Akame was on her way to the market, her thoughts focused on the quiet simplicity of the errand, when she was stopped by a familiar voice calling her name. She turned to find Nirei approaching, his face lighting up with a shy but genuine smile. He looked a bit nervous, but she saw the excitement in his eyes. They'd bonded once over sweets on Furin's rooftop, a small but cherished memory, and it seemed that connection hadn't faded in her absence.
"Akame-chan! It's been a while!" Nirei greeted her, scratching the back of his head. He was clearly glad to see her, his usual shyness mixed with a hint of enthusiasm.
She returned his smile, a pang of guilt stirring in her. "I know, I'm sorry, Nirei-kun. I've been busy with schoolwork," she replied, a small, apologetic laugh escaping her. But as the words left her mouth, she saw Sakura click his tongue, his expression skeptical. She blinked, caught off guard, as his gaze met hers briefly before he looked away, his cheeks reddening.
"Don't... don't use a lame excuse like that," Sakura muttered, his tone stiff, as he kicked an invisible rock on the ground. "It's fine if you needed space. Just... be honest about it."
Akame's surprise softened into a small, genuine smile, appreciating his bluntness. "Thank you, Sakura-kun," she replied softly, her voice warm. She saw the faint flicker of satisfaction in his face, though he was doing his best to hide it. Hearing her use "-kun" made him blush even harder, his expression caught somewhere between pride and embarrassment.
Suo had been quiet this whole time, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a slight tension she hadn't seen before. He was watching her closely, as if he were trying to find the right words, but they seemed to escape him. The last time they'd spoken, it had been during the festival when he walked her home, just the two of them.
Finally, Suo cleared his throat, his gaze steady as he looked at her. "You should... join us," he said, his voice quiet but firm. There was hurt in his eyes, a silent offense she couldn't quite decipher. He held her gaze, his expression tense, as if he wanted her to understand everything that her pulling away without a word was unfair.
She was about to decline, feeling the familiar tug to keep her distance, but his gaze made her pause. Slowly, she nodded, her heart softening in regret. "Alright, I'd like that."
The group set off toward the restaurant, Nirei leading the way, talking excitedly about the food as Sakura threw in occasional comments to keep the conversation going. Suo and Akame lingered a few steps behind, their footsteps falling into a quiet rhythm as they walked.
Taking the opportunity, Suo finally spoke up, his voice hesitant at first. "I... heard about what happened. That you needed some space," he started, glancing at her with a mixture of uncertainty and concern. "I didn't know if I... if I was one of the reasons you needed that."
Akame looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his tone. She hadn't expected him to bring it up, and the sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. She shook her head gently. "It wasn't you, Suo... I just needed time for myself."
Suo exhaled, relief softening his features, though a trace of hurt lingered in his eyes. "If you ever need anything, Akame, I'm here," he murmured, his voice steady, reassuring. "No pressure, no expectations. Just... as your friend."
A faint smile tugged at her lips, a warmth spreading through her chest. She'd missed this—the quiet support, the simplicity of their friendship before everything had become so tangled. "Thank you, Suo-kun," she replied softly, her voice carrying a gratitude that ran deeper than words.
They walked in comfortable silence, the weight of unspoken words slowly lifting as they fell back into an easy rhythm. Nirei and Sakura were a few steps ahead, their voices carrying back as they chatted about something trivial, but Akame felt a quiet relief settle over her. This was a small step, a brief return to normalcy...a normalcy she wasn't sure she deserved
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SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker
Fanfiction❝ She was like light slipping through the cracks-out of place, yet impossible to ignore.❞ Akame finds herself in a world that was never meant for her, a quiet contrast to Furin's chaos. But in a place that challenges her at every turn, she begins to...
