Aetherium Echoes

  By Izuku Kojima

  Enter Ei

  Aoi’s lungs burned with each ragged breath as she finally closed the distance. Her boots, usually reliable, felt heavy and unforgiving against the rough alley stones. "Hello there…" she managed, her voice raspy, "Are you OK? Those guys seemed… tough." She leaned against a damp brick wall, trying to catch her breath.

  The girl turned slowly, her red eyes wide and luminous in the dim light filtering from the streetlamp at the alley's entrance. Her raven hair, usually perhaps sleek, now clung to her face in disarray. Aoi noted the tremor that ran through her small frame, visible even beneath the worn blue fabric of her cloak. A simple silver chain held a delicate cloud pendant at her throat.

  "Hello…" the girl replied, her voice a soft, breathy whisper. "I… I think what you did was very brave." Her gaze flickered towards the direction of the sewer entrance, a hint of lingering fear in her eyes.

  A wave of warmth, unfamiliar and surprisingly potent, washed over Aoi. Brave? Someone actually thought she was brave? The feeling was a rare and precious commodity, something she’d only ever dreamed of. A small, genuine smile touched her lips. "What is your name?" she asked, her voice softening as she looked down at the girl, who seemed so small and fragile.

  The girl tilted her head, her gaze meeting Aoi’s. "My name is Ei," she said gently. A pause followed, and then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "I really want to explore the Sorashinma Isles someday… They say the views from the floating islands are breathtaking." A shadow crossed her face. "Right now, though, I'm just trying to get through college here. It's… different from home, and I don't know the city very well."

  Aoi nodded, absorbing this information. The Sorashinma Isles. She’d seen the distant, hazy shapes of them from the East Sky sports. They were legendary, islands suspended hundreds of feet in the air, requiring specialized aircraft for travel. It was a dream destination for many, a symbol of adventure and the unknown. This small, trembling girl with red eyes harbored such a grand aspiration.

  Aoi knew this girl would’ve wanted to travel the world. The Sorashinma Isles were not for the faint of heart. They were the islands a few hundred miles off of the coast. You would need aircrafts to travel from isle to isle, but it took a long time.

  “Why do you want to explore the Sorashinma Isles? After all, many things could go wrong there,” Aoi said

  “Well, I was born there… I guess we were broke back then, but I was able to go from broke to having enough money to get away and afford to go to college here… I thought it would be a peaceful experience, but then those thugs started beating me,” Ei said, looking slightly stressed out.

  Aoi stood there thinking for a bit. It all started to sound more clear now. Aoi knew the struggle of being broke and powerless compared to everyone else and feeling like a failure.

  "Well, since you seem to know a lot," Aoi began, fiddling with the edge of her boot, "I think… I might be cursed. When I was fighting those guys down there, they kept covering their ears, like they were in pain. And it really hurt when I… when I did whatever it was I did." She frowned, trying to recall the exact sensation. It was like a sudden, sharp burst of… something.

  Ei listened intently, her red eyes fixed on Aoi. She remained silent for a long moment, her brow furrowed in concentration, as if piecing together a puzzle. Finally, she spoke, her voice thoughtful. "It could be a Gift you discovered. They can manifest at any time in life, often triggered by moments of intense emotion or stress, like what you experienced. I have the Gift of flight, though I haven't… used it much here."

  Aoi's eyes widened. "You can fly?" She tried to picture this small, fragile-looking girl soaring through the sky.

  Ei gave a small, almost sad smile. "Gifts vary greatly from person to person. You mentioned pain and your opponents covering their ears… it sounds like some form of sonic or auditory Gift. You might have subconsciously amplified a sound, or perhaps emitted a specific frequency that disoriented them."

  Aoi absorbed this information, her mind racing. A Gift? She had a Gift? It felt surreal. Ei reached into the pocket of her blue cloak and pulled out a small, worn leather-bound book. She offered it to Aoi. "I hope you find this helpful. It's… my research. You might need it more than I do now." Her gaze was distant, almost resigned. "I have a few theories about Gifts, if you'd be interested. But usually, people aren't."

  Aoi took the book, its leather soft and aged under her fingers. "Thank you, Ei. And yes, I would love to hear your theories. Anything that can help me understand what's happening… I'd value it."

  Ei's red eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise in their depths. A small, genuine smile touched her lips this time. "Really? Well… one of my main theories revolves around a specific gene I've been researching – I call it K12. Based on my observations and what little information I could gather, K12 seems to act as a catalyst, boosting the inherent strength and potential of a person's Gift. It's like a natural amplifier. I suspect some individuals are born with a higher concentration of K12, which might explain why some Gifts are so much more powerful than others." She paused, her voice dropping slightly. "It could potentially be dangerous, if manipulated. And I haven't been able to pinpoint its exact location or how it's naturally produced."

  Aoi listened, fascinated. This was far more complex than she'd imagined. "So… if this K12 gene is what makes Gifts stronger… is there any way to… get it?" The question felt audacious, a desperate grab for something that might finally make her stand out.

  Ei's expression turned pensive. "Well… theoretically, yes. My research suggests that K12 might be concentrated within what I call a 'death seed' – a residual energy core left behind by a Gifted individual upon their death. It's a risky and ethically questionable method, but if you could find a death seed from a Gifted person…" If we can find a deceased body we can,” Ei said with a pensive expression, “But we must find a death seed with a gifted human of course.”

