The Weight of Silence

                                    

                                          
After you calmed down from the scene, Aki contacted the Devil Hunting Association to report the incident. They quickly took over, arriving at the scene with all kinds of testing equipment and measuring tools. You tuned out the noise as Aki explained the situation. Soon after, he guided you into a company vehicle to head back home.
During the ride, Aki mentioned his suspicion that the devil had followed you both, likely targeting him. He explained that devils often hold grudges and seek revenge on behalf of their fallen counterparts. However, he admitted his surprise at the lengths this one went to, following you both and waiting for the perfect moment to strike while his guard was down.
The adrenaline from the day's events still buzzed in your veins as you and Aki walked side by side, the streets feeling eerily quiet in the aftermath of the recent chaos. The cool evening air bit at your skin, but neither of you made any move to hurry. The silence between you was heavy but not unwelcome—it gave you time to process everything that had unfolded. 
You glanced at Aki, his face partially shadowed by the dim streetlights, his expression unreadable. He walked with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his shoulders tense, as if carrying an invisible weight. You've never seen him like this before—guarded, distant— different. There was something fragile beneath the surface, something you weren't sure how to reach without breaking the tenuous balance between you.
As you turned the corner, the familiar sight of your apartment building came into view, and you felt a pang of hesitation. You wanted to say something, anything, but the words lodged in your throat. Everything that had happened today—the near-death experience, the fleeting moments of connection—had left you emotionally raw, unsure of what to do next.
Aki stopped in front of the building's entrance, his hand resting on the door handle, but he didn't move to open it. For a long moment, he stood there, staring at the ground, his breath steady.
"Are you okay?" you asked softly, breaking the silence.
He didn't respond at first, and you wondered if he even heard you. But then he turned his head slightly, his gaze still fixed on the pavement. "It's nothing."
You stepped closer, refusing to let the distance between you grow any wider. "It doesn't feel like nothing, Aki."
He finally looked up, his eyes meeting yours, and for the briefest second, you saw it—the vulnerability he tried to hide. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that familiar mask of stoicism.
"I'm fine" he said, his voice low and controlled. But you knew him well enough to recognize the lie.
Without another word, Aki pushed the door open and held it for you, signaling the end of the conversation. You stepped inside, feeling the warmth of the building wash over you, but it did little to dispel the cold knot of worry that had settled in your chest. Your footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, and soon you were standing at the door to your apartment.
As you unlocked the door, you realized just how heavy the air between you had become, thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. The door creaked open, and as you stepped inside, you couldn't shake the feeling that tonight would be different—that something had shifted irreversibly between the two of you.
Aki closed the door behind you, and for a moment, you both stood in silence, the weight of the night settling over you. The familiarity of the space brought a strange kind of comfort, but it did little to ease the tension still hanging in the air.
Aki moved to the window, his broad back to you as he stared out the window. And just like that, the silence became too much to bear.
"Thank you," you said quietly, your voice barely audible in the stillness. "For protecting me."
Aki turned slightly, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment before he looked away again. "You don't need to thank me for that."
"But I do. You've always been there for me, Aki. Even when we were kids... I don't think I ever told you how much that meant to me."
He stayed silent, but you noticed his grip on the window ledge tighten slightly.
"I... I felt safe with you. I always have." you said quietly.
Aki finally turned to face you, his expression unreadable. For a moment, you feared you had crossed some unspoken boundary. But then he spoke, his voice softer than usual. "Everything is unpredictable now" he mumbled, his eyes shadowed with something you couldn't quite place. "And that's what scares me the most—not the devils, not the danger... but the fact that I can't control any of it, especially when it comes to you"
You frowned, confusion knitting your brow. "What are you talking about?"
He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, as though weighing each step. When he stopped in front of you, the space between you felt impossibly small. "Caring about someone makes this job harder. I can't afford to lose you."
The vulnerability in his words caught you off guard. Your pulse quickened as you realized just how close you were to him. "Aki, you don't have to protect me. I can handle it," you whispered. "I have been on my own this entire time, I am fine."
He shook his head slightly, his eyes locked on yours. "You don't understand... I've already lost too much... I can't put you in these situations, it's not right, you won't be safe"
Your heart ached at the pain behind his words. Without thinking, you reached out, gently placing your hand on his arm. "You won't lose me."
For a moment, Aki seemed frozen in place. Then, as though something inside him finally broke, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into his chest. The sudden warmth of his embrace was overwhelming, and for a moment, you forgot about everything—about the devils, the blood, the fear.
All that mattered was the feeling of Aki's arms around you, holding you close, as if he, too, had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
You closed your eyes, resting your head against his chest. "I'm here," you whispered, your voice barely audible. "I'm not going anywhere."