SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 2 || 9. The Cat Whisperer

After dinner, the group drifted to the living room, where Choji and Akame found themselves bonding over their shared love of cats. Choji, ever the self-proclaimed cat whisperer, launched into an animated story about the many strays he'd "rescued" around his neighborhood, describing each one with a sense of pride and dramatic flair.

"Seriously, Akame, cats just understand me," Choji declared with a grin, leaning back on the couch. "I don't even have to say a word. They just know."

Akame's soft laughter filled the room, catching Choji slightly off guard. It wasn't often that he got people to genuinely laugh at his tales, and something about her quiet amusement felt... different. A light blush rose on his cheeks, and for once, he found himself a bit tongue-tied, chuckling awkwardly as he tried to brush it off. It was clear, though, that the beginnings of an unexpected friendship were starting to form, and Choji's typical bravado softened into something more genuine as they continued talking about cats, their quirks, and their mysteries.

Meanwhile, out on the balcony, Togame and Yuta stood leaning against the railing, speaking in hushed voices as they looked out over the city lights. Togame cast a quick glance through the glass door, watching Choji and Akame laughing together, before his gaze returned to Yuta, his tone quiet but serious.

"You think she's... alright?" Togame asked, his words heavy with concern. "I mean, it's good to see her like this, but I wonder..."

Yuta's expression softened, though a shadow of worry lingered in his eyes. "She's... better than she was," he admitted. "But I don't know if she's actually... moved past it. Sometimes, it's like she's not really here, you know?" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "She's so structured, like she's put herself on this rigid schedule to keep everything in line."

Togame nodded, understanding. "I've noticed it too. She seems good—great even—but there's this distance. I don't think she's really... allowed herself to face what happened." He looked back into the apartment, his gaze lingering on Akame, who was currently listening to one of Choji's stories with a soft smile. "She's never talked to me about it. Has she... ever opened up to you?"

Yuta shook his head, a quiet sigh escaping him. "No. Not to me. Not to Umemiya either, as far as I know." His expression grew pained, frustration flickering across his face. "It's like she thinks she has to carry it all alone, and I don't know how to reach her. I'm her brother, but sometimes I feel like I'm standing on the other side of a wall. She doesn't let anyone in past that... routine she's built around herself."

They both fell silent, the weight of Yuta's words hanging in the air. Togame placed a steadying hand on Yuta's shoulder. "You're not wrong, Yuta. But maybe... maybe this is part of her process. Seeing her like this tonight, talking to Choji, smiling—maybe it's her way of starting to let some of that go, even if it's just a small step."

Yuta nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on his sister through the glass door. "I hope you're right," he murmured, the vulnerability clear in his voice. "I just... I want her to be able to talk to me when she's ready, not feel like she has to keep everything locked up." He looked at Togame, his eyes filled with a quiet resolve. "Until then, I guess I just have to be there, however she needs me."

Togame gave him a reassuring nod. "She'll come around, Yuta. When she's ready, she'll know you're there."

The two of them shared a quiet understanding, both hoping that tonight's lightheartedness, this unexpected night of laughter and warmth, might be the start of something new for Akame—one step closer to healing, one step further from the shadows of the past.

~

When Togame and Yuta returned from the balcony, they were greeted by an unexpected sight in the living room that made them both stop in their tracks. There, on the couch, sat Akame, a pair of fuzzy black cat ears perched on her head, painted whiskers on her cheeks, and—somehow—a fluffy cat tail pinned to the back of her summer dress.