note: this route episode does not intervene with the actual plot. what happens in the vox route didn't happen in the main story.

╭───────────────*·˚➳

⛥┊オカルトクラブ ˎˊ˗

┊₍✞︎₎ ..⃗. ꒰ ⁰¹· the red charm ꒱ ⛥ೄ ･ﾟˊˎ

╰─•*⁀➷

✞︎ the two were silent as they walk back to y/n's house.

vox's steps were a bit slower compared to y/n's. he just stared at her back while admiring her perfectly imperfect self.

he couldn't forget how divine and ethereal y/n looked underwater. it was already a core memory of his, and her beauty could easily just put all most beautiful paintings in shame.

but what vox couldn't forget the most was the hesitation y/n had, and the fear on her face during the charm ritual.

"y/n." vox called.

"yes..?" y/n paused walking to glance at the man.

"there's a nearby ramen truck here. would you like to eat dinner with me?" he asked.

i have to ask her about earlier. i don't think i'd be able to sleep without getting an answer. vox thought.

"hmm? sure." y/n answered and walked back to stand beside vox. "lead the way."

the two of them walked side by side. no one bothered speaking, but it was already fortunate for them that the atmosphere wasn't awkward.

"y/n."

"i know i'm boring i'm sorry." y/n immediately said and cried anime tears.

"ah, it's not that." vox panicked a little bit. he then sighed.

"it's... it's about the charms." he confessed. "i saw how skeptical you were to continue underwater. and when you told the others about it... i think you're... you're lying."

y/n gulped.

"y-you're so sharp that it's scary." she joked. "w-well..."

"you got one unique charm." y/n honestly said. "i was hesitant to tell you because i'm afraid it might scare you or make you hate me even though i didn't choose that power for you it's the power that chose you and maybe it's-"

"take a deep breath, y/n. it's okay." vox said while chuckling.

y/n heaved a phew. "sorry. i'm just anxious."

"i'm not gonna lie, i am anxious too." vox said as well.

the smile on his lips made y/n a bit relieved.

"well... i don't know how those powers work, to be honest. like how they were assigned to you and how you got those specific powers." y/n said. "i've always believed that it may somehow be related to people's past lives."

"b-but i don't believe in it anymore... ever since i got mine. and after i saw yours, i have more reasons not to believe in that past live thingy," she added.

vox hummed. "well... what was mine?"

he noticed how y/n fidgeted. "y/n. be honest with me, okay? i don't care what kind of boom-shaka-laka it is. remember, i'm the occult club's vice president."

"yeah, you're the same guy who said that my club is suspicious and uncanny." y/n sulked with a little pout, making vox laugh.

"you see... the world has three kinds of spirits." y/n started while staring at the starless skies. "the bad, the good, and the lawful."

"it's the first time i've heard of the lawful."

"meh, i just made it up a few seconds ago because i forgot what they're called. but basically, they're not bad but they're not good either."

"in between the line, eh?"

"mhmm." y/n then continued. "the good were the ones who doesn't do anything... well, bad. they're harmless spirits who stay in the world probably because they still need one more thing before ascending to where they belong. the lawful ones are spirits who probably do good and bad things for the other's sake."

"while the bad spirits... those who harm people..." y/n said as she walks faster than vox.

she then turned around. her face was serious, taking vox aback.

"your charm has the ability to obliterate and get rid of those spirits."

vox's eyes widened.

"i've always believed that it may somehow be related to people's past lives."

come to think of it... everyone's powers are related to their past lives.

mysta's ability is to trace, because he was once a detective.

ike's ability is possession related, like how ink would possess a paper, because he was a novelist.

shu was a sorcerer, hence the ability to call spirits.

and luca has the ability to let others see spirits, just like his connection from people to groups to organizations.

and my ability is to eradicate... because that's what i've been doing for decades a few centuries ago.

"i-i know it's a very bad power but maybe it's not the worst..?" y/n said in hesitation that she might offend her friend in some way.

"no. it is actually a cool power. you should've told me sooner." vox said with a grin and a light blush under his eye.

blood slowly crept up y/n's cheeks, with steam seeping from her head. she just stared at vox shamelessly, even if it was against her will.

"y/n?" vox called.

y/n comically shook her head like a child.

"AYO—!" vox exclaimed when the lady suddenly slapped her own cheeks.

y/n nodded to herself. snap out of it, y/n.

"what are you doing?!" vox asked with a chuckle, a bit amused. he gently grabbed the lady's cheek.

y/n flinch because of a little sting, making vox chuckle again. "lady, you amaze and confuse me at the same time." vox said while caressing her cheek with his thumb to ease the pain.

why does she have to be so cute? vox sighed with a smile.

y/n just have her eyes closed while vox caresses her cheeks. vox reminds her of a cute anemo slime from that one game.

