29-151

EP.151 Akane – Pandora’s Box 

“So, what you’re saying is…” 

Under a rare, cloudless blue sky. 

On the academy rooftop, a cold silence hung heavy. 

What should have been a peaceful lunchtime, with the return of her comrades, was instead taut with tension, sharp as a blade. 

Akane’s fiery, reddish-brown eyes shot right through the three leaning against the rooftop fence. 

Her first target was Mizuki, who was absent-mindedly fidgeting with the tips of her bangs. 

“You who went chasing after the monster yesterday just happened to find Hikari escaping from Dark Redemption’s hideout.” 

“Yeah… I feel like I’ve said this three times already? No matter how dumb you are, did your memory get even worse since I last saw you?” 

Mizuki answered Akane’s repeated interrogations her pointed jaw held high. 

Her tone of sarcasm was the same as ever, yet for some reason it was more irritating than usual today. 

She soon turned her gaze to Hikari, who clung to Kai’s back like a ghost. 

“And on top of being injured and exhausted, when you were both in danger… this guy just happened to show up and rescue you both, huh?” 

“Yes… If it hadn’t been for Kai-kun, both of us… Something terrible would have happened.” 

Her frail shoulders trembled as if she might burst into tears at any moment. 

Hikari unconsciously clutched Kai’s sleeve tightly, pretending to be on the verge of collapse. 

That pitiful sight pricked at anyone’s protective instincts; a thick shadow crossed Haruto’s face as he stood nearby. 

As if guessing at what his friend had suffered, his hands curled into weak fists. 

“It’s exactly as they say.” 

At that, Kai softly placed his arm around Hikari’s shoulders and stepped forward. 

His bold gesture caused not just Akane but even Haruto to waver slightly. 

“You honestly want me to believe that right now?” 

“Was there some part of the explanation you didn’t get?” 

Annoyed by Akane’s persistent doubt, Mizuki snapped back coldly, 

her gaze scolding, as if addressing a clueless child. 

“All of it, really. If you found Hikari, you should’ve contacted me first!” 

“There was some kind of special jamming signal set up all around. Communications weren’t possible. Besides, we weren’t exactly in any state to think of that.” 

Even as Akane’s voice grew sharper, Mizuki responded with an impassive tone. 

That explanation made sense. And honestly, there was no reason for her two comrades to lie. 

But Akane couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. 

“Haa… Fine. Let’s say that’s true.” 

As she couldn’t yet figure out the exact source of her unease, Akane was forced to begrudgingly accept it. 

Her burning gaze now shifted to Kai, who seemed to stand at the heart of every problem. 

“Then what about him? The academy was a mess yesterday with those guys invading. What reason does a random civilian have to be in the redevelopment district at that time?!” 

Before Kai could even open his mouth to respond to Akane’s pointed accusation, both girls at his side leapt to defend him. 

“Kai-kun happened to overhear our conversation on his first day of transfer.” 

“He knew we were Saviors and has been keeping an eye on us ever since.” 

“...When did I ask either of you?” Akane growled through gritted teeth. 

Only then did Kai pat the two girls on the shoulder and step forward. 

“As they said, I found out about you guys being Saviors and kept watch. You might not believe it, but... I’m a huge fan.” 

He scratched his head sheepishly as he spoke. 

“And when I saw Mizuki fighting that monster live on the broadcast yesterday I knew it wasn’t just an ordinary situation.” 

“Because it was the same pattern as when Hikari got caught by the enemy, right?” Haruto guessed gently after listening to the conversation, and Kai nodded as if relieved. 

Haruto’s expression crossed with both understanding and regret. 

“That’s right. I thought Mizuki might be in the same danger as Hikari. So I just left the academy on impulse, wondering if there was anything I could do to help.” 

“Still! What if a regular civilian acts so recklessly?! You could've been killed!” 

Kai nodded meekly at Akane’s reprimand. 

“I know. There’s no excuse for that, no matter how many times I’m scolded.” 

His self-reproach eventually prompted Haruto to intervene. 

“Akane, that’s enough.” 

“Haruto?” 

“If it weren’t for Kai-kun, those two really could have died. If anything, we should be thanking him, not grilling him like this.” 

“But…!” 

Akane started to protest again, but Haruto’s firm gaze cut off her words. 

“What matters is that they're back safely. Everything else can wait, right? Okay?” 

His tone was gentle, but made it clear no more arguments. 

