As Akio was sitting at the dining table once again, staring off into space, Vyko came out of the kitchen, holding two cups of tea in their hands. One cup was put on the table right in front of Akio. Vyko then sat down across from him again, taking a sip from their own cup.
Silence fell between the two of them before Vyko decided to break it.
"You seem distant."
Akio continued to stare at the table, lost in his own thoughts. He did not respond.
"Answer me when I'm talking to you," Vyko spoke calmly, but not without a threatening undertone.
Akio stayed quiet, not even reacting to what the cult leader just said.
Vyko waited for Akio to answer, more or less patiently, and tapped their fingers on the table.
After what felt like an eternity, Akio finally took a glance at the person opposite of him.
"Why did you make me do this?", he finally mumbled.
Vyko hummed, thinking of a response.
"Well, you see... The man you just murdered was a detective. An annoying one at that. He stood in my way, so I decided to make *you* take his life. You could say I killed two birds with one stone."
Akio didn't react.
If he still were his old self, he probably would've broken down by now. He would've cried. He would've felt guilty about what he's done.
But instead he felt nothing.
"I see..."
Vyko chuckled softly, taking a sip of their tea.
"Oh? That is your response? Interesting. It seems your little flame is flickering quite weakly now. How unfortunate. I've hoped to study you for a longer time, but it seems we are nearing the end."
"You're wrong."
Vyko tilted their head, humming in confusion.
"What do you mean by that?"
Akio stared at the cult leader's face intensely.
"My 'flame' - as you put it - is not as weak as you think it is. Thanks to you I have endured much pain, but you know what? I'm still standing. I may be fragile but I'm also stubborn, so don't even assume we're done yet."
Vyko was silent for a while before continuing the conversation.
"Ah I get it now. You're determined to keep going out of spite. You want me to fail. But darling, there is no outcome that could make me lose. I'll be satisfied either way. Besides, the longer you endure, the more fun it gets."
Akio kept glaring at Vyko but didn't say anything.
After an uncomfortably long silence, the doorbell rang all of a sudden.
"Hm? Who could that be? I don't think I've invited anyone over," Vyko pondered, getting up from their seat, putting their mask back on and walking out of the dining area towards the door.
After they opened it, they suddenly felt a numbing pain in their stomach. They stumbled back a bit.
"Ow, I didn't expect that...", was Vyko's only response.
"Where is Akio?"
Vyko stood up straight, looking at the three people in front of them, specifically the boy who just punched them.
"Ah you must be Makoto. It's such a pleasure to meet you," they said sarcastically.
Makoto was glaring at the cult leader.
"Tell me where Akio is."
Vyko chuckled in amusement.
"My, you really aren't patient at all, are you? He's inside. I'm not going to give him to you just yet, but if you want, you may come in."
Makoto gritted his teeth.
"We will."
Makoto, Kaelis, and Dolly walked past Vyko to get inside. Vyko then closed the door and followed them.
Akio turned around in his seat to spot his friends. And a woman he's never seen before.
Makoto's eyes lit up ever so slightly as he finally found his friend. He immediately ran towards Akio and wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him into a tight hug. Akio couldn't help but feel his face heat up at the proximity.
"Thank God you're alright! You're not injured are you?", Makoto released Akio from the hug and looked him up and down to see if he had any injuries.
"I'm fine," was all Akio said. He couldn't look at Makoto without feeling embarrassed. He wasn't used to people caring this much about him. Except for... Oh right.
Makoto put a hand on his friend's shoulder. He could tell Akio was lying.
"What did that bastard do to you? I'm gonna punch them a second time. And a third if I have to."
Akio sighed before finally glancing up at Makoto.
"Don't. This is between Vyko and me."
Makoto gripped Akio's shoulder tighter.
"We can talk about this once we're back at the-"
"No. I'm not going."
Makoto's eyes widened in shock.
"What...?"
Akio looked away again.
"I'm staying here. I have some business to take care of."
Makoto didn't know how to respond. He was convinced that once they've found Akio they could go back to the headquarters and everything would be fine again. But it seemed it wasn't that simple.
Akio glanced at his still full cup of tea with his dull eyes.
"I'm sorry. You made an effort to get me back and yet I'm being difficult again. But I can't return. Not now."
Makoto stared at Akio for a while longer, but then he walked towards Vyko, who was standing idly by the kitchen door.
He took them by their collar, pulling them a bit closer.
"What have you done to him? Why is he so keen on staying here?"
Vyko stayed as calm as always, putting a gloved hand onto Makoto's.
"I only did what had to be done. People like him tend to feel guilty for every little thing. So I decided to help him."
Makoto's green eyes narrowed at them.
"What do you mean by that?", he asked firmly.
Vyko grinned at hearing his question.
"I made him get rid of some of his emotional empathy by desensitizing him to violence. He even killed someone by himself."
Makoto's eyes widened once again as he realized Vyko wasn't lying. He tightened his grip on their collar.
"He did what!? Why!? Why would you make him do this!? He did nothing to deserve this!"
Vyko, as unperturbed as ever, didn't react to Makoto's anger.
"I merely helped him. I don't see why you're so upset now. Besides, he's done it himself. I barely participated in this."
Makoto narrowed his eyes at Vyko.
"Bullshit. You were the one who made him do it. He would've never killed someone for no reason."
Vyko laughed softly in response.
"Oh but he had a reason."
Makoto didn't loosen his grip on Vyko's clothing.
"What was that reason then?"
Vyko's smile beneath their mask widened.
"You."