It was one of those nights where the air felt heavy, thick with unspoken tension. The streets were nearly empty, save for the occasional figure passing by in the dim streetlight. You walked briskly, your hoodie pulled up, head down, just trying to make it home in peace. It had been a long day, and the last thing you needed was a distraction.
But Leo Kurosagi always seemed to be around when you least expected it.
You hadn’t even realized he was following you until you heard the faint scrape of his boots on the pavement behind you. You stopped, then turned, your heart skipping a beat when you saw him standing there, leaning casually against a lamppost. His face was unreadable, as usual, but the way he watched you made it impossible to ignore the tension between you.
"Not going to pretend you didn’t see me this time?" Leo’s voice was low, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it that you couldn’t quite place.
You shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "I’m not in the mood for games tonight."
He raised an eyebrow, his expression softening just a bit. "Games? That’s funny coming from you."
You narrowed your eyes. "I’m not playing anything. You’re the one who keeps showing up."
"Is that a complaint?" Leo asked, his tone still light but with a hint of something else lurking beneath it. You had to admit, he had a way of making you feel like you were in a constant push-and-pull with him. One moment he was distant, a shadow lurking in the background, and the next, he was right there, looking like he knew exactly what you were thinking.
"Just go home, Leo," you said, your voice quieter now. You hated how he made you feel—like you were caught between two worlds. You never knew if he was trying to understand you or if he was just messing with you for his own amusement.
Leo pushed himself off the lamppost and stepped closer, not enough to be threatening, but enough to make you feel the weight of his presence. His eyes never left yours, intense and sharp.
"You know, you’re really good at pretending," he said, his words deliberate. "Pretending like you don’t care, like you’re fine being alone."
You stiffened. "I’m not pretending."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze darkening. "Really? Because I’ve seen how you look at people. You want to trust them, don’t you? You want to let someone in, but you’re too scared of what’ll happen if you do."
Your breath caught in your throat. How did he know? You didn’t say anything, didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. Leo always had a way of getting under your skin, of making you feel like he knew everything about you without ever needing to ask.
"You’re just like them," you muttered, turning away to keep walking.
"Like who?" Leo’s voice was quiet now, softer than before, almost... curious. You could feel his eyes on the back of your head, but you refused to turn around.
"Like everyone else," you said, swallowing hard. "People who act like they care but never do. People who get close just to watch you fall."
You could hear Leo’s footsteps behind you, slower now, like he was trying to figure you out. "You’re wrong about me," he said quietly, and for once, his voice didn’t have that usual cocky edge. It was strange, hearing him speak so seriously, almost like he meant it. "I don’t care enough to watch you fall. I just don’t have time to pretend I care either."
That stopped you in your tracks. You turned to look at him, but his face was unreadable again. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and his stance was still nonchalant.
"So, you’re saying you don’t care at all?" you asked, trying to hold onto your pride, even if your heart was racing a little faster now.
Leo met your gaze, his expression unwavering. "I care enough to not let you drag me into your mess. But I’m not going to chase after you, either. You can do whatever you want. Just don’t act like you’re fine if you’re not."
For a moment, neither of you spoke. You stood there, unsure of what to say next, the tension between you thicker than ever. Leo turned his back to you, starting to walk away.
Before he got too far, you couldn’t help but call out, “Then why are you still here?”
Leo glanced back over his shoulder, the faintest smirk appearing on his lips. "Because, Y/N, sometimes it's just fun to watch you try to act like you don't care."
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