The library was quiet. The kind of quiet that made every pencil scratch sound like a scream.
Momo's eyes were glazed over. Her brain was melting into her notes. "If I see one more equation," she muttered, "I'll just evaporate."
Then she saw him.
At the far end of the library — Jikan. Alone.
Weird. The twins were *never* apart.
Jin was probably glued to Yozora right now, like always. But Jikan… was here? By himself?
She blinked, half unsure if she was hallucinating from stress.
Still, she waved. "Uh… hey, Jikan?"
He looked up. Same blank doll face. "Good afternoon, Momo-san."
She smiled awkwardly. "Didn't expect to see you here. Where's Jin?"
"Home."
He shut his book with a soft thud. "I wanted to be alone."
He started to walk away.
"Wait!" she whispered. "Are you okay? You seem—off."
He stopped mid-step. Then, without turning, said flatly:
"I don't want to talk to my older brother's woman."
Momo blinked. "...What?"
He turned his head slightly, his eyes dull. "You're Yozora's woman. Why would I talk to you?"
Her jaw dropped. "I'm what now?!"
Jikan just shrugged. "He said you're his. Told everyone."
She stared at him, horrified. "He WHAT—?! That's— that's a lie!"
Jikan blinked once. "Then he lied again."
He turned to leave.
"Wait, again?! What do you mean again?!" she whisper-yelled, half rising from her seat.
The librarian gave her a death stare.
Jikan ignored both of them and said casually, "He told Father you and a police file were secured."
That word hit her like ice water.
Momo froze. "...Father?"
Jikan didn't answer. He just walked away, slow and calm, like he hadn't just detonated a bomb in her brain.
A chill ran down her spine.
She remembered the police station.
The way the officers looked at each other when she said "Yozora Akimatsu."
The way their voices changed.
One of them even told her, carefully, "Drop it. For your own good."
She'd thought it was some rich family thing.
But now—
Her throat was dry.
"Hey, Jikan," she called softly.
He stopped again, halfway to the door.
She tried to sound casual. "Yozora doesn't really look like your mum, does he? Or act like her either."
Her laugh came out shaky. "He's… a little too intense. Is that from your dad?"
Jikan didn't turn. His voice was quiet but sharp.
"You should mind your business, Momo-san. You don't want anything to do with ours."
And then he walked out.
Momo sat frozen, her pencil still in hand, heart hammering.
The silence pressed against her ears until she could hear her pulse.
"…What the hell is their family?"