The moon hung low, its pale glow woven through the strands of the Sky Web—thin, glimmering threads stretched across the atmosphere, visible only to those touched by ghoul blood. Yuki walked the edge of the abandoned rooftop, staring into the electric skyline of the city below. Since Sakura vanished into the Sky Web weeks ago, the world felt heavier. Quieter. Sharper.
And yet… Yuki wasn't weak anymore.
She inhaled, and the air trembled. Her ghoul energy—once wild and unpredictable—now pulsed like steady thunder beneath her skin. She didn't need anyone to save her. She didn't need a guide. She didn't need a protector.
But she did miss her friend.
A faint ripple shimmered through the sky, too delicate for human eyes. Someone was watching her.
Someone familiar.
But before Yuki could lift her head, a soft voice spoke from behind her.
"Late night walks again?"
Yuki froze, then smiled despite herself.
Sakura.
But not quite the Sakura she remembered—this version wore simple clothes, her aura muted, her presence small. Almost human.
"Sakura…?" Yuki whispered.
Sakura lifted a hand, waving casually. "Oh, did I surprise you? Sorry. I've been around the academy for a few days now. Just didn't want to bother you."
Yuki blinked. "…You've been around?"
Sakura nodded, giving a shy shrug. "I was told to keep a low profile. Sacrifice Ghouls aren't really supposed to draw attention." She offered a small smile. "But I really wanted to see you."
Yuki stepped closer, searching her friend's face. Something was off. Sakura's gaze held secrets now—deep, luminous secrets. She was hiding something, something powerful. Something ancient.
"You feel different," Yuki murmured.
Sakura laughed quickly, too quickly. "Do I? Must be the travel. The Sky Web messes with your aura. I'm still adjusting."
But Yuki wasn't fooled. The air around Sakura had the faint hum of a pure ghoul—clean, ancient, celestial energy. Not the fractured, corrupted weight of a Sacrifice Ghoul.
Still… Yuki didn't push.
Instead, she stepped beside Sakura and looked up at the shimmering threads overhead. "I thought you were gone."
Sakura lowered her eyes, her voice soft. "I never left. I just… couldn't come back fully yet. Not the way I was before."
"Because of the Web?"
"Because of what I am," Sakura whispered, almost too quietly.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Sakura nudged Yuki gently with her shoulder, smiling brighter.
"But I'm here now. And I want to be with you—at least as much as I can without making trouble."
Yuki laughed softly. "So you're stalking me?"
"Not stalking," Sakura said, pouting. "Observing. With care."
They both laughed, the sound light enough to shake the tension loose.
The two walked along the rooftop in easy silence, a familiarity settling between them. Sakura's presence felt warm, grounding—even though she hid her true nature beneath layers of quiet restraint.
"Yuki," Sakura suddenly said, turning serious, "you've changed. Your power… it's steady, controlled. Stronger."
"I'm learning," Yuki replied. "I don't want to depend on anyone. Not even you."
Sakura's eyes softened. "Good. You shouldn't. You were always supposed to stand on your own."
Yuki elbowed her gently. "Are you saying I was weak before?"
"No," Sakura said, smiling softly. "I'm saying you've become exactly who I saw in you from the beginning."
Something warm stirred in Yuki's chest.
Sakura continued, voice low and sincere.
"And I'm proud to be your friend."
Yuki looked at her. "We're still friends? Even after everything?"
Sakura's expression brightened. "Closer than friends."
Yuki's heart skipped. "…What does that mean?"
"It means," Sakura said slowly, "that I chose you. Even if I have to lie low. Even if I can't reveal everything yet. Even if the world calls me something I'm not."
Yuki studied her carefully. "You're not a Sacrifice Ghoul, are you?"
Sakura stiffened—but only for a second.
"No," she whispered.
But she didn't explain.
Not yet.
Not tonight.
Instead, she smiled—a real, warm, almost shy smile.
"But you don't need my truth right now. You just need someone to walk with for a little while."
Yuki smiled too.
"Yeah," she said. "I think I do."
They stood together as the threads of the Sky Web shimmered above them—two girls bound by secrets, power, and a growing connection neither fully understood yet.
And the night felt lighter.