Momo clutched her bag tightly as she strolled down the empty school hallway. Most of the students had already left, and the late afternoon sunlight cast long shadows on the walls. She felt a strange sense of unease, like someone was watching her.
"Ah, Momo," came the smooth, familiar voice.
She froze. Turning slowly, she found herself face-to-face with Yozora. His school uniform was immaculate, as usual, his tie perfectly in place, and his sharp features seemed to glow under the golden light.
"Y-Yozora," she stammered, forcing a nervous smile. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be heading home?"
He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking ominously against the tiled floor. "I wanted to talk to you," he said, his tone light but somehow... off.
"Talk?" she echoed, inching backward.
"Yes," he said, pulling something from his pocket. Her heart stopped when she saw the glint of silver. A knife.
"Yozora!" she gasped, taking another step back.
His face remained calm, almost serene. "Momo," he began, flipping the blade open with an unsettling level of ease, "I like you. Let's go out."
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "Th-that's not how you ask someone out!" she squeaked, her eyes darting between his face and the weapon in his hand.
"Why not?" he asked, tilting his head as if genuinely confused.
"Because!" she said, waving her hands frantically. "You don't... you don't threaten someone when you confess!"
"I wouldn't call it a threat," Yozora mused, taking another step closer. "But if you reject me..." His voice dropped, and his smile widened ever so slightly. "I'd be really upset."
Her legs felt like jelly. Her mind raced to come up with an excuse. "I-I don't think I'm ready for a relationship!"
"That's fine," he said, his tone cheerful as he reached out and gently touched her shoulder. She froze completely. "We can take it slow. But I can't let anyone else have you, Momo. I hope you understand that."
"I-I think I hear my phone ringing!" she blurted, sidestepping him and trying to bolt.
Before she could take more than two steps, he was in front of her again, his speed almost inhuman. "Running away already?" he asked, twirling the knife absentmindedly. "That would hurt my feelings."
She swallowed hard. "O-okay! I'll think about it!"
"Think about it?" His voice hardened, and for the first time, his dark eyes seemed to pierce into her soul. "Momo, I need an answer. Now."
"Y-yes!" she yelped, throwing her hands up. "I'll go out with you! Please put the knife away!"
His smile returned, soft and boyish, as if the entire encounter hadn't just left her questioning all her life choices. "Perfect," he said, pocketing the knife like it was nothing. "I'll pick you up tomorrow after school. Wear something nice."
Momo nodded frantically, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
As he turned and walked away, humming to himself, she leaned against the wall, her legs giving out beneath her.
"What just happened?" she whispered to herself.
From down the hallway, Yozora turned and waved. "See you tomorrow, Momo."
She could only wave back weakly, wondering how her life had spiraled so far out of control.