Arashi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. But sleep refused to come to Arashi. Ren's snores thundered beside him, shaking the quiet room like a relentless drumbeat.
"Today… today was insane," he thought, hugging his pillow tighter. "So much happened in just one day."
Grandpa's stories about the curse, the dream girl's words, Ayane's quiet presence… and even Ren being his usual loud self—it all kept replaying in his mind.
And then, as if drawn there by fate, her face appeared—the dream girl.
"She said she's real…"
Grandpa's words echoed in his memory, too: that these dreams weren't ordinary, that one person from their bloodline sees her. And now, everything felt vivid. Real. Almost like she was somewhere out there, waiting, watching, and only he could see her.
A strange ache formed in his chest. His hand instinctively rested there.
"Am I… falling for her?"
No. No, this isn't real. "Just a dream. Just my imagination running wild."
But no matter how much he tried to push the thought away, the memory of her glowing smile, her gentle voice, lingered stubbornly. She kept coming back, filling his mind until it felt like she was right there beside him.
He swallowed, feeling a warmth creep up his neck.
"She's… different. I've never remembered any girl like this before. Why does it feel like she's calling to me?"
He shook his head sharply. "It's nothing. Just a delusion. That's all."
Hours passed in restless silence, the only sound Ren's unwavering, thunderous snoring. Arashi's mind kept racing, thoughts bouncing between her and the strange story of the curse.
"If she's real… if she's really out there… I have to meet her someday. But… how?"
His eyelids grew heavy. Finally, exhaustion began to win. His breathing slowed. The room fell quiet again, except for Ren's relentless snoring.
Even as he drifted into sleep, a faint thought lingered at the edge of his mind:
"I'll see her again… in my dreams. And maybe… someday, we'll meet."
Next Day, Arashi woke to a loud crashing sound. He reached for his phone and froze.
"11:43 AM… What?!"
Ren was still sprawled on the bed, snoring loudly as if nothing had happened.
Arashi's patience snapped. He delivered a swift kick to Ren.
"Oi! Wake up!"
Ren groaned, rolling over and squinting. "Huh? What? Did someone break in? What's going on?"
Arashi shot him a glare. "Bro, I told you to set the alarm! But you just ignored it like always!"
Ren yawned, scratching his head. "Chill… it's not that late… it's only—"
Arashi shoved his phone in front of Ren's face. "Look! 11:44 AM!"
Ren's eyes went wide. "Wh-what?! 11:44?! How—"
"Exactly!" Arashi snapped, throwing his hands up. "So what about breakfast? You know our rule—if you skip it, you get nothing. Handle your own food later!"
Arashi rubbed his face, sighing. "Fine… we'll just wait for lunch. We don't have money for anything else anyway."
With a silent agreement, the two cousins got ready and stepped outside.
Ren stretched and yawned as he noticed Ayane sitting quietly next to their room door, staring at the floor.
"Hey, Ayane! Good morning! Need some AI… I mean, uh… good morning vibes?" Ren joked awkwardly. "By the way, what are you doing here?"
Ayane looked up, her voice soft but clear. "I… I was waiting for you two. Your cousins asked me to tell you they're waiting for you. I thought I should inform you once you woke up."
Arashi raised an eyebrow. "Why would they need us?"
Curious, the two cousins went, and soon enough, it became clear. Their cousins wanted them to come along to buy some supplies. At first, both Ren and Arashi tried to refuse.
But then, Ren's stomach let out a loud growl, echoing like a warning siren. Their lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "And after we come back, we'll stop by that fast-food place too," they added.
That was all it took. Both boys immediately agreed.
As they got ready and stepped out, Arashi noticed Ayane was missing. He looked around and saw her standing quietly in the corner, observing them.
"Hey, Ayane," he called softly, approaching her. "You're coming with us, right? What would you do alone at home?"
She hesitated, her eyes flicking away. "I… I don't know…"
Arashi knelt slightly to meet her gaze. "You're not going because… you feel like you don't belong, right? That you're… out of place in this family?"
Ayane's eyes widened, startled. "H-how…?"
