Chapter 24: The Isshiki Residence

The faint clacking of suitcase wheels cut through the chatter outside the ramen shop, growing louder until the ornate curtain was pushed aside. Yukimura emerged from the crowd, shoulders tense, hauling two oversized suitcases that bumped awkwardly against the pavement of Shibuya Crossing.

“Oi, Kodaka,” Yukimura muttered, exhausted.

“Oh, Yukimura, about time!” Kodaka chuckled.

“You little…” Yukimura clenched her fist, but turned to the rest of the group, laying the suitcases down. “These are yours. Hayato. Yuki.”

“Thank you, Yukimura Sensei,” Asumi replied, bowing slightly. “Did Kodaka Sensei tell you everything?”

“Oh, I knew before you all, of course,” Yukimura shrugged. “I was never in favor of any of this. I’ll support you however I can from inside the academy, but I won’t pretend my aspect is built for combat.”

“Thank you,” Taichi replied stiffly.

Yukimura nodded once. “Now, you three should disappear for the night. Kodaka and I need to head back – there’s a staff meeting about how you all should be turned in immediately… which is probably the only reason my memories haven’t been wiped yet.”

“Got it,” Asumi nodded.

The teachers left together, Kodaka tossing enough money onto the counter to cover every bowl at the table. The moment they left, the air felt thinner.

“So,” Meguri said after a beat, forcing brightness into her voice, “I guess I should take you to my place. Drop off your suitcases.”

“Yeah,” Taichi replied. “Not much else to do. Not like we’ve got class.”

The train ride passed in near silence. No one checked their phone. No one slept. The city lights blurred past the windows, reflections ghosting across their faces.

By the time they reached the Isshiki residence, the night had deepened. An ornate gate loomed at the end of the road, ironwork curling like frozen vines around polished stone.

“Wow…” Taichi said softly. “That’s big.”

“It’s not that big,” Meguri shrugged, opening the gate.

“Oh, it’s yours?!” Taichi asked.

“No, Taichi. I’m just breaking in,” Meguri teased, walking in and keeping it open for Asumi and Taichi to follow. “It looks a lot bigger than it feels – a lot of the rooms are my dad’s workshops, so that eliminates basically half of this house. There’s only around three bedrooms.”

“My dad’s place only had one,” Taichi said. “So this still counts as huge.”

“It’s a decent house,” Asumi nodded.

“Nothing compared to the Yuki estate, I’m sure,” Meguri teased.

“Well, that’s true…” Asumi admitted. “But that’s not my home anymore.”

Meguri’s expression softened as she nodded.

“Yeah… well, this place is home for now, yeah?”

The living room was quietly inviting – warm lights reflecting off polished wooden floors, a low couch facing a television built into a shelf lined with books and framed photos. A coffee table sat at the center, resting on a thick rug. For the first time all day, the pressure was relieved from all their shoulders with the weight of everything that had happened.

“Wow…” Taichi muttered softly. “This is beautiful.”

“Where should I put my suitcase?” Asumi asked, slipping off her shoes.

“Oh, I’ll take it to the bedroom,” Meguri said, chuckling and bringing both Asumi and Taichi’s suitcases.

Asumi’s eyes widened.

“Wait… three bedrooms,” Asumi realized. “Parents live here, Meguri herself…”

Meguri came back out of one room, where both of the suitcases were dropped off.

Meguri returned a moment later, hands empty. “Rooming shouldn’t be an issue. You already do it in the dorms.” She tilted her head, smirk sharpening. “Unless you’d prefer I room with Taichi.”

“It- I… I mean…” Asumi stammered. “...Rooming with Taichi is fine.”

“Good,” Meguri nodded innocently.

Taichi collapsed onto the couch with a groan. “I feel like I’ve lived a week today.”

“You had a crazy fight, confronted the headmaster, learnt who murdered your father… honestly, I’m a little lost too, but we’ve got to press forward,” Asumi reflected, yawning.

“I think I’d rather take a nap,” Taichi said, yawning as well.