  Aoi nodded, a sense of purpose settling in her chest. "Alright, let's do this." Ei, though still trembling slightly, nodded in agreement. They descended back into the damp, dimly lit entrance to the underground. The air hung heavy with the smell of stagnant water and something else, something metallic and faintly unsettling. Each step echoed off the grimy brick walls as they moved deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels. Ei, despite her earlier explanation, seemed to navigate the maze with a surprising familiarity, her red eyes scanning the shadows. Aoi kept a watchful eye out, her senses on high alert after the earlier encounter. The distant rumble of a train vibrated through the ground, a reminder of the city above and the stark contrast to the hidden world they now inhabited. "So," Aoi began, her voice echoing slightly, "you mentioned these death seeds... what exactly are we looking for?"

  A shared look passed between Aoi and Ei, a silent agreement forming in the dim alley. "Alright," Aoi said, a newfound determination hardening her gaze. "Let's go."

  They descended back into the sewer entrance, the air immediately growing cooler and heavier with the stench of stagnant water and decay. The sound of dripping echoed around them, each drop amplifying in the confined space. Instead of sprinting, they moved with a cautious urgency, their footsteps splashing softly in the shallow puddles that dotted the uneven concrete.

  Ei, despite her earlier trembling, seemed to possess a surprising knowledge of the sewer system, navigating the branching tunnels with a quiet confidence. She pointed to a narrow passage. "This way. I think the vault might be deeper within the old, abandoned sections."

  The further they ventured, the darker it became. The faint light from the sewer entrance dwindled, and Aoi relied on her memory of the layout from her earlier, more panicked descent. Ei, however, seemed to see in the gloom, her red eyes occasionally reflecting the faint light that filtered through cracks in the ceiling.

  The terrain underfoot was treacherous – slick with moisture, littered with loose bricks and sharp rocks. Aoi was grateful for the sturdy grip of her boots, though she worried about Ei's lighter footwear. "Be careful," Aoi cautioned, reaching out to steady Ei as she stumbled slightly on a loose stone.

  "Thank you," Ei murmured, her hand briefly touching Aoi's. "The trains… they run close to here." The muffled rumble and screech of metal on metal vibrated through the thin walls of the sewer tunnels. "Ten thousand Uera for a ticket," Ei sighed, a hint of longing in her voice. "That's more than I make in a month at the library."

  Aoi nodded in agreement. She knew the exorbitant cost of the underground. It was a luxury for the wealthy, leaving those like her and likely Ei to navigate the less savory routes of the city. She couldn't help but think of the ridiculous comparison – ten thousand Uera could buy a sandwich long enough to feed a small crowd. The thought brought a fleeting, almost absurd image to her mind, a brief moment of levity in the otherwise grim atmosphere.

  The water level began to rise, forcing them to pick their way along the edges of the tunnels, their feet occasionally slipping into the cold, murky liquid. The smell intensified, a cloying mix of damp earth and something vaguely chemical. Eventually, the tunnels began to slope upwards, the sound of the trains growing louder, and they emerged, blinking in the relatively brighter light, in a less frequented corner of the underground train station.

  Ei clambered out of the sewer opening first, her small frame emerging onto the grimy platform of the deserted section of the train station. Her eyes widened, and she froze, her hand instinctively reaching inside her cloak. Aoi followed, pulling herself up onto the platform, and her blood ran cold.

  Another group of thugs. These were different from the ones in the sewer, their clothing more ostentatious, some wielding crude-looking energy weapons. They were clustered near a boarded-up ticket booth, their voices low and menacing. They hadn't noticed Ei yet, their attention focused on something further down the platform.

  "We need to be careful," Ei whispered, her voice trembling slightly. She subtly shifted her hand within her cloak.

  Before Aoi could react, one of the thugs turned, his gaze sweeping across the platform and landing on Ei. "Well, look what we have here. Another stray." He grinned, a flash of gold in his teeth.

  Ei's hand emerged from her cloak, and Aoi's eyes widened in surprise. Clutched in her small hand were not one, but two slender daggers. The dull metal caught the flickering fluorescent light of the station, the edges looking surprisingly sharp. Aoi had pegged Ei as purely intellectual, not someone who would carry weapons.

  The thug started to move towards them, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Aoi knew they couldn't hesitate. Ei, despite her surprising preparedness, still looked fragile. Without thinking, propelled by instinct and a surge of protectiveness, Aoi stepped in front of Ei, placing herself between the smaller girl and the approaching threat.

  The thug smirked. "And who's this, her bodyguard?" He raised a fist, a crude metal plating on its knuckles glinting ominously. He lunged forward, aiming a punch directly at Ei's face. Time seemed to slow. Aoi reacted purely on instinct, her hand shooting out, grabbing the thug's fist just inches from Ei's cheek. The force of the blow still sent a jolt of pain up her arm, but she held firm. With her other leg, she lashed out, her worn boot connecting squarely with the thug's gut. He doubled over with a grunt, the air rushing from his lungs.

