It was a nice day on campus. Sunlight spilled freely across the stone paths and open courtyards, warming the air as students drifted past in loose clusters, laughing and talking without urgency.

  Gabriel walked straight through the middle of it all with his hands laced behind his head, humming a light tune under his breath. His grin was bright and effortless, the picture of someone enjoying the warmth of the sun on his skin and nothing more. As he passed, conversations drifted towards him.

  “Did you hear?” someone whispered. “Last night, the Hollow almost killed Aira.”

  “Aira Avenis?” another voice replied, startled. “The journalist? Oh no… I hope she’s okay.”

  “It has to be personal, right?” a third added. “I mean, it went after her before—”

  Gabriel kept walking, though his thoughts slid neatly back to the night before: Akio sitting far too still on the couch, the phone call, the relief followed by guilt. Thankfully, Aira was safe. But if something had happened to her, Gabriel knew Akio would have blamed himself forever.

  In the present, Gabriel turned a corner and stepped beneath the shade of an awning, the temperature dropping pleasantly as the building blocked the sun. There were fewer students who lingered here, the noise softening into distant echoes.

  He was still lost in thought when he sensed someone approaching. His eyes flicked up on pure habit and landed on a familiar figure moving towards him, steps nearly soundless against the pavement. Quiet presence. Controlled posture. Someone acutely aware of the space he occupied and how little noise he made while doing so.

  They noticed each other at the same time, two pairs of crimson eyes meeting across the path. Gabriel’s attention sharpened instantly.

  Oh my. Just who I wanted to see.

  He folded his hands behind his back and seamlessly fell into step beside the other man, leaning in just enough to be friendly without being invasive. His smile softened into something warm yet mischievous, not bothering to hide his amusement.

  “Why hello!” Gabriel said cheerfully. “What brings you here on this lovely day?”

  Hyakki didn’t stop walking, but his pace slowed by a fraction. He glanced over, expression unreadable save for the faintest hint of a smirk.

  “Nothing much,” he replied smoothly. “Just passing through.”

  Gabriel tapped a finger thoughtfully against his chin, grinning as he caught the way Hyakki’s attention stayed trained on him, far too focused to be casual.

  “What excellent timing,” Gabriel said lightly. “You know, you’ve been quite the topic of conversation lately, given the recent news.”

  Hyakki tilted his head a fraction, unsurprised. “Last night was unfortunate,” he said. “I’m glad it didn’t end worse.”

  “Absolutely,” Gabriel agreed, his tone pleasant. “In fact, I’d like to thank you on behalf of her older brother. He can be rather protective, you know.”

  Hyakki paused then, his step faltering slightly before it was effortlessly smoothed over.

  “Yeah,” he said after a beat. “No problem. It’s the least I could do.”

  Gabriel’s smile widened, his grin turning wolfish. He’d noticed the hesitation, subtle as it was. So Akio was a sensitive subject. That alone made this worth pressing.

  “Now, now,” he said lightly, “no need to be afraid. Akio is very nice once you get to know him.”

  Hyakki huffed softly, clearly humoring the comment. “I don’t know,” he replied, tone casual. “He seems like the type who can be difficult to please once he’s made up his mind.”

  Gabriel laughed, the sound overly bright. “Well, avoiding him certainly isn’t helping your case.”

  Hyakki raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at him. “Last time I checked, he was the one who didn’t show up. That seems pretty definitive to me.”

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  Gabriel reached out and gave Hyakki’s shoulder a light, friendly pat, perking up as if he were offering genuine advice instead of carefully applying pressure.

  “Ah, but that was due to some ill timed circumstances. Akio is always open to giving second chances—that is, unless you’ve done something truly unforgivable.”

  He leaned in just slightly, charming smile still in place. His voice turned silky smooth, a hidden edge slipping into his words.

  “Like taking advantage of his sister.”

  His eyes gleamed dangerously.

  “You wouldn’t have such intentions,” Gabriel added softly, “would you?”

  A beat of silence passed between them.

  Hyakki kept his expression perfectly neutral, eyes searching Gabriel’s face. He looked detached, completely unreadable, but that didn’t quite mask his wariness. Gabriel didn’t look away. He kept the smile, the proximity, the silent pressure that often made people reveal what they kept hidden.

  Then, to his mild surprise, Hyakki smiled.

  “Why would I?” he responded easily. “I have no reason to.”

  Gabriel considered that before rocking back on his heels, pretending to ponder aloud. “Oho~ really? But you know, you two do seem awfully close. You’re telling me there’s nothing personal there?”

  Hyakki let out a quiet breath through his nose. “Is that what this is about? For the record, I’m not her boyfriend. And I don’t have any intention of changing that.”

  Gabriel smoothly stepped a little ahead of him, turning and walking backward with his arms folded behind his back. “That may be the case, but after the events of last night… what would you do if Aira wanted to change that?”