Akane swallowed her growing frustration and bit her lip. 

He wasn’t wrong, but something inside her kept insistently warning: those three are hiding something. 

“Alright, let’s drop it and eat. You’re all hungry, right?” Haruto said, trying to break the frozen air with a forced cheerful voice as he opened his lunchbox. 

That awkward effort was the cue for time to flow forward again. 

And as it did, things started heading in the last direction Akane wanted. 

“Kai-kun, say ‘ahh’~♥” 

Hikari picked up a neatly-crafted octopus sausage from her bento with her chopsticks, holding it to Kai’s lips. 

Her honey-colored eyes sparkled with the shyness of a girl in love, and at the same time glinted boldly, as if showing off her “prize.” 

“I can feed myself, you know.” 

“Oh, don’t be shy! You’re our savior this is the least I can do♥” 

His halfhearted refusal was easily broken by Hikari’s melting, cutesy insistence. 

The sight made Akane’s insides start to bubble with anger. 

As if that weren’t enough, Mizuki who would usually try to steal side dishes from Haruto or others pulled out an elegant, three-tiered bento box. 

When the lid was lifted, carefully prepared side dishes were revealed. 

“You can cook, Mizuki?” Haruto asked in real surprise. 

Mizuki scoffed and replied coolly, “I couldn’t sleep last night so I made something for fun. I mean, I can do anything if I put my mind to it. Here, Kai. Try some.” 

She picked up a shiny piece of egg roll and placed it on Kai’s lunch, showing off. 

On her slender white fingertip was a tiny bandage proof of a clumsy knife cut. 

“Even in all that, you two somehow had the presence of mind to make lunch,” Akane muttered in disbelief as she started to take out her own. 

“Kai-kun, want to try some of mine and Akane’s too?” Haruto offered suddenly, nearly making her drop her lunchbox. 

“Haruto, you...!” 

“Akane, don’t be so uptight. Sharing lunch isn’t that weird, right?” 

Maybe he was trying to lighten the mood, but for Akane it was just pouring oil on flames. 

‘He can just watch all that and not care?’ 

Hikari’s anger was about to boil over, thanks to Haruto’s cluelessness. 

“Well, let’s try what you’ve got, Akane,” Kai said, peering into her lunchbox. 

“Hey! Who said you could–?!” 

He’d already snatched a piece of chicken and was chewing calmly. 

“I thought you just played sports, but you can cook too? That’s surprising.” 

His ambiguous praise made a vein pop in Akane’s forehead. 

While she was reeling from that, Hikari and Mizuki began shoveling more side dishes into Kai’s lunch, competing with each other. 

“Kai-kun, have this too! I made it for you!” 

“Mine too. If you eat just dry stuff like that, you’ll choke.” 

“You two...!” 

Unable to take it anymore, Akane shot up, yelling. 

Three people squabbled noisily; Haruto was blinking cluelessly. 

She couldn’t stand this uncomfortable scene another moment. 

“Is this really the time to be eating lunch? Thanks to Hikari escaping from their hideout, we know where it is now.” 

Suppressing her anger, Akane forced the topic to change. 

“We shouldn’t delay any longer. Tonight, we raid the place, rescue Lady Lumina, and wipe those bastards out!” 

Her voice, burning with vengeance and determination, echoed across the rooftop. 

But all she got back was cold silence. 

“We should, of course. But...” Hikari was the first to break the silence, glancing cautiously at Akane. 

“The security there was far more intense than I imagined. If we rush in, we could all be in danger.” 

“Right. Like I always say, reckless actions are a no-go.” 

“Says the one who–” Mizuki interjected, making a scornful noise. 

“Besides, we’re all drained right now. Akane, weren't you exhausted from fighting alone yesterday?” 

Mizuki casually threw the point back at her, forcing Akane to look down at her own hands. 

She really could still feel the exhaustion in her muscles. 

“We need to wait until we’re at full strength.” 

“...” 

“Still not happy? There’s no point in rushing in half-cocked...” 

“Yeah, got it, got it. I’ll wait just wait, all right?” Akane waved her hands, wincing at the thought of more lectures. 

“At least when I was struggling, someone cared,” she grumbled. 

“Oh? You cared about me?” Mizuki teased, grinning mischievously. 

“Wha what? Me, care about you? Are you insane?” 

Akane’s face turned beet red at hitting a sore spot. 

