Awkward silences. Like Yuri had mentioned before, Shujinkou didn't really care for them. But not many really do.

However, this time was different. The air was heavy, solemn and melancholic all at once. Perhaps awkward wasn't the right word; depressing seemed more appropriate.

Shujinkou tore himself away from the bright lights that flew past his window and snuck a look at Yuri. She still sported the same disheartened expression she has had the entire evening. He couldn't blame her for feeling that way.

Wouldn't anyone respond in a similar way if they spent time in around the local law enforcement?

After discovering the photos in the envelope Mali unveiled, they took it to the police and waited as officers were sent to question and possibly bring him. But after spending what felt like hours waiting, they came to learn that his place of residence appeared to have been quickly cleared out.

"He clearly took what he could and ran," one of the said.

Akuma's location was currently unknown, a fact that clearly unnerved Yuri.

With nothing else that could be done then, Shujinkou called his mother, asking if she could pick them up.

Recalling all of that made Shujinkou feel guilty and like an idiot at the same time. If it wasn't for Mali's intervention, Akuma's creepy act most likely would have continued for much longer.

"After all, there's a difference between doing nothing because you can't and doing nothing, giving up and letting things continue on."

Those words Mali had told him added to his preexisting guilt.

Why was I so confused whether or not to do anything with that envelope? Doing something with it should have been obvious, right?

But as Shujinkou thought that, he realized something about the entire scenario he didn't question before.

Mali already knew about the envelope and spoke like she knew what was inside… Why-?

Shujinkou soon felt the car come to a stop.

"We're here," Hiro announced.

Once again looking out of the window, Shujinkou confirmed with his own eyes that they were in front of Yuri's house.

"Thank you, Ms. Hiro," Yuri said.

She stepped out of the car and Shujinkou followed. The silence between them persisted even as they reached the front door.

"Here we are…" Shujinkou awkwardly said.

It was all he could manage to say. He truly didn't know what he could say that wouldn't make her feel even worse.

Yuri turned around to face him. "…Thank you."

"Huh?" Her expression of gratitude was the last thing that Shujinkou expected to hear, especially when he wasn't completely sure why she was expressing it. "For what?"

"For spending the entire evening for me even thought it would be understandable that you would rather be left alone and…" Yuri averted her gaze as she gathered her words. "And for telling me about your sister. I know that couldn't have been easy for you."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. "Yeah, well… I guess I just thought it needed to be said."

"Still…"

An awkward silence soon hung over them. They both wished they could say more, but didn't know what they could.

"You know… Standing here at night reminds me of one of the first things we've done together since you've first joined the club," Yuri noted.

"The bring your own book in assignment?" Shujinkou asked.

"Yes. I remember when we finished the task and you offered to escort me home. At the time, I found it really embarrassing and also strange to have a boy offer something like that to me. Or really, anyone offering that to me…

I naturally responded by trying to decline but you insisted. I don't think that I would have agreed but the look in your eyes when you did convinced me otherwise."

"The look in my eyes?"

"They were filled with sadness and concern. I didn't understand why then, but I guess I know why now."

Shujinkou once again scratched his right cheek.

"Ah… Sorry. I shouldn't be saying that like know what I'm talking about," Yuri apologized.

"No, it's fine… I'm pretty sure anyone would say that," Shujinkou assured her.

"Maybe… I guess I was just… Perhaps it just feels a little nice to be able to understand you a little more and that you were willing to share for my sake."

Shujinkou remained silent as he processed what he was just told.

"...So, are you alright?" he asked.

"I don't know…" Yuri sighed. "Those photographs were from my first year and my second year so far. There are even some during the trip to your grandmother's resort. Right now, I don't really feel like anywhere is safe…"

"Yeah… I can see why you would feel that way… It's probably best if you get inside then."

"Yes…"

Yuri opened the front door then looked over her shoulder. "Good night, Shujinkou."

"'night," Shujinkou replied with a slow wave.

Once the door closed behind her, Shujinkou returned to the car.

"Is she okay?" Hiro asked.

"She's scared…" Shujinkou answered.

"That's understandable… What about you?"

Shujinkou shook his head. "I don't know… I don't know what I'm supposed to do right now…"

The next day…

Shujinkou stuck his head into the classroom Mali led him to the day before. It was like any other classroom during the morning; students arriving and waiting for class to begin.

He had been there before when he was looking for Mali but, when he thought about it, it was never at the start or end of the day. It made sense to him now why he never realized that Mali had Akuma as a homeroom teacher.

It's not like he would just come here like nothing happened, right? The police did say that it looked like he took whatever he could and ran.

"Looking for someone, Senpai?"

Startled by that sudden voice, Shujinkou immediately turned around to find Mali smiling at him.

