The wind was still, the usual rustle of leaves absent. There was a heavy silence that hung in the air as Mikage paced back and forth across the shrine’s stone courtyard. His expression, usually warm and patient, was clouded with a rare flicker of disappointment.

You stood nearby, arms crossed, avoiding his gaze. The tension was palpable, thickening the air between the two of you.

“You’ve done it again,” Mikage’s voice was calm, but his words carried a weight. His eyes—those warm, ever-knowing eyes—bore into you, and you couldn’t help but feel a prickling at the back of your neck.

You sighed and rolled your eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh, you did something,” Mikage retorted, a sharpness in his tone that was unusual for him. He stopped pacing and faced you fully. “You’ve been hostile to the humans again, haven’t you? You may not have noticed, but your demeanor toward them has been… rather unkind.”

You felt a tug in your chest. “They’re weak. You know that. Why should I pretend I care about them?” The words left your mouth before you could stop them, and the bitterness in your voice was clear. “You can’t honestly expect me to feel something for them.”

Mikage’s eyes softened, but there was an unmistakable firmness in his posture now. He took a slow, deliberate step toward you. “That is exactly what I expect, yes.” His voice lowered, carrying an uncharacteristic severity. “If you are to continue as my familiar, you must learn to coexist with humans, as difficult as that may be. Your hostility will only drive you further from your purpose.”