Momo sat on her bed, staring at the empty wall like it was the entrance to a black hole. Her fingers twisted together like they were trying to strangle each other. The memory of the police station burned in her mind.
"I-I'd like to report someone… dangerous," she'd whispered to the officer.
And the officer had looked at her with the dead, weary eyes of someone who valued their life.
"Kid, do yourself a favor and stop messing with any Akimatsus," he'd grumbled, practically shoving her out the door.
Momo's heart had been racing ever since, each beat a silent scream. She tried to focus on her breathing. She tried to tell herself everything was fine. Yozora didn't know. He couldn't know.
But then she heard it — the click of her window latch. Her breath died in her throat.
"Momo."
His voice was quiet. Dead quiet. The kind of quiet that came with thunder hidden beneath. Yozora's tall, shadowy figure slid through the window, his black hair falling like a curtain around his face. His eyes… they were normal. For now.
Momo's legs moved before her brain did. She scrambled off the bed, bolting for the door.
"Stop."
She stopped. Not because she wanted to. Because her knees decided to become spaghetti and buckle.
Yozora's steps were slow and deliberate, like a cat playing with a cornered mouse. He pulled something out of his pocket — a crisp piece of paper. He waved it slightly, like a parent showing a bad report card.
"Did you visit the police today?" His voice was painfully calm. "Did you… report me?"
"I—No! No, I didn't—"
"Really?" He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Because they seemed to have an entire report describing me. Black hair, black eyes, a 'creepy smile'—which I must say, I take offense to, Momo. I don't smile that much."
"That wasn't me! I-I was… um… I went to… to report a… lost dog!"
"A lost dog?" Yozora repeated, tilting his head. "You're terrified of dogs."
"A lost cat!" she corrected, panic gripping her. "A lost, um, super small… invisible cat!"
"Invisible?"
"It… ran away! And I… I tripped! And landed in the police station!"
He didn't even blink. "You walked in, filled out a report, and lied to the police?"
"Yes! No! It was a prank!" she blurted. "I-I… I prank-reported! They do it all the time on the internet, you know, the… the 'I prank-report my soulmate as a dangerous criminal' challenge?"
A slow smile spread across Yozora's face. A cold, humorless smile. "Ah. So I'm your soulmate?"
"No! I mean yes! I mean—"
"I see." He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist, his grip like a steel trap covered in velvet. "I suppose that makes it all better. Just a little joke, hmm?"
"Yes! A joke! Ha ha ha… ha…" Her laugh died like a dying engine.
Yozora leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. "Momo."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what my father said when he handed me this report?"
Momo didn't trust her voice, so she just shook her head.
"'Son, if she's going to the police, she's already yours. Make sure she understands that.'" Yozora's smile widened slightly, and she could see the darkness pooling in his eyes, like ink spreading through water.
"I—Yozora—I swear I—"
"Shh." His finger gently touched her lips. "No more lies, okay? I don't like them. I like you. I want you to feel safe. So please… don't do things that make me have to visit unpleasant places. Like police stations."
Momo's heart hammered against her ribs like it was trying to dig an escape tunnel.
"But—"
"Don't worry. I made sure that officer won't bother you again."
Momo's blood ran cold. "W-what?"
"Oh, nothing permanent," Yozora assured her with a smile that was anything but reassuring. "He's just taking a little… vacation. With his family. All of them. At once."
She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.
"Momo." His voice softened, his smile almost sweet. "I know you get scared sometimes. But I will always find you. Always. So… do you want me to use the door next time?"
Momo's wide eyes stared into his as her mouth opened and closed, her brain too busy screaming to form words.
"Good talk." Yozora finally let go, brushing her cheek gently. "I love our little chats."
He turned and climbed out the window with the ease of a shadow slipping away.
Momo stayed on the floor, her breath coming in short gasps. Her lies had failed. The police had failed. And she was starting to realize something terrible.
Nothing could protect her from Yozora. Not even her own terrified imagination....