"Huh?"
Before anyone could react, the person suddenly put a gun to Vyko's head.
Levan, Akio and Makoto were staring at the person holding the gun with surprise.
"Kouya?", Makoto mumbled.
"Either you leave my comrades go or I'll have to blow your pretty little brains out."
Vyko stayed calm and composed. As if this situation was just another inconvenience.
"Ah. Violent, aren't you?", as Vyko was about to turn around, Kouya had already shot a bullet through their skull.
Ermina, who was on Kouya's shoulder, flinched at the loud noise.
Everyone was shocked at the sudden bloodbath. Vyko's head was partially gone. There was a lot of blood.
Julie in particular looked more than just horrified by the scene.
But what was even more surprising than the act itself was the fact they didn't fall to the ground.
Instead their head slowly started to build itself up again.
Everyone was watching the regeneration in surprised silence.
"Did you really think I'll die that easily? Think harder next time."
Kouya was confused. He just blew their head off and suddenly they are healing again!?
"What are you?", he demanded, holding onto Ermina.
Vyko covered their eyes with a new blindfold they got out of their sleeve before anyone could see their eyes.
"What makes you think I am not human? Many people on this planet have regeneration abilities."
Kouya narrowed his eyes at them.
"Yes, but I know you're not human. You have an odd aura. So what are you?"
Vyko let out a small chuckle.
"You're surprisingly sharp. I wouldn't have expected that from someone like you. At least your intuition is of use."
"What are you?" Kouya repeated, this time more firmly.
"Wouldn't you like to know, stoat boy," Vyko said, amused.
Kouya was growing more and more irritated.
"Don't beat around the bush, I demand an answer."
"Well, what if I choose not to tell you?", Vyko taunted.
Kouya stayed silent. He didn't have a counterargument.
"Thought so. Also, who do you actually think you are, inviting yourself into my home and then having the audacity to shoot me?", Vyko spoke dramatically.
Kouya's fingers curled into fists.
"Don't act like you're the victim here. You took two of our members and probably did something with them."
Vyko simply smiled down at the shorter man.
"First of all. That is incorrect. I took *one* of your members. The other simply wished to stay with the first. And secondly. Akio *chose* to stay, even when he was 'rescued'. Both of them are here willingly. You can't force them to leave, if they don't want to."
"They only want to stay because you manipulated them!", Kouya scoffed, but then turned to Julie. "And why do *you* bother being polite to this monster? They did nothing to deserve your kindness."
Julie shook her head.
"You're wrong."
Kouya gave her a baffled expression.
"What do you mean, I'm wrong!?"
"Everyone deserves kindness. Even if the person is behaving improperly. Everyone has a heart, you know? I'm trying to make the world see that you are capable of being rewarded for being kind to people," Julie explained with a soft smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Vyko silently listened to what Julie was saying. They found what she said quite interesting to say the least.
Kouya sighed in exasperation and walked towards the exit.
"Honestly, damn it all," he grumbled. "I'm giving up. Let's go, Julie."
Julie however didn't move.
"Julie?", Kouya asked one more time.
Julie suddenly got a determined look on her face and turned her gaze to Vyko.
"Now I really want to know what's underneath your mask," she said ambitiously.
"... Figuratively, I mean," she added sheepishly.
Vyko put a finger to their chin in a thinking motion.
"Oh? Interesting. Most people would rather want to see what's hidden behind the literal mask. And yet here you are, wanting to see *me*. You're really like no other, aren't you?"
Julie blushed and chuckled in embarrassment.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that..."
Kouya rolled his eyes. Why did Julie blush from a simple interaction with their enemy, but never when *he* spoke to her? Why can't she take a hint? Didn't he make it obvious enough that he was in love with her?
"Come on, Julie," he insisted.
Julie turned to face Kouya.
"I'm not leaving."
Kouya took a step back in shock.
"What!? Why not!? Does this house randomly influence people to stay here or something!?"
Julie ignored Kouya and turned her attention back to Vyko.
"Sirdam Vyko, may I stay here for a bit? I want to know more about you!"
Vyko tilted their head to the side in amused confusion.
"Sirdam?"
"Well, I didn't know how you like to be referred to, so I used both Sir and Madam together...?", Julie admitted shyly.
Vyko giggled a bit.
"Ah, I see. Well, there's no need for formalities. And yes, you may stay as well. The more the merrier, I'd say."
"Yay! I'd love to know more about you!", Julie exclaimed excitedly.
"You are aware this creature is capable of brainwashing and manipulating people, correct? They did so with your very own colleagues," Kouya interrupted.
"Yes, I know that is bad, but that is exactly why I must find out more about them!", Julie said, still as enthusiastic as ever.
Kouya narrowed his eyes.
"Do what you want. I'm leaving," he hissed, storming out of the house with the stoat on his shoulder.
Julie watched him leave with a worried expression before turning to Vyko.
"Did I say something wrong...?"
"Some people don't handle headwind very well, you know?", Vyko told her.
"Headwind? But I didn't insult him or anything, did I?", Julie asked meekly.
Vyko shook their head slightly.
"No. It's just that his ego is fragile, which means he can't handle negativity well."
"Oh... Now I feel bad," Julie mumbled and looked at the ground.
Vyko put a hand on her head.
"It's not your fault. Some people like to make life difficult for other people. But you are obviously not like that, are you? You care. That alone is very uncommon. So don't worry too much."
Julie's face heated up even more at the physical contact.
"You know exactly where to push, don't you...?"
Vyko smirked.
"Of course I do."