Given the large number of items Shiro Sakamaki had purchased, the store offered free ho delivery to accommodate the volu. After providing his address, he left the store with gumi Kato.
As they passed by a boutique selling won's clothing, Shiro, without warning, grabbed a handbag from the clerk. gumi's gaze shifted between the bag and the store's interior, and her expression grew curious, then puzzled. Eventually, her eyes settled on Shiro, clearly unsure of what to make of it.
Unable to withstand her scrutinizing look any longer, Shiro sighed in exasperation.
"Little Kato, if you've got sothing on your mind, just say it. That look is making uncomfortable."
gumi blinked, her tone casual.
"No, it's nothing. I didn't expect Shiro Sakamaki-kun to have... such unique tastes. But don't worry, I won't laugh at you."
That was when Shiro realized—he had just grabbed the handbag in a won's clothing store. gumi probably thought he was shopping for himself. He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it. He handed the bag to her with a gentle smile.
"This is for you. I noticed you liked that dress earlier, so I decided to get it for you."
gumi opened the bag and found the exact dress she had eyed, the price tag sending a jolt through her system. Two million yen. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pushed the bag back into Shiro's hands.
"This is too expensive. I can't accept it. Shiro Sakamaki, you need to return it. Don't waste your money."
But Shiro wouldn't relent. He took the bag and placed it firmly back in her hands.
"The tag's already cut, so I can't return it. Besides, it's nothing for . Just accept it."
gumi hesitated for a long mont. It was a gesture she wasn't used to—being treated so generously. Eventually, she gave in with a soft sigh, still unsure.
"Thank you... I'll accept it, but it still feels like too much."
A sense of warmth spread through Shiro as he smiled in return.
"That's what I wanted to hear."
Despite her reluctance, gumi insisted on helping him organize his apartnt. She argued that since she had chosen the items, she knew exactly where everything should go. Shiro had initially intended to turn down her offer, but seeing the determination in her eyes, he gave in without saying a word.
The possibility of being caught by the Nakano sisters didn't faze him. After all, he wasn't doing anything inappropriate. If they saw, so be it.
By the ti they arrived at the apartnt, the delivery staff had already left, and the items were neatly stacked outside the door. Shiro unlocked the door and gestured for gumi to enter and begin bringing things inside.
gumi took a mont to call ho and let her mother know she'd be late. Her mother, hearing her voice, chuckled lightly. She was clearly amused that her daughter had spent the day with a boy, though gumi could sense the pride in her mother's tone.
The apartnt had quite a bit of space, and with the large number of items they had to carry in, it took a while to finish. During this ti, the Nakano sisters ca by and offered help, but Shiro declined. The work was heavy, and he assured them he could manage alone.
Kato gumi t the Nakano sisters and was surprised to learn about the quintuplets. anwhile, Nakano Nino couldn't resist teasing Shiro, probably in retaliation for Itsuki's earlier grievances. However, Itsuki herself stayed quiet, her feelings about Shiro still undefined. For now, they were just friends—nothing more, nothing less.
By the ti they finished, it was already close to 10 p.m., and the Nakano sisters had headed back to their own apartnt.
Shiro glanced at the clock, feeling a little guilty.
"Little Kato, I've taken up your ti. Let treat you to sothing to eat before I send you ho."
gumi opened her mouth to decline, but Shiro stepped in before she could protest.
"Don't refuse. It's already late, and I won't feel right sending you back alone."
After a mont of thought, gumi finally relented. Being out this late as a girl did make her uneasy, and though she didn't fully believe in urban legends, the eerie stories about ghosts and creatures lurking at night still unsettled her.
They found a small, cozy restaurant nearby. Originally, Shiro had planned to visit a foggy hall, but when he contacted Hinata Inui, she told him it was too late, so he abandoned the idea. The two opted for a simple, quiet al instead.
The food was decent, but nothing too remarkable—Shiro's standards had been raised after eating in so of the best places. After the al, they prepared to head back to gumi's place.
---
As they passed through a quieter part of the city, Shiro suddenly froze. A dark, foreboding feeling washed over him, and he stopped the motorcycle, signaling for gumi to move closer.
"Little Kato, get down. Sothing's coming."
Before she could ask what he ant, a shadow darted down from the roof of a building, landing in front of them with a violent crash. The ground trembled under the impact, and debris shot into the air like bullets, barely missing them.
Shiro's shadow twisted, rapidly forming a dark barrier around them, protecting them from the incoming debris. The stones pelted the barrier, but it held firm—seemingly unbreakable.
gumi instinctively shut her eyes as the chaos unfolded, only opening them again when the sounds of destruction stopped. She blinked, her gaze locking on the figure in front of them.
It was Tomoya Aki, the classmate she had seen earlier in the hospital.
Behind him, a grotesque, blood-red kagune—a centipede-like appendage—wriggled, its sinister tendrils twitching and thrashing.
Before gumi could say anything, Shiro's voice was cold and sharp.
"Just as I thought... You're not human anymore."
gumi's mind raced. Did Shiro know Tomoya was hiding sothing? Had he already suspected this?
Tomoya's bloodshot eyes locked onto them, a savage growl escaping his throat. Without warning, the kagune lashed out toward Shiro with a terrifying speed, causing the air to rip apart with the force.
---
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