trying to keep his voice steady, though his nerves were anything but calm.
yurei had an unsettling presence, a dark aura that seemed to cling to her like a shadow. kunimi had initially thought seeing her around was just a coincidence.
but now, standing alone with her in the eerie stillness of the night, he wasn't so sure. "you seem scared. are you okay?" yurei asked, her voice soft, yet it sent a shiver down kunimi's spine.
she took a step toward him, her expression one of concern, but it only made kunimi feel more uneasy. he instinctively stepped back, his hand fumbling for the door behind him, preparing to retreat inside.
but he froze, unable to tear his eyes away from her intense, dark gaze. "i'm not scared, what do you mean?" he mumbled, though the words rang hollow even to his own ears.
he quickly glanced around the neighborhood. the only light came from the flickering streetlamps. the street was deserted, devoid of any other signs of life. the silence pressed in on him, worsening his anxiety.
kunimi wanted to turn and check behind him, to make sure his parents were still around, but he knew they had already gone inside the house, leaving him alone with this girl who seemed to know more about him than she should.
he swallowed hard, his mind racing for an escape, but yurei just stood there, her eyes never leaving his.
"i've been waiting for the right moment to ask you this. without any distractions." yurei said, her voice almost a whisper as she blushed, placing a hand on her cheek.
