Aiyana's angry footsteps crunched over leaves as she tried to walk off the awkward moment.
But Yamino, lips curled in a mix of frustration and mischief, wasn't done. The tension between them—it wasn't just magical. It was emotional, raw, and heavy.
With a sudden pull on the cuff chain, he yanked her back.
"Wha—!" she gasped.
Before she could finish, Yamino spun her around and pinned her gently but firmly against the tree. The ghost-forged cuffs clinked faintly as his body closed the space between them.
His eyes burned into hers—wild, intense, and unreadable. The air crackled with the echo of suppressed emotions.
"Do you know," Yamino said, his voice low, rough with restrained power, "if I really get to marry you… what I'll do?"
Aiyana's eyes widened. Her lips trembled as she struggled between anger, confusion, and something else she refused to name.
"I'd ruin every plan you've ever had," he whispered. "I'd tear down every wall you've built… until you're looking at me like I'm the only one who understands you."
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Not immediately.
Then—
"You think you're special?" she hissed, cheeks flushed. "You think I'd let you?"
Yamino's smirk deepened. "I don't need your permission. I just need time. And you're stuck with me now."
The silence that followed was thick. Neither of them moved. Neither wanted to admit what was happening in that breathless stillness.
Aiyana's heartbeat thundered in her chest.
The cursed cuffs glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat between them.
And neither of them noticed that something—or someone—had been watching from the shadows.
The space between Yamino and Aiyana was almost gone. The heat of his breath brushed her cheek as he leaned closer. She didn't back away—but she didn't meet his gaze either. Her eyes fluttered, uncertain, searching.
Yamino's voice broke the silence, softer this time.
"…Can I tell you a secret?"
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "What now?"
"I had a girlfriend once," he said, his tone carrying the weight of old scars. "I thought I loved her. I really did. But looking back… maybe I just didn't want to be alone."
Aiyana blinked. She hadn't expected vulnerability from him. Not like this.
"But right now…" he continued, voice trembling slightly, "whatever I'm feeling—it's not like before. It's not the same. My heart's beating like I'm about to jump off a cliff, and I don't know if this is… love or I'm just being a pervert."
He gave a short, nervous laugh. "I don't know."
The wind rustled the leaves overhead.
His eyes locked on hers, serious now.
"…Can I kiss you?"
Aiyana didn't answer immediately.
Her lips parted. She hesitated—conflicted.
But before she could say anything, a cold breeze swept through the trees.
Yamino's expression shifted.
Something had changed in the air.
Something… watching.
Yamino's heart raced as he closed the distance between them, drawn to her. The hesitation that lingered between them dissolved with a simple, quiet breath. He reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, guiding her closer.
Before she could say a word, before the thoughts in her head could settle, he leaned in. And then their lips met. It was a slow, deliberate kiss at first, a moment where time seemed to stretch—where the world faded away. The heat between them intensified, and for a brief second, Yamino felt like he could lose himself in her. There was no more confusion, no more doubts—only the soft, gentle pressure of her lips against his, the undeniable connection that spiraled between them.
For two minutes, the world melted. The kiss deepened as Yamino's hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer. Aiyana's breath caught in her throat as she responded, her hand pressing against his chest, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer.
But just as the intensity reached its peak, there was a sharp sound—like the snap of a branch in the distance.
The kiss broke off abruptly. Both of them gasped for air, faces flushed.
Aiyana stepped back, her eyes wide. "What was that?"
Yamino's pulse raced. He could feel it—a presence. It wasn't just the breeze anymore. It was something darker, something watching them. And the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
He glanced around the clearing, his senses heightened. His hand instinctively reached for the katana at his side, but the handcuffs… the power-dampening chains—were still locked around his wrists. There was nothing he could do.
Aiyana tensed beside him. She knew something was wrong, too.
A noise—something like a footstep—echoed in the woods, followed by another. A low growl reverberated through the trees.
Yamino's heart pounded. He turned to face Aiyana, their eyes locking in shared understanding. They were trapped. Alone. No powers. No options.
A dark figure emerged from the shadows.
At first, it was just a silhouette, tall and imposing, but as it stepped closer, the details became clear. A man, dressed in dark leather armor, a smirk curling on his lips. His eyes glinted with a predatory gleam.
"Aiyana," the man's voice echoed, smooth and dangerous. "You think you can hide in these woods, away from the eyes of your fiancé? How cute."
Yamino's grip on his katana tightened, but the swords at his side felt more like dead weight. The chains—they were still binding his powers.
The man's eyes flicked to Yamino, an amused look crossing his face. "And who is this? Another one of your little playthings, Aiyana? Don't tell me you've gone for a commoner, of all things."
The girl beside Yamino stepped forward, her posture tense. "What do you want, Vance?" she snapped, but there was a quiver in her voice, an edge of fear that she tried to hide. It didn't go unnoticed.
"I'm here to take what's mine," the man—Vance—said coldly, his eyes locking onto Aiyana. "Your fiancé sent me to fetch you. He doesn't take kindly to having his betrothed running off with some… nobody."
Yamino's fists clenched, the weight of his powerless state gnawing at him. But he wasn't just going to stand there.
"Aiyana isn't going anywhere with you," Yamino said, his voice low and steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His body was tense, ready to move, but his hands felt heavy. Useless.
Vance's lips twitched into a smile. "You think you can stop me, commoner?" His tone dripped with mockery.
Yamino's mind raced. His body felt sluggish. He knew he had no real chance of winning. They were locked, powerless. He was just… a normal guy in the face of danger.
But there was something burning inside him. Something that didn't want to run. Didn't want to back down.
And then, like a bolt of clarity, he realized the one thing he could do.
Run.
His eyes shifted to Aiyana, the silent understanding passing between them in a heartbeat. He couldn't protect her by standing there. But he could protect her by getting them out.
"Aiyana," he whispered, "get on my back."
"What?" she asked, voice filled with confusion and hesitation, but Yamino was already moving.
Without another word, he lunged forward, grabbing her by the waist. He didn't wait for her to protest. The moment her body made contact with his, he twisted, scooping her up and lifting her effortlessly into a bridal carry.
She gasped in surprise, but he was already running.
His feet pounded against the ground as he sprinted through the woods, faster than he'd ever run before. The air rushed past him, the wind tearing at his clothes as he pushed his body to its limits. He wasn't thinking anymore. He was acting. Moving. Doing whatever it took to get away from that man, from the danger closing in on them.
Aiyana clung to him, her arms wrapped around his neck, but he didn't look back. He couldn't. Not yet.
Behind him, he could hear Vance's footsteps following, growing louder with every passing second. The man was fast—too fast. And Yamino was already running out of steam. His muscles burned, his lungs screamed for air, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. Not while Aiyana was in danger.
Then, just as Yamino was starting to feel the strain of his efforts, a loud roar split the air behind them. It wasn't Vance. No. It was something else—something terrifyingly massive.
Yamino risked a glance over his shoulder.
Vance was still on his tail, but the source of the roar was moving toward them faster. Something huge, something monstrous, barreling through the trees with the fury of a wild animal. Yamino couldn't quite make it out through the trees, but he knew one thing for sure.
It wasn't just Vance who was after them anymore.
And as the ground shook beneath him, a sense of dread gnawed at his insides.