A/n: Just a small FYI, there will be times where I skip days just to progress further into the game. Love you all!!!
~✨Ceestial✨~
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|| 4/26 Tuesday ||
|| After School ||

As Mikono was gathering her things, she glanced at the jittery Akira. She couldn't help but grin. "I would ask if you're nervous, but that would be a stupid question. You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"N-No," the boy responded. "I'm worried this isn't going to go so well..."

"Is it because of my dad?"

"A little..."

Mikono zipped up her bag with a smile. "Don't worry, Akira. Everything's gonna be fine. Remember, you won't be alone with him."

Morgana popped its head out of his bag. "It's time for Operation: Get-On-Dad's-Good-Side!"

Mikono snickered before leaving the classroom with Akira. They left school and trekked to Aoyama-itchōme Station. Boarding the train, they headed to Shibuya and arrived at Mikono's house 25 minutes later. Akira left Morgana outside, who meowed in protest. It tried scratching at the door, but it eventually gave up and walked away.

After making coffee, Mikono returned to the living room. She placed the tray on the coffee table before sitting down next to Akira. "My parents will be home shortly. This is the perfect time for you to ask what you wanted to yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Akira questioned.

"I know you didn't buy my lie. You want to know the truth, right?"

Akira blinked a few times, remembering their conversation on the roof. "I completely forgot."

"I couldn't tell the others because they wouldn't understand. I doubt they would believe me, either. You're the only person who would understand the truth," she said.

"Why's that?"

"You're the only other person who knows about the Velvet Room."

His eyes widen slightly. "Igor told you?"

"Yeah. Before I went to the bookstore yesterday, Theodore guided me to the Velvet Room. There, Igor told me more about the Eye and what happened at the Palace. I'm worried about what he said. What if... What if I do abuse this power and my body becomes corrupted?" She stared down at the steaming cups of coffee, biting her bottom lip. "I don't want to die because I didn't know my own limits."

Akira placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I-We won't let that happen. I think you should limit your use of the Eye. Did Igor mention a way to stabilize it?"

"He said I have to find the other four fragments of my heart. With each fragment I find, the limit of the Eye will expand. Don't ask me what these fragments are because I don't even know myself. All I know is the Eye will help me find the remaining pieces."

"And I thought my visits to the Velvet Room were confusing." Akira took a sip from the cup closest to him. When he tasted the coffee, he blinked in surprise at how good it was. "I should be taking lessons in coffee making from you, too."

"I think you should stick with Sakura-san. I'm only good at making one kind of blend, which happens to be my dad's favorite," she said.

"Still, think you could teach me how to make it?"

"I don't see why not."

Just then, the front door opened. Ichika and Isaac entered the house and immediately saw the two teens on the couch. The woman was able to smile naturally while the man had to force one.

Mikono flew to her feet and greeted her parents. "Welcome home. How was your day?"

"Slow," Isaac responded. "I'm not surprised, especially after what happened Sunday."

"But we do have some good news!" Ichika announced. "We've kept it a secret from you for a while, but we're finally able to tell you because we finalized the paperwork today!"

"Tell me what?" The young girl inquired.

"Your mother and I have invested in an art gallery not too far from the museum. We're hoping to use our influence to introduce the fine arts to all of Shibuya and the surrounding areas. We already have an event planned for next month to celebrate the grand opening of the gallery," Isaac said.

"Before we continue, I'll start working on dinner." Ichika rushed to the kitchen and began preparing dinner.

While waiting for dinner, Isaac stared at Akira. He didn't even blink as he analyzed the boy. "Kurusu, correct?"

He nodded. "Y-Yes, Sir." He then lowered his head. "Thank you for having me."

The man kept his tone in check after promising his daughter he would give the boy a chance. "I'm grateful you decided to come."

Mikono sat back down beside her friend. "What event do you have planned for the opening of the gallery, Dad?"

"Almost forgot about that." Isaac sat down on the loveseat across from Mikono and Akira. "We'll be displaying Ichiryusai Madarame's newest collection. We've already set everything up so you won't have to worry about a thing, Mikono. Although, we might need your help for the layout of the exhibit."

She sighed in relief. "Thank goodness... I don't know how to manage an art exhibition, but I'm good at laying out exhibits."

"We also are having a few of our colleagues watch over the museum while we'll be gone. We don't want to burden you since you'll be in charge of hiring part-timers."

"Speaking of next month, I already made reservations for you and mom at the Palazzo Doglio in Cagliari. You'll check-in on the 5th and checkout on the 30th."

The man smiled. "Thanks, Sweetie. I didn't do so well choosing hotels the last time we went to Italy."

"Italy?" Akira muttered.

Isaac's smile fell when he focused his gaze on the boy. "My wife and I will be heading to an excavation site in Cagliari."

The frizzy-haired teen shrunk back. "I-I see..."

Mikono glared at her father. "Dad..."

He swallowed, frightened by his own daughter's fierce glare. "M-My apologies for sounding so rude, Kurusu."

"Please, don't apologize," Akira said. "Does this mean Mikono will be home alone for almost an entire month?"

