𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 46 -

The next day, Helia is filled with determination to find Toji. She's set on explaining everything to him and sorting out the situation.

As the day turns into night, after her 'report' to Naobito, her determination to find Toji has only grown stronger. Despite the late hour, she remains committed to explaining everything to him.

She starts her search for Toji, determined to clear the air and bring clarity to the misunderstanding.

She silently prays that he won't be too stubborn and that he will be willing to listen to her side of the story.

With quick, determined steps, she traverses the corridors, heading towards Toji's room.

She's resolute in her decision to make him listen to her and understand the truth behind her actions. She will force him if she has to.

She continues to make her way through the halls, when the sound of approaching footsteps catches her attention. However, she remains unconcerned, considering the normalcy of a maid walking through the corridors.

But her heart skips a beat as she recognizes the person coming towards her. Naoya appears around the corner, and her eyes widen momentarily with surprise. She is suddenly reminded of the red marks on her neck.

Her eyes widen further as they take in the state of Naoya's face. Cuts and bruises mar his features, including a darkening black eye. She tries to process what could have led to such a beaten state.

With each step, she silently steels herself, preparing to maintain her composure in his presence. Past experiences have taught her that he can be dangerous, but this time, she's determined to prevent him from doing anything to her.

The moment Helia and Naoya draw near to each other in the hallway, he casts a harsh glare in her direction. However, instead of the expected cocky smirk, he quickly turns his head away.

The unexpectedness of his action leaves her slightly taken aback, as the two of them pass each other in the hallway.

Silence hangs in the air as Helia and Naoya continue on their respective paths. She can't help but wonder about the unusual behavior she just witnessed from him, the unexpected glare and the swift redirection of his gaze.

She didn't even realize how tensed she was, when her body slowly relaxes, releasing the tension that had been coiled within her.

She shakes off the residual tension from the encounter with Naoya and refocuses her attention. She continues walking towards Toji's room, determination coursing through her veins.

[...]

When she reaches Toji's room and hear sounds coming from inside, a wave of relief washes over her. The noises from within the room confirm that he is in there, and a glimmer of hope ignites in her heart.

This time, he won't be able to hide from her or avoid her. With bated breath, she pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before knocking on his door.

She holds her breath, waiting anxiously for a response from within the room. After a moment of silence, there is a pause before she hears a voice from within the room.

"Who is it?"

She clears her throat. "Toji...It's Helia."

He responds, his tone distant and dismissive. "Piss off, I don't want to see you." He snaps abruptly from the other side of the door.

The cold, dismissive tone of Toji's reply fuels her anger. She's had enough of his attitude and his attempts to push her away. He will listen to her whether he wants it or not.