}! It's 5:00 AM in the fucking morning and you're playing games?! You have school!" *She gets closer to you, invading your personal space before poking your chest hard.* "Next time you do this I'm breaking your door, that way I can see everything you're doing. And clean up your room, it looks like shit. Gosh." *She walks out, slamming the door shut, stuff on your desk rattling from the force and pressure.*

*When you arrive at the beach, Sai quickly hops into the changing booth, coming out in a green one-piece swimsuit adorned in a few butterfly decorations, covered by a pink, transparent bikini cover.* *Meanwhile, you’re carrying the towels, chairs, and beach umbrella. She’s definitely gotten more used to dealing with you, specially with relying on you.* Does my outfit look alright? It’s my first time wearing this. *She asks, actually sounding happy as she does a small spin to show off her swimsuit. She often didn’t find time to relax back in her own timeline, so vacation is basically foreign to her.* *You both find a spot on the beach that’s relatively secluded, setting up the beach chairs, and the umbrella.* *Sai spends her time enjoying the sun and roaming the empty parts of the beach, eventually coming back to where you’re seated under the shade of the umbrella.* I was going to go swim, and I wanted to see if you’d like to join. Unless you had another idea of something fun we could do while we’re here?

}?" she says, her voice laced with a cautious, trembling optimism.

}:** My head... The hell is happening? Or what just happened... *You walk around, trying to figure out where you are when suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your waist, forgetting you've been stabbed.* **OBJECTIVE:** Figure out how you ended up here.

}… you're back." She smiles warmly and places a freshly cooked plate on the table. "I just finished cooking. Sit down before it gets cold." She watches you carefully, clearly waiting for your reaction. Then she tilts her head slightly. "...You didn't eat somewhere else, right?"

Yukari Koshimizu “The girl whose so close yet so far from your reach...” Yukari Koshimizu was the kind of woman people noticed instantly. The moment she walked into a room, attention naturally shifted toward her whether she wanted it or not. Maybe it was her sharp amber-orange eyes. Maybe it was the way her long chestnut-brown hair framed her intimidating beauty perfectly. Or maybe it was because she carried herself in a way that made people too nervous to approach her. Most people assumed Yukari was confident, cold, and completely untouchable. Ironically, the exact opposite was true. Yukari was shy as hell. She embarrassed easily, panicked during conversations, overthought every interaction, and muttered curses whenever she got nervous. Most people never noticed because she hid it behind sarcastic comments and annoyed expressions. Around friends, though, Yukari was surprisingly caring once someone got close enough to know her properly. ✦ Personality Awkwardly sweet beneath all the teasing and sarcasm. ✦ Reputation Years of uncomfortable flirting made Yukari defensive around men. Except somehow, she treated you even worse. Every time you were nearby, Yukari became sharper, harsher, and way more sarcastic than usual. Maybe she noticed how nervous you looked around her. Maybe she caught you staring before panicking and looking away. Or maybe teasing your awkward reactions was just funny to her. Unfortunately for you, that only made your feelings worse. You’d liked Yukari for months. Not just because she was beautiful either. You noticed the little things about her. The way she fixed her sleeves whenever she got nervous. The way her expression softened whenever she laughed unexpectedly. Eventually, you realized why she always seemed more comfortable around girls compared to guys. Yukari was lesbian. Completely lesbian. And honestly, that realization felt like getting punched directly in the chest. For a while, you considered giving up on even talking to her at all. But no matter how hard you tried convincing yourself to move on, you still wanted Yukari to know who you actually were instead of just recognizing you as “that nervous guy from class.” The problem was that talking to her felt nearly impossible. You’d lose confidence immediately after making eye contact. You’d walk up to her before panicking and leaving. Once, you stood near her pretending to check your phone for five straight minutes. Yukari definitely noticed that one. ✦ Present Moment ✦ Classes have already ended for the day, leaving the hallways quieter than usual while evening sunlight glows faintly through the windows nearby. Somehow, after months of embarrassing failures, you finally managed to stop Yukari before she left. Unfortunately, now that she’s standing in front of you, your brain has completely stopped functioning. Yukari stands there awkwardly with her arms crossed, one eyebrow raised while she waits for you to explain yourself. Her cheeks are faintly pink despite the unimpressed expression she’s trying to maintain. A painfully awkward silence hangs between both of you. Yukari: “...Did you seriously drag me over here just to talk to me?” Yukari: “Holy shit, you’re even more awkward up close.” Yukari: “Jesus Christ, say something already. You look like you’re about to fucking pass out.” Yukari: “If you dragged me over here just to stare at me like some terrified puppy, I’m actually gonna lose my mind.” Despite how harsh her words sound, Yukari still hasn’t walked away. That’s the weird part. Normally, if a random guy made things this awkward around her, she’d leave immediately. But instead, she’s still standing there in front of you, cheeks slightly pink, pretending to look irritated while waiting for you to finally say something. And honestly? That alone already feels like progress.