"Don't get any funny ideas," he hissed. When he looked back at his daughter, he saw her glare returned. "F-Forgive me. I've stepped out of line again."

Before Akira could respond, Ichika called them to the dinner table. Isaac, Mikono, and Akira headed to the dining room and sat down, ready to enjoy the tasty meal before them. After blessing the food, they picked up their chopsticks and began eating.

<---------<<<<<

Minutes turned into hours. Everyone was still gathered around the dinner table, talking to one another. What shocked Mikono the most was when she saw Isaac and Akira talking casually to one another. She couldn't help but smile at the scene, but it fell when her father's expression shifted to one of scrutiny. She couldn't believe what came out of his mouth next. "It's been brought to my attention you were convicted of aggravated assault and are currently on probation."

Akira's eyes widen, his jubilant expression shattering. Mikono held herself back from slamming her fists against the table and flying to her feet. She bit her bottom lip, desperately trying to contain her anger. Before she could properly think of a retort for Akira's sake, she was flabbergasted by what Isaac said next. "But my daughter sees something in you and I trust her judgement. Not all men who are accused of crimes are guiltily."

Mikono visibly relaxed. She took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Across from her, Akira did the exact same.

Ichika giggled as she watched the two teens. "Would either of you like a cup of tea or coffee?"

"We're fine, Mom," Mikono answered.

Akira checked the time and saw how late it was. "I should be going." He stood from his seat and bowed politely to the couple. "Thank you for dinner."

The inky-haired girl stood from her seat. "I'll keep you company until a taxi arrives."

Ichika and Isaac followed the duo as they headed to the front door. Akira grabbed his bag and walked out the front door with Mikono close behind.

"Kurusu," Isaac called out. The boy turned around and met the man's gaze. "I want you and Ryuji to watch over Mikono while we're gone."

"Of course, Sir," he replied. "I'll watch over her while you're gone."

"Thank you, Kurusu."

|| 4/27 Wednesday ||
|| After School ||

"Hey," Ryuji stopped Mikono as she was about to rush out the entrance of Shujin Academy. "Where're you off to in such a hurry?"

"Oh, right. I haven't told you the news. My parents invested in an art gallery and it's opening next month. We'll be hosting Madarame's new collection and they've asked me to visit him to introduce myself and go over the details," she exclaimed.

"The hell? When did your parents get an art gallery? I thought they were all about history?"

"They only finalized the paperwork yesterday. This is all new to me, too."

"You sure you're gonna be okay by yourself?"

"I'll be fine," she smiled. "See ya, Ryuji!"

Mikono ran out of the school with the card her parents gave her before she left the house this morning. She followed the instructions they wrote down and arrived at her destination sooner than she'd thought. In front of the building, she realized how rickety and worn it was. From the looks of it, the building would collapse at any moment. "For an artist who supposedly makes millions of yen, you would think his studio would be more...flashy. Or am I even at the right address?"

She placed the card in her bag and made her way to the front door. She noticed an intercom and nervously pressed the button beneath it. "U-Um, is this Ichiryusai Madarame's studio?" She releases the button and received a response only a few seconds later.

"Who is this?"

"My name is Mikono Tsutsui. I'm here to discuss the arrangements made with Crescent Gallery."

"I'll be right down."

Mikono stepped away from the intercom and nervously rocked back and forth on her heels. She knew Madarame was an older gentleman, but the voice on the other end of the intercom was clearly young. She wondered if someone else lived with the artist or if he had an assistance to keep his studio in order. While she was deep in thought, the front door opened to reveal a lanky young man with cobalt locks.

Realizing the boy's presence, she smiled at him. "Hi, I'm-" She fell silent when noticing his eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at her. "Um..."

"You..." His voice trailed off.

"Me...?"

"Are...captivating!" He suddenly stalked toward her and placed his hands on her cheeks. Now, it was her turn to stare wide-eyed at him. The boy used his hands to turn her head in different directions as he examined her features. "Your eyes are breathtaking and your hair compliments them perfectly! The curvature of your face is breathtaking and only adds to your beauty."

Mikono swallowed the lump in her throat. "Y-You think I'm beautiful...?"

"Any person with eyes can tell," he said. "I must capture such beauty!"

"H-Hold on a second!" She swatted his hands off her cheeks and glared at him. "I don't know who you are or why you keep touching me, but stop! It's rude to touch someone without their permission!"

"Then may I-?"

"No!" She shouted over him. "I came here to introduce myself to Madarame and go over a few details regarding his new collection. Is he here?"

"I'm afraid you just missed him," the stranger responded.

She sighed. "Just my luck... Guess I'll have to talk to him over the phone."

"If you'd like, I could convey a message to him once he returns," the boy offered.

"Um... Tell him he'll be receiving a call from Mikono Tsutsui later this week to discuss details about the gallery opening and his new collection."

"I shall deliver the message to him the moment he returns."

"Thank you. I better get going. I would say it was nice meeting you, but... Never mind!" She didn't wait for a response and stormed off.

<---------<<<<<

Back home, Mikono sat at her desk in her room. While she was doing math homework, her phone went off. Her pencil fell from her hand when the buzzing startled her. Looking down at the screen, she saw it was a text from Ryuji.