"I can tell," Arashi said gently, his tone calm yet warm. "But you're not out of place. You're part of this family too. We're all together, so… come on. Let's have some fun."
Ayane's cheeks flushed, a small flutter rising in her chest. She didn't realize how comforting it felt to hear someone say she belonged. Her heart felt a little lighter, and the warmth in her chest spread in a way she hadn't expected.
This… this is different. He… he actually notices me, and he's saying I'm part of the family. I feel… happy, safe, and… something else. Is this… really how it feels to be cared for?
Her fingers twitched slightly, and she found herself almost smiling. There was a strange tension in her chest, a mix of admiration and something tender, new—an unfamiliar, fluttering feeling whenever Arashi spoke to her with such sincerity.
She nodded quietly, her eyes softening. "O-okay… I'll go with you."
The group stepped out into the bustling market, the warm sunlight bouncing off the stalls and colorful signs. The cousins immediately scattered, each grabbing what they needed. Arashi and Ren were quickly roped into carrying bags, their arms loaded with items as the girls zipped around, picking out more things.
By the time the sun dipped toward the late afternoon, the clock read 5:56 PM. Arashi felt his stomach twist painfully. He glanced at Ren, who looked equally pale.
"Y-yeah… I think we might've made a huge mistake," Arashi groaned, shifting the weight of a bag. "We've barely eaten anything all day, and you know… all this walking…"
Ren put his hands on his hips, nodding. "My stomach agrees with you. Seriously, do these girls even realize what they've done to us?"
Elara laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Jeez, enough whining! Shopping's done. Come on—we'll take you somewhere to eat. You'll survive, I promise."
Finally, the group settled into a cozy little restaurant. The smell of food hit them like a wave, and everyone took their seats.
Aurelia, seated across from them, tilted her head and noticed Ayane stealing glances at Arashi. Her grin widened. Leaning toward Arashi and Ren, she whispered, "You two—step away. We need a little girl talk."
Ren shook his head, pretending to plead. "Please! I wanna hear too! Don't leave me out!"
But Arashi grabbed him by the arm and gently pulled him away, giving him a pointed look.
Back at the table, Ayane's eyes widened as she realized all the attention was suddenly on her. "W-what… what's happening?" she stammered.
Aurelia leaned closer, resting a hand lightly on Ayane's shoulder. "Be honest with me, okay? You can trust me," she said softly, her grin teasing but reassuring. "Tell me… do you like Arashi?"
Ayane's entire face flushed a deep crimson. Her chest felt like it might burst. "N-n-no! That… that's not possible! You must have the wrong idea!" she stammered, shaking her head frantically.
Aurelia's grin only widened. "Nope, I know the truth. Come on, just tell me. I won't tell anyone."
Ayane's defenses faltered under Aurelia's calm, confident gaze. Her voice was barely a whisper. "M-maybe… yes… I think I do."
The table erupted in playful squeals. "Aww! So cute!" "Really? That's adorable!" The teasing from the cousins made Ayane bury her face in her hands, hiding the deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
Before the moment could get any more intense, a waiter appeared with steaming plates of food, breaking the tension. Aurelia laughed and waved toward Arashi and Ren. "Come on, you two! Don't leave the food waiting!"
Arashi and Ren exchanged a quick glance and moved forward, both silently thankful for the interruption—and for the brief respite from Ayane's blushing, which was now adorably impossible to ignore.
Arashi and Ren nodded and moved ahead, giving the girls some space. Ayane lingered for a moment, a tingling chill running down her spine as Aurelia called her.
"Come on, let's continue," Aurelia said, her grin teasing.
Ayane froze, hugging her arms slightly closer to herself. "N-no… p-please… just stop," she stammered, her cheeks burning and heart pounding.
Seraphine leaned in, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Okay… tell us, when did all this start?"
Ayane bit her lip, hesitating. "U-uh… there's no way to escape… I guess…" She took a deep breath before admitting softly, "Yesterday… we met just yesterday."
The revelation hit the group like a lightning bolt. Everyone gasped in surprise. All of the cousins exclaimed loudly, "All in one day?!"
Arashi and Ren, walking a little ahead, froze at the raised voices. "What happened in just one day?!" Ren asked, concern in his voices.
