Sometimes, the thing that touches you isn't a hand—
but a gaze that's too honest… and too silent
The morning was hot.
And damp.
The sky hung heavy, gray with leftover clouds.
No breeze.
No motion.
Last night's rain had turned the school ground into a steaming pressure cooker—
ready to blow.
Yuriko arrived early.
Sat in her usual spot.
Tried to be usual.
But nothing that used to feel normal…
felt normal anymore.
She'd spent the night in that boy's room.
Acxell.
No touching.
Not even close.
But something had touched her.
Somewhere deeper.
He didn't say much.
He never did.
But the way he looked at her—
the way he just sat beside her in silence—
made her chest feel too small for her breath.
Not out of fear.
But from being too aware.
Break time.
She had just exited the science lab when the drizzle returned.
Yuriko hurried across the courtyard toward the main building—
but was forced to stop under a roofed walkway as the rain turned sudden and harsh.
Her white uniform shirt clung to her skin,
water soaking through in scattered patches.
She adjusted her bag, arms crossing over her chest—
trying to hide what she couldn't dry fast enough.
And then—
his voice came from the side.
"You ran from the rain… but not from my eyes."
She turned.
Acxell stood a few steps away—
completely dry.
Clearly watching.
Their eyes locked.
And this time…
She didn't look away.
Yuriko stood still, arms still crossed over her chest—
but her eyes… refused to break from his.
And Acxell?
He didn't smile.
He didn't move.
He just… looked.
[SYSTEM ALERT: VISUAL DOMINANCE TRIGGERED]
TARGET MAINTAINED EYE CONTACT DURING HIGH VULNERABILITY.
+12 SEDUCTION TENSION
+2 SHAME SPIKE
BODY REACTION: ACCELERATED PULSE DETECTED (SUBJECT: YURIKO)
Finally, she spoke.
Her voice soft.
Not accusatory—
but not accepting either.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
Acxell replied with only one line.
"If I closed my eyes right now…
I'd still see more than you think."
She bit her lip.
She knew the shirt had gone see-through.
She knew her bra wasn't thick enough.
She knew exactly what he could see—
And yet…
his eyes never left hers.
That was what unsettled her most.
He's not looking at my body.
But why does it feel like he's already seen everything?
[EMOTION CONFLICT ACTIVE – PHYSICAL SHAME VS EMOTIONAL PULL]
SUBJECT ATTEMPTING TO RETREAT.
BODY FROZEN.
TOUCH ECHO MEMORY: ACTIVE.
Acxell stepped forward.
Toward the shelter.
Yuriko didn't run.
She dipped her head—
but didn't move away.
And when he stood beside her, just a breath's width away, he said:
"You can walk away now.
But don't lie to yourself…
and pretend I made you look."
Her grip on her bag tightened.
Her face flushed—
not out of embarrassment,
but out of frustration.
Frustration that someone else could see a version of her
she wasn't ready to admit even existed.
Finally—
she broke the silence.
"…I'm going back to class."
Acxell nodded.
He didn't stop her.
But just before she turned, his voice returned.
"Next time, bring a spare shirt."
[SYSTEM UPDATE: YURIKO – SEDUCTION LEVEL 58.2%]
FIRST VISUAL BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVED
SUBJECT AWARENESS: HIGH. DENIAL BARRIER WEAKENING.
PASSIVE UNLOCK – BODY ECHO: SUBJECT RESPONDS TO YOUR GAZE FASTER WHEN VULNERABLE.
Yuriko didn't reply.
She walked—
quickly, but not running.
And behind her, Acxell's eyes didn't stray.
They followed the back of the girl trying to escape…
from a shadow she herself had created.