“...yeah, fair enough,” Asumi nodded. “I’ll take a nap too.”

Meguri laughed under her breath and led them down the hall. “Enjoy.”

Meguri quickly ran away to her own room before they opened theirs.

Asumi pressed down on the door handle and revealed their new space, a particularly large room with a beautifully ornate dresser, a closet on the side, and a television in perfect view from the bed.

“The bed…” Asumi muttered, frozen in front of the sight.

The bedframe was made of a beautiful wood, ornately carved to resemble something you’d see in a mansion. The bed itself was incredibly large, very comfortable, and the pillows were perfectly plump.

Yet Asumi stormed out in a rage, banging on Meguri’s door.

“Meguri!” Asumi yelled.

Laughter could be heard through her door, but she opened the door, composed and calm.

“Is there an issue, Asumi?”

“The bed…” Asumi paused.

“What’s wrong with the bed? I think it’s quite nice,” Meguri stated.

“There’s only one!” Asumi exclaimed. “What are you expecting here?!”

“It’s a big bed – both of you can easily fit,” Meguri shrugged.

“Fitting isn’t the issue here!” Asumi complained. “This isn’t like having a roommate at all!”

“I think the room has plenty of capacity for mating,” Meguri replied, continuing to stifle her laughter.

“You…”

“Would you like me to sleep with Taichi instead?” Meguri proposed.

“I… no! I-”

“Oh? So you don’t want me to sleep with Taichi, but somebody’s gotta do it, yeah?” Meguri teased. “Does that mean you’re volunteering?”

Asumi stammered.

“I… I… shut up!”

Asumi stormed back to her room, where Taichi had already raided the dresser and created a makeshift futon on the floor out of extra blankets and sheets, and started to lay in it.

Without a word, Asumi climbed into the bed, getting under the covers, embraced by the divine comfort. Compared to this bed, their dorms in Eclipse Academy felt like military barracks. She had almost immediately drifted to sleep upon contact, only barely kept awake for a moment by Taichi shuffling uncomfortably in his fake futon.

Asumi sighed, looking down on him from the bed.

“Just get in the bed, Taichi,” Asumi muttered.

“Oh, it’s okay, sleeping on the floor isn’t-”

“Just get in,” Asumi interrupted. “It doesn’t mean anything… we’re just sleeping… and it’s a big bed.”

She turned away immediately, pulling the covers higher as if that could hide the heat rushing to her face. The mattress dipped a moment later, sending a thin wave through the sheets. Cool air brushed her back as Taichi slid in and carefully left space between them, lying stiffly on the far edge.

“Thank you,” Taichi said.

“You don’t have to thank me, idiot…” Asumi muttered.

They laid in silence for a few minutes.

“Taichi,” she said after a while, barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?”

“…Are you awake?”

“Well, I answered, didn’t I?”

“Idiot…” Asumi muttered, her fingers curling into the sheets. “...do you remember the bet?”

“From my fight with Hayama? Yeah – you can make any request of me.”

“Well… I have a request, but… I want to ask after all this school stuff is over. After we fix Eclipse Academy. After we’re free… so… can you wait for just a bit longer?” Asumi said, her voice quivering on every word. “I promise I won’t be a coward about it again. I promise I won’t run away… so please… wait for me.”

Taichi turned around slightly to see the back of Asumi’s head, the ends of her ears bright red. He couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ll wait for however long it takes.”

Asumi’s eyes widened, her hands covering her face.

“Idiot… I can hear your voice closer. You turned around…” Asumi muttered.

“Yeah, I did,” Taichi nodded, turning back around. “Sorry.”

“...you can stay like that if you want…” Asumi whispered lower than Taichi could hear.

Taichi didn’t respond – didn’t move. His breathing gradually evened out, sleep claiming him as exhaustion finally won.

Asumi lay awake a little longer, staring into the dark, heart still racing.

Then, at last, she let her eyes close too.

For one night, at least, they were safe.