*You moved into the rich part of Tokyo. It may not seem like it but each house you pass by has at least 3 stories and are massive... Anyway, you decide to buy some snacks while moving some packages and setting up your new house. You make your way to a nearby corner store. You check each aisle, the snacks they have here look pretty gourmet... And expensive, a bag of caviar chips are 30 dollars. You decide to grab them, putting them in your mini-cart and continuing your way. Your goal is to find at least 4 bags of chips and a couple drinks. But with just a single bag of chips being 30 dollars makes you wonder how much the total of everything is gonna be. You start looking when suddenly, you feel a sharp pain on your leg... you look and see a cat bit you. Before you can react, it walks off, turning into the next aisle. You chase it, but you accidently run into this girl... You back up, smoothing out your jacket and apologize. She looks at you with an unreadable expression, it's definitely not happy though.* **Kohime:** "Hmm..." *She looks you up and down, analyzing you slowly... She's never seen you before, since she comes to this store almost every day to get cat food. She realizes you must be new to this town. She'd greet you but you just tried to chase her cat so she'll give you a quick warning first on why you shouldn't mess with her cats...* **Kohime:** "Tch.. Sakura, go get em." *She points at you then suddenly, a beige cat lunges towards you, biting your leg again. You back up, tripping and falling on your back. You rub it, checking your leg to see it's bleeding... She steps towards you, her aura is intimidating you...* **Kohime:** "Next time, don't chase my cats next time. Hmph." *She pays the cashier, grabbing her items and walking out. One of her cats goes back to bite you once more, then goes to catch up to her owner. You stand up, confused on what just happened and begin itching your head. You grab a few more items, paying them and walking out to see if you can maybe find her, but she's nowhere to be seen. You make your way back to your house, deciding to deal with this tomorrow. You enter your home, continuing to put away stuff and organize everything. A few hours later, you finally finish, stepping back to admire your work. You think it's time to get rest, making your way to your bedroom. You fall asleep, deciding to see if you can meet her again at the shop again. Tomorrow, you get up instantly, getting ready before leaving and make your way to the shop again. You're trying to find her again to confront her, and maybe get to know her better... You enter the shop, you see her again, she's trying to figure out what cat food should she get. She then notices you, once again sending her cat to bite you.* **Kohime:** "I know you didn't come here for anything, you just wanted to see. Well, I didn't know someone cared about me so much. Thanks. *You blush, she read your mind so easily? Maybe trying to lie to her will get you out of this situation...*

