Before Akeno could even open her mouth to ask what Kurama had meant by those last cryptic words, the world around them began to dissolve once more.
The golden light of the forest dimmed, the sweet scent of blossoms faded, and the soft rustle of leaves was replaced by the distant hum of city traffic and the cool, damp smell of rain-soaked asphalt. In the space of a single heartbeat, the vibrant dreamscape collapsed, and they were back—standing on a quiet, dimly lit side street near the edge of Kuoh Town. Streetlamps cast long, soft shadows, and a gentle breeze carried the faint sound of water dripping from eaves.
Akeno blinked, steadying herself as the sudden shift in reality made her head spin slightly. She brushed a stray lock of dark-purple hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. Then she turned to Subaru, eyes still bright with curiosity, though now tinged with something softer—something almost expectant.
"Is there… anything else you want to tell me?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she didn't want to break the fragile stillness of the moment.
Subaru tilted his head back, staring up at the cloudy night sky for several long seconds. A small, uncertain sigh escaped him. He scratched the back of his neck, the universal gesture of someone trying to decide whether or not to say something important.
"Hmm… let me think…" he murmured, dragging the words out. "Nope. Nothing else comes to mind. At least… nothing obvious."
Akeno exhaled softly, a little smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Oh, I'm glad," she said, relief coloring her tone. "For a second, I was worried you were going to tell me you were secretly some god's chosen champion or something equally dramatic."
Subaru froze mid-step.
His entire body went rigid. Then, slowly, he turned to look at her, eyes wide. It was almost comical—the way his expression shifted from casual to panicked in less than a second, as though someone had just flipped a switch inside his head.
"…Actually," he said, voice suddenly much smaller, "there… is one more thing."
Akeno's playful expression vanished instantly. She stepped closer, eyes narrowing with genuine interest.
"Hm?" she prompted, tilting her head slightly. "Go on…"
Subaru swallowed hard, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"There's… a tattoo," he confessed quietly. "Right here." He tapped two fingers against the left side of his chest, just over his heart. "I don't know what it means. Merlin couldn't figure it out. Kurama couldn't either. No one really knows why it's there. It just… showed up one day, and it's been with me ever since."
Akeno's eyes widened slightly—not in fear, but in fascination. A slow, intrigued smile curled across her lips.
"Ara, ara…" she breathed, voice dropping into that dangerously soft, teasing tone she used when she was truly interested. "Then… show it to me."
Subaru's face flushed crimson.
"Here? Right now?" he squeaked, glancing around the empty street. "It's… it's the middle of the night…"
"Don't be so shy, Subaru-kun," Akeno said with a soft, melodic laugh. She took another step closer, eyes glittering mischievously. "I promise I won't bite… at least, not yet."
Subaru let out a long, suffering sigh, but there was no real protest in it. He glanced around once more—making sure they were truly alone—then slowly reached for the hem of his shirt.
With a quick, almost embarrassed motion, he pulled it up and over his head, holding it bunched in one hand against his stomach.
Akeno went completely still.
She hadn't expected… this.
Subaru's upper body was far more defined than she had imagined. Not bulky or overdone, but lean, natural muscle—evidence of training, discipline, and probably far too many life-or-death situations. His shoulders were broad, his arms corded with quiet strength, and his chest rose and fell with slightly quickened breaths. A faint scar or two marked his skin here and there—silent reminders of battles long past.
For a moment, Akeno simply stared, caught completely off guard. Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She cleared her throat, suddenly flustered.
"…Well," she managed, forcing her voice to stay light, "that's… unexpected."
Subaru noticed immediately. He shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.
"Uh… is something wrong?" he asked, voice small. "I—I can put it back on—"
"No, no," Akeno said quickly, shaking her head. "Nothing's wrong. I just… wasn't prepared for how… impressive you are."
Subaru's blush deepened to an almost painful red. He rubbed the back of his neck again.
"Th-thanks… I guess?"
Akeno finally tore her gaze away from his torso and focused on the tattoo itself.
It was located just over his heart—a strange, elegant symbol made of interlocking lines that almost looked like flowing script or ancient runes. It wasn't dark or ominous; instead, it pulsed with a very faint, warm golden light, so subtle that most people would miss it entirely. But Akeno could feel it—like a second heartbeat beneath Subaru's skin.
"Does it ever feel warm?" she asked softly, stepping even closer. She raised her hand but stopped just short of touching it, letting her fingers hover in the air above the mark.
"Yeah," Subaru answered quietly. "Sometimes. Especially when I'm in danger… or when certain people are close. It's like it… reacts. Like it's alive."
Akeno's expression softened. She studied the symbol carefully, tilting her head.
"Hm… by the way, Subaru…" she said, voice dropping into that teasing lilt again, "you really are quite hot."
Subaru choked on air.
"Th-thank you?!" he stammered, completely thrown.
Akeno giggled, then grew more serious.
"But about this tattoo… I don't think it's a curse. I think it's a blessing. Some higher being—maybe even a deity—placed it on you. Someone is watching over you… protecting you. I just can't tell exactly who."
Subaru went quiet, staring down at the mark on his own chest.
"My masters both suspected it might be a curse," he said slowly. "Something dangerous. But… I never felt afraid of it. It never hurt. Sometimes it even… calmed me down when I was scared."
"Then trust that feeling," Akeno said gently. She finally let her fingers brush lightly against the edge of the tattoo—just the barest touch. The symbol pulsed once, brighter for a heartbeat, as if acknowledging her. "Sona might know more. She's incredible with ancient symbols, seals, and forgotten magic. If anyone can help us understand this, it's her."
Subaru looked up at her, eyes soft and filled with quiet gratitude.
"Thank you, Akeno," he said, voice low and sincere. "Really. It means a lot… that you're taking this seriously. That you're not… running away from it."
Akeno's smile was warm, almost tender.
"That's only natural," she replied. "You're important to me now. Whatever this is… we'll figure it out together."
She stepped back, giving him space to pull his shirt back on. Subaru did so quickly, still blushing furiously.
"So…" Akeno said, tilting her head with a mischievous glint returning to her eyes, "shall I introduce you to the rest of the group? Unless, of course, you've changed your mind after all this excitement."
Subaru's smile widened—slow, genuine, and a little shy.
"Not at all," he said. "Let's go."
Akeno's eyes sparkled dangerously.
"Then prepare yourself, Subaru-kun," she purred, looping her arm through his. "After tonight… there really is no turning back."
Subaru glanced down at her, then let out a soft, breathless laugh.
"There hasn't been for a long time."
As they walked down the quiet street, shoulders brushing every few steps, the city around them seemed to fade into soft background noise. Between stolen glances and shared smiles, the air between them hummed with curiosity, tension, and something deeper—something unspoken, warm, and growing stronger with every heartbeat.