SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 1 || 3. No Room for Saints

Akame stood with Yuta and Togame at the park, the warm, late afternoon light painting the scene in soft oranges and golds. The familiar calm of this place settled around them, but today Akame was restless. She tugged at the sleeve of her cardigan, her gaze darting between the two boys, her mind racing with thoughts she hadn't shared yet.

She glanced at Yuta, who was sitting on the bench, his arms stretched out behind him, eyes closed as if savoring this rare moment of peace. Togame was beside him, leaning forward, idly kicking a pebble as the two of them bantered.

Akame cleared her throat softly. "I, um... I was thinking of heading into town for a little while."

Yuta opened his eyes, instantly alert. "What for? I can go with you."

Akame smiled, shaking her head gently. "It's nothing big. I just wanted to check on something. I'll be back soon, I promise."

Yuta frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. "Akame, you know I don't like you going out alone. You can't be too careful around here."

Togame raised an eyebrow but remained quiet, glancing between the siblings. He could sense Yuta's tension rising, and while he agreed that Makochi wasn't the safest place, something about Akame's quiet determination made him pause. She had that look—the one she always got when she was about to do something important.

Akame met Yuta's concerned gaze with a soft but determined smile. "I'll be fine. I'll text you every ten minutes, okay? It won't take long."

Yuta hesitated, his jaw clenching slightly. He didn't like the idea, but he knew he couldn't keep her wrapped up in a bubble forever. She wasn't a child, and lately, she'd been pulling away, trying to assert her independence in small ways. He could see it—her quiet strength returning, little by little.

"Fine," Yuta said after a moment, though the tension didn't leave his voice. "But every ten minutes, Akame. Don't forget."

"I won't," Akame promised, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes. "I'll be back before you know it."

With that, she turned and made her way out of the park, her steps light and purposeful. She didn't look back, her heart racing with anticipation.

Akame's heart fluttered with excitement as she made her way toward town. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions—anxiety, grief, guilt—but this was different. She felt a spark of something she hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.

She had secured a job. A small one, sure, but it was something. The elderly couple who ran the convenience store had been kind, their eyes warm and welcoming as they offered her a part-time position. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Akame to feel like she was helping, like she could take some of the burden off Yuta's shoulders.

Her mind raced as she thought about telling him and Togame. They were always looking out for her, always worrying, but this was her chance to show them that she wasn't fragile. She could contribute. She could stand on her own.

As she made her way back toward the park, a soft breeze played with her white hair, and she smiled to herself, her steps light. She felt proud. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like she had some control over her life again.

But in her excitement, Akame had forgotten her promise. She hadn't texted Yuta in over twenty minutes.

Yuta glanced at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. His brow furrowed, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. It had been over twenty minutes since Akame had left, and she hadn't texted him once.

"She's late," Yuta muttered, his voice thick with concern as he stood up, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "She promised she'd text me."

Togame, who had been lounging casually on the bench, straightened, his relaxed demeanor shifting. "You want to go look for her?"