SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker

Arc 4 || 12. Okaerinasai, goshujin-sama

Akame had barely gotten any sleep, her body running on instinct rather than energy, but at least she had slept without nightmares—a rare occurrence that she had Togame's unexpected visit to thank for. His presence had neutralized her mind just enough, quieting the storm inside her long enough for exhaustion to claim her. She had woken up feeling drained but strangely clearheaded, as if his presence had been enough to press pause on the chaos she had been drowning in.

She had made it to school on time, as usual, expecting nothing more than another normal day. But when she entered the classroom, she was met with an unpleasant surprise—today was Class Activity Day. Somehow, she had completely missed this, and now, standing before her, Himeko, the class president, was all too happy to remind her of the unfortunate reality she had unknowingly walked into.

"You were outvoted," Himeko said simply, adjusting the clipboard in her hands as if that explained everything.

Akame stared at her blankly, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. "Outvoted?"

"For the theme. You didn't know?"

Apparently not.

Akame sighed as her eyes landed on the frilly black-and-white fabric now in her hands. A maid café. Out of all the possibilities, this was what her class had chosen? Not a haunted house, not a café with a normal theme, but this? She had no recollection of agreeing to it, but then again, she wasn't the type to object to things at school. She had always been the good, quiet student, helpful where needed, never making a fuss. Popular in an unspoken way, a quiet mystery that people gravitated toward but never really tried to unravel.

Now, standing in the girls' restroom, frowning down at her reflection, she realized this was the first time she had ever openly shown dissatisfaction with something at school.

Himeko, who was fixing her own cat ears in the mirror beside her, blinked in surprise, tilting her head slightly as she watched Akame's expression twist into something resembling discomfort. Akame was always neutral, always carrying a small, polite smile. Seeing her react like this was... unexpected.

"I can't wear this," Akame muttered, tugging down at the hem of the maid skirt, ensuring the bruises on her thigh were hidden. She was thankful that the costume came with wrist cuffs, an accessory meant to add charm to the look, but in her case, it conveniently covered the bruise on her wrist—the one Endo had left behind.

"Why do we have to wear cat ears?" she added, her tone flat, yet the small twitch of her ears betrayed her emotions.

Himeko smirked, finding unexpected amusement in Akame's clear discomfort—not in a malicious way, but because it made her seem human. Akame was always poised, always composed, always otherworldly in her quiet, effortless grace. But now, seeing her grumble and fidget, reacting like a normal girl who had just been forced into a ridiculous outfit, was hilarious.

"It's the theme," Himeko said, barely suppressing a chuckle. "Stop complaining."

Akame shot her a glare, but Himeko only grinned.

"Oh! And you're on gate duty," she continued, lifting a cute frame with Class 1-A Maid Café written in playful font, complete with a tiny winking cat face drawn in the corner.

Akame felt her soul leave her body.

Gate duty.

So not only was she stuck in this ridiculous outfit, but now she was expected to stand out in front of the school, greeting whoever walked in? Her mind was already racing for a way out—feigning sickness, disappearing into the crowd, faking a twisted ankle, anything—but before she could entertain an escape plan, she found herself colliding into someone.