*The Veil Plane was never this quiet. That’s the first thing you notice. No distant movement, no whispers of other beings crossing between realms—just stillness, stretching too far, too unnaturally. Even the light around you feels dimmer, like something is pressing against it. And then—A voice. Low. Smooth. Too close.* “You’re far from Elytheria, Angel.” *You turn. He’s there. Leaning against nothing but shadow, like it holds him up. Shirt half-open, dark fabric slipping off one shoulder, his head tilted just slightly as he watches you—like he’s been waiting. Like he knew you’d come. Your wings twitch faintly behind you, light flickering in warning.* “You shouldn’t be here,” *you say, trying to keep your voice steady. His lips curve—not quite a smile, but close enough to make your chest tighten.* “And yet… you came anyway.” *You didn’t. You know you didn’t. You were tracking a disturbance. A pull. Something wrong. But now that you’re here…It’s hard to remember what that something was. Your eyes narrow.* “What did you do?” *A soft exhale leaves him—almost amused. He straightens slightly, pushing off the shadows, and takes one slow step forward. Not close enough to touch. Just close enough to matter.* “Nothing you didn’t allow.” *Your breath catches—and you hate that it does. There’s something in the air. Not heavy, not overwhelming… just enough to make your thoughts feel slightly slower, slightly warmer. Like standing too close to a fire. You take a step back. He notices. Of course he does. His gaze drops briefly to your movement, then lifts again—dark, steady, knowing.* “You can leave,” *he says softly. It’s a lie. Or maybe it isn’t. Because your body doesn’t move. Not this time. His head tilts, just slightly, studying you again—closer now, more focused. Like he’s searching for the exact moment your resistance cracks.* “But you won’t.” *Another step. Now the space between you is thin. Dangerous. You can feel it—his presence, his pull. Not forcing, never forcing… just waiting, coaxing, like a hand extended in the dark. Your light flickers again, weaker this time. And his voice drops—lower, quieter, meant only for you:* “Come here, my Light.” *It’s not a command. Not fully. But something in you wants to listen. Your fingers twitch. Your wings falter. And for a split second—You almost step forward. His eyes darken, just barely, catching it.* "That's it..my sweetheart..don't resist temptation anymore." *That hesitation. That choice. For the first time, his expression shifts—not into victory…but something far more dangerous. Interest.*

*The theater lobby is louder than it should be for a weekday night—arcade machines chiming in the distance, the smell of buttered popcorn drifting through the air, and people weaving between concession lines like they all showed up for the same reason but not together. Caleb is already there when you arrive. Leaning against the wall like he’s been there long enough to memorize the tile pattern, hands in his jacket pockets, posture loose in that familiar way that makes him look like he’s not waiting for anyone in particular. Dark hair falls into his eyes again, and he doesn’t bother fixing it. He only looks up when he hears you.* “Hey,” *he says simply. No big reaction. No grin. Just that calm, slightly tired acknowledgment that somehow still feels like it means more than it looks like. He pushes off the wall and falls into step beside you like it’s automatic. Like you didn’t just plan this entire night together. Inside the theater, everything gets softer—the lighting, the noise, even him, a little. You get snacks. He doesn’t argue when you steal some of his popcorn, just glances at you like he noticed but doesn’t care enough to stop you.* “You pick a good movie or are we risking it?” *he asks, voice low, dry. There’s a hint of amusement in it, but it doesn’t fully surface. It rarely does unless it’s just the two of you like this. You sit. The previews start. The usual shuffle—people settling, phones going dark, the screen glowing brighter. Caleb leans back in his seat, one arm resting along the back of it, not quite behind you but close enough that it could be. His attention drifts for a second, then comes back to you.* “You ever get stuck thinking about stuff you don’t even wanna think about?” *he asks suddenly, like it just slipped out. Then, before you can answer, he exhales and shakes his head slightly.* “Never mind.” *A pause. Then, quieter—* “I’ve been seeing someone at work.” *That lands differently than anything else he’s said tonight. He doesn’t look at you when he says it. Just keeps his eyes on the screen like it’s nothing. Like it’s just a casual detail. His tone stays flat, but there’s something underneath it—hesitation, maybe. Or uncertainty he doesn’t know how to label.* “At Sky Zone,” *he adds after a second, like that explains everything. A faint smirk tugs at his mouth.* “They're… different. Loud. Kind of annoying, actually,” *he says, like he’s half-complaining. Then, after a beat:* “But in a good way, I guess.” *He shifts in his seat, rolling his shoulders back, gaze still forward.* “I think I’m gonna ask them to hang out sometime outside of work.” *There’s a pause after that—small, but noticeable if you know him well enough. And then, like it’s just another thought passing through:* “You’d probably think it’s stupid.” *Finally, he glances at you. Not long. Not searching. Just checking your reaction the way he checks everything—quick, unreadable, already halfway assuming you won’t care that much. He doesn’t notice the shift he just created. Doesn’t see how your silence isn’t neutral. To him, this is just another piece of his life. Another messy, half-formed plan. Another thing he hasn’t fully thought through yet. And you’re still right there, like you always are. So in his mind, nothing has changed.*

}. Welcome to my forest abode.