  Ei fished through her pockets idly. She has a massive amount of determination to find the game changing tool. All of a sudden as Aoi was fending them off, one got to Ei and pinned her. The thug refilled the ammo into the device when all of a sudden Ei made a very quick steal of the gun. Ei shot a few down, but the thugs ended up crushing her. Aoi was able to use the opening to counterattack, causing blood to spray with the strike of her stained daggers. Ei then was able to quickly escape the scene to head deeper into the vault.

  Aoi slashed the sharp daggers, barely sinking in any damage, but dodging the attacks at the speed of light. A thug jumped into the air trying to take her out, but she parried the attack with a precise slash up. The thug stumbled back and the others seemed to start to attack. The scent of K12 lingered on the sweat of the air. Then out of left field, somebody started to summon baseballs. They aimed at Aoi, but she dodged gracefully. Until she didn't, that is. She got struck, but was able to sever half of the man's ankles. He fell to the ground howling in pain when she was able to stab the man in the head causing blood to gush all out of the quiet room.

  While Aoi engaged the remaining thugs, Ei, with surprising agility, darted down a shadowy corridor. Her earlier frailty seemed to have vanished, replaced by a focused determination. She knew Aoi was buying her time. Her mission was singular: the death seed.

  She scanned the walls of the corridor, her red eyes searching for any sign of a hidden entrance or a weak point. Finally, near the back of the corridor, behind a stack of rusted metal crates, she spotted it – a section of the wall that looked slightly different, the mortar a shade lighter, the bricks less uniform.

  Ei reached up to her shoulder, her fingers gently brushing against the fabric of her cloak. From beneath the folds, a tiny bird, no bigger than her thumb, with feathers the color of midnight, emerged. It chirped softly, its bright black eyes looking at Ei with an almost intelligent understanding. This wasn't just any bird.

  Ei whispered to it, her voice urgent but low. The bird hopped onto the wall near the suspicious section and began to peck at the mortar with surprising force. Its tiny beak, though seemingly delicate, chipped away at the aged stone with a steady, rhythmic motion. Dust and small fragments of brick rained down. It was a slow process, but the bird was persistent, its tiny body a blur of focused energy.

  As the bird worked, Ei glanced back down the corridor. She could hear the sounds of the ongoing fight – the thud of impacts, Aoi's grunts of exertion, the angry shouts of the thugs. A pang of guilt twisted in her stomach. Aoi was facing them alone, risking herself for Ei's sake.

  The bird finally managed to dislodge a brick, creating a small opening. It hopped back onto Ei's shoulder, chirping triumphantly. Ei peered through the hole. It was dark, but she could make out the faint shimmer of something within – the telltale sign of a contained energy source. The vault. She had found it. Now, she just needed to get inside.

  Ei jumps down and almost hits the tracks of the winding railroad, but in the midst of combat, Aoi dives to catch her and make her landing minimize impact. Aoi fended them off for a few minutes until the bird came down with the seed. Ei whistled and with it came a flurry of attacks from the bird that swooped back down. It jabbed at the thugs vigorously until the threat was too big that they made an escape and there was no good method to flank them, so Aoi and Ei made a run for it.

  The adrenaline from the fight slowly began to recede, leaving a dull ache in Aoi's muscles. They stood in a quieter section of the train station, catching their breath. Ei, clutching a small, faintly glowing object in her hand – the death seed – turned to Aoi.

  "Thank you," Ei said, her voice still a little shaky but filled with genuine gratitude. "I'll make sure to repay you in a unique way tomorrow." A hint of a mysterious smile touched her lips. She then held out the glowing object to Aoi. It was small, no bigger than a large nut, with a faint, internal luminescence that pulsed gently.

  "This is it," Ei said softly. "The death seed. It should contain a concentrated amount of K12. Be careful."

  Aoi took the seed, its surface slightly rough and surprisingly warm to the touch. It had a faint, metallic scent. "Crunchy and salty?" she asked, a nervous joke escaping her lips.

  Ei nodded, her red eyes watching Aoi intently. "Something like that, according to my research. It might taste… unusual. Just try to consume it quickly."

  Taking a deep breath, Aoi brought the seed to her mouth. It had a surprisingly hard shell. She bit down, and a sharp, almost crystalline crack echoed in the quiet corner. The taste was… strange. A mix of saltiness, a faint metallic tang, and an underlying earthy bitterness. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't unbearable. She chewed quickly, the texture surprisingly gritty.

  As she swallowed the last fragments, a wave of sensation washed over her. It started as a tingling at the base of her skull, then spread rapidly through her body. Her senses seemed to sharpen, the dim light of the station suddenly appearing brighter, the distant sounds of the city becoming clearer. She could hear the faint hum of the electrical wires above, the almost imperceptible rustle of fabric as Ei shifted her weight.

  Then, it intensified. The air around her seemed to shimmer, and she could almost… see the individual particles of dust motes dancing in the light. The faint scent of oil and metal from the nearby tracks became overwhelmingly distinct, each molecule identifiable in her heightened awareness. She focused, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if time stuttered. She saw the subtle shift in Ei's posture a fraction of a second before it happened, the almost imperceptible twitch of a nearby rat's whiskers before it scurried away.

  A gasp escaped her lips. Her Gift… it wasn't just about sound. It was about all her senses, amplified to an unbelievable degree. And… was that a flicker of the immediate future? It seemed so fleeting, so difficult to grasp, but the potential was undeniable. Aoi's heart pounded in her chest. Her ordinary existence had just shattered.

