Death Flag

Villet froze. Her usually impassive face remained a mask of calm, but the tension in her posture was unmistakable.

"You saw Shibahime's swimsuit, Akaya," she said evenly.

"It wasn't intentional," I replied quickly.

"And how exactly does one accidentally see a swimsuit?" Villet took a step closer, her sharp, unblinking gaze drilling into me.

I instinctively backed up, my shoulders bumping against the vending machine. Her calm intensity was suffocating, and I could feel the weight of her scrutiny.

"We were at the Mori-no-Sato campsite for volunteer work," I began hesitantly, "and during our break, everyone decided to play by the river. Apparently, the girls had brought swimsuits because they planned it in advance."

"So you were conveniently there, brimming with curiosity, spying on them from the rocks?"

"Why would you assume that? I didn't spy on anyone!"