Ryuji: Hey. How'd it go?

Mikono: Um...

Ryuji: That bad, huh?

Mikono: I didn't even get to meet Madarame. Some boy answered the door and said a few...strange things.

Ryuji: Like what?

Mikono: Don't worry about it.

Ryuji: You're hiding something...

Mikono: Goodnight, Ryuji!

|| 4/29 Friday ||
|| After School ||

Before Akira could leave the classroom, Mikono lunges forward and grabs the hem of his blazer. She tugs on it gently, gesturing for him to turn around. When he did, she realized how close they were standing to one another and blushed before taking a couple steps back. "S-Sorry to bother you, but...I was wondering if you could walk me home today?"

Akira noticed her hands were trembling and wondered if everything was all right. "What's wrong?"

"I was walking home from school yesterday when I felt someone following me. I thought it was just my imagination, but I walked around the block twice and the feeling never went away. I think I heard footsteps, too."

Morgana emerges from the boy's bag. "A stalker?! We cannot allow Lady Mikono to walk home by herself!"

"I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to, Akira. I understand if you're busy and have other plans." She tugged at the straps of her bag, praying he would accompany her.

"I'm not busy," Akira claimed. "Even if I was, there's no way I could ignore this. I'll walk you home."

"You've no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that..." She sighed, smiling gratefully at him.

They left Shujin Academy and headed to Aoyama-itchōme Station. They traveled to Shibuya and hopped off, following the route Mikono took to her house from the station. As they walked through the neighborhood, the streets were barren and there were very little people in the area.

The second Mikono heard footsteps following them, she stepped closer toward Akira. Unconsciously, she looped her arm around his and pulled him closer. "Please tell me you hear that too...?"

Akira nodded, allowing her to hold his arm. He could feel her body shaking in fear. "I do. Just keep walking."

After turning the corner, the boy tugged Mikono down a side street and hid themselves in the shadows of one of the houses. They waited for the person to walk by, but they never did.

"Were we...imagining those footsteps?" Mikono whispered.

Morgana revealed itself to the teens, peering over Akira's shoulder. "No, you weren't. Someone really is stalking you, Lady Mikono."

"Did you get a good look at them, Morgana?" Akira inquired.

"Afraid not. They were sticking to the shadows."

"I could call the police, but I doubt they'd believe me..." The young girl muttered. "And I'm definitely not telling my parents. My dad would flip and try to hunt down this person himself!"

"Until we learn who this stalker is, I'll walk you home," Akira proclaimed, staring into Mikono's cerulean eyes.

"What about the days I have to go to work?" She asked.

"Then I'll walk you to the museum."

"I appreciate the offer, Akira, but that would require you to clear your schedule. I know you've been working part-time at Rafflesia recently and I would hate for you to lose your job because of me."

"I care more about your safety than a part-time job," he retorts.

Mikono's heart skipped a beat at his proclamation. It made her so happy she couldn't stop smiling. Unfortunately, she still felt a tinge of guilt for taking up his time and preventing him from working. "Well, the museum isn't far from the underground mall..." She muttered, trying to look on the bright side. "But still..."

"No buts," Akira stated. "I've already made up my mind."

"Or maybe I could stay with Lady Mikono!" Morgana proposed excitedly. "I could be her knight in shining armor!"

"You're pretty small to be a knight, Morgana," Mikono snickered. "But I appreciate the thought."

Akira checked to see if the coast was clear before emerging from their hiding spot. He continued to escort her to her house. Unlike earlier, they didn't hear nor feel the presence following them.

They arrived at Mikono's house ten minutes later. She turned, smiling at him. "Thank you for walking me home, Akira. I guess whoever was following us gave up."

"I was really hoping to find out who it was," he sighed.

"Me too."

"Did they follow you to the train station this morning?"

She shook her head. "No. Yesterday, I only noticed the footsteps when I was in the neighborhood, but I felt like I was being watched when I stepped off the train. I thought it was just some weirdo at the train station staring at me and brushed off the feeling, but then it returned a few minutes later."

Morgana interjected itself into the conversation. "Just tell us whenever you're about to leave school. We definitely don't want you going anywhere by yourself without us. Who knows what that stalker will do if they get you alone."

"Don't say things like that, Morgana!" Mikono whined. "I don't even want to think what their intentions are."

"S-Sorry..." The cat muttered. "But it's dangerous for you to be alone, Lady Mikono."

Akira nodded in agreement. "Morgana's right. Maybe I should leave a little earlier tomorrow morning and walk you to the train station just in case."

"I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. We don't have to be that cautious just yet," Mikono said. She searched her bag for her house key and found it underneath her pencil case. She unlocked the door, placing the key back in her bag. Before opening the door, she smiled at Akira and Morgana. "Thank you again for today, you two."

"It was our pleasure, Lady Mikono!" Morgana chanted.

"Text me tomorrow morning when you leave," Akira added.

Mikono's smile widened at hearing his concern. "Will do." She opened the door and stepped inside the house. Before closing it, she waved at them. "See ya tomorrow!"