The air inside the house felt heavy, like the pressure in the atmosphere before a storm.
Hina's eyes remained fixed on Kai, her grey irises were sharp, cutting through him like a blade.
He could feel it... the weight of her presence, the intensity in her stare, the suffocating aura that demanded one thing.
This wasn't just suspicion.
This was a demand for answers.
And he had nowhere to run.
The truth.
Kai swallowed. His throat was dry.
If he hesitated, it would only make things worse.
"I..." He exhaled sharply. There was no way around it. "I have to meet Emi at 7 PM. At the Neko Café."
The room froze.
The atmosphere, which had already been tense, shattered into something even more dangerous.
Kai could feel it—a shift in the air, a sudden, sharp drop in temperature, as if a cold wind had swept through the room.
Silence.
The room temperature seemed to drop.
Hina didn't blink. Didn't move.
Kai could feel her aura darkening in an instant.
Her face remained unreadable, but her eyes—her eyes burned with something primal.
And then—
A deadly smile curved on her lips.
"Emi...?" she repeated, her tone dangerously slow.
Kai knew that look.
Hina blinked slowly, deliberately as her eyes widened by a little.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward.
Kai didn't move, but his soul was preparing for the worst.
Her face was unreadable, but her aura...
Her aura screamed the word jealousy.
The moment she reached him, she tilted his chin up with her fingers, forcing him to meet her gaze.
Her beautiful yet terrifying eyes locked onto his.
"Why? Didn't I tell you to stay away from that whore?" she asked.
Her voice was soft. Too soft.
Her gaze was firm, deep, and locked, deep into his soul.
Kai felt his pulse quicken.
This wasn't just suspicion.
This was something primal.
She wasn't angry at Emi.
She was angry at the idea of another girl being near him.
And yet, Kai didn't flinch.
His expression remained calm, unwavering, as he spoke the words that would determine his fate.
"Because I want you to follow me." Kai said, with a firm voice.
Silence.
Hina's grip on his chin tightened for a second before, slowly, she let go.
Kai held his breath as she took a step back.
The storm in her eyes flickered—rage, then suspicion, then something softer.
She exhaled.
"You idiot," she muttered, letting out a sigh.
Akira watched the whole scene in amusement.
Kai let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
She believed him.
At least, for now.
"When are you going to meet her, Kai?" Hina asked, with a cold voice.
After her question , he then glanced at his phone.
6:32 PM.
His eyes widened.
"Shit." Kai mumbled in his mind.
"The meeting is... at 7 PM." Kai said. "I need to change." He added, while putting his phone back in his pocket.
A spark of panic surged through him. He had completely lost track of time.
Hina just nodded at his reply.
"Go." Hina said, with a sigh.
Without thinking, he turned on his heel and sprinted down the hall.
"I'm gonna be late!" he yelled as he disappeared into his room.
Hina and Akira remained in the living room, watching as the sound of his footsteps thundered through the house.
For a second—
Silence.
Then—
Akira chuckled. "Cute." She said, as she watched the young man going into his room.
But she probably meant he was "Cute" like a puppy.
Hina's aura darkened again.
She turned slowly to face Akira.
Then, silence.
Hina slowly turned her head towards Akira.
Her expression had changed.
It wasn't calm.
It wasn't passive.
It was neutral but... deadly.
Akira simply smirked.
"Sister..." Hina said coldly, her tone lethal.
Akira raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.
"Me?" she asked, feigning innocence.
Hina took a step closer.
The temperature seemed to drop again.
"...Your scent was all over him." she whispered.
The smirk on Akira's lips widened slightly.
Hina's expression did not change.
"I hope that doesn't happen again," she said, her voice eerily calm.
Akira chuckled.
That's all she did.
A small, amused, mocking laugh.
"Damn, Hina~" she mused, tilting her head. "You really think you can keep him all to yourself?"
Hina's jaw tightened, knowing that her sister was just teasing her.
But she said nothing.
Akira took another step forward, closing the distance between them.
"You know, you're cute when you're possessive," she teased.
Hina remained silent.
Akira leaned in slightly, her voice dropping.
"But you should know something," she whispered.
Hina's eyes flickered, but she didn't react.
Akira's smirk remained.
"I like this boy..." She whispered, to tease Hina.
The words hung in the air between them, heavy, unspoken tension crackling like static electricity.
But Hina?
She simply turned away.
She didn't acknowledge it.
Didn't even react.
It was as if she hadn't even heard it.
Akira's smirk deepened.
"Tch. She's pretending she didn't hear me."
Hina sighed and crossed her arms, her voice flat. "Are you done?"
Akira chuckled. "For now."
A few moments later, Kai reappeared, now dressed in casual but stylish clothes. He adjusted his jacket and ran a hand through his hair, still slightly breathless from rushing.
"Alright, I'm ready," he announced.
Hina didn't answer.
She simply watched him.
Her violet eyes studying him.
Kai didn't notice.
But Akira did.
And it amused her.
"Well then," Akira stretched lazily, placing her hands behind her head. "I'll be coming too."
Kai blinked. "Wait, what?"
Akira smirked. "What? You thought it'd just be you and Hina spying? No way. I wanna see what happens~. I wanna see the drama."
Kai sighed, rubbing his temples.
This was going to be a disaster.