  PS, I might start using more emphasis on some stuff. Maybe I won't, lemme know what yall think.

  My Tiny Terror!

  By Chris 9091

  It was my first day at this new high school, and everything was overwhelming—the towering buildings, the chatter of students who all seemed to know each other, and the weight of unfamiliarity on my shoulders. My name is Yuta, a 5'9 transfer student who just wanted to get through the day without trouble. But trouble had a way of finding me. And it came in the form of a 5-foot menace.

  During lunch break, as I was just about to sit down with my tray, a shadow loomed over me. I looked up to see a small girl standing there, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed. The cafeteria seemed to hush slightly, whispers passing between students. That’s when I realized—everyone was looking at us.

  She was short—really short—but the aura she gave off was terrifying. Like a chibi version of a gang leader. Her sharp eyes narrowed at me, and I swore I saw a flicker of amusement cross her face before she spoke.

  "Oi, new guy. You think you’re something, huh?" she said, tilting her head.

  I blinked, confused. "Uh... what?"

  She clicked her tongue and smirked. "I don't like your face."

  I stifled a laugh. Was this girl serious? I leaned down slightly, looking at her like I was addressing a lost child. "Hey, are you lost or something? This is high school... You seem like a middle schooler. Is your brother studying here? I can help you find him."

  The silence that followed was deafening. The entire cafeteria froze. A few gasps escaped from nearby students. Someone even dropped their chopsticks. And then... her expression darkened.

  Straight. Up. Hurting. Her. Ego.

  Her small frame tensed, fists clenching at her sides, and I swear I saw a literal vein pop on her forehead. Before she could react, I quickly corrected myself. "Oh—wait! Are you actually a student here?" My voice was as innocent as possible, though I could feel the incoming storm.

  She snatched my collar and yanked me forward, her strength surprising for someone her size. "Listen here, pretty boy. I'm Akane, and you better remember that name because the next time you insult me—" she cracked her knuckles, "—I’ll make you regret it."

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  I gulped. Maybe I shouldn’t have poked fun at her height.

  And just like that, she released me with a huff and stormed away, the cafeteria erupting into hushed murmurs once again. As I sat there, still trying to process what just happened, a classmate leaned in and whispered, "Dude, that’s Akane. Everyone’s scared of her. They say she’s the devil’s little daughter."

  Oh. Great. My first day, and I had already made an enemy out of the school’s scariest girl.

  If I thought Akane would forget our little encounter, I was dead wrong.

  It was the next break when she approached me again. This time, she didn’t waste words. She slapped something onto my desk—my pen.

  "You dropped this," she muttered.

  I looked at her, surprised. "Oh… Thanks."

  She huffed, crossing her arms. "Don’t think I’m nice. I just don’t like people owing me."

  I smiled slightly. "Well, I won’t do those things again... Sorry about earlier."

  She blinked, taken aback by my sincerity. Then, with a scoff, she turned on her heels and walked away, her ponytail bouncing with every step.

  The next day, something odd happened. I was at my locker, casually putting my books away, when Akane appeared again.

  "Here," she shoved something into my hands.

  It was a neatly wrapped snack.

  I stared at it, then at her. "What’s this for?"

  She turned her head away, her ears turning pink. "I bought too many. Just take it."

  I smirked. "You sure you’re not trying to bribe me into being scared of you?"

  She shot me a glare. "Eat it or I’ll shove it down your throat."

  I quickly unwrapped it and took a bite. It was good.

  "Thanks," I said between chews. "I appreciate it."

  Something about my words made her freeze for a second before she muttered something under her breath and walked away.

  Little did I know, this was only the beginning...

  I wasn’t sure what was weirder—the fact that Akane had randomly handed me a snack or the fact that I had actually started looking forward to seeing her.

  Ever since our first encounter, she had this way of popping up in my daily life, whether I wanted her to or not. I’d turn a corner in the hallway—there she was, scolding a first-year like a mafia boss. I’d sit down for lunch—bam, she’d be in the seat next to me, acting like it wasn’t weird that she, the so-called ‘Terror of the School,’ had decided to sit with a nobody like me.

  And today was no different.

  I was walking home when the first raindrop hit my nose. I looked up. Dark clouds. Then, it happened—the sky opened up, and within seconds, the rain poured like crazy. Just my luck.

  I groaned and checked my bag. My umbrella—nowhere to be found. I must’ve left it in my locker. Great.

  Then, as if on cue, a familiar voice called out behind me. "Tch. You’re hopeless."

  I turned around, and there she was. Akane stood with an umbrella, her face a mix of amusement and something else—maybe smugness?

  “Wha—”

  “Don’t ‘wha’ me.” She stepped closer, tilting the umbrella slightly so I could stand under it with her. “You left your umbrella at school, right?”

  I blinked. “How did you know that?”

  She smirked but didn’t answer. Instead, she shoved the umbrella further in my direction, making sure I had enough space.

  I hesitated before stepping closer, feeling the warmth of her presence beside me. The sound of raindrops pattered against the umbrella, drowning out everything else.

  For the first time, I noticed something—this side of Akane, the one that went out of her way to help me without admitting it.

  But why?

  And just how much did she know about me?

