Lyss lifted her head slowly until her gaze met Takumi's. He stood in front of her, posture steady despite the wind still cutting across the rooftop. His expression had settled back into its usual composure, though a faint smile touched the corner of his lips. He extended a hand toward her without saying anything, the gesture simple but deliberate.
For a brief moment, she looked past him at the fractured rooftop, at the fading traces of yellow light still lingering in the air where the Malform had vanished. Then she took his hand.
"You had me worried," she admitted as he pulled her to her feet. She brushed dust and debris from her clothes, exhaling once to steady herself. "But I'll admit… that was something. I didn't expect your Binder to be that chaotic. It doesn't exactly match the calm, quiet image you give off."
Her eyes lingered on him a second longer than usual. She had felt the force of that slash. She knew it hadn't been ordinary.
Takumi gave a small nod, his attention already shifting toward the horizon.
Then it came.
A violent current of black wind tore across the rail line and surged straight toward him. He felt it before it reached him—recognized the pressure, the distortion folding inward.
"It's happening again," he muttered.
Without hesitation, he pushed Lyss a step aside and crossed his arms in front of his chest. The dark wind collided with him and spiraled violently around his body, coiling and tightening like a storm seeking entry. Lyss stared in shock as the vortex wrapped him in shadowed turbulence.
But this time, he didn't stagger.
He didn't cry out.
The current sank into him gradually, absorbed rather than resisted. The turbulence thinned, then dissolved entirely, leaving only the normal wind whipping across the train.
Takumi lowered his arms and stared at his palms.
"This again," he said quietly. "But it didn't hurt."
Lyss rushed back to his side, gripping his shoulder as she searched his face for any sign of strain. "What was that?" she demanded, voice tight. "Did you just… absorb it?"
Takumi didn't answer her question. It wasn't that he was avoiding it—he simply didn't have a clear explanation for what had just happened. Anything he said would have been speculation at best.
Lyss studied him for a moment before nodding faintly. "So you don't know," she concluded on her own.
The wind began to settle as the monorail's brakes finally took hold, the violent momentum easing into a grinding slowdown. Takumi glanced at the track ahead, then back at her.
"If I did know," he said calmly, "I'd tell you. But there's something I've been meaning to ask."
By the time he finished speaking, the train had nearly come to a complete stop. He turned fully toward her, sliding his hands into his pockets, posture relaxed but deliberate.
"The first time we met," he continued, "you bumped into me. I remember seeing something in your hand, behind your back. What was it?"
Lyss's expression shifted almost imperceptibly. The wind lifted strands of her hair as she looked away, tension tightening her shoulders. Unease flickered across her face before she masked it.
"It was nothing," she said quickly. "Really."
She turned slightly and crossed her arms, her discomfort more visible now despite her attempt to dismiss it.
Takumi noticed, but he didn't press further. Mentioning it was enough. Whether she chose to explain or keep it to herself wasn't something he intended to force.
"Alright," he said evenly. "Keep it to yourself. I won't push."
Lyss fell quiet, and the faint smile she had carried earlier disappeared. They stood there in the lingering wind as the monorail finally ground to a full halt.
It did not take long for Theo and his response unit to reach the monorail. Vanguard personnel moved swiftly along the carriages, assessing structural damage while others guided passengers toward secure transport lines behind the halted train. Orders carried across the wind with controlled precision as the immediate crisis transitioned into organized evacuation.
At the rear railings of the monorail, Theo stepped up to join Takumi and Lyss, the ocean stretching beneath them and the wind still carrying remnants of resonance through the air. Takumi stood near the edge with his hands in his pockets, outwardly composed. Lyss remained beside him, posture straighter than usual, aware of the line she had crossed.
"Are either of you injured?" Theo asked, examining them carefully.
"We're fine," Takumi replied. "You should check on the passengers first."
Theo gave a short nod. "That is already underway."
He regarded Takumi for a moment. "You've finally released your Binder. That's significant progress—for you and for the Institute." His attention shifted to Lyss. "As for you… you are still a student, yet you activated your Binder beyond campus jurisdiction."
Lyss lowered her eyes slightly, hands clasped behind her back as she faced the open sea. "I'm aware," she replied. "I didn't act out of carelessness. I did it to assist Takumi. I understand the regulations, and I'll accept whatever disciplinary action follows."
Takumi noticed the restraint in her voice.
"You acted decisively," Theo acknowledged, "but regulations exist for a reason. Unauthorized external deployment cannot simply be overlooked. Your Binder privileges will be suspended for several months, including use within academy grounds."
Before Lyss could respond, Takumi spoke.
"Mr. Theo," he said, tone steady, "she only stepped in because I chose to engage that Malform without a Binder. I was the one who pushed it. She warned me about the restrictions."
Theo's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.
"She shouldn't be punished for protecting someone," Takumi continued. "Most people wouldn't survive something like that without a Binder. If she hadn't acted, the passengers could've been hurt. So would we."
He met Theo's gaze without wavering.
"If someone needs to answer for breaking the rules, let it be me."
Lyss hadn't expected Takumi to speak on her behalf, especially after he had openly questioned her earlier. The quiet defense caught her off guard, and for a moment she simply looked at him, surprised.
Theo observed the exchange before responding.
"There's no need for concern, Takumi," he said evenly. "I was outlining the standard disciplinary outcome under normal circumstances. This was not a normal circumstance. She activated her Binder to protect civilians and in self-defense against a confirmed Malform threat. Under those conditions, the consequences will be limited."
Lyss straightened slightly.
"Her Binder access will be suspended for one week," Theo continued. "There will be no further disciplinary action."
Lyss let out a slow breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Takumi noticed the shift in her shoulders but chose not to comment on it.
"Thank you," she said calmly. "I understand." A faint, almost resigned smile crossed her face. "I'll probably still get a lecture from my father, but that's fair. I'll see you at school, Takumi."
Without lingering, she turned and moved toward the rest of the Vanguard team, assisting with the final stages of evacuation and structural checks.
Theo remained by the railing with Takumi.
"I've been informed that you eliminated the Malform on your own," he said, his tone carrying measured approval. "That is no minor feat. I am impressed."
Takumi didn't react much, but he listened.
"Your actions will not go unnoticed," Theo continued. "I'll make sure Mozen is informed. Since you are not yet formally registered as a student, your Binder will not be subject to confiscation."
He glanced toward the length of the halted train.
"We'll speak in detail tomorrow. For now, our priority is the passengers. Once the monorail systems are stabilized and operational, we'll escort you back to the dormitory."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"I'll accompany you personally. If another anomaly attempts to surface, it won't catch you alone again."
To be continued...