Akira looked at Yuki, who was still wrapped in just a towel, sitting on the edge of the bed with vulnerable, hopeful eyes. "I need to take this."

"It's her, isn't it?" Yuki's voice was flat. "Mia."

"Yeah."

"Of course." She pulled the towel tighter around herself. "Answer it. I'll... I'll just sit here. Quietly."

Akira stepped toward the window, putting some distance between himself and Yuki before answering. "Hey, Mia."

"Where are you?" Mia's voice was tight and controlled, but Akira could hear the barely restrained panic underneath. "You said you'd text me updates. That was almost an hour ago, Akira. An hour."

"I know, I'm sorry. Things got complicated. There was a gas incident at the cafe and…"

"Gas incident?" The pitch of her voice rose. "What kind? Are you hurt? Did something happen you you?

"I'm fine, Mia… we both are. Just... dealing with the aftermath. The police had questions, emergency services wanted to make sure we weren't injured or exposed to anything."

"Where. Are. You?" Each word was pronounced slowly, carefully. Mia was holding onto her composure by a thread.

Akira glanced around the love hotel room: at Yuki sitting on the bed in just a towel, at the discarded wet clothes on the floor, at the too-obvious romantic lighting. "We're somewhere safe. Getting cleaned up. Our clothes were ruined in the evacuation."

"Cleaned up where?"

"I can't really describe this place."

There was a long pause on the other end. Akira could practically hear Mia's mind working, trying to piece together the situation, fighting against the worst-case scenarios her anxiety was painting.

"A place," Mia repeated slowly. "What kind of place? A store bathroom? A friend's house? Where?"

"Just a quiet spot where we could wait without drawing attention. Look, Mia, I'm preparing to leave soon, then I'm heading straight home… to you."

Another round of silence, followed by a dee inhale and exhale from the other side of the line.

"Okay." Mia finally said in a strained but controlled voice. "Text me when you leave. The second you walk out the door."

"I will. I promise."

"Be safe, Akira."

"I will."

The call ended.

Akira lowered the phone, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. The room was silent, broken only by the distant sounds of the city outside.

"I'm sorry," Yuki said quietly. "I didn't mean to cause problems between you two."

"You didn't. This is just... how things are with Mia."

"She really loves you."

"Yeah. She does."

"And you?"

Before Akira could answer, his phone buzzed with a text.

Rina: "Five minute check-in. Everything okay?"

He typed back quickly, grateful for the interruption.

"Everything's fine. We're just waiting."

"Good. Clothes acquired. Be there in ten minutes. Keep it together."

"I will."

Another buzz. This time from Mia.

"I'm sorry for freaking out. I just love you so much it makes me stupid sometimes. Come home safe. Please."

Akira stared at the message, feeling the weight of it. The trust she was placing in him despite her fears. The vulnerability she was showing despite how much it clearly cost her.

He typed back: "I know. See you soon."

Not 'I love you too.' He still couldn't bring himself to say it. But maybe 'I know' was enough for now.

He set the phone down on the windowsill and turned back to face Yuki, who was watching him with an unreadable expression.

"Rina's on her way back with clothes," he said.

"Good. Because this towel is not exactly comfortable for long-term wear." She patted the bed beside her. "Sit with me? Just... sit. Nothing else."

Akira sat down, maintaining a respectful distance. But Yuki immediately scooted closer, leaning her head on his shoulder… not seductively, just seeking comfort.

"Is this okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah. This is okay."

They sat in silence, the sounds of the city filtering in through the window. Akira could feel the warmth of her body against his side, smell the clean scent of the soap mixing with her natural fragrance.

"You know this is still manipulation, right?" Ai's voice was gentle, not judgmental. "You're managing her emotions, giving her just enough to keep her interested without fully committing. That's not necessarily wrong, but don't pretend it's purely altruistic."

"I know. But at least I'm being honest with myself about it. And I'm giving her the space to walk away if she wants."

"Will you, though? If she decides in a week that this was all just trauma response and she doesn't actually want you... will you let her go?"

Akira thought about that. Really thought about it.

"Yeah. I think I will. Because if I have to force it, it's not real anyway."

"Good answer, darling. Let's hope you mean it."

Yuki's breathing had slowed, becoming deeper and more regular. She wasn't asleep, but she was finally relaxing, the tension leaving her body.

