Momo had always known high school was a dangerous place for a shy girl like her. But she never thought the real danger would be two 13-year-olds with matching smiles and a shared obsession with disassembly.
"It's so cute!" Jin chirped, his black, soulless eyes glinting with delight. "I think if we open her chest, it would make a sound. Like… pop!"
"Don't be silly, Jin," Jikan whispered, brushing his long bangs aside. "It's more of a crunch. But we should test it, just to be sure."
Momo backed up until her spine was flat against the cold lockers, her breath coming in rapid gasps. "W-What are you—?! W-Why are you—?!"
"Shh, shh, big brother would be upset if we damaged her too quickly," Jin cooed, one finger tracing an invisible line down Momo's arm. "But he won't know if we're careful."
"Careful, yes. Very, very careful." Jikan smiled, his fingers gently tapping her other arm, like a pianist deciding which key to press. "We can play doctor."
Jin pulled out a switchblade with a flick of his wrist, the blade catching the light. "We'll learn so much. Your heartbeat… your warmth… then… your stillness."
Momo's eyes darted from one to the other, her throat tightening. "I… I'm… I'm gonna be sick."
"Perfect!" Jin's smile widened. "We'll get to see your insides sooner!"
But before the twins could move any closer, a cold voice cut through the hallway.
"Jin. Jikan."
Yozora stood there, his expression calm, but his eyes—those dark voids—promised something worse than death. The twins froze, their eerie smiles fading.
"Oh, hi, big brother," Jin chirped, as if nothing was wrong. "We were just—"
"—Saying hi to your girlfriend," Jikan finished with a cheerful grin.
"Yes, I see that," Yozora said, his voice a smooth, dangerous calm. "And what did I say about killing her?"
Jin and Jikan pouted in perfect synchronization. "You said no."
"Exactly." Yozora stepped forward, grabbing each of them by the back of the neck. "You can kill anyone else. I'll even help you hide the bodies. But not her. Ever."
The twins looked at each other, their smiles returning.
"Aww, but she looks so tasty," Jin giggled.
"So squishy," Jikan added.
"She also has a heart. Unlike you two." Yozora's fingers tightened, his voice dropping. "Play dead next time, Momo. They get bored easily."
Momo's mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Now go," Yozora commanded, his voice like a blade. "Before I forget that I can't kill you because of Mom."
The twins giggled, ducking out of his grip. "Okay, okay. But we'll be watching," they sang in unison, disappearing down the hallway like phantoms.
"Are you okay?" Yozora asked, turning to Momo. His voice was calm, his expression soft.
Momo looked at him, her face pale, her hands shaking. "Y-Your brothers… t-they… they wanted to—"
"Yes. I know. They get that from my father's side." Yozora smiled gently. "Next time, just play dead. They'll get bored and leave you alone."
"P-Play… dead?!"
"Yes. They're like cats. But with knives. And… surgical precision."
Momo's fear turned to anger, her hands balling into fists. "WHAT KIND OF FAMILY DO YOU HAVE?!"
Yozora's smile didn't waver. "A very functional one, all things considered. And you should be polite, Momo. I can't kill them. Mother would cry, and Father would make me join them. And I quite like having all my organs on the inside."
"YOU'RE ALL FREAKS!" Momo screamed, finally finding her voice.
Yozora's smile widened ever so slightly. "And yet… you still like me. That's adorable."
Momo stared at him, her jaw dropping in horror, but Yozora leaned in, his voice a gentle whisper.
"Want me to walk you home?"
Momo's voice was a tiny, defeated squeak. "…Yes."