  “I can’t help it if she feels that way,” Hyakki responded without hesitation. “But even then—it’s not happening. That’s where I draw the line.”

  Gabriel studied him closely, still smiling and friendly, but his eyes narrowed just a fraction. He’d questioned enough people to know what lies looked like, and this… wasn’t it.

  Hmm, so he’s either telling the truth or just very, very good at lying.

  “My, my. If that’s truly the case,” Gabriel said, seamlessly slipping back into his harmless demeanor, “Then why are you so afraid of meeting her brother?”

  Hyakki tilted his head slightly, considering the question. “Wouldn’t you be scared of meeting someone who’s already decided they don’t like you?”

  Gabriel hummed softly at that, thoughtful. The answer made sense. He knew the feeling far too well, more than he cared to unpack right now. That particular line of pressure wasn’t going to budge anything. Time to change direction.

  He adjusted his pace easily, repositioning himself so they were walking side by side again instead of circling one another. His smile softened, losing its edge as he eased up.

  “Fair enough,” Gabriel said lightly. “Perhaps I was too harsh. Your actions last night do speak for themselves.”

  He clasped his hands together, expression brightening as if a new thought had just occurred to him.

  “Speaking of last night,” he continued cheerfully, “what do you think about vigilantes?”

  Hyakki gave a quiet hum. “I’m fine with them. As long as they don’t bother me.”

  Gabriel pressed a hand to his chest in mock intrigue. “No fear? Hatred? Admiration, perhaps?”

  Hyakki shook his head. “No. Not really. I’m honestly not that interested in vigilantes.”

  That was worth noting. Gabriel’s tone stayed gentle as he nudged a little further. “Why is that?”

  Hyakki shrugged, the motion easy and unguarded. “It’s just violence with flashy masks,” he said. “After a while, I guess it’s just… nothing new.”

  Gabriel gestured idly with one hand. “Oh dear, I wouldn’t call it just violence. Many vigilantes wield powers. Take the Hollow, for example—controlling the M.A.W., nearly killing Aira twice now. Surely you must think something of it.”

  Hyakki sighed and crossed his arms. “For the Hollow?” he said plainly. “I think it’s a monster. Horrible, irredeemable. The world would honestly be better off without it.”

  He paused, then added, quieter, “Same goes for the M.A.W. Probably not how that works, but that’s how I feel.”

  Gabriel studied him closely as he spoke—his expression, his tone, the cadence of his words. The answer was specific, yet oddly vague. Believable, but not fully satisfying. It was enough to keep Gabriel’s instincts alert while giving him nothing concrete to latch onto. Frustratingly unreadable.

  The longer the conversation went on, the more that realization settled in.

  Gabriel folded his hands behind his back, conceding ground for now. “Mm,” he murmured, smiling. “Fascinating. You’re a very interesting guy, you know?”

  Hyakki smirked, clearly amused. “So are you,” he replied. “I can see why people think you’re scary.”

  Gabriel laughed at that, light and easy, the sound carrying just enough warmth to sell it. His attention had already shifted inward, pieces quietly reorganizing themselves as he searched for another angle to press. He might have tried one more push if Hyakki hadn’t spoken first.

  “I have to head to class now,” Hyakki said calmly. “See you around.”

  He turned down a different path beneath the shaded awning, his movements smooth and nearly silent. In the span of a few seconds, he disappeared around the corner as if he’d never been there at all.

  Gabriel watched him go. His eyes lingered on the empty space where Hyakki had vanished, expression unreadable, curiosity flickering quietly beneath the surface. The interaction had left him with far more questions than answers, and that alone was enough to be mildly irritating.

  He sorted through what little he’d actually gained: Hyakki was afraid of Akio, wary in a way that suggested preconception rather than experience.

  Everything else had been clean.

  His answers had been measured, his reactions controlled. No flinches or emotional tells where Gabriel expected them. It wasn’t like most people who Gabriel could read almost instantly, their intentions written plainly beneath the surface.

  Hyakki was different, and that, more than anything else, made Gabriel’s instincts twist tighter. It felt like he was dealing with someone who had learned how to keep themselves closed off. Someone trained not to give anything away.

  Well, he thought idly, this just complicates things further.

  If Gabriel judged purely on what he’d seen, he would’ve been inclined to dismiss the Hollow suspicion entirely. And yet, there was a sense of something just out of reach—a missing piece he couldn’t quite put his finger on, no matter how many times he turned the interaction over in his mind.

  Eventually, Gabriel exhaled softly and turned away, heading down another path through campus. The noise of students and sunlight slowly reclaimed his attention as he rejoined the flow of the day.

  ─ ? NEXT CHAPTER POV ? ─

  Yoru

  Updates Wednesday and Saturday

  Targeted damage or total catastrophe?

  Someone has to decide. No one comes out clean.