  The rain poured relentlessly, turning the sidewalks into glistening rivers. Akane and I walked in silence under the shared umbrella, the space between us feeling both too close and strangely comfortable.

  I stole a glance at her. Her uniform was slightly damp from the wind, her ponytail swaying with every step. Despite the usual sharpness in her eyes, she looked… calm.

  I cleared my throat. “So… You’re just casually carrying an extra umbrella around?”

  She scoffed. “Don’t be dumb. It’s mine.”

  “Then why are you sharing it with me?”

  She shot me a sideways glare. “You wanna walk home soaking wet? Be my guest.”

  I chuckled. “Didn’t think you cared.”

  She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stared ahead, her expression unreadable. The only sound was the steady rhythm of the rain. Then, she muttered, “It’s annoying seeing people be reckless.”

  It took me a second to realize—this was her way of saying she did care.

  We reached an intersection, waiting for the light to change. That’s when I noticed something odd—Akane’s fingers were gripping the umbrella handle tightly, her knuckles slightly pale.

  Was she… tense?

  I frowned. “Hey, you okay?”

  She blinked, snapping out of whatever thought had her distracted. “What?”

  “You seem… uneasy.”

  She clicked her tongue. “I’m fine. Mind your own business.”

  But I wasn’t convinced. Something about the way she had been staring ahead, the way her usual confidence seemed slightly off, made me curious.

  As we crossed the street, I decided to push my luck. “You’re always picking fights and acting all tough… but you don’t seem like the type who actually enjoys it.”

  She stopped mid-step.

  I turned to face her, surprised. The streetlight cast a dim glow on her face, and for the first time, she looked at me not with irritation—but something closer to surprise.

  “…What makes you think that?” she asked quietly.

  I shrugged. “Dunno. Just a feeling.”

  For a second, I thought she was about to tell me something, but then—

  “Hah. You really are dumb.” She smirked and poked my forehead. “Stop overthinking things.”

  Just like that, the moment was gone.

  I sighed. “You’re impossible.”

  She grinned. “I know.”

  But even as we continued walking, something about that moment stuck with me.

  Akane wasn’t just some fearless school terror—there was something more behind that act.

  And now, I really wanted to know what it was.

  The next day at school, I was still thinking about last night’s walk home with Akane. She wasn’t just the loud, aggressive girl everyone feared—there was something else beneath that tough exterior. And now, I was curious.

  Too bad I barely had time to think about it before trouble found me. Again.

  It started during lunch.

  I was sitting in the cafeteria, eating peacefully, when a girl from another class—Mizuki, I think her name was—approached my table.

  “Hey, Yuta.”

  I blinked up at her. “Uh, hey?”

  She smiled. “You’re the transfer student, right? I was wondering if you wanted to join us for lunch. My friends were curious about you.”

  I hesitated. Not because I wasn’t interested, but because I felt a strange pressure in the air.

  More specifically, from behind me.

  Slowly, I turned my head—and there she was. Akane. Sitting at the table next to mine, chopsticks frozen mid-air, her sharp gaze locked onto Mizuki with something between suspicion and straight-up murder.

  “Uh…” I glanced back at Mizuki, who, completely unaware of her impending doom, kept smiling. “That’s nice of you, but I think I’ll stay here today.”

  Mizuki pouted. “Are you sure? We won’t bite.”

  Before I could answer, Akane slammed her hands on the table.

  “Oi.”

  Mizuki flinched, finally noticing the 5-foot menace glaring at her. “Oh! You’re… Akane, right?”

  Akane leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “You don’t need to invite him anywhere. He already has a seat.”

  Mizuki blinked. “Well, yeah, but—”

  “I wasn’t asking.”

  Silence.

  Mizuki gave me an awkward smile. “Um… maybe another time.” And with that, she walked away.

  I sighed and turned to Akane. “Was that really necessary?”

  She huffed, stabbing her food aggressively with her chopsticks. “Tch. She was annoying.”

  I smirked. “You jealous or something?”

  She choked on her rice.

  I tried (and failed) not to laugh as she coughed, covering her mouth. Her ears were turning red. Bingo.

  “Y-you’re an idiot,” she muttered, gulping down water. “Like I’d care who you eat lunch with.”

  I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand. “Oh? So if I went and sat with her now, you wouldn’t care at all?”

  She glared at me. “Try it and see what happens.”

  I raised my hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I like my life, thanks.”

  She scoffed but didn’t argue. Instead, she focused on her food, though I noticed she was chewing way harder than necessary.

  Maybe teasing her was too much fun.

  ———

  The day got even weirder after school.

  I was grabbing my stuff from my locker when I heard Akane’s voice behind me. “Hey.”

  I turned. “Yeah?”

  She shoved something into my chest—a can of juice.

  I looked at it, then at her. “What’s this for?”

  She crossed her arms. “You looked tired. Drink it.”

  I smirked. “First an umbrella, now juice? What’s next? A love letter?”

  She kicked my shin.

  “OW—okay, okay! Miss Vegeta, No love letters, got it!” I laughed, rubbing my leg as she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

  Then, as I opened the can and took a sip, I noticed something.

  Akane wasn’t looking at me.

  Instead, she was glancing at the group of girls nearby—the same ones Mizuki had been sitting with.

