Look at me ~ Childe x reader ~

Chapter 39 ~ Touma??!!~

*Childe's POV*

I sat in my office, staring out through the glass panels that overlooked the main office floor. People trickled in, setting up their desks, greeting each other, easing into the rhythm of a new workday. But I wasn't paying attention to any of them.

My foot tapped an erratic beat against the floor, my fingers laced together tightly, my jaw locked in quiet frustration. Where was Y/N?

I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair as irritation and worry warred inside me. Was she avoiding me? After how things ended last night, was she so upset that she decided to take the day off?

A part of me wanted to believe that was all it was. But deep down, something gnawed at me—something far worse than the lingering tension between us.

If what Kaori told me was true, then Y/N was in danger. And yet, she wouldn't let me stay close. Wouldn't let me protect her.

I ran a hand through my hair, standing up abruptly and pacing the length of my desk. I needed to talk to her, tell her everything. We couldn't keep skirting around this anymore. But what was I supposed to do now? She wasn't here. Should I go to her house?

No. If she was deliberately avoiding me, showing up unannounced would only push her further away. But she said she would tell me today. And Y/N never went back on her word.

The longer I paced, the more restless I became. My steps quickened, my pulse hammering against my ribs. What if something had already happened?

Damn it, Y/N, you drive me insane.

A sharp knock on my office door snapped me out of my thoughts. My head shot up, hope flaring in my chest as I strode over and yanked the door open.

But that hope flickered and died just as quickly.

"Good morning, Mr Childe," Kaori greeted, stepping inside.

I forced down my disappointment. "Morning. Do you have an update?"

She frowned, arms crossing tightly over her chest. "Unfortunately not. Touma's been off the radar for almost two weeks—I can't find a single trace of him."

Relief and unease twisted inside me in equal measure. "Well... that's good, in a way. That means he's away from Y/N."

Kaori's expression darkened. "I wouldn't be so sure."

Something about her tone made my stomach clench.

"This is exactly what happened before my friend disappeared," she continued, her voice laced with quiet fury. "Touma vanishing like this doesn't mean he's gone. It just means we need to make sure Y/N is safe. You did drop her off last night, right?"

I hesitated. "She insisted on going alone. I didn't want to push her, not when things between us are already strained. If I forced the issue, she would have distrusted me even more." The guilt that had been simmering inside me now threatened to boil over.

Kaori's eyes widened in horror. "This is really, really bad." She began pacing, her breath growing unsteady. "Ever since my friend went missing, I've always suspected Touma. She met him at the library—she was a total bookworm, barely spoke to anyone but me. When she started hanging out with him, I thought it was weird, but I convinced myself she was just making new friends. Then, one day, she told me they liked each other. I didn't want to interfere, even though something felt... off.

And then—" Kaori's voice wavered, her hands clenching into fists. "One day, Touma disappeared. For weeks, my friend was confused, worried. We walked home together almost every day, and one evening, like always, we reached the point where our paths split. I hugged her goodbye, thinking nothing of it. That was the last time I ever saw her. She vanished. Just like that. And then, weeks later, Touma reappeared. But she never did."

Her voice cracked, and I saw her wipe at her eyes.

Something cold wrapped around my heart.

It all made sense now.

Y/N wouldn't just disappear on her own. If she said she'd talk to me today, she meant today. Which could only mean one thing.

I bolted.

Grabbing my coat, I shot out of my office, slamming the lift button repeatedly. But it was at the bottom floor, moving at a crawl.

No time.

I shoved through the stairwell doors and launched myself down the steps, taking them two, three at a time.

My breath came in short, sharp bursts, my chest tightening—not just from exertion but from sheer, unrelenting fear.

Ten minutes.

If I ran at full speed, I could cut the twenty-minute walk to Y/N's house in half. But even that felt too long. Too much could happen in ten minutes. Too much could have already happened.

My legs burned, my lungs screamed for air, but I pushed harder, faster.

I should have insisted. I should have followed her, no matter how much she would have hated me for it.

Regret clawed at my chest, twisting deep. I could feel the weight of it, dragging at my limbs, threatening to slow me down. But I refused.

Not now. Not when she needed me.

The wind stung my eyes, but it didn't matter. The tears slipped out anyway.

I wasn't fast enough.

And if I was too late—

No.

I gritted my teeth, pushing through the pain, forcing my body forward.

I had to make it.

⏝꒷︶ ͡𑁬🐳໒ ͡ ︶꒷⏝ ⏝꒷︶ ͡𑁬🐳໒ ͡ ︶꒷⏝ ⏝꒷︶ ͡𑁬🐳໒ ͡ ︶꒷⏝

HEY HEY HEY GUYSSSSS !!!

Here's the chap yall have been waiting for !!!

Hope you enjoy, LMK WHAT YOU THINKK<33

Heads up the next one is the lasttttttt!!!!!!

I'll see you in the next and finally chapter,,

~ yo girl A/n ✌️ 😎