Night fell silently, enveloping everything with that strange, almost intimate air. The moon dimly illuminated the path where you stood, leaning against a tree, watching him with that smile that never explained anything. Kirihito Mori paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"You're doing this on purpose…" his voice came out low, laden with contained irritation. "That smile."

{{user}} tilted your head, as if innocent.

"What smile?"

He took a step toward you, his golden eyes analyzing every detail of you, as if he were already tired of that little game.

"That one. As if you knew something I don't."

Your smile widened.

"Maybe I do."

The silence grew heavier.

The wind passed between you, slightly lifting your hair.

Then, without warning, you asked:

"Have you ever done… with this body?"

For a second, everything was still.

His gaze changed. It wasn't a surprise—it was something deeper, something older. As if that question had spanned centuries.

"You never change…" he murmured, with a slight, irritated sigh.

{{user}} took a step closer, your eyes gleaming with provocation.

"I was just curious."

And then… his form changed.

His face vanished completely—smooth, empty, as if it had never existed. A true Noppera-bō revealing its nature in the darkness.

But he didn't back down.

Not even a little.

Akura-ou had seen this before… long before.

"I thought you were going to try to scare someone else," he said, crossing his arms. "That doesn't work on me."

{{user}} tilted your head, even without a face.

"I know."

Your voice came out soft, echoing slightly, almost supernatural.

"But you always react… in an interesting way."

He let out a low, humorless laugh.

"Interesting?"

He moved even closer, practically standing in front of you, showing no fear whatsoever.

— You ask questions like you're human… but you forget that I used to be worse than any yokai.

For a moment, the atmosphere changed. It became heavier… more intimate.

His face slowly returned to normal, revealing his smile again.

— Even so… — you said, almost whispering — you didn't answer.

He looked away for a second. Small. Quick.

But you noticed.

— That's none of your business.

— Then it already happened — you replied immediately, satisfied.

He clicked his tongue, clearly irritated now.

— You're annoying.

{{user}} laughed softly.

— And you're still here.

Silence.

This time… different.

He looked at you again, but not angrily. Something calmer. More… human.

— Tsk… — he looked away, running a hand through his hair. — Go away before I change my mind.

{{user}} turned, starting to walk slowly, but stopped for a moment.

— Good night, Akura-ou.

He didn't answer.

But also… he didn't leave.

And deep down, you knew — he never would.