SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 2 || 5. The Sound of Almost

Akame's mind was still tangled in thoughts from the previous day. The rooftop gathering, Kaji's silent gesture, and the overwhelming social interactions were still fresh in her mind. She had barely slept, her thoughts restless, replaying the quiet connection she had shared with Kaji. There was something about his presence that lingered long after the moment had passed, something she couldn't quite place.

Now, as she hurried to school, her heart raced—not just from the speed of her footsteps but from the memory of Kaji's music drowning out the noise of the world around her. She was distracted, her mind clouded, and before she could register it, she rounded the corner a little too quickly.

Bump.

Akame stumbled back slightly, her bag slipping from her fingers. She blinked in surprise, looking up to see who she had run into.

It was him.

Kaji stood there, as stoic and unreadable as ever, his headphones slung casually around his neck, a lollipop resting between his lips. His sharp blue eyes glanced down at her, taking in the sight of her slightly disheveled state, though his expression remained impassive.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Akame's heart skipped a beat, her mind still catching up to the fact that she had just bumped into him.

"S-Sorry," Akame stammered, quickly bending down to retrieve her bag. Her hands were shaky, her pulse quickening in a way she couldn't control. She had spent all of last night trying to make sense of her feelings, and now, here he was, standing right in front of her.

Kaji didn't respond right away. Instead, he silently knelt down as well, picking up her bag and handing it to her without a word. His movements were calm, almost too casual, as if this kind of encounter was an everyday occurrence for him. But Akame could feel the weight of his gaze, the way he looked at her—not with judgment, but with a quiet curiosity.

Akame took the bag from him, her fingers brushing against his for the briefest moment, sending a shiver down her spine. "Th-Thank you," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaji straightened, still holding the lollipop between his lips, his eyes flickering over her face. There was something unreadable in his expression—something that made Akame's heart race even faster. He didn't say anything, just stood there, his presence both overwhelming and oddly comforting at the same time.

For a moment, they stood in silence, the early morning air wrapping around them like a cocoon. Akame could feel the fluttering in her chest, the confusion and nervousness that always seemed to accompany her interactions with Kaji. She didn't know why he had this effect on her—why his silence made her feel so exposed, yet so seen.

Finally, Kaji broke the silence in his usual soft-spoken manner. "You're late," he murmured, his voice low but carrying easily in the quiet street.

Akame blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Ah... yeah, I guess I am," she admitted, glancing at her watch. She was indeed running late for class, but in that moment, it didn't seem to matter as much. Not when she was standing here, face-to-face with Kaji.

Kaji's eyes flicked briefly toward the direction of her school, then back to her. He didn't say anything else, but there was a slight shift in his posture—like he was waiting for her to move, waiting for her to decide what to do next.

Akame opened her mouth to say something, to maybe break the awkwardness, but before she could speak, a voice cut through the quiet street.

"Yo! Akame!"

She blinked in surprise and turned toward the source of the voice. Across the street, she spotted Togame, standing casually with one hand raised in greeting. He was grinning, his usual carefree demeanor on full display as he waved her over. His presence, so familiar and lighthearted, contrasted sharply with the heavy atmosphere that Kaji seemed to bring.