  And that’s when it clicked.

  She didn’t just randomly get me a drink.

  She wanted them to see.

  I fought back a grin. Oh, she was absolutely jealous.

  And now, I had the perfect way to mess with her.

  “Thanks, Akane,” I said loudly, holding up the can. “You’re so thoughtful.”

  Her eyes widened, then she punched my arm.

  “SHUT UP, IDIOT.”

  But it was too late.

  The girls had noticed.

  And suddenly, everyone in the hallway was whispering about why the scariest girl in school was giving me drinks.

  As Akane stormed off, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

  This was getting fun.

  But how much longer could she keep pretending she wasn’t jealous?

  I was gonna find out.

  The school day had been going fine—until a group of girls decided to corner me near the vending machines.

  “I heard Akane’s been following you around lately,” one of them said, arms crossed.

  “Did you do something to her?” another added.

  I sighed. “Yeah, I cast a magic spell on her, and now she’s my personal bodyguard.”

  They clearly didn’t appreciate my sarcasm. One of them scoffed. “Tch. You think you’re funny?”

  Before I could respond, a familiar presence made itself known.

  Footsteps. Steady. Confident.

  The girls turned their heads—and their expressions changed in an instant.

  Akane had arrived.

  Alone.

  The moment they saw her, the energy shifted. No more accusations, no more attitude. Just wide eyes and stiff postures.

  The toughest one among them muttered something under her breath, and within seconds, they scattered like startled cats.

  I watched them disappear around the corner before turning my gaze downward.

  Akane stood there, completely normal, as if she hadn’t just sent a whole group of girls running for their lives.

  I chuckled. “You didn’t even have to say anything.”

  She smirked. “Hmph. Weak-willed people run when they know they’ve lost.”

  I shook my head. “Still, you could’ve at least let me handle it first.”

  “Oh?” She tilted her head. “And how exactly were you gonna handle it?”

  I opened my mouth—then closed it.

  Yeah, okay. Maybe I didn’t have a plan.

  Akane smirked at my silence. “Thought so.”

  I huffed, crossing my arms. “You’re annoying, you know that?”

  “You say that a lot.”

  “And you never deny it.”

  She grinned. “Because it’s true.”

  I was about to say something else when, out of nowhere, the words just slipped out.

  “You’re cute.”

  Silence.

  Pure, deafening silence.

  Akane froze. Not the usual ‘caught off guard’ kind of freeze—this was different.

  Her face went blank, her arms stiff at her sides. It was like her brain had completely shut down.

  “…Akane?” I waved a hand in front of her face. No response.

  Her entire expression had gone from smug to utterly white.

  I had seen Akane furious. I had seen her smug. I had even seen her a little flustered.

  But this? This was new.

  I had actually broken her.

  And I had no idea what was going to happen next.

  Akane stood frozen like a computer that had just blue-screened.

  Her face? Completely blank. Her brain? Probably out of service.

  I was about to wave a hand in front of her face when—

  Boom.

  She turned bright red. Not just normal blush red. No—this was emergency alert level red.

  And then—

  Twitch.

  Her eye twitched. Her fingers twitched. Her entire body started trembling like a phone on vibrate mode.

  “A-Akane…?” I said cautiously.

  Her lips parted slightly. “Hhhhhhhhhh—”

  She wasn’t breathing. Oh God, she forgot to breathe.

  “Oi, breathe! Oxygen is important!” I panicked.

  Then, just as suddenly—

  She collapsed.

  Not gracefully. Not like a heroine in some romantic movie. No, she faceplanted straight onto my chest.

  “G-Gah—?!” I stumbled backward, barely managing to stay standing.

  The entire hallway went silent.

  Then—

  “KYAAAAAAA!!!”

  The sound barrier shattered as a group of girls screamed.

  “Did she just FAINT?!”

  “DID HE JUST MAKE AKANE FAINT?!?!”

  “HE BROKE HER!!!”

  Guys were staring at me like I had committed war crimes.

  Meanwhile, I stood there, completely frozen, holding Akane’s limp body.

  This. Was. BAD.

  “Uhhh—” I shifted uncomfortably. Her head was pressed against my chest, and she was burning hot.

  Crap. She really did have a fever.

  Before I could react, I heard one of the guys mutter, “Damn… he really just princess carried her like it was nothing…”

  Wait.

  I looked down.

  And yeah. I had somehow scooped her up into a full-on princess carry.

  Oh. Oh no.

  I felt my soul leave my body.

  This was it. This was how I died.

  But before my funeral could be arranged, Akane stirred in my arms.

  Her feverish eyes fluttered open slightly.

  Then, in the weakest, most pathetic voice I had ever heard from her, she muttered:

  “…You… absolute… IDIOT…”

  Then she passed out again.

  I sighed. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

  Ignoring the chaos around me, I marched toward the nurse’s office, fully prepared to deal with whatever aftermath awaited me.

  But one thing was clear—

  After today, things were never going to be the same between us.

  The next day, Akane walked into class like nothing had happened.

  She dropped into her seat, arms crossed, face perfectly neutral—as if she hadn’t fainted in front of me the day before. As if she hadn’t needed to be carried to the nurse’s office. As if the entire school wasn’t whispering about the so-called "Terror of the School" passing out from who-knows-what.

