By the time the sun dipped below the skyline, the world had softened into shades of amber and shadow. The noise of the city dulled into a distant hum, like everything was finally exhaling after a long day.
And in the middle of it all, Kae had reduced six egos into rubble.
Not just beaten them—dismantled them.
Each one walked away quieter than they arrived, their pride cracked, their voices gone. The air still carried the ghost of their arrogance… now replaced with silence.
Souta stretched lazily, arms reaching toward the fading sky, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips.
"Well… sadly, that's the end of the show. Six down. No survivors." He clicked his tongue. "Honestly? Better than any reality TV I've ever seen."
From the side, perched like he owned the moment, The Unknown lifted his cup in a mock toast.
"Real."
Streetlamps flickered to life one by one, casting warm pools of light along the road as the three of them walked. The chaos of the day lingered behind them, slowly dissolving into memory.
Kae dragged her feet slightly, her usual sharp presence dulled by exhaustion. She let out a long sigh, like her entire body had finally caught up to her.
"Six in one day…" she muttered. "My brain's fried. My ears too." She shot him a look. "I still can't believe you let this happen."
Souta shoved his hands into his pockets, grin widening.
"What, and miss out on such a spectacular show? Please. I'd buy front-row tickets if I could."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, unimpressed. "Do you want a date too, Souta?"
He froze.
Then, without hesitation—dropped straight to his knees on the pavement, his forehead nearly touching the asphalt.
"No! Absolutely not! Please, Kae, have mercy!!"
She blinked down at him. "...Why not?"
He shot back up instantly, flailing like his life depended on it.
"I do NOT want to be verbally destroyed. Do you even hear yourself when you talk?" He pointed accusingly. "Besides, do you realize the whole class already hates you after today?"
Her lips curved into a sly smile as she folded her arms. "That's what I want."
I gawked. "What kind of villain monologue is that? At this rate, getting yourself a husband will take half your lifetime!"
She tilted her head, cool as ice. "Half a lifetime's still faster than you'll ever get a girlfriend."
From the low wall by the roadside, the Unknown lounged with a steaming cup of coffee, grinning ear to ear. "Damn..."
I slapped a hand over my face. "Remind me why I even walk home with you."
She chuckled softly, brushing past me. "Because you'd be bored without me."
The Unknown hummed. "She's not wrong."
I groaned, waving a hand at him. "Shut up already, you smug caffeine ghost."
Kae blinked, slowing her steps.
"...What?"
I stiffened, scratching the back of my neck. "Oh, nothing. Just, uh… talking to myself. Helps with digestion."
She raised an eyebrow but let it go, walking ahead.
I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets, my grin faltering as a thought hit me.
*Amidst the chaos… I'd almost forgotten.*
*Can no one else really see this guy? The way he sits there, slurping coffee like he owns the night...
*Nobody reacts. Nobody even looks twice.*
The Unknown chuckled, raising his cup in a silent toast to my spiraling thoughts.
Kae slowed her pace, eyes fixed on the path ahead. The silence stretched before she finally spoke.
"Souta, about the kidnapping…"
"Hmmm..? I looked at her with curiosity.
"Why did you even go that far for someone you just knew a week ago? Why did you risk yourself for me back then?" She asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I smirked, ready with the first thing that popped into my head. "Because I love you."
I threw it out with the same dry sarcasm I'd use for ordering ramen, expecting her to roll her eyes and call me an idiot.
But she didn't. She stopped walking, her expression unreadable in the dim light.
"...Is that supposed to be a joke?"
The words caught in my throat. My grin faltered. I opened my mouth, then shut it, then laughed weakly. "Not really."
She stared at me a moment longer, like she was searching my face for cracks in the mask. Finally, she looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You shouldn't joke about things like that," she said softly.
The Unknown slurped his coffee louder than ever, a grin splitting across his shadowed face. "Oho… now this is entertaining."
I looked at the Unknown with a glare which led him to keep quiet.
"I don't actually know…" I finally replied.
Kae blinked, slowing her steps. "…You don't know?"
"Yeah." I shoved my hands in my pockets, eyes fixed on the sidewalk. "No grand reason, no heroic speech or anything like that..." He let out a small breath. "I just… did it."
"Before I could think about it… I was already there." I continued.
Her expression softened, just a fraction. She tilted her head, studying me in that quiet, piercing way she always did.
"That's… probably the most honest thing you've said all day." She said, with her voice low.
I laughed dryly, trying to shatter the weight in the air. "Careful, Kae. If you keep talking like that, people might think you actually appreciate me."
She smirked, brushing past me with a light shove to my shoulder. "Don't get ahead of yourself, idiot."
Behind us, the Unknown finally sighed, swirling his empty cup. "Hmph. Boring answer, but… genuine. I'll allow it."
"Didn't ask for your approval," I muttered in response, quickening my pace to catch up with Kae.
"…Thank you."
I blinked, turning to her. "What was that?"
She didn't look at me—just kept walking, eyes forward, arms folded like always. "Don't make me repeat it."
A slow grin spread across my face, warmth pushing past the weariness of the day. "Heh. Guess miracles do happen."
"Shut up," she snapped, but her voice lacked its usual bite.
And for once, I let the silence settle, no jokes, no deflections—just the sound of two footsteps under a quiet evening sky.