"Is Senpai actually visiting me or is he here to see my teacher?" she innocently asked.

Shujinkou averted his gaze as he scratched his right cheek. "Well…"

"It's kinda strange, he's usually the first person here and yet he isn't," Mali continued. "I wonder what could have possibly happened. Did Senpai decide to do something with what his Kōhai found?"

"Speaking of which…"

Shujinkou took a moment to prepare himself for what he was about to ask and the conversation that will surely result from it.

"You said that you didn't know what the envelope was anymore when you gave it to me. Did you look inside of it before?" he asked.

"Of course I did, Senpai, that's why I knew it would be useful to you," Mali answered in a nonchalant manner.

"Mali… I'm grateful to you for giving that to me and I know because of that I have no right to say anything about how you found it, but…"

"But what, Senpai?"

"How come you never showed it to anybody?"

"Hm…"

Mali closed her eyes and daintily tapped her right cheek. "I did contemplate showing it to teacher but recent events made me give it to Senpai."

"No, I mean, how come you didn't show it to people who could have dealt with this. I know I struggled with what to do with it, but I think I may have made the right decision in showing it to Yuri and going to the police about it."

"We'll see about that, Senpai…" Mali giggled.

Her response sent a sharp chill crawling down his spine. What if what he did made things worse?

"Is that why you didn't do anything with it? Because you were worried about what may happen next?" he asked.

Mali cocked her head and flashed a knowing smile on her face.

"Senpai… What's with you asking me such questions? It really feels like you're trying to give me justifiable excuses of me not doing anything so my inaction can fit your morality."

Shujinkou awkwardly scratched his right cheek. Never really thought about it like that.

"The reason why I didn't show anyone, despite how interesting it would be to see how that would play out is because I had no real reason to."

"'No real reason?'"

Even with her history of pranks and talking down to everyone, Shujinkou didn't expect Mali to respond so casually to an adult stalking a high school student.

"Why are you so surprised Senpai? Should I have done something? It's not like I knew your friend back when I first found it nor did I care that she was in this situation," Mali continued.

"But… What if yo-?"

"What if I was in such a predicament? Wouldn't I want some altruistic stranger to come by and do something?" Mali interjected.

"Well, yeah…"

Mali giggled at Shujinkou's perturbed face.

"Oh, Senpai, it must be nice to still be so innocent. Unlike you though, I stopped believing stuff like that could happen. The idea that some altruistic stranger will whisk someone away from trouble."

"Mali…"

"The only reason I did anything now was because Senpai was involved and his Kōhai couldn't let someone mess with Senpai, that's all. It just so happens that it coincides with you asking me to be nicer to your friends."

Her statements prompted Shujinkou to recall a question he asked Mali the day she agreed to stop pulling pranks.

Do you not like other people… She never really answered that question. Does she really just value people that interest her? I know that's the only reason she bothered to stop pulling pranks because she found me "interesting" but…

"Senpai's cute when he's thinking about morality," Mali giggled. "It's also cute how he tries to not think the worst of someone whose parents named her 'Malizia'."

"It's not like I'm going to judge people by their name…" Shujinkou weakly replied.

"I know. Senpai's probably the only person who would give someone named Akuma the benefit of the doubt."

"Yeah… I'm also grateful that you were there to help."

"Mm-hmm. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who thinks Senpai's innocence and naivety to morality blinds him."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. That line sounded oddly familiar to him.

"Hey, Mali…"

"Yes, Senpai?"

"What can I do to actually make you like me?"

"Oh? Is Senpai after me despite all his potentials?"

"No, I mean what can I do for you to see me as more than a source of entertainment? You don't even have to like me; just not see me as an interest you can throw away whenever you want."

Mali stared into Shujinkou's eyes; it was if she was trying to see into his soul.

"Senpai can be surprisingly forward when he wants to," she giggled.

"Mali, I'm serious," he said.

"I know, that's what makes it even more surprising."

Mali stepped past Shujinkou and walked towards her classroom. She then looked over her shoulder and asked, "Shouldn't Senpai be heading to class? School's about to start, you know?"

Even if he didn't want it to end there, Shujinkou knew she was right. He had to get to class.

All he could think about during his journey there was his previous interactions with Mali; what she had done and what she had said to him and to others. There was also her initial reaction to him catching her mid-fall after she spent the day before leading him into traps.

It seems like she just lives up to her name but… Those times she was confused. Were they just her shocked that I'm still around or… is it something more?

As he continued his trek, Shujinkou noticed a familiar face from the corner of his eyes. He instinctively walked towards them and called their name. "Natsuki."

She turned towards him with a surprised look on her face.

"Morn-"

Natsuki immediately turned away and walked off.

"-ing…"

Hearing the morning bell soo after, Shujinkou forced himself to step into his classroom and take his seat.