The voices outside the club room were barely audible, if at all. Yet, comforted Linus, at least in the sense that he didn't feel truly alone. The events of the past weeks, and especially today, had taken a toll on him—he attributed his sudden craving for closeness and affection to it, a craving that Akira had fulfilled perfectly just seconds ago.

But why had he chosen him of all people? If you could even call it that. Was it just coincidence that he had chosen to spare him, of all the random idiots out there?

Linus could barely stand this inner turmoil anymore... Wouldn't life be much easier without all these negative emotions? He tried to imagine it for a moment, what it would be like. Never being sad again, never crying—instead being independent from others... But then Akira's words came back to him.

He had lived most his life without any feelings of this kind and yet consciously chose to become human. Or was it perhaps considered to be a punishment to become human?

Linus had many questions, but one stood out: Why did he suddenly feel such a connection to the boy? Sure, he was lonely... but this just wasn't normal. There was something going on inside of him. He closed his eyes to listen to his feelings—suddenly something struck him.

Maybe it's because... "No, definitely not!" As he protested, small puffs of steam escaped his lips. Only now did he realize how extremely cold it had become around him. It helped cool him down.

Then he glanced at the window.

The hole in the glass, or rather what was left of it, filled him with unease. As his hands began to sweat with fear while he involuntarily tried to estimate the height of the floor, he decided it was best not to look outside any longer. Suddenly something dawned on him.

Summer hasn't been over for long... Then why is it so freezing cold in here...?

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"We are survivors... or rather, fugitives," explained Beyza.

"What are you fleeing from? Be more specific." Akira scrutinized her suspiciously. She didn't look like the typical refugee.

"We have overcome death, and now we hide from the Shinigami... You should understand that, especially you."

Akira nodded in agreement. "Yes... Until recently, I was playing on the opposite side." He grinned, but Beyza wasn't up for jokes.

"What do you gain from this? Why did you choose him of all people?" she asked.

Akira chuckled. "Pfft! Choose him? Am I a Pokémon trainer or something?! 'Come on Linus, I choose you!'" He could barely contain his laughter and wiped tears from his face.

"Do you even realize what that means?!" Beyza had to watch Akira amusedly laughing in the face of the serious situation for several seconds. Her eyebrow began twitching as if wanting to punch him in the face.

Then he cleared his throat and raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture to soften her death stare. "Sorry... Sorry... Of course, I know what it means! I'm not stupid."

"So…?" she pressed.

"Um... Well, I'm human now... Don't have to kill people anymore... I almost cried earlier, it was quite exciting!" With each word he spoke, Beyza's head shaking intensified, until she could no longer hold back her anger. "I knew it, you're an idiot!" she exclaimed incredulously, holding her head in disbelief. "They will come to kill you, do you realize that?!"

"They'll come...? To take us...? Who?!"

"The Shinigami!! Do you think they'll just let you live in peace?! The real terror is just starting now! You should have kept on obediently killing people, because now hell on earth begins for you!"

Akira blinked at her in surprise. He had no idea what she was talking about. "How would you know? A human."

She emitted a frustrated grumble. "As I said, we-are-on-the-run. We were once on their list and escaped them. Once you've escaped death, they will stop at nothing to complete the mission." She grabbed Akira by the shoulders and shook him. "Then it's not just one Shinigami after you, but everything and everyone. We are Outlaws!"

"Alright, alright! I get it," he tried to calm Beyza down, but she seemed completely unraveled.

"And does this Leopold belong to you too?"

Beyza nodded. "Yes, the three of us stick together. Alone, you won't make it." Now her voice was filled with a certain sadness.

How long had she been on the run from death? How many comrades had she seen die? Akira let his thoughts circle for a moment. "Oh... So your Literature—Club is actually a—"

"Rebellion against death, that's right," a familiar voice finished his sentence.

Akira froze in shock.