Her rebuke echoed in the now much calmer rooftop air. 

Just before lunchtime ended. 

After their awkward meal, everyone quietly began tidying up. 

Akane got up first, not even glancing at anyone, and left the rooftop as if running away. 

Haruto, watching her angry retreat, nervously started a conversation with Kai as he cleaned up lunch. 

“Yeah?” 

“Thank you, for saving them both.” 

“What’s this all of a sudden?” 

“No, just... haha… There wasn’t a chance to say so before,” Haruto answered, a faint bitterness in his awkward smile. 

“It was nothing. Just luck, really I just happened to be there. Anyone could’ve done what I did.” 

“But that luck and coincidence were only possible because you were brave enough to act. I...“ 

Haruto’s words trailed off. 

When Akane held off the attack alone yesterday, he’d done nothing. 

He couldn’t even imagine acting as decisively as Kai had when Kai had done what Haruto believed was impossible. 

“To be honest… I’m glad. To have someone who knows everything, like you. I always felt alone, carrying the secret by myself. But now I have you, too.” 

“Doesn’t my being here just make it uncomfortable? If not for me, you’d have those three girls all to yourself.” 

Kai grinned and teased, making Haruto fluster and protest. 

His eyes flicked toward Hikari and Mizuki, who happened to be looking his way. 

“No, it’s not like that. And...” 

He hesitated, then gave a resigned smile. 

“They seem like they’re really comfortable, being with you. That’s enough for me. I really am happy for them.” 

With that, Haruto left in a hurry as if he couldn’t stand to be there a moment longer. 

Kai remained alone, watching Haruto’s retreating figure in silence. 

The false smile on his lips slowly vanished, replaced by the grin of a predator with prey in sight. 

“Thank you, Haruto.” 

His voice echoed in the empty rooftop. 

He then wrapped his hands familiarly around the waists of the approaching Mizuki and Hikari. 

“Thanks for keeping such prime specimens safe all this time, not a single bug landing on them.” 

“Argh, the more I think about it, the more pissed off I get!” 

Just before afternoon class, Akane splashed cold water on her face in the main building restroom. 

In the mirror, her face was bright red with anger. 

‘What the hell was all that cutesy crap, and what’s with Haruto just watching like nothing’s wrong?!’ 

Scenes from lunch replayed in her head the way Hikari and Mizuki cozied up to him. 

And the utterly innocent look on Haruto’s face, who didn’t suspect a thing. 

She hated all of it. 

“Damn it!” 

Not even bothering to dry off, she stormed out. 

Down the hall, she spotted a familiar figure. 

‘…Hikari?’ 

It was nearly time for class, but Hikari was headed the opposite way. Maybe she was going to the dorm or the church? No, not that way either. 

‘Where are you going?’ 

A chill of foreboding ran down her spine. 

Before she knew it, Akane had instinctively quieted her footsteps, following Hikari in secret. 

Hikari’s destination was the far end of the third-floor hallway a place students rarely visited, outside an empty classroom during a period with no class. 

After quickly glancing around, Hikari entered without hesitation. 

‘What’s she being so careful about?’ 

Unable to contain her curiosity, Akane crept up to the door and pressed her ear against the slight crack. 

She heard Mizuki’s voice. 

Then… 

“Was everything okay?” Kai’s voice. 

“Yes, I checked before coming in.” 

“Well done. Come here, then.” 

“…Yes.” 

Smooch, slurp…! 

As she listened, an unmistakably obscene, wet kissing sound reached Akane’s ears. 

‘No way…’ 

Her heart thudded to the floor; her mind started conjuring up all sorts of images. 

She glimpsed through the crack: 

Kai was caressing both girls’ heads like stray cats, while the two, who had just been antagonistic, suddenly became meek as lambs. 

“Yes… Kai-nim…” 

Their voices, melted to honey, responded together as they went right back to fawning over him. 

‘What… what the hell is going on?’ 

Shocked to the core, Akane almost screamed out loud. 

It was disgusting, filthy, incomprehensible. 

She wanted to get away from the scene at once. 

But  

Why, then  

She couldn’t. Her feet wouldn’t move. 

She couldn’t tear her eyes from the gap in the door. 

Was it the forbidden thrill of peeking at something taboo? 

Or a dark curiosity at seeing her friends’ lascivious sides she’d never seen before? 

She didn’t know, but a strange heat burned her face almost as hot as her anger.