Beneath Their Devotion (Yanderes x Reader)

1.23 Alleyway

Y/N took a long breath, letting the scent of roasted espresso beans and buttery, warm pastries settle in her lungs. This was by far her favourite cafe. It was one of those cafes where the world felt quieter.

Outside, late morning sunlight spilled through the windows, filtered only by branches  hanging on to the last of their spring blossoms. The shadows they cast danced across the pavement like they had nowhere else to be. It would have been a peaceful morning if not for the way Akira was staring at her.

He hadn't said much in the last ten minutes. That alone was strange. His fingers tapped an absently against his cup, and his gaze was fixed on her with an intensity that made her feel like a museum exhibit under inspection.

Not judgmental or angry or anything of the sort.
Just watching her.

"You're looking at me like I'm about to collapse on the spot," Y/N muttered, stirring her coffee just for something to do with her hands.

Fair enough, though. She did seem to be collapsing lately. Not that she planned to admit that out loud.

Akira leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, his expression finally settling into something that resembled seriousness. For him, anyway. It looked a bit like concern wearing a half-hearted disguise.

"That's because you look like you're about to collapse on the spot," he said, tone uncharacteristically dry.

Y/N groaned. "I'm fine."

"But are you one million percent sure?"

"For the hundredth time," she muttered, and took a sip of her coffee, which had gone cold.

Akira didn't look convinced. Not in the slightest. But thankfully, he didn't press the issue. Not directly at least. He just sighed —loudly, dramatically, in a way that made it very clear he wanted her to know he was backing off— and reached for his own drink.

"Alright, alright. I'll drop it," he said. And then, after a beat: "For now."

Y/N smiled small. "That's very generous of you."

"I'm a saint, aren't I?"

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth tugged upwards anyway. She didn't want to talk about it. Not now. Maybe not ever. And, thankfully, Akira could read a closed door when he saw one.

At least today..

For a moment, there was quiet again. The kind that wasn't awkward, just comfortable. He toyed with the sleeve of his jacket, his fingers grazing the seams, and then his eyes flicked back to her.

"So," he began, voice casual but a little too deliberate. "The gala."

Y/N hummed in acknowledgment without looking up.

"So you've heard about it?" Akita leaned forward. He seemed to start acting like his characteristic enthusiastic self.

"Mmhm." She pulled out her phone, thumb flicking through her inbox. She tilted the screen toward him. "I received the official invite this morning."

Akira's eyes scanned the message, his mouth pressing into a thin line. "And you, you are going? Right?"

"I figure I kinda have to," she said, a sigh catching in her throat. "Perks of the Circle, right? Endless parties, mandatory schmoozing." She tried to make it sound like a joke, but it landed flat. "Anyway, I was planning to look for a dress this afternoon."

That made Akira sit up a little straighter. "Oh! You need company?"

She hesitated—but only for a second. "Nah. I'll be fine."

More than fine, honestly. A little solitude sounded like heaven. No noise, no prying looks. Just her and her thoughts. A mirror. Maybe a dressing room or three.