Chaotic.

Annoying.

Full of laughter, bad photos, and teachers yelling about curfews.

Instead, it felt like the universe was holding its breath.

Yui stood on the wooden veranda of the inn, staring at the sea that glimmered faintly. The waves were calm—mockingly so. As if last night hadn’t happened. As if she hadn’t almost cried into Yuki’s jacket, as if he hadn’t asked her to call him by his name.

-----

The hiking trip was advertised as “a refreshing nature walk to promote bonding.”

Yui knew it was a lie the moment everyone lined up.

The forest loomed ahead—dense, quiet, and far too dramatic for something meant to be relaxing. Students spilled out in noisy clusters, teachers barking instructions while pretending this was a perfectly safe and well-planned activity.

Yui adjusted the strap of her bag and stared straight ahead.

Naturally, Yuki stood right beside her.

Not on purpose.

Not intentionally.

Just… fate being irritating.

They hadn’t spoken properly since the beach.

The space between them was thick with things neither of them knew how to put back where they belonged.

“…You packed light,” Yuki said, because silence was apparently worse.

“I’m hiking, not relocating,” she replied dryly.

He huffed a laugh before realizing she wasn’t joking. “Right.”

Awkward silence resumed.

Karin jogged past them, glancing between their faces. “Wow. You two look like divorced parents forced to attend the same school event.”

“Thank you, Karin,” Yui said. “Your support is noted.”

Karin winked and ran off, meanwhile Yuki stood awkwardly.

The whistle blew. The hike began.

During the hike, behind the trees—

Louis stood staring at his phone, knuckles white.

The order blinked on the screen.

Finish the job. Eliminate the obstruction.

He closed his eyes.

“…Damn it,” he whispered.

For the first time—

he hesitated.

-------

The trail wound deeper into the woods, sunlight filtering through the canopy in broken shards. Students chattered, some lagging behind, others racing ahead like this was a competition.

Yui walked slightly behind the group, scanning the trees.

She didn’t like this.

Too open.

Too quiet.

Too easy.

Yuki noticed.

“You’re on edge,” he murmured.

She hesitated. “Do you trust me?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Then—firmly—“Yes.”

“Then stay close.”

As they moved forward and were out of the range from the teachers and other students, something happened.

A sharp crack echoed.

Not a branch.

Yuki spun, grabbing Yui’s wrist. “Down!”

A blade sliced through the air where her head had been.

Panic erupted.

“Run,” Yuki ordered, already pulling her off the path.

They plunged into the trees as chaos swallowed the trail. Another knife struck a trunk behind them, embedding deep.

“Is this even a NORMAL school trip!?!?” Yui shouted.

They ran—hard and blind—branches whipping past, lungs burning, fear pounding louder than footsteps behind them.

The pursuer moved fast.

Too fast.

Yuki shoved her sideways as something sharp flashed past—

—and the ground vanished beneath their feet.

They tumbled down a steep slope, bodies colliding, rolling—

Yuki twisted instinctively, arms locking around her—

They hit hard.

Silence crashed over them.

Yui lay on top of him, palms pressed to his chest, breath stolen.

Too close.

And then—

Her mind betrayed her. She thought of the events that had happened last night.

Her fingers curled into his shirt from embarrassment.

Yuki inhaled sharply.

“…Yui,” he whispered. “This would be incredibly romantic if someone wasn’t trying to kill us.”

She scrambled back, face burning. 

Another blade struck nearby.

They ran again.

They didn’t stop until the forest swallowed all sound.

They ducked beneath a rocky overhang, crouching low, breaths ragged. Yuki listened, counting seconds.

“…Well this was sure crazy, I have been running from almost everyone ever since I married you.” Yui whispered.

"Well, it’s not like you share anything with me."

The statement hit her hard. When the silence held, Yui finally spoke.

“Maybe....you really should know about everything...It's louis...”

Yuki’s jaw tightened.

She didn’t stop.

“He knew about our marriage. From the beginning. I don’t know how—but he did. The confession, the ring, the warnings—it was all calculated.”

Yuki closed his eyes briefly. “…And the hatred.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s real.”

She told him everything.

The café.

The Sanada name spoken with venom.

The shadow watching Louis.

The scandal.

The hidden child.

By the time she finished, Yuki’s hands were shaking.

“…I knew something was wrong,” he said quietly.

“He is trying to break you. I don't know what exactly he wants but it seems like someone else is behind all of this. He is also being watched. And from the looks of it, this was an assassination attempt.”

Silence fell.

“I didn’t tell you everything before,” she said. “Not because I didn’t trust you. But because I was afraid…"

“And the Sanada family,” she continued. “He doesn’t just hate them. He knows something. Something old. Something buried.” Her voice dropped. “I read an article. About your uncle. About a foreign woman who disappeared. About a child who was never found.”

Yuki’s breath stilled.

The forest seemed to tilt, memories rushing in uninvited.

A younger him, crouched behind a half-open door.

His father’s voice—low, furious.

His grandfather’s cane striking the floor.

“Yuuhi was reckless.”

“That woman should never have existed.”

“The child is gone. That’s the end of it.”

Yuki’s fists clenched.

“…So that’s what Louis is circling,” he murmured. “Not me. Not you.”

He looked at her sharply. “The past.”

Yui nodded. “And I think… I think he’s not the only one who knows.”

Yuki went into a deep thought.“Louis isn’t acting like someone who wants me gone quickly,” he said. “He’s stalling. Creating noise. Confusion.” A pause. “That only makes sense if someone above him is watching.” 

After a long moment of silence, Yui began.“You’re not… angry?” Her chest tightened.

He flinched back out of his thought and began gently, “I am,” he admitted. “At the people who put you in danger. At myself—for not seeing it sooner.” His gaze softened. “Not at you.”

Something fragile inside her cracked open.

She leaned forward without thinking, forehead pressing into his chest. For a second, she expected him to stiffen.

Instead, his arms came around her instantly.

Firm. Protective.

“Hey,” he murmured, chin resting against her hair. “You’re shaking.”

“Adrenaline,” she lied.

He didn’t call her out on it. Just held her tighter.

They stayed like that longer than necessary. Long enough for the forest to feel less threatening. Long enough for the fear to ease.