Don't touch him.

The noise of the event slowly returned, but it didn’t feel as overwhelming anymore.

Not with Akira standing in front of him.

“Come on,” Akira said, glancing back with a small smile. “Let’s get out of the crowded area.”

Haruka hesitated… then followed.

He didn’t know why.

Maybe it was the way Akira spoke so easily.

Or how he didn’t look at him like something was wrong.

---

They moved toward a quieter hallway, the sounds of laughter fading behind them.

For a moment, it was peaceful.

Too peaceful.

---

“Well?” Akira said, stretching his wings slightly. “You gonna tell me your name, or should I keep calling you ‘mysterious wingless guy’?”

“…Haruka.”

“Haruka,” Akira repeated, like he was testing the name. “I like it.”

Haruka looked away.

“…You don’t have to pretend.”

“Pretend what?”

“That you care.”

---

Akira stopped walking.

“…I’m not pretending.”

---

Before Haruka could respond, voices echoed from the hallway ahead.

“Yo, isn’t that him?”

Haruka’s body went still.

He knew that tone.

---

Three students stood near the corner—wings dark and sharp, expressions already twisted with amusement.

“Wow,” one of them said, stepping forward. “They actually let you in here?”

Another laughed. “Guess they’re lowering standards now.”

---

Haruka’s fingers curled slightly at his sides.

Just ignore it.

Just wait for it to end.

That’s what he always did.

---

“Where are your wings?” one of them mocked, walking closer. “Or did they fall off?”

Laughter.

Loud.

Too loud.

---

Haruka lowered his head.

“…It’s fine,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

---

“Fine?”

The voice beside him changed.

Not loud.

Not joking.

Just… sharp.

---

Akira stepped forward.

Slowly.

Calmly.

But something about him felt completely different now.

---

“Say that again,” Akira said.

The hallway went quiet.

---

One of the boys scoffed. “What, you his babysitter or something?”

Akira didn’t laugh.

Didn’t smile.

Didn’t move.

“I said,” he repeated, voice lower this time, “say it again.”

There was a pause.

Then—

“Tch. Whatever,” the boy shrugged. “We’re just messing with the wingless—”

“Don’t.”

Akira’s wings spread slightly.

Not fully.

Just enough.

But it was enough to feel it.

The air shifted.

Heavy.

Pressured.

“Don’t call him that,” Akira said.

For the first time, the group hesitated.

“…Why do you care so much?” one of them asked, frowning.

Akira didn’t even look at them.

His eyes stayed on Haruka.

“Because,” he said quietly, “he didn’t do anything to deserve that.”

Haruka blinked.

“Let’s go,” Akira added, turning slightly toward him. “They’re not worth your time.”

The group didn’t stop them.

Didn’t laugh again.

Didn’t say anything.

As they walked away, Haruka felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.

Not fear.

Not emptiness.

Something… warmer.

“…You didn’t have to do that,” Haruka said after a while.

Akira glanced at him.

“Yeah,” he said. “I did.”

Haruka frowned slightly.

“…Why?”

Akira smiled again—but this time, it wasn’t light or teasing.

It was certain.

“Because I don’t like seeing people get hurt,” he said.

Then after a pause—

“Especially you.”

Haruka stopped walking.

“…Why me?”

Akira looked back at him, gold hair catching the light again, green eyes steady.

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted.

“…But I want to.”

And for the second time that day—

Haruka didn’t have an answer.

But this time…

He didn’t feel like running away.

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