Chapter 25 – Shared Steps

The alarm wasn't necessary.

Yuta Okkotsu opened his eyes at 6:12 AM, before the first chime. The room was still dark, but the window's outline hinted at the start of a new day.

He lay there for a moment, listening to the distant sound of birds. His mind was calm—more than it had been in weeks. His body relaxed, muscles free of tension. But there was something new inside.

A faint feeling. Light. Almost silent.

'It was real…'

His phone buzzed beside the pillow.

Toknet – Megumi Katō:

"I'll be at the same place as yesterday. Cherry blossom tree. 6:42."

No emojis. No extra words. Exactly her style.

Yuta sat up slowly. Ran his hands through his hair, took a deep breath. Then smiled—small, discreet.

He got up.

Washed his face. Brushed his teeth. Put on his uniform unhurriedly. The gray light of the sky filtered through the half-open window. The cool morning breeze brushed his face gently.

By 6:39, he was ready.

He grabbed his phone. Replied simply.

Yuta Okkotsu:

"Heading there."

He slipped the phone into his pocket. Left the room quietly.

The house was still asleep.

Outside, the sky was partly cloudy but clear enough for the sun's golden light to filter through in scattered beams.

Yuta walked through the residential streets. The sound of leaves, birds, and the occasional gate opening created a tranquil soundtrack.

The world felt clean.

No curses.

No missions.

Just the start of a day.

As he turned the final corner, he saw her.

Megumi.

Standing under the still-intact cherry blossom tree. The branches' shadows stretched across the packed dirt. The breeze made the hem of her skirt sway lightly.

She held her backpack strap with one hand. The other was in her coat pocket.

Her eyes lifted when he appeared.

And they smiled.

Not much. But enough.

Yuta stopped in front of her.

The smile was still on his face. Soft. Warm.

'I'm dating an anime heroine. Asclepius, it's unreal.'

He took another step closer. Said nothing. Just approached slowly and, with gentleness, pressed his lips to her face—between her cheek and temple.

A quick kiss. Calm. Real.

Megumi froze for half a second.

Then looked away.

Her cheeks flushed, her breathing soft. She didn't say anything… but the hand in her pocket emerged and touched his arm lightly. Not to push him away. Just to feel him.

Two people passed by on the path ahead. A boy with headphones around his neck, a girl fiddling with her phone. Both glanced reflexively but said nothing.

They just kept walking.

Yuta held her gaze. Megumi looked back at him.

"Good morning."

Her voice was softer than usual.

"Good morning."

And then they started walking.

Side by side.

Their steps were slow, unhurried. The sound of leaves continued, mingling with the breeze brushing lightly against their uniforms.

The school was still two streets away, but in that moment, neither of them was thinking about the classroom.

They just walked.

"Today feels heavier than usual… so I need you to trust me if I ask you to do something. Above all, avoid isolated places."

Megumi didn't hesitate.

She looked directly at him, her eyes steady despite the cool breeze tugging at loose strands of her hair.

"Okay. I trust you."

Her response came quickly, without doubt. No room for hesitation.

"If you ask, I'll do it. And… I'll be careful."

She squeezed his arm lightly—the same one she'd touched since the kiss on her cheek.

"But only if you promise to take care of yourself too."

Yuta nodded, serious inside but relieved outwardly. Her kind of trust… was exactly what he needed to move forward. Even with the mission that hadn't yet begun.

"You got it. I always take care of myself."

Yuta replied with a half-smile, his gaze steady, as if trust were an invisible armor.

Megumi let out a small sigh, as if relieved. Then she glanced away for a moment but soon returned with a faint spark in her eyes.

"I made more food today."

She adjusted the strap of her backpack on her shoulder.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want seconds… but I made extra anyway."

Her tone was casual, but the restrained smile at the corner of her lips betrayed the care behind the gesture.

"It's all portioned out properly. If there's any left, take it home. I don't want to hear you're skipping meals."

Yuta looked at her for an extra second, soaking in that gentle simplicity.

"We started dating yesterday, and you're already acting like a perfect wife… lucky me."

His tone was light, clearly teasing, but Megumi blushed instantly. Her expression wavered between surprise and embarrassment, her eyes darting away for a moment.

But then she took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and replied, serious:

"If it's about taking care of you, I'll do whatever's needed."

She turned her face slightly but didn't let go of his arm. Her touch felt even firmer now.

"Besides… someone's got to make sure you eat properly, right?"

Yuta lowered his eyes for a moment, glancing at his own body. The uniform fit well, but it was impossible to miss the lean silhouette beneath the fabric.

'…She's right. I'm pretty skinny.'

His hands tightened slightly in his trouser pockets.

'If it weren't for cursed energy… I'd be really weak.'

The thought passed quickly but left a faint shadow in the back of his mind. Still, he looked at Megumi again—and smiled. Small, but real.

Yuta kept the smile outwardly, but inside, the thought darkened a bit more.

'A world with curses is too dangerous…'

His eyes followed Megumi's steady, confident steps beside him—but he knew what lurked beyond the school routine.

'I need to keep her safe too.'

He took a deep breath, keeping his expression light. The sound of leaves rustling high above the street felt more distant now.

'I hope those cursed amulets can ward off more than just curses…'

His fingers brushed lightly against the inner pocket where he already imagined carrying future talismans.

'…and that I get stronger.'

Not for pride. Not for competition.

For her.

Without a word, Megumi squeezed Yuta's hand lightly.

The gesture was simple but heavy. A touch that didn't ask for words—just presence.

Yuta looked at her, surprised by the perfect timing of it.

And then she smiled.

Not a wide smile. Small, restrained… but full of certainty. As if, somehow, she knew exactly what was going through his head.

They kept walking side by side until they reached the school's main entrance.

The sound of voices began to multiply. Students arriving, hurried steps, distant laughter.

And there, a few meters from the gate, they let go of each other's hands.

Naturally.

Without awkwardness.

But with the clear feeling that, even without the touch, something still bound them.

"See you at break, Megumi."

Yuta spoke calmly, almost as if it were an old routine—but his eyes carried the weight of care behind the words.

Megumi nodded with a small smile, her backpack slung over one shoulder.

"I'll be in the same spot."

She turned slowly and headed toward the 1-C building, her steps light, calm.

Yuta watched for a second, then turned toward his own classroom.

The day had begun.

But the mission, not yet.

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