SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 2 || 1. Roots in The Rooftop Garden

The soft breeze played through Akame's pale hair as she knelt in the rooftop garden, her fingers buried in the soil. She gently cradled one of the new seedlings Umemiya had planted a few weeks ago, her touch careful as though the fragile plant might break under too much pressure.

This rooftop had become her sanctuary. In the months since everything had changed, she had found peace here, surrounded by the quiet resilience of nature. The plants didn't ask for much—just water, sunlight, and patience.

That was something Akame understood. Patience. It was something she needed, too.

"Careful with that one," a familiar voice called from the rooftop entrance.

Akame looked up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Umemiya stood with his hands on his hips, a warm smile touching his lips. His eyes, though calm and observant, held a flicker of playfulness.

"You're starting to sound like an expert gardener," Akame said, her voice soft but with a hint of a smile.

Umemiya chuckled, stepping closer. "Hey, someone's gotta make sure these plants don't end up as casualties." He knelt down next to her, studying the plants with a careful eye. "They take time to grow. Kind of like us."

Akame didn't respond immediately, her eyes drifting over the small herbs and flowers. She knew what he meant. He had said something similar to her the first time he brought her up here, after she and Yuta moved closer to Furin. It was his quiet way of offering her a space to heal, without pressing her to talk about what had happened.

That's what she appreciated most about Umemiya. He never pushed her. He simply gave her space, an anchor she could hold onto when the memories became too overwhelming.

"I think they're doing fine," Akame finally replied, her voice soft. She turned back to the seedling, patting the soil around its base. "Maybe they're stronger than they look."

Umemiya's eyes flickered toward her, his smile fading slightly. There was a quiet understanding between them—unspoken, but present. "Yeah," he said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "They are."

The rooftop was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves in the wind and the distant hum of the city below. It was moments like these that Akame felt a small sense of peace. Up here, surrounded by the growing plants, it was easy to forget about the rest of the world—the violence, the pain, the memories that haunted her at night.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the stillness. She wiped her hands on her shirt before pulling it out. A message from Yuta.

Yuta: "Heading home soon. Want to pick up something for dinner?"

Akame's lips curled into a faint smile. Even after everything, Yuta still tried to look out for her. He had taken on the role of protector after they moved, aligning himself with Bofurin, finding a place among them that gave him a sense of purpose. It wasn't the same Yuta she had grown up with. He had changed. They both had.

She quickly typed back a response.

Akame: "Anything's fine. I'll meet you downstairs."

Umemiya stood, stretching his arms over his head as he looked out over the edge of the roof. "You heading out?" he asked, his tone easy but knowing.

Akame nodded, pocketing her phone. "Yuta's on his way back. We're probably going to grab something to eat."

"Good. You've been up here all day." Umemiya glanced at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You should get some fresh air."

Akame raised an eyebrow, a small laugh escaping her lips. "You do know we're outside, right?"

Umemiya chuckled, shrugging. "Yeah, but you need people, too. Plants are good company, but you can't exactly have a conversation with them."