The afternoon passed peacefully, warmed by a gentle sun filtering through the trees in the garden.
I ran into Maki in the hallway, just back from her mission with Panda.
"Oh, so you haven't blown yourselves up without me yet?" she said, casting me a teasing glance.
"Only I survived the cafeteria," I replied, laughing.
"I saw you talking to Kaito earlier… how'd it go?"
"He's nice! We chatted a bit."
"Mmmm..."
She kept a neutral expression. Too neutral. But said nothing else.
"And you, everything okay?" I asked.
"A couple of stubborn curses. Panda had fun. Me? Not so much. Did Toge say anything while I was gone?"
"Just a… tuna? I think... But it felt different this time."
Maki studied me for a second, then shrugged—as if to say "You'll figure it out."
— In the gym… —
I pushed the door open gently. The lighting was soft, and the familiar scent of parquet and worn-out rubber filled the space. Toge was there, sitting on a bench, shoulders slightly slouched, still in his training outfit. He was rubbing a towel through his damp hair, his bare arms relaxed on his knees.
When he saw me, he lifted his gaze.
"Oh, there you are." I said as I approached.
"Tuna mayo."
"I'm happy to see you too." I laughed.
Toge pulled his phone from his pocket and typed something.
"I thought you were still with Kaito."
I stopped in front of him, tilting my head slightly.
"What if I told you I was looking for you?"
He raised an eyebrow, as if to say "Really?"
"Mh-hm. The cafeteria was too quiet. And honestly, after that lunch... I needed someone better."
Toge chuckled softly, shaking his head. Then he stood up.
We found ourselves face to face. Close.His expression turned serious for a moment, then he typed:
"Sorry I was distant today. I don't like certain looks. Not even the kind ones."
His honesty hit me like a flower blooming in the wind.I raised my hand and gently placed it on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Then don't be distant… okay? Not with me."
We looked at each other in silence.There were words we didn't need, and others that maybe would come later.
Then, breaking the sweet tension, he typed again and showed me his phone with a mischievous smile:
"Tomorrow, sushi-only lunch. No mochi with unwanted guests. "
I burst out laughing.
"Deal, Inumaki. But only if you get peach tea too."
"Shake, shake!"
"Then it's a double deal!"
And just like that—through light laughter and glances that finally stopped hiding—the silent wall between us began to crumble.
— Invisible Lines —
The mission was assigned by Gojo-sensei with the same lightness one might use to pick lunch.
"A small village just outside Tokyo. Thin cursed energy, but annoying. Rebecca, Toge, you go. Simple recon."
Simple, he said.
We set off at dawn, under a milky sky. The village was silent, motionless.
The cursed energy slithered between houses like smoke.We walked apart, in silence, but every now and then Toge's eyes searched for mine.His presence was constant, discreet, reassuring.
Until everything changed.
A vibration in the air—like a scratch.Then the ground gave way.I slipped on a broken rooftop, and while trying to land in balance, my foot twisted. A sharp sound.
"AH!"
My ankle gave out, my side hit a metal edge. I felt my breath hitch, my fingers scraped, skin burning.
"Toge!" I cried.
In a flash, he dispatched the creature with a verbal command:
"Crush!"
He ran to me.
"I can't… I can't walk!"
He pulled me into his arms without a word.His breathing was unsteady, his chest against mine.He carried me like porcelain.
"Tuna," he murmured softly—as if to say "Stay calm."
"This is not the time for me to feel like a damsel in distress…" I muttered, blushing furiously.
But he didn't laugh. He just held me tighter.We walked in silence back to the institute.Every step was a brush, every breath a silent confession.
— A little later… in my room —
"Oh, you're alive?" Maki said with a smirk, stepping out of the bathroom and snapping me back to reality.
Everyone was in my room. They'd brought drinks, snacks, even Japanese jazz playing softly.
"Celebrating the return of the heroine with the wrecked ankle!" Panda joked.
