I blinked at her, my brain struggling to process what I'd just witnessed. "Surprised? That's... an understatement." My voice cracked as I gestured at the gun in her hand. "Did you... just shoot someone? You, Kei? The same Kei who scolded me for coming te in css?"

  Kei raised an eyebrow, I can't read her expression. "You didn't think I was completely helpless, did you?"

  Her words made my feel cold, and I couldn't help but stare. Her cool, detached tone was so unlike her usual warmth when I am with her, and I couldn't tell if the sharpness in her voice was directed at me—or herself.

  And yet, as my gaze lingered on her, something else caught my attention.

  She shifted slightly, her hand brushing against her stomach, almost as if out of habit.

  I blinked, shaking the thought from my mind. No way, I told myself. Now's not the time for whatever that is.

  "Grrr" Suddnely Ayumi turned to her and her eyes fred with fury as she stared at Kei, her knuckles held the handle of her axe. Without warning, she lunged at Kei.

  Wait what? Why of all times.

  "Stay away from him!" she screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion as she swung the axe in arc at Kei.

  Kei's eyes widened, caught off guard. She moved to dodge, but Ayumi's attack came too fas for hert. The axe grazed Kei's side, tearing through her coat and leaving a shallow but bloody wound.

  Kei stumbled, her composed expression twisting into one with pain and anger. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out her gun and fired.

  The bullet struck Ayumi in the leg, and she let out a shrill scream while colpsing to one knee. The sound of the shot echoed through the chamber, I felt the sound and for a moment, everything went silent except for Ayumi's ragged breathing.

  Kei stepped closer towards her, her heels clicking against the stone floor. Her gun remained trained on Ayumi as her cold blue eyes narrowed. "Bullets hurt a lot more than blows, don't they?" she said icily, her voice like a bde. She raised the gun again, this time aiming at Ayumi's head. "Let's see if you can survive this one."

  "No!" I shouted at her, dragging myself forward, while pain intensified in my injured leg. "Kei, stop!"

  She gnced at me, her expression softening for just a moment before hardening again. "Haruto-kun, she almost killed me. Don't get in my way."

  I didn't stop. I forced myself between them, my hands raised trying to stop her.I stood between the barrel of her gun and Ayumi's defeated form. "Kei, I get it. You're angry, and you have every right to be. But this isn't the way."

  I guess I did out of instinct. Ayumi looked a lot in pain and it felt bad when someone familiar to me is about to die.

  Am I the same guy who murderded group of cultists in cold blood? Why do I still feel concern for humans? I need to know a lot about myself.

  Kei jaw tightened, her finger hovering dangerously close to the trigger as if she will push it any minute. "She's dangerous, Haruto. She'll hurt you—or worse. You can't keep forgiving her just because she's our friend."

  "That's exactly why I'm stopping you," I said firmly. My voice softened as I stepped closer to her, resting a hand lightly on her arm. "Kei, I know you're carrying a big responsibility now." I hesitated, my gaze turning to her stomach for the briefly. "You've got a future to protect, and I want to be there for it. With you. Don't ruin that by making this mistake. It is a sensitive time for you"

  Her grip on the gun faltered slightly. She blinked, her sharp features softening as a faint blush crept across her cheeks. "Haruto... you...dummy"

  "And Ayumi is family," I added, gncing over my shoulder at her. "I pnned to marry her. I have already expined to you"

  Kei's eyes widened, and she stepped back. "You... what? Even after knowing what kind of beast she is?"

  She holstered the weapon inside her skirt in a huff, her cheeks flushed bright pink. " Haruto-kun, you have a strange interest in women. You are weird," she muttered, her voice suddenly girlish and embarrassed. She crossed her arms, gring at me half-heartedly. "You'd better make this up to me ter.

  Behind me, Ayumi groaned. I spped her cheek, and her eyes opened. She came to her senses. She looked dazed before her gaze locked onto me, and her face lit up.

  "Haru-chan!" she cried, her voice filled with relief as she reached for me. However, her expression darkened almost immediately when her eyes nded on Kei, and she gred at her like an angry cat. "What are you doing here? Are you trying to steal him from me?"

  It was almost cute, if not for the fact that she has a bloody axe on her back.

  Kei sighed, brushing imaginary dust off her coat. "Steal him? Please. Haruto-kun isn't some prize to fight over—though I suppose it's hard to expin that to someone as... animalistic as you. Is this the respect you have given him?"

  Ayumi growled, grinding her teeth like she was ready to pounce again. "At least I don't hide behind schemes! I'd never let Haruto-chan down the way you do!"

