The golden light of morning crept through the windows, casting a soft warmth over the penthouse. A rare moment of peace lingered—until Raijin, ever the instigator, shattered it with a sly grin.
Raijin: "Yo, Kazimir. How'd those walls feel last night?"
Kazimir froze mid-sip. He didn't even need to ask.
Kazimir: "…Not surprised you heard all that."
Tojo, ever the composed one, chimed in calmly.
Tojo: "Actually, we all did."
Kazimir raised a brow. "She was… that loud?"
The room erupted into laughter—well, almost all of it. Angelly didn't laugh. Not even a smile. Her tea sat untouched, her gaze focused like a blade.
Angelly: "So you really did it… even knowing Gendai feels something for you."
The laughter died instantly.
Everyone: Awkward sips of tea.
Kazimir blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Angelly's tone turned sharp, almost trembling with emotion.
Angelly: "Don't pretend. You know Gendai likes you. She always has."
Kazimir's jaw tensed. "I didn't know. And even if that were true… how does that make me the bad guy here?"
Angelly: "Because she's always been by your side. Always looking at you like you hung the stars. And you… you couldn't see it? Couldn't feel it?"
Kazimir: "…She's always been kind to me. She never said anything. She never—acted different. What signs was I supposed to see?"
His voice dropped, a tinge of coldness leaking through.
Kazimir: "I can't read an empty page. What the hell are you expecting from me? You sound insane."
Angelly stood abruptly, her voice shaking now—anger and pain fighting for dominance.
Angelly: "YOU LED HER ON! With your kindness. Your attention. The way you listened to her when no one else did. Why do you think she tried so hard to understand you?! She loved you, Kazimir!"
Upstairs, a soft gasp escaped Gendai. She had only come down for a glass of water. Now, her body was frozen on the stairwell, hands trembling.
Kazimir: "…So I'm not allowed to care for my team now? That's what we're doing?"
Angelly: "She told me what happened in the dungeon. She tried to kiss you. But it wasn't really you—you dodged her without even realizing."
Kazimir's expression shifted, almost unreadable.
Kazimir: "A succubus… falling in love. That's new."
Angelly: "She's not a demon on the inside. She's human where it matters most. And she's right there… listening."
All heads turned toward the stairwell.
Gendai stood at the top, eyes wide and broken. Her voice, when it came, was barely a whisper.
Gendai: "…So you did it. With her."
Kazimir met her gaze but didn't flinch.
Kazimir: "Why is this such a big deal? I'm not a mind reader. She never told me. She's not my girlfriend. I'm just a guy she has a crush on. That's all this is."
A tense silence followed.
Then Tojo spoke, arms folded, voice calm but cutting.
Tojo: "He's not wrong. Gendai never said anything. Riah fought for him—made it obvious from day one. Gendai just watched from the sidelines. That's on her."
Gendai's shoulders trembled. Her fingers clenched against the railing.
Gendai: "I… I've had enough. I'm going for a walk."
She descended quickly, never once meeting anyone's eyes.
Angelly: "Kazimir, go after her."
Raijin: "Yo, shut up. You're trying so hard to make him the villain. But when did he ever lead her on romantically? He's just looking out for his team, like he always has."
Tojo: "She waited too long. That's the truth. She left for months to figure herself out, and now she's shocked someone else got to him first?"
Angelly: "Men are so hopeless…"
Xavier, silent until now, leaned forward slowly.
Xavier: "The only hopeless one here is you."
Angelly snapped toward him.
Angelly: "You haven't said a word this whole time. Stay quiet."
Xavier: "You don't even belong here. You're not qualified. You cling to us like a parasite. What do you bring to this team except immortality that only lets you take more punishment? Even a civilian has more use than you. You're not one of us. So stop pretending you are."
The room turned heavy, like gravity itself had increased. Then—
Lilly, stepping between them, her presence soft but commanding.
Lilly: "That's enough. All of you. This has gone far enough."
Silence.
Lilly turned to Kazimir, her gaze warm.
Lilly: "You're not in the wrong. This argument… it wasn't fair to you. But still…"
Her voice softened to a whisper only Kazimir could hear.
Lilly: "Gendai's hurting. Even if you didn't mean to cause it… you should talk to her. Please."
Kazimir closed his eyes for a moment. His fists clenched at his sides—not from anger, but from the weight of everything unsaid.
Kazimir: "…Yeah. I'll talk to her."