"Akira?" she murmured against his shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For not being like other guys. For actually caring whether I'm okay."

"You don't have to thank me for that."

"Maybe not. But I'm going to anyway." She shifted slightly, getting more comfortable. "And just so you know... when I said I'll be ready soon? I meant it. I'm not going to need weeks to figure out how I feel. A few days, maybe. But not weeks."

"Take whatever time you need."

"I will. But I already know the answer." Her hand found his, fingers intertwining. "I just need to prove it to myself. That this isn't just fear or gratitude. That it's real."

Akira squeezed her hand gently. "And if you decide it's not real?"

"Then I'll tell you. And we'll go back to being friends who survived a monster attack together." She lifted her head to look at him. "But I don't think that's going to happen. I think when my head clears, I'm going to realize that middle-school me was an idiot for rejecting you."

"Middle-school me was pretty awkward. You made the right call back then."

"Maybe. But now-you is different. And now-me is smart enough to see it." She settled back against his shoulder. "Just don't make me wait too long for that second date, okay?"

"I won't."

—

Outside the love hotel, Ayame Shinomiya's tracker continued to show two heat signatures in room 304. They'd been sitting together for several minutes now, and her spiritual sight showed... nothing.

No corruption. No demonic energy. Just two teenagers providing comfort to each other.

It was infuriating.

Every piece of evidence pointed to Akira Kanzaki being involved in supernatural incidents. Yet every time she observed him directly, he appeared completely normal. Compassionate, even.

Her phone buzzed; it was Agent Sato again.

"Any changes?"

Ayame looked at the window of room 304, where the two silhouettes remained seated in innocent proximity.

"Negative. Subject continues to display normal human behavior despite optimal conditions for corruption. The civilian girl is vulnerable, willing, and alone with him. A corrupted entity would have exploited this situation. Subject Kanzaki has not."

"Your recommendation?"

"Either he's the most disciplined corrupted entity I've ever encountered, or your fundamental assumptions about him are incorrect."

"Continue observation. Report immediately if situation changes."

Ayame put her phone away and settled in to wait. She had surveillance equipment that could monitor the room for the next several hours if needed.

Whatever Akira Kanzaki was, she would figure it out. Even if she had to watch him every moment of every day.

—

Inside room 304, Yuki's breathing had finally evened out completely. She'd drifted into a light doze, still leaning against Akira's shoulder, her hand still holding his.

Akira sat there, feeling the weight of her trust, the warmth of her body, and the complexity of what he'd just done.

He'd chosen the middle path. Not the hero, not the villain, but something in between. Something human.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

His phone buzzed one more time.

Rina: "I'm in the lobby. Coming up now. You two better be dressed."

Akira smiled despite himself.

"Define 'dressed.'"

"AKIRA."

"Kidding. We're fine. Come on up."

He gently shook Yuki's shoulder. "Hey. Rina's back with clothes."

Yuki stirred, blinking sleepily. "Already?"

"Yeah. Time to face the world again."

She sat up, stretching, the towel shifting slightly to reveal a glimpse of her smooth inner thigh and the soft, pink lips of her pussy peeking out, still glistening faintly from their earlier intimacy.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Fine." She stood, adjusting the towel. "But I'm holding you to that second date. No take-backs."

"No take-backs," Akira agreed.

The door opened, and Rina walked in carrying a bag of clothes. She took one look at them: Akira still in his wet clothes, Yuki in just a towel, and raised an eyebrow.

"Well. You two look cozy."

"Shut up, Rina," Akira said without heat.

"Just saying." She tossed the bag onto the bed. "Clothes for both of you. Get dressed. We need to get out of here before anyone starts asking questions."

As Yuki grabbed the clothes and headed back to the bathroom to change, Rina pulled Akira aside.

"Did you...?" she asked quietly.

"No. We just talked. And... kissed. Once. But that's it."

Rina studied his face. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"I know."

"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, you just created another girl who's going to get attached to you. And you already have Mia, who's one bad day away from going full psycho."

"Yuki's different."

"Is she? Or are you just telling yourself that?" Rina shook her head. "I'm not judging. I'm just saying... be careful. You're juggling a lot of people's emotions, Akira. Eventually, someone's going to get hurt."

"I know," he said quietly. "I know."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.