  I sat down and barely had time to open my book before—

  SLAM.

  Akane’s hand hit my desk. Hard.

  “You.”

  I blinked. “M-Me?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Not. A. Word.”

  I tilted my head innocently. “About how you—”

  “Not. A. Word.”

  I smirked. “Relax. I was just gonna say ‘about how you have such a fragile, feminine side.’”

  Her eye twitched. “You’re so dead.”

  She snatched my textbook and chucked it at my face. I dodged just in time.

  Yep. She was back to normal.

  Or so I thought.

  Lunch break.

  I was just about to open my bento when a scream erupted from the back of the classroom.

  “AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”

  Everyone turned.

  BAM!

  Akane jumped onto her desk like she had just seen a ghost.

  Her face was pale. Her eyes were wide. And she was pointing at something on the floor with absolute horror.

  I followed her gaze.

  And there it was.

  A tiny cockroach.

  The class went silent.

  Then—

  “PFFT—” Someone choked back laughter.

  “No way…” A girl gasped. “The Terror of the School is scared of a bug?!”

  Akane shook. She literally trembled.

  “T-That’s not a bug,” she stammered. “That’s a demon. A demon with wings—WHAT IF IT FLIES?!”

  I nearly lost it.

  “You’re telling me,” I said, struggling not to laugh, “that the girl who punched a guy through a vending machine is scared of this?”

  Akane glared at me, still standing on her desk like a terrified cat. “Shut up and kill it.”

  The cockroach twitched.

  Akane screamed again.

  At this point, the entire class was dying of laughter. Even the teacher walking in stopped mid-step, staring at Akane in disbelief.

  “...Tendo, what exactly are you doing?”

  Akane didn’t answer. She was too busy trying not to cry.

  Sighing, I grabbed a tissue, bent down, and casually scooped up the bug.

  Akane tensed. “D-Don’t bring it near me—”

  And then… I grinned.

  I faked a toss toward her.

  Akane YELPED, nearly flipping the desk as she jumped higher. Her eyes went watery in sheer panic, her breath caught in her throat.

  “YOU ABSOLUTE PIECE OF—!!”

  I couldn’t breathe from laughing.

  At that moment, some dude decided to add fuel to the fire.

  “I dunno, Akane,” he teased. “It could come back. What if it laid eggs?”

  Akane froze.

  And then—

  Something changed.

  A dark aura poured off of her, like a villain about to go on a rampage. Her eyes shadowed over, her face went dark, and her fingers cracked as she curled them into fists.

  The guy paled. “Uh—”

  He immediately ducked behind another girl. “But Yuta teased you too!” he threw his friend under the bus.

  Akane turned her head ever so slightly toward Yuta.

  Yuta gulped.

  And Akane… smiled.

  “I’ll deal with you later,” she said sweetly.

  Then, without missing a beat, she changed the subject completely, acting like nothing happened.

  But.

  Nobody.

  Said.

  A. Word.

  Because despite her blank expression, despite her cold aura…

  Her ears?

  Bright red.

  She was blushing.

  I saw it.

  And I couldn’t resist.

  I leaned toward her, grinning. “You’re totally blushing.”

  Her head snapped toward me, but before she could deny it—

  I added, “Kinda cute.”

  Akane malfunctioned.

  For a moment, I thought she was gonna punch me straight through the window.

  But instead—

  She lightly bopped me on the shoulder with her fist. Lightly.

  No force. No death threat.

  Just… a soft little punch.

  “Shut up, idiot,” she muttered, pouting.

  And that’s when I realized—

  Nobody had ever seen this side of Akane before.

  And lucky for me, I really liked teasing it out.

  The day after the legendary cockroach incident, things at school were… different.

  People were still whispering about how the great Akane had screamed like a little kid. Every time someone mentioned bugs, she’d visibly flinch—but no one dared to tease her. They valued their lives.

  I, however, had a death wish.

  During lunch, I casually leaned against the desk. “Hey, Akane.”

  She glared at me. “What?”

  I smirked. “You check your lunch properly? Y’know… in case something tiny crawled in?”

  Her chopsticks froze mid-air.

  Then—without a single word—she picked up her rice bowl and hurled it at my face.

  It hit me dead-on.

  The class erupted into absolute chaos. Some people were dying laughing, others were too scared to react. I wiped the rice off my face, staring at her.

  “You’re lucky I don’t press charges.”

  Akane crossed her arms, smug. “You’re lucky I didn’t throw the whole bento.”

  “Oh? Such aggression. You mad?”

  She scoffed. “You deserve it.”

  I sighed dramatically. “And to think, I was gonna give you something nice today.”

  That got her attention. “…What?”

  I pulled a folded note from my pocket, waving it in front of her. “I found this in my locker. No name, just very dramatic handwriting.”

  Akane squinted. “So?”

  I smirked. “It’s a confession letter—someone’s got a crush on me.”

  Silence.

  Then—CRACK!

  Akane snapped her chopsticks in half.

  The entire class froze.

  A shiver ran down my spine. “…Akane?”

  She smiled.

  A smile that promised violence.

  “Read it,” she said sweetly.

  I blinked. “Huh?”

  She tilted her head. “Read. It. Out loud.”

  I gulped. Why do I feel like my life is in danger?

