SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 2 || 4. Headphones & Heartbeats

The rooftop wasn't quite the sanctuary Akame had been hoping for.

Usually, this was her place of escape, a quiet refuge above the bustle of the school. Here, Umemiya tended his garden in peaceful silence, and she could disappear into her thoughts without feeling out of place. But today, it was packed with Bofurin boys lounging around, trading playful punches, and filling the air with chatter and laughter. She hesitated in the doorway, feeling an instinctive urge to step back—but before she could, the boys noticed her.

The rooftop quieted, their voices falling away as they turned to look at her. She froze, one hand still on the door, feeling the weight of their gazes. Being around this many people was rare enough for her; being the center of attention was almost unbearable.

Among the boys, there was a ripple of silent acknowledgment, each of them processing her presence with equal parts curiosity and restraint. She was Yuta's sister, after all, the one Umemiya had taken under his wing. She was rarely seen outside of her rooftop sanctuary or with Umemiya nearby. To the boys, she'd become something of a mystery—someone to watch, but not touch.

There was an unspoken understanding: she was off-limits. But seeing her there, looking slightly out of place, some of them couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to break that unspoken rule.

Suo, always the boldest, was the first to cut through the tension. He leaned over, nudging one of his friends with a mischievous grin. "Guess we've got ourselves a rooftop queen," he said, his voice carrying a teasing warmth.

Akame's cheeks colored, and she glanced away. Suo's comment wasn't aggressive, but rather inviting, like he was giving her a way into the conversation. Still, his confident gaze stirred something that left her off-balance, the kind of confidence that was both intimidating and strangely comforting.

And not everyone was thrilled about it.

The other boys watched, a few of them exchanging glances as a subtle ripple of jealousy passed through the group. Suo always had that self-assured way of talking to people, an easy charm that let him approach anyone without a second thought. And now, he was the one getting a reaction from her—the girl they'd all silently agreed was out of reach.

Mitsuki Kiryu, standing off to the side, chimed in with a shameless grin. "Suo's already won over our new rooftop queen, huh?" he teased, his voice carrying a playful challenge.

The others groaned, some rolling their eyes, others snickering. "Give us a chance, Kiryu," one of them muttered.

Kiryu, ever the shameless flirt, sidled over, his expression full of exaggerated admiration. "You know, Akame, it's rare to see such a queenly presence on this roof," he said, giving her a mock bow. "If you ever tire of Suo's charms, I'm more than willing to step in."

Akame chuckled, feeling the tension in her chest ease slightly at Kiryu's playful exaggeration. There was something easygoing in his approach, almost brotherly, that didn't leave her flustered in the same way Suo's attention did.

"Oh?" Suo smirked, raising an eyebrow at Kiryu. "I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself, Kiryu. Didn't realize I needed competition today."

Akame caught Suo's gaze, and her heart skipped. His smile was warm, yet there was a quiet intensity there, a subtle hint that he was serious about getting to know her—something that felt far more difficult to brush off than Kiryu's dramatic charm.

Before she could fully process it, Sakura appeared from the crowd, lingering awkwardly at her side. He cleared his throat, his expression painfully stiff. "Akame, uh... surprised to see you here today." His voice was low, each word carefully measured.