Part 1: The Deadly Warning
Ayano immediately stood up and tightly gripped Takuto's wrist with one hand.
Ayano: (With a trembling voice) "Please... listen to me for a moment! I have things to explain... I am truly sorry!"
Takuto did not turn to look at her at all, only slightly tilting his head. His voice turned icy cold, piercing the listener's heart.
Takuto: "I told you... not to appear before me again."
When Ayano heard that cold, emotionless voice, the grip in her palm instantly loosened.
Ayano: (Gathering her strength) "I know. But... please, let me explain just once. I didn't want to do it that way..."
Takuto suddenly turned back towards Ayano, and a poisonous shade of mixed anger and pain appeared on his face.
Takuto: (Voice trembling, with intense pressure) "Do you want to die?"
Ayano: (Lifting her head, meeting his gaze despite her tear-filled eyes) "Kill me if you want to! But before that... listen to me first!"
At that moment, Takuto's right eye was suddenly engulfed by a flash of bright crimson light. (Phoenix Gaze - Step 1).
Takuto: "In that case... then die!"
Takuto concentrated his Stellar Flow into his right fist and fiercely struck towards Ayano's face. The air pressure from the punch was enough to make Ayano's hair fly back.
Ayano did not dodge at all. She stood still, fearless, ready to face Takuto's punch without even blinking. Her Amethyst Eyes only held the regret of accepting her guilt.
Just as the punch was about to make contact, about an inch from Ayano's face...
TAKUTO trembled all over and suddenly stopped his hand.
His crimson eye was filled with terrifying pain and rage. It was evident that he only controlled his hand due to a hidden feeling within his heart.
Takuto: (Gritting his teeth, his voice terribly low) "..."
He turned back and the crimson glow in his right eye immediately faded.
Takuto rushed out of the classroom, violently slamming the door shut.
Ayano remained silently standing in the same spot, staring only at the place where his punch had stopped. She watched Takuto's departing back and whispered...
Ayano: (To herself) "(He stopped. He didn't kill me.)"
She clearly saw the fleeting shadow of pain, similar to her own, that had appeared in Takuto's eyes.
Takuto arrived at Kaori's house in the Toshima district. This was a high-security location for the members of Crimson Aegis. Aoi was resting under Kaori's care. Takuto sat silently in the room, exhausted by the day's emotions.
Just then, Takuto's Phoenix eye automatically noticed a faintly vibrating Purple Stellar Flow Aura from outside.
Takuto: (Muttering to himself) "(This energy... it's Ayano. How did she find me?)"
To avoid leaving directly through the house, Takuto exited from the back gate of the compound and walked towards the front.
He saw Ayano standing silently on the front street in the clear, cloudless evening. She was still in her school uniform, and her Amethyst Eyes were full of regret and a desire to apologize.
Takuto: (Walking toward her, his voice frigid) "What are you doing here? How did you find where I live? I told you not to appear before me again."
Ayano: (Lowering her head, in a pained voice) "I used my power to track the path of your Phoenix Aura. I'm sorry... but I have a lot to explain first..."
Takuto: (Letting out a long sigh) "There's no need for an explanation. I don't have time to listen either. Your words are useless to me. You are... dead to me. Go back!"
Takuto completely turned his back on Ayano and started to walk back into the house.
Ayano: (Shouting firmly from behind him) "I won't go back!"
Takuto's footsteps stopped.
Ayano: "Until you forgive me... until you listen to my explanation... I will never leave this place! No matter what obstacles stand in my way, I will wait right outside your house!"
Takuto stood rigidly at the doorway. He realized Ayano's stubbornness and persistence, but he had absolutely no intention of forgiving her.
Part 2: 🌗 The Long Night and The Standoff
As the night deepened, the rain began to pour down heavily.
In the living room, Takuto leaned against the central window, staring outside. Ayano remained standing in the exact spot she had been earlier, not moving an inch, despite being soaked to the bone. Her stubbornness and persistence incessantly struck Takuto's cold heart.
Kaori looked out from another window in the living room with a strained expression. She clearly felt Takuto's pain.
Kaori: (Whispering) "Does she think... she can earn Takuto's forgiveness just by standing out there like that? Aoi and Takuto were hurt because of her."
