Chapter 7: Terms of Trust

  The hallway stretched long and hollow.

  Broken windows lined one side, sunlight spilling in uneven streaks. Every footstep echoed too loudly, as if the building itself was listening.

  Tokita walked calmly.

  Natsuki walked beside him.

  And neither of them liked it.

  Natsuki glanced sideways, scoffing quietly. “Tch.”

  Tokita caught it.

  I don’t like you either, man, Tokita thought, eyes forward.

  Their shoulders nearly brushed as they walked—too close. Intentional.

  Then Nezuko slowed her steps and moved closer to Tokita.

  “…Hey,” she said softly.

  Tokita turned his head slightly. “Yeah?”

  “I just wanted to say… I’m sorry. About earlier. I didn’t know they’d attack you like that. Especially Natsuki. He’s… intense.”

  Tokita studied her for a moment, then shrugged.

  “No worries. I’m fine.”

  “You’re not… scared?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Not really.”

  He didn’t tell her the truth.

  That the only moment his heart had jumped—

  was when she screamed as they took her away.

  Natsuki noticed.

  His steps slowed.

  His eyes sharpened.

  He moved between them abruptly, stopping Tokita in his tracks.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Natsuki snapped.

  Tokita blinked. “Walking?”

  “With my sister,” Natsuki said coldly. “Why are you talking to her?”

  Nezuko frowned. “Natsuki—”

  “Stay away from her,” he cut in, glaring.

  Tokita sighed.

  “…Man.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, then stretched out his hand.

  “Look, sorry about before. We started on the wrong foot. Let’s calm down and—”

  Smack.

  Natsuki slapped Tokita’s hand away.

  The hallway went silent.

  Tokita stared at his hand… then at Natsuki.

  “…Okay.”

  Natsuki scoffed and turned away.

  Nezuko smacked the back of Natsuki’s head.

  “Hey!” Natsuki snapped. “Why are you hitting me?! Hit him too!”

  Tokita turned and walked ahead.

  Don’t punch him, he told himself.

  Don’t punch him. Just walk.

  “Let’s keep moving,” Tokita said calmly.

  They reached a classroom.

  Empty.

  Desks overturned. Blood dried dark on the floor. No bodies. No people.

  Just the five of them.

  Tokita exhaled. “Alright. Someone explain what’s going on. Because I’m officially confused.”

  Natsuki scoffed again.

  Nezuko glanced at Tokita… then smiled.

  Tokita smiled back.

  Across the room, the blue-haired girl stepped forward.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “I’ll explain,” she said.

  Then paused.

  “But first—introductions.”

  Tokita scratched his cheek. “Uh… name’s Red.”

  Silence.

  Then—

  “What?” Natsuki burst out laughing. “Red? That’s your name?”

  Tokita stared. “What’s funny about it?”

  Natsuki laughed harder. “God, I really don’t like this guy. I can’t believe he’s talking to my sister.”

  Nezuko tried not to laugh.

  Kaito chuckled quietly.

  He stepped forward and extended a hand.

  “Kaito. Just Kaito. Nineteen.”

  Tokita froze. “Wait—nineteen? Damn. You’re older than me.”

  Kaito smiled. “Yet you don’t talk like it.”

  “It’s fine,” Tokita said. “I don’t really do ‘respect.’”

  “That’s obvious,” Natsuki muttered.

  “By the way,” Tokita added, glancing at him, “I’m sixteen, you punk.”

  Natsuki blinked. “…Huh?”

  The room went silent.

  “Sixteen?” Kaito repeated.

  Aoi’s eyes widened slightly.

  Natsuki stared. “…No way.”

  Tokita shrugged. “Surprised?”

  Natsuki clicked his tongue. “I almost fought to a draw with a sixteen—year-old brat…”

  Aoi stepped forward. “I’m Aoi Kanzaki. Eighteen.”

  Tokita nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

  Aoi’s expression sharpened.

  “Enough small talk. You’re an ability user, aren’t you?”

  Silence.

  Tokita didn’t deny it.

  “…Yeah.”

  Then he tilted his head.

  “And judging by earlier—so are all of you.”

  Kaito nodded.

  Aoi confirmed it.

  Tokita laughed softly. “So I’m not the only one.”

  Relief crept into his voice before he could stop it.

  “Don’t ask about abilities,” Aoi said calmly. “Rule one.”

  Tokita blinked. “…Fair.”

  She continued. “We’re escorting Nezuko to a CDC branch in Tokyo. Her blood may help create a cure.”

  Tokita nodded. “That tracks.”

  Then he turned quiet.

  “…You guys seem strong,” he said. “I think I’ll head home.”

  Kaito frowned. “Home?”

  “Tokyo,” Tokita said. “My mom works at the CDC.”

  All eyes snapped to him.

  “…That changes things,” Kaito said.

  He studied Tokita carefully.

  “You’re strong. You fit this group. Come with us.”

  Tokita hesitated.

  Then sighed.

  “…Fine. I’m in.”

  Kaito and nezuko smiled.

  Then kaito's smile vanished.

  “But first—there’s a trial.”

  The room went dead silent.

  Tokita looked up slowly.

  “…What trial?”

  Kaito’s eyes glowed faintly yellow.

  “To prove you’re not weak.”

  Tokita smiled.

  A sharp, dangerous grin.

  “…Alright,” he said.

  “What trial do you want me to pass?”