Chapter 1256: Akane’s Conflicting Heart

I turned to Jayden, Claire, and Yelena.

"I changed my mind. You guys wait inside. I have something to check."

They nodded without question and headed back through the entrance. Once they were gone, I looked up toward the rooftop and spoke clearly into the open air.

"You’re already here... why are you hiding?"

There was a brief pause, then a soft swish of fabric. Akane dropped down from her vantage point and landed lightly in front of me. She wore a fitted black assassin’s outfit beneath a long black cloak, her face hidden behind a dark mask that left only her sharp eyes visible.

"How are you?" she asked, voice even.

"I’m fine. Were you worried about me?"

Akane’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"No. If someone wants to die by themselves, I figure I cannot save them." The words carried a clear edge of contempt.

I stepped closer.

"Are you still angry about that?"

She turned her head away.

"No. Why would I be angry? Just die all you want. It was Tachibana and Hitomi who were worried about you. So I promised them I would check on you." ℴ

She delivered the next part like a prepared statement, each word carefully measured.

"You were not here, so I waited and came each day. Now that you are back and doing well... I will go back."

Her voice was steady, but I could feel the faint tremor underneath it. The moment she shifted her weight to leave, I reached out and caught her wrist.

"Wait, Master Akane."

The title made her stop cold.

"I am not your master."

I pulled her in and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly against me. The black cloak and the rigid set of her shoulders didn’t soften, but she didn’t push me away either. Her hands stayed clenched at her sides, fingers digging into her own palms.

Through the contact, I caught the sudden rush of her thoughts.

[He’s hugging me... why is he hugging me so tightly? This is... embarrassing. My heart is beating too fast. He can probably feel it. Damn it... I shouldn’t have let him get this close.]

I held the embrace for a long moment, speaking quietly against the side of her mask.

"I’m sorry for making you so worried. And thank you for coming to see me."

Her thoughts kept spinning.

[He’s apologizing...? I thought he would be angry that I spoke to him like that. I was rude. I snapped at him. He should be angry. Why does it feel worse that he isn’t?]

I finally stepped back, though I kept my hands lightly on her upper arms.

"How are Tachibana and Hitomi doing?"

"They are fine," she answered too quickly. "Hitomi’s and Tachibana’s are... the same as always."

"Are you going on any dangerous mission right now?"

"No. I have not been on any mission since then."

I extended a thin thread of telepathy and caught the thoughts she wasn’t speaking aloud.

[I need to find out who was behind Hitomi’s attack... that seemed premeditated.]

[I can’t let him know, or he’ll follow.]

[If he gets involved again, he might actually die this time. I can’t... I won’t let that happen.]

I looked at her directly.

"You’re lying."

Akane’s eyes widened a fraction behind the mask. Her body tensed.

"I am not lying."

She glanced away almost immediately.

"Look at my eyes when you say that."

She forced her gaze back to mine, but the defiance in her voice only sharpened.

"I have not taken on any mission. I am just investigating. And who are you to question these things?"

The sudden outburst caught me off guard. Akane seemed to realize how sharp she had sounded a second later. Her shoulders stiffened further.

[I did it again... I raised my voice at him. He’s going to be angry for real this time. I keep pushing him away, and then I feel guilty. Why do I always do this?]

"...I am sorry," she said, quieter. "I..."

I let my expression fall, voice quiet and deliberately wounded.

"Yes. You’re right. I am no one."

The words hit her harder than I expected. Her hands curled into tighter fists at her sides, and her voice rose with clear agitation.

"No—that’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to involve you..."

Her thoughts spilled over, raw and conflicted.

[He’s making that face... he thinks I don’t care. That isn’t true. I came here every day. I waited. I was worried. But if I say that, he’ll never stay away when it’s dangerous. I can’t let him follow me into this. I already failed to protect Hitomi once. I won’t fail again by dragging him into it.]

She took a half-step back, then stopped herself, clearly torn between leaving and staying.

"I didn’t mean you are no one," Akane said, the words coming out more rushed now. "I only meant... this is my responsibility. Hitomi is my responsibility. You don’t have to—"

She cut herself off, eyes flickering with frustration and something closer to guilt.

[He’s still looking at me like that. Stop it. Don’t make me feel worse. I already feel bad enough for snapping. For the hug. For everything.]

I stayed silent, waiting, watching the way her clenched hands trembled just slightly at her sides.

Then I looked straight into the eyes behind the mask and spoke quietly, but with clear weight.

"Then what am I supposed to do... if something happens to you? If you get hurt? You’re so selfish for always thinking of yourself. What about me?"

Akane froze.

The words landed harder than any accusation. Her eyes widened behind the black mask, and for a moment she forgot to keep her usual cold composure. Through the lingering telepathic connection, I caught the raw thought that flashed across her mind.

[He is worried about me...]

The realization seemed to shake her more than anything else that had been said. Her fingers, still curled into tight fists at her sides, tightened even further until her knuckles went pale.

I continued, voice steady.

"Just like you are worried about me... I also worry about you. I don’t want you to do anything dangerous."

"Can you promise me that? You always ask me not to use my ability... can you promise me not to do anything dangerous? Then I can also promise you that I won’t use that ability."