"Don't worry, it's just a light sprain. You'll be fine tomorrow," he added, sipping sake and munching popcorn.
I held a can in my hand, cheeks flushed, ankle bandaged, and slightly dizzy from my third beer.Toge was sitting at the edge of the bed, laughing with Panda.I'd never seen him drink, never seen him smoke.I watched him from across the room.My heart pounded.
I walked over.
Slowly.
I sat next to him.
He said nothing, but turned to me.
His eyes were so clear I could have drowned in them.
"May I?" I asked, brushing the hem of his shirt.
He looked down but didn't move away.
Still looking into his eyes, I gently touched the black line of his tattoo with my fingertip.I traced the curve along his jaw, then toward his lips.
Toge wasn't breathing.
"I always wonder how much pain you've had to carry… to bear this curse on your skin."
His eyes widened, like something inside him had stirred at those words.
"Sha…ke..."
"I know. It's not the time for words. But... it's truly beautiful."
He blushed.
Placed his hand gently over mine, shy.
Then typed on his phone:
"When you're this close… it's harder not to speak."
I smiled.
My heart was a drum.
"Then talk to me. Say whatever you want—but talk to me."
We sat there in silence.
My head resting on his chest.
His heartbeat louder than any words.
The party had quieted to a gentle hum.Panda was asleep on my rug with his arms crossed.Yuta was cleaning up paper cups.Toge was still next to me, silent, while I drew invisible patterns on his sleeve with my finger.
That's when Maki walked in with two cans in hand and a suspicious look on her face.
"Hey, you two!" she said, narrowing her eyes.I quickly moved away from Toge, embarrassed.He looked down, pretending to check his phone.Maki raised an eyebrow.
"What's with that look? What did I miss while I was in the kitchen?"
"Nothing!" I said—way too fast.
"All good…" Toge typed on his phone, showing her.
She took a step toward me, stared for a second… then held out a can.
"Come with me. Let's get some air."
I swallowed.
"Alright…"
We stepped out onto the small terrace overlooking the inner courtyard.I had to lean on her so I wouldn't strain my ankle.The air was crisp, and the sky was dotted with faint stars.
"Okay. Now tell me everything."
"Everything what?" I said, feigning surprise.
She gave me a sharp look.
"Rebecca, I saw you. You don't look at someone like that if it's just a silly crush."
She paused. Then smiled.
"And… Toge doesn't let people touch him. Not easily.You touched his tattoo. He let you. That's not like him."
I blushed.
"It's just… I don't know. With him, everything is so… quiet. But deep.I feel… heard, even if he can't speak. Like he truly sees me. And I…"
I stopped, sighing.
"I'm scared it's too soon. That it's not right."
Maki stared at me for a few more seconds, then smiled softly.
"You know you're the first girl he's let get this close?There've been other students here, even from abroad. But never—and I mean never—has he acted this way with anyone.With you, it's different. He's more present. He seems more... alive."
"But what about you and Yuta?" I asked, grinning.She lowered her gaze, then turned toward the window.
"Yeah, we're together. Only Panda knows.But I think Toge's figured it out too."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked, laughing.
"Because I wanted to see if you were one of us—or just passing through.But now I know. You're one of us."
Something melted inside me.I took her hand and squeezed it.
"So, Maki… what do you think I should do about him?"
"Do what makes you happy.But if you're not ready to stay… don't give him false hope."
I stayed silent for a moment, still tipsy, then smiled.
"I'll stay.For him, for me.For all of you."
She smiled.
"Then tomorrow we start again with even more determination.I'm sure you've been sleeping with cursed energy around you these days—but now, it's time to wake it.Wait for his signals though. Don't rush. Got it?"
I looked at her and nodded—even though I didn't fully understand.
"Can't we wake it up with coffee?" I asked.
She burst out laughing.
"Only if it's cursed coffee."
We went back inside laughing, side by side, like two allies ready for anything.Toge was watching me from across the room—his gaze whispering everything his mouth couldn't say.