SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 2 || 8. Millimeters Apart

Akame's thoughts swirled as she walked through the park, replaying her encounter with Kaji in her mind. Her cheeks still tinged pink, she could still feel his steady, unreadable gaze lingering on her, making her feel like she was on the edge of something she couldn't quite understand. It was unsettling in a way that left her flustered and on edge, yet, somehow, she couldn't shake him from her thoughts.

When she finally made it home, she stepped inside, locking the door behind her with a soft sigh of relief. She noticed immediately that Yuta wasn't home yet—probably out with the boys. The apartment felt quiet, still, almost too empty. She wandered around, looking for something to distract herself, something to keep her from falling back into her tangled thoughts.

But just as she started rifling through the fridge, there was a knock on the door, breaking her out of her reverie. She hesitated, her heart giving a small flutter as she approached, and she took a slow, calming breath before pulling it open.

When she saw Togame standing there, a warm, familiar smile on his face, her blush deepened instantly. There was a softness in his gaze that made her pulse quicken, and she struggled to keep her voice steady.

"Togame... I didn't expect you," she murmured, looking down for a moment to hide her flustered expression. "Yuta's not back yet."

"That's alright," he replied smoothly, his eyes never leaving her face. He tilted his head slightly, his smile widening. "Mind if I come in anyway?"

A quiet thrill ran through her, and she nodded, stepping aside to let him in. As he entered, she felt the atmosphere of the apartment shift, the tension between them thickening the air, subtle yet unmistakable. She led him toward the kitchen, trying to keep things casual, but the awareness of his presence felt heightened, charged. She glanced at him, feeling a rush of warmth that made her heart beat faster.

"I was just about to make some dinner," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's nothing special, but... you're welcome to join if you want."

"Can't say no to that," he replied with a grin, leaning against the counter. "Besides, I've had enough of Yuta's cooking. I'll finally get to see what real food tastes like."

She laughed softly, her cheeks warming. "Well, it won't be fancy, but it'll be edible," she promised, glancing away as she started gathering ingredients. Togame, however, stayed close, hovering beside her as if he couldn't quite bring himself to step away. She felt a thrill each time he moved beside her, each time their arms brushed as they worked, moving from one counter to another.

They began talking about their day, keeping things light and easy. Togame teased her about Yuta's latest antics, and she laughed, grateful for the distraction. Yet, with each casual touch, every time their hands brushed, the air seemed to thicken, the charged energy between them refusing to dissipate.

As she stirred a pot on the stove, Togame leaned in beside her, his voice dropping a little lower. "So... anything interesting happen to you today?"

She hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to her earlier encounter. "Well... actually, I met this cat," she said, a soft smile pulling at her lips as she recounted the events. "She came up to me in the park, like she was just waiting for me."

Togame watched her with a soft smile, but when she mentioned Kaji, she noticed the subtle shift in his expression. His warm eyes darkened slightly, and his jaw tensed, though he kept his tone light.

"Kaji, from Bofurin, yeah?" he asked, his voice careful, but she could feel the edge in his question.

"Yeah," she replied, a faint, nervous chuckle escaping her. "He just... showed up and told me the cat belonged to an old woman. Helped me bring her back."