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❟❛❟ CHAPTER FORTY ONE ❟❛❟
"YOU'RE STARING AT IT AGAIN."
Akame turned slightly, glancing toward the balcony door where Todoroki stood, his silhouette sharp against the soft glow of the moonlight. Her gaze returned to the moon.
"You'll catch a cold," he murmured as he stepped closer. His arms wrapped around her from behind, his quirk radiating warmth that seeped into her chilled skin. "What keeps you staring at it? Is it because the moon is beautiful?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she shifted her body, leaning back against the railing to face him. Her dark eyes locked onto his, searching the subtle contrast of his dual-colored irises. "No," she said at last, reaching up to brush a stray flurry of snow from his hair. "I hate it."
"Hate?" Todoroki echoed, his brow furrowing. He tilted his head, leaning in slightly as though trying to read something hidden in her expression. "That's a strong word."
Akame didn't flinch and didn't offer an explanation. Her silence hung in the cold air, heavy and impenetrable.
Todoroki stepped closer, closing the small space between them. "That look again." His voice was quieter now, almost a whisper. He took her hand, lifting it gently before pressing soft kisses along her wrist. The brush of his lips sent a shiver through her, though his warmth still lingered against her skin.
"You always do that," he murmured, his lips pausing but his grip on her hand firm. "Your body is here, but your mind..." His gaze bore into hers, unrelenting. "Your mind is somewhere else. Like you're bracing for something. Preparing for war."
Akame said nothing.
Todoroki's gaze hardened, an intensity simmering beneath his calm exterior. There was something possessive in the way his eyes lingered, something raw he could no longer conceal.
"Sometimes," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the faint howl of the wind, "there are things you can't understand. Things you're better off not knowing."
He tilted his head slightly, refusing to look away. "But how can we understand the world if we only see it from one side?"
Her lips curved into a bitter smile. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then help me. Help us understand," He lifted her hand again, brushing his cheek against it like a cat seeking solace. "What are you thinking, Akame? What's haunting you?"
She shook her head, the tension in her body palpable. "I know this isn't something trivial," Todoroki continued, his tone growing sharper, more insistent. He released her hand only to lift her chin gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. "What are you planning?"
"Don't you trust me?" she whispered.
"Don't you trust us?" His face was so close now that she could feel his breath against her skin. "Don't keep it to yourself, Akame. I'm here. Bakugou's here. We'll always be here for you. No matter what."
