SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 3 || 12. Lines We Crossed

The street outside Yuta's apartment was bathed in the soft glow of a flickering streetlamp. Togame leaned against the low stone wall near the entrance, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His expression was a mixture of frustration and confusion, his brow furrowed as he glanced toward the door, waiting for Yuta. When the door finally swung open, Yuta stepped out, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a faint frown at the sight of Togame's strained expression.

"Hey," Yuta greeted, his voice steady but cautious as he closed the door behind him. "What's up? You look like you've been chewing on something all day."

Togame exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "It's Akame," he admitted, not wasting time with pleasantries. "I talked to her—told her how I feel."

Yuta raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to something more guarded. "And?"

"She shut me down. Hard." Togame's voice was quieter now, laced with an emotion Yuta couldn't immediately place—hurt, confusion, something raw. "I didn't expect her to... I don't know... reciprocate exactly, but the way she dismissed me—like it wasn't even worth considering—it felt..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It felt wrong. Like something else is going on."

Yuta leaned against the wall beside him, arms crossed as he listened carefully. "Wrong how? Did she say anything specific?"

Togame shook his head, frustration flickering across his face. "No. That's the thing—she didn't say much of anything. Just this vague stuff about me being 'too kind,' and how she doesn't need that. It didn't feel like her, Yuta. Not the Akame I know."

Yuta's gaze darkened slightly, his jaw tightening. He had seen Akame pull away before, but this sounded different—colder, more deliberate. He hesitated, clearly debating something, before finally speaking. "There was... something," he admitted carefully. "After the festival. She had a breakdown at school."

Togame straightened, his eyes narrowing. "A breakdown?"

Yuta nodded, his tone quiet but heavy. "In the courtyard. I didn't want to bring it up before because I couldn't figure out what caused it. Kaji found her. She was... sobbing. Completely shattered. I've never seen her like that."

Togame stared at him, the weight of Yuta's words settling heavily in his chest. The image of Akame breaking down like that—of Kaji being the one to comfort her—stirred something bitter and helpless within him. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I didn't know what to say," Yuta replied honestly. "And because I couldn't figure out what triggered it. I didn't want to push her."

They stood in silence for a moment, the unspoken weight of Akame's pain pressing down on them both. Togame's mind raced, piecing together the fragments of her behavior, the way she had withdrawn so suddenly, the guarded distance she maintained. None of it made sense.

Before either of them could speak again, the sound of footsteps drew their attention. Togame turned, his brow furrowing as he saw Umemiya approaching with Tsubaki trailing just behind him. The usual ease in their strides was absent, replaced by a serious air that immediately set both Yuta and Togame on edge.

"What's going on?" Yuta asked, his voice steady but wary.

"We need to talk," Umemiya said curtly, his usually relaxed tone replaced by something sharper. His jaw was set, his eyes dark with unease.

Tsubaki stepped forward, his expression uncharacteristically grim. "It's about Endo."

Yuta frowned, confused. "Endo? Who's that?"

Togame stiffened, the name sparking a faint memory. "Endo... Yamato Endo? He used to be at Furin, right? With Bofurin?"

Umemiya nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Yeah. Him." His voice was tense, his usual cool demeanor cracking.