Anger flared up in Kaori's mind. Without saying a word, she gently drew a secret Dagger from her waist belt. She contemplated going outside to drive Ayano away or at least warn her.
Just then, Aoi, with her injured leg, walked softly and reached Kaori's side. She gently grasped Kaori's hand holding the dagger.
Kaori: (Looking at Aoi in surprise) "Aoi...? What are you doing?"
Aoi: (Shaking her head slowly) "Kaori-san... please don't. "
Aoi: "No matter what she did... if you hurt her... Nii-san will be sad. It's true Nii-san hates her so much, but he's hurting because he can't bring himself to hurt her."
Kaori's strained expression softened. She looked toward Takuto after listening to Aoi's words.
Takuto was still staring out the window, and Kaori clearly saw the shadows of pain in his dark eyes, as if he was looking not at an external enemy, but at his own soul.
Kaori: (Sighing) "I understand, Aoi."
Kaori swallowed her anger and returned her Dagger to its secret pouch. She felt uneasy leaving Ayano out in the rain, but she understood that Takuto's emotional pain was more important.
About half an hour passed. The rainwater incessantly drained Ayano's energy. Her Purple Aura was almost completely gone.
7:30 PM: An hour later
Ayano's body was shivering violently, and her senses were close to fading. She could no longer stand and collapsed to the ground on both knees. In her mind, there was absolutely no thought of retreat other than Takuto's forgiveness. She simply sat there in the pouring rain.
Takuto, watching from the window, felt his heart tighten when he saw Ayano collapse.
Takuto: (His eyes widening) "Senpai..."
He immediately headed for the door. His steps were automatic, leading him towards Ayano. However, the cold, ruthless expression in his mind held him back. His spirit was indecisive, and he stopped near the door, unable to proceed.
Part 3: 👐 Aoi's Gentle Push
At that moment, Aoi silently came up beside Takuto and gently held his sleeve.
Aoi: (Softly, yet firmly) "Don't resist it any longer, Nii-san."
Aoi: "Nii-san... you truly want to forgive her, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. Now... go."
Aoi's sincere words opened the door to Takuto's heart, which had been as hard as a Phoenix Flame. Takuto looked back at Aoi for a second and accepted Aoi's warm belief.
Takuto: (Nodding silently) "..."
Takuto took a black umbrella from beside the wall. His expression was still cold, but the coldness was now due to pain, not anger.
He opened the door and stepped out into the pouring rain.
Ayano was shivering, her eyes closed. Her body was extremely exhausted.
Suddenly...
Ayano felt the heavy raindrops stop falling onto her body.
Ayano slowly opened her trembling eyes and looked up.
In her view, Takuto was standing above her, holding the umbrella. His expression was emotionless yet resolute. The rain streamed down his shoulder, and the black umbrella created a silent divide between the two of them.
Ayano: (With trembling lips) "Takuto..."
Takuto knelt down near her, and his expression shifted from intense confusion to gentle acknowledgement.
Takuto: (His voice returned with warmth) "Senpai...."
A flicker of hope suddenly brightened Ayano's eyes. Her heartbeat was louder than the sound of the rain.
Takuto: "Are you still wearing... that bracelet I gave you?"
Ayano was slightly surprised. She gently nodded. The white thread bracelet on her left wrist remained firmly in place, despite being soaked in the rain.
Ayano: "How long have you noticed?"
Takuto: "The last time we fought... I grabbed your arm, didn't I? Do you remember?"
Ayano: "Yes."
Takuto: "I saw it then. I knew. That you weren't truly a villain at that time. Even though Senpai made me hate you... there was no genuine malice in your words."
Ayano: (With a trembling voice) "Then... then Takuto..."
Takuto: (Nodding) "Yes... I will listen to your explanation, Senpai."
Tears of joy streamed from Ayano's eyes, flowing down as a warm current amidst the rain.
Takuto stood up from his kneeling position, momentarily shifted the umbrella, and gently wiped away Ayano's tears with his palm.
Takuto: "Let's go inside, Senpai. You'll catch a cold if you stay out here much longer."
Takuto gently pulled Ayano up by the wrist and, sheltering her with the umbrella, led her back into Kaori's house.
Watching from the house window, Kaori and Aoi sighed silently, seeing a ray of hope.
[END OF CHAPTER 16]