Seraphine, flustered, waved her hand quickly. "Oh… nothing… just… you guys keep going," she said, then Ayane lowered her voice even further, almost whispering, "P-please… keep your voices down…"
Elara, always practical, tilted her head with a gentle smile. "Alright… tell us, what can we do for you? We can do anything."
Ayane's chest tightened at the question. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried a quiet honesty.
"J-just… stay with me…" she said softly, glancing down at her hands. "I… I want… to be around people I can trust… like you all."
It was simple, but it meant a lot. The girls exchanged knowing smiles, realizing that Ayane's shy heart had already opened a little—and that trust, and maybe something more, was starting to blossom.
As they were walking back, a boy suddenly stepped into their path, blocking Ren.
"Well, well," the boy sneered. "Where's the loser wandering off to? Looks like it's time to update your software. Just wait."
Ren's face darkened with rage. He threw the shopping bags aside and clenched his fists.
"You again…! Do you even understand when someone tells you to back off? What do you think of yourself? I won't let you go this time!"
Ren lunged, but Akashi's hand shot out, grabbing his collar and holding him back.
"Not every problem is solved with fists," Akashi said firmly.
The boy's eyes flickered past Ren, landing on the girls behind them. A sly grin spread across his face.
"Whoa… so many cute girls with you? Ren, how did that even happen? Maybe I should introduce myself…"
He stepped forward—only for Akashi to shove Ren safely aside and glare at the boy. His eyes went cold, sharp as a blade.
"Take one more step," Akashi said in a low, threatening voice, "and you'll regret it."
The boy froze. His bravado crumbled beneath that chilling stare. After a tense silence, he muttered, "Tch… fine. I'll let you off today, Ren. But be ready next time." With that, he scurried away.
Ren dusted himself off, still fuming. "Why'd you stop me? I could've taken him down!"
Akashi sighed, meeting his eyes. "If you fought here, in front of everyone, you'd just be giving him exactly what he wants—attention. He'd drag you down to his level, and people would only see you as reckless and hotheaded. But if you show him you don't even need to fight… that's what really defeats him, just ignore these type of people."
Ren blinked, his anger faltering. Slowly, the words sank in. "…Damn. When you say it like that… it makes sense."
Aurelia chimed in, nodding. "Akashi's right. If you lost your temper, it would've caused more trouble for all of us."
Lyanna added with a smile, "Honestly, Akashi handled it way better than a fight would've."
Ren scratched the back of his head, a reluctant grin forming. "Fine, fine… I get it. Guess I owe you this time."
The tension melted away, and the group started moving again, the cousins quietly impressed by Akashi's calm and strategic way of handling the situation.
The evening air was cool as the group walked on their way home, laughter and chatter filling the street. Ren had rushed off to run an errand, leaving Arashi walking with the girls.
For the first time in a while, things felt calm. Normal.
But then—
"Oi!"
A harsh voice cut through the peace. Arashi froze, his heart tightening. From the corner of the street, that same boy appeared again—this time, not alone. Three others followed close behind him. Two of them looked about Arashi's age, but the third… an adult, broad-shouldered, towering over the rest.
The boy smirked, pointing at Arashi. "See, that's him. Ren's little friend. The oversmart one who thinks he can glare people into silence."
Arashi clenched his jaw, stepping forward protectively as his cousins shrank back behind him. His voice was calm, but firm:
"Let these girls go. You've got business with us, not them."
The adult chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Kid, you don't get to decide anything. If you care about them… then protect them. But don't cry if you fail—because we'll have our fun either way."
One of the younger boys sneered. "Yeah. Let's see how long you last."
Arashi's fists tightened. His chest burned with tension, but his stance didn't waver. I can't let them get dragged into this… even if it means—
The older man's heavy steps echoed as he moved closer, his shadow swallowing Arashi.
"Don't worry. We'll make this quick."
The street fell silent, the air thick with danger. The girls huddled together, fear in their eyes.
Arashi's heartbeat pounded in his ears. Ren wasn't here. It was just him… and four of them.
Then, without warning, the adult lunged forward.