  Kei raised an eyebrow, her composure returning. "Animal noises now? How adorable. But let me make one thing clear—You are sharing him with other girls, whether you like it or not."

  "It is something Haruto-kun and I decided. " Kei replied while smiling at me.

  Ayumi's eyes widened, and she turned to me, her expression a mix of hope and frustration. "Haru-chan! Is that true? Did you promise her that?"

  I sighed, scratching the back of my head. "Actually, I wanted to marry the whole literature club."

  Kei's face turned red. "Haruto-kun you are shameless!"

  Ayumi blinked, then thought for a while. "Is that so?" she murmured, the corner of her lips twitching upward. But then her face fell slightly, and she looked away. "I guess I ruined my chances of being in your good graces when I... attacked Kei."

  Kei crossed her arms, her voice cold again. "That's putting it mildly." Her gaze sharpened as she added, "If you ever hurt Haruto-kun—even by accident—I'll personally make sure you regret it. And it won't be quick." She emphasized the st part, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

  Ayumi winced but didn't argue.

  "Okay, okay, that's enough!" I said, holding up my hands. My leg was still throbbing, and the st thing I wanted was another fight. "Can we all just... take a breather? Ayumi, Kei, shake hands. Let's call a truce."

  Kei shot me a confused look. "You can't be serious." Her expression was cute.

  Ayumi, despite the pain evident on her face, grinned slyly. "Oh, I'd love to shake her hand."

  "Not like that," I said quickly, holding both of their heads together. "A real truce. No cws, no guns, no grudges. Just... peace."

  They both hesitated, then reluctantly extended their hands. The handshake was tense, their grips visibly tight, but it was a start for now.

  "See?" I said, trying for a smile. "Now wasn't that easy?"

  Kei sighed, muttering something under her breath with a faint pout, "I'm still his favorite, though."

  "That shall pass soon" Ayumi argued

  "Girls," I said, exasperated, "please don't make me regret this."

  As the tension in the chamber finally settled, Kei sighed, holstering her gun once more. Her lips barely moved as she muttered under her breath, "Haruto-kun, you're so stupid sometimes."

  I blinked at her, confused. "Wait... did you just—"

  My words faltered as something else hit me, hard. I stared at the bodies strewn around the room—the shattered Bck Knight, the cult leader lying lifeless, and the blood still pooling around me.

  "Kei..." I started, my voice shaky. "We have killed a lot of people"

  She tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but unreadable. "Yes. They are dangerous."

  I turned toward Ayumi, who was still clutching her leg, the faint glow of her crimson eyes softening. "And you... you killed a monster."

  Ayumi gave me a faint smile. "Of course. For you, Haruto-kun."

  I swallowed hard, realization finally crashing down on me. "And me... I killed dozens. People. Real people." My voice cracked as I slowly processed how I felt no guilt killing them earlier. "I—what did I—"

  "Haruto," Kei said firmly as she stepped forward and pced her hands gently on my shoulders. "It's okay. You did what you had to do to survive. And I... I accept this part of you. I will accept everything, all of you."

  Ayumi's voice was quiet but she replied with a smile. "I don't mind, Haruto-kun. No matter what you've done, I will forgive you."

  I stared at them, their calmness in the face of these corpses is only making my confusion worse. "Wait.. how? How did you even find me here?"

  Ayumi straightened, wincing slightly as she adjusted her injured leg. "I followed you. You're not exactly hard to track. Some PESTS deyed my time to save you."

  Kei sighed, crossing her arms. "I put a tracker on you. It is to make to sure I can keep you safe from threats, Haruto-kun."

  My mouth fell open, and I stared at them both in disbelief. "A tracker? Stalking? To be honest, I'm more scared of you two than the kidnappers right now."

  Neither of them responded right away, and I wasn't sure if that made me feel better or worse. I sighed, shaking my head. "What do we do now?"

  But before I could finish the thought, the adrenaline left my body all at once. My knees buckled, and the world tilted as I colpsed.

  "Haruto-kun!" Kei's voice broke through the haze just before I hit the ground.

  She caught me, her arms wrapping tightly around me. I barely registered the faint sensation of her lips brushing my forehead as she whispered, "You'll be okay."

  Ayumi stepped closer, her hands trembling slightly as she stopped herself from reaching out. Her crimson eyes softened as she looked at Kei.

  Kei gnced at Ayumi and nodded, her usual sharpness repced with a calm authority. "Let's go."

  Ayumi hesitated, surprised by the sudden shift in Kei's tone. But after a moment, she stepped forward, slipping her arm around me and dragged me to a car as I lost my conciousness.

  I felt a car, the engine starting sound and the steady rhythm of the tires against the road while I dreamed about my childhood.