---
Akira locked eyes with Akhil, who was still on his knees, frozen in front of his family's corpses. A heavy silence hung in the air. Then, without warning, Akhil stood up and started laughing—loud, raw, and echoing through the bloodstained room.
Akira raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. "You're laughing?"
Akhil wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. "I'm innocent! I swear! I just... I can't control it."
Akira took a step forward, his voice calm but cold. "So I was right. It was all an act. From the moment you bumped into me at the bus stand, I sensed something… dark. Something dangerous."
Akhil's smile twisted into a smirk as he slowly approached. "You know… you really don't know how to praise someone properly." He leaned in. "You're afraid of me, aren't you?"
Akira let out a quiet chuckle. "I'll admit it… a little."
Akhil raised his hand and gently tapped Akira's cheek with his finger. "But tell me… how in this entire world did you even find my family?"
"You're getting a bit too friendly," Akira replied, brushing his hand away.
Akhil turned toward the hallway and waved him off. "Go to my room. Wait for me there."
Akira chuckled again. "You're really something." With a slight nod, he walked off.
---
Ten minutes later, Akira heard Akhil's voice echo from the kitchen. "Hey! Come here for a second."
Akira entered the dim kitchen. Akhil stood near the counter, casually preparing a tray. "Take these to my room."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "Cake? Noodles? Juice? This feels more like a picnic."
"Don't be lazy like me," Akhil grinned.
With a shrug, Akira picked up the tray and returned to the room. Akhil followed shortly after and sat down, sipping the noodles calmly.
"So… what's your name?" Akhil asked casually.
Akira smirked. "Akiyoma."
Akhil narrowed his eyes. "Don't lie."
"Fine. It's Akira."
Akhil nodded slowly. "So, Akira… why exactly did you come after me?"
Akira leaned against the wall. "At first? I was just interested. When I saw you, something felt different. But the more I watch you… the more fascinating you become. Second by second."
Akhil looked amused. "And yet, here I am, sitting with the man who killed my family, eating cake."
Akira's expression didn't change. "Why are you so calm?"
Akhil looked at the flickering ceiling light, eyes distant. "Because… I'm rotten."
Silence fell for a moment, broken only by the faint hum of electricity.
"You want some cake?" Akhil offered.
Akira shook his head. "No, you can have it."
Akhil checked the time. "What time is it?"
"8:09 PM."
Akhil looked thoughtful. "So tell me, what exactly did you find interesting about me?"
Akira replied, "Your body language. When you bumped into me, your posture was lazy, indifferent—but your face wore a smile that didn't match. And today… you looked genuinely sad."
Akhil's voice sharpened. "Nice joke. After killing my family, you expect me to laugh?"
"You did laugh," Akira pointed out.
"Can you read minds?" Akhil asked.
Akira shook his head. "No. I just make good predictions."
Akhil ate a bite of cake, then asked flatly, "Are you going to kill me too?"
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Not just you." He leaned forward. "Her, too."
Akhil froze. The cake slipped from his fingers and landed with a soft thud on the floor.
"What… did you say?"
"I said I'll kill her too." Akira smiled, dark and merciless. "Oops. Time's up."
In a flash, he drove a kitchen knife into Akhil's leg.
Akhil gasped, then slowly looked up—his eyes glowing red.
Akira stepped back. "What… your eyes…"
Akhil's calm voice vanished, replaced by fury. "I don't know why they turn red. People just say… it happens when I'm angry."
He yanked the knife from his leg and tossed it aside like it was nothing.
Akira raised an eyebrow. "So it was because I mentioned her."
Akhil's voice dropped, venomous. "Say anything about me… but not about her."
Before Akira could respond, Akhil punched him square in the face.
Blood poured from Akira's nose. His head snapped back.
I've fought people before… killers, psychopaths… but I never felt this. Not fear. Not until now. Akira staggered, dazed.
Akhil stood over him. "Come on. Don't waste my time. Come at me."
Akira blinked, trying to calculate. "Let me think—"
But before he could finish, Akhil's leg collided with his stomach, sending him flying into the wall.
Akira coughed blood. "So this is why you told me to come to your room…"
Akhil kept punching him. "Because this… is my domain."
Akira retaliated with a headbutt that cracked against Akhil's skull. "Talk less," he hissed. "You'll only fall behind."
He lunged, using the moment to land a flurry of punches—one after another, not letting Akhil breathe.
"This was your space," Akira growled. "Now, it's mine!"
But suddenly, Akhil wrapped his leg around Akira's and pulled hard. Akira lost his balance and crashed to the floor.
Akhil stepped on Akira's chest, pinning him down.
"It ends," he said, glaring down. "The moment I get bored."
---