  But the class was watching now, so I cleared my throat and unfolded the letter.

  "Dear Yuta,"

  "You are, without a doubt, the most annoying person I have ever met. You talk too much, you laugh too loud, and you always find a way to make things worse."

  "And yet, for some dumb reason, I don’t hate you. It’s honestly frustrating."

  "I won’t say I like you. But if you disappeared, I might… slightly care."

  "Whatever. Don’t get a big head. Just be at the rooftop tomorrow after school."

  "Or don’t. I don’t care. (But if you don’t show up, I’ll punch you.)"

  "Sincerely, someone who definitely doesn’t like you."

  Silence.

  Then—

  “PFTTTT!!”

  The class exploded.

  “WHAT KIND OF LOVE LETTER IS THAT?!”

  “THIS IS JUST STRAIGHT-UP INSULTING!!”

  “DID SHE THREATEN HIM?!”

  I slowly looked up from the paper. Then I turned to Akane, staring at her dead in the eye.

  “…Seriously?”

  Her face immediately turned red. “I— I didn’t write that!!”

  “Oh, sure,” I said, nodding. “Totally believable.”

  “I didn’t!!”

  “Mhm. Of course.”

  She crossed her arms, looking away. “I—I don’t even care if you believe me or not!”

  I smirked. “Alright then. Guess I’ll just go to the rooftop tomorrow and meet my mystery admirer~”

  Akane twitched. “…Tch.”

  I leaned in, teasing. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you, Akane-chan?”

  Her face turned even redder.

  Then—BAM!

  She slammed her hands on the desk and stood up.

  “F-FINE!! It was me, okay?! I wrote the stupid letter!!”

  The class went insane.

  “WOOOOO!!!”

  “I KNEW IT!!”

  “AKANE, THAT WAS THE WORST CONFESSION EVER!!”

  Akane groaned, grabbing her bag. “I’M LEAVING.”

  She stormed toward the door.

  Before stepping out, she turned back, pointing at me.

  “You better show up tomorrow, idiot.”

  Then she vanished.

  The classroom was a mess.

  People were screaming. Someone was crying from laughter.

  I sat th

  ere, processing.

  Then I grinned.

  Tomorrow was the last day before summer break.

  And now…

  I really wanted to see what Akane had planned.

  The rooftop door slammed open like a scene from a tragic romance movie.

  I barely had time to turn before—BAM!—Akane crashed into me, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs.

  She gripped my shirt with trembling hands, her face buried in my chest.

  And then… she started crying.

  Not normal crying.

  Ugly crying.

  “YUTAAAAAA!!” she wailed.

  I just stood there. Stunned. “...What.”

  She clutched me tighter, sobbing dramatically. “I CAN’T HOLD IT ANYMORE! MY HEART—IT ACHES! EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, I— I JUST—” She gasped, looking up at me with teary eyes. “YOUR SMILE SHINES LIKE A BURNING STAR!! YOUR VOICE—A SYMPHONY!!”

  I blinked.

  She sniffled, gripping my collar. “YUTA, I LOVE YOU! NO—I ADORE YOU!! MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF!!!”

  The wind howled.

  Somewhere, a crow cawed.

  A plastic bag floated dramatically in the distance.

  “…Akane,” I said slowly. “What the actual F-word was that?”

  She froze.

  Her dramatic aura shattered into a million pieces.

  Oh.

  Oh no.

  Her eyes twitched.

  “I!! THE TOUGHEST GIRL IN EXISTENCE!! STAYED UP ALL NIGHT PLANNING THIS MASTERPIECE!!” she screeched. “AND YOU!! PATHETIC! POOR! BOY! HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL IT TRASH?!?!”

  “…I mean… yeah?”

  Her fists clenched. “THAT’S IT.”

  I took a step back. “Wait—”

  “I DECIDED.” She jabbed a finger at my chest. “YOU’RE GONNA LOVE ME BACK.”

  “HUH?!”

  “If you don’t, I’ll force you!!”

  “EXCUSE ME?!”

  “I’LL MAKE YOU SUFFER!! YOU’LL SEE ME SURROUNDED BY BOYS, YOU’LL REGRET—”

  Before she could finish, I grabbed her collar—

  And kissed her.

  Her entire body locked up.

  The world stopped.

  For a solid five seconds, nothing happened.

  Then—BOOM.

  Her face exploded into a shade of red that put the sun to shame.

  I pulled back, smirking. “There. Happy now?”

  She opened her mouth.

  Then closed it.

  Her fists trembled.

  Her soul left her body.

  “…A-Ah—”

  I leaned in, grinning. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue, toughest girl alive?”

  Her eye twitched.

  Then—BAM!

  She punched me in the stomach and sprinted away, covering her face.

  I collapsed, coughing.

  The rooftop door slammed shut.

  I lay there for a moment, staring at the sky.

  And then… I laughed.

  Loud. Carefree.

  This girl was something else.

  I touched my lips, smirking.

  Yeah.

  I had absolutely fallen for her.

  The End.

  BONUS CHAPTER NEXT WEEK YOU LITTLE TIMMY!!! HAR HAR THIS FONT IS ACCURATE TO YOUR SKILL LEVEL IN VALORANT. HAR HAR HAR GET REKT LIL TIMMY!!!

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