"president, is there another reason why you chose me as the vice president?" he then asked after letting her cheeks go.

"oh that?" y/n said before they resumed walking side by side.

"actually, i just felt like you could handle everyone. at first, i thought it was fit to be ike's position, but it feels like he's so done with everyone." y/n explained. "i feel like giving you a responsibility will bring out your inner responsible self."

vox chuckled. "i don't think there's a liable being in our group."

"i feel like shu's very responsible too. but i also feel like giving him the vice president role won't suit him." y/n honestly said. "the president role may fit him though."

the two of them continued talking about the club and the club members. like how mysta could be a bitch sometimes, how ike is everyone's favorite, luca being a cute dog on a daily basis, and how everyone loves shu and his supportive self.

"you're like the group's mom, you know." y/n said. "or dad. yeah, that."

"who's the mom, then? you?" vox asked.

"hmm i don't think i fit that role." y/n said, unbeknownst to her that vox just paired himself with her.

"yeah... i think you'd be the baby."

"don't," y/n warned with her eyes narrowed at vox.

but the latter just found that cute and started pulling the lady's cheek.

y/n started blabbering gibberish while scolding vox for yanking her cheek. he wouldn't stop so she pulled his cheek as well.

the two of them had a cheek pulling fight before they arrived at the ramen truck vox talked about.

"oh, it's you again! where are your friends?" the server asked after vox and y/n entered.

"dead." vox said before guiding y/n to a seat. the lady then thanked him.

"ohoho~ i see." the server said with a teasing tone. "would you like the usual?"

"yes." vox answered. "y/n?"

"i'll take the cheapest— i didn't bring that much money." y/n replied.

"i'll pay for it, don't worry." vox said.

"eh? you don't have to..."

"i invited you here." vox said. "give her the best ramen you've got."

"don't give me too much! i don't have a big appetite during dinner." y/n said timidly to the server who just laughed.

vox couldn't help but chuckle at y/n's cute flustered face. man, he's been chuckling endlessly tonight. this is dangerous.

y/n took out her phone, only to realize that it was actually on mute. she received a few messages from her mom, asking where she is, and a few more messages from an unknown number.

y/n replied to her mom first. she told her that she's eating dinner with a friend outside tonight, and her mother has demanded all the deets tonight.

y/n's little giggles from her mother's messages caught vox's attention. his eyes were then glued to her cheeky grins and cute expressions.

the server just shook his head and thought, kids.

from: unknown email

subject: yo

are you back in the club room

from: unknown email

subject: oi

oi leto

from: unknown email

subject: arf

don't tell me you don't have load

from: unknown email

subject: OI WTF

WHY TF AREN'T YOU REPLYING

from: unknown email

subject: BRO

ARE YOU HOME

from: unknown email

subject: AYO LETO

ANSWER THE CALL???M

you have missed 17 calls from unknown email

that made y/n sweat buckets. i forgot about the president after i got the report... i'm so sorry shoto. she cried as she replies.

unknown email calling...

"hmm? who is that?" vox asked, peeking.

"hello?"

[thank god you're alive! what the hell?! you said you're gonna let me know!]

"i'm sorry i forgot!" y/n cried at the phone.

[well at least i know you're alive now.]

"i'm really sorry, shoto."

"shoto?" vox asked.

y/n nodded. and just like the good girl she is, she brought the phone i between her and vox before putting shoto on speaker. "you're on speaker, kaichō."

[huh? why? and stop calling me kaichō. we're not in school.]

"hello, mysta."

[rude! i wash my rice—! wait, vox?!]

"mysta doesn't wash rice?" y/n asked in horror.

"hello, shoto. why are you calling and barking so late, huh?"

[w-well—! i just wanna— wanna know if leto—]

"i know. you just wanted to know if y/n has returned back to the club safely." vox said. "well, she has returned a few hours ago. she only forgot because of a few club activities we had to do after school." vox explained precisely.

[yeah... that. but why are you two together?]

"and why is that your business, bottom?" vox asked.

[you—!]

"stop calling him that, vox," y/n warned.

"whatever the president says."

"your food is here!" the server announced.

"i guess we have to go eat our dinner. have fun eating yours alone, shoto." vox said with a smile. "you can end the call now, y/n."

"huh? oh uhm yeah— thank you for worrying about me, shoto. i'm fine now. have a happy dinner as well." y/n said before ending the call. poor shoto didn't even get the chance to say a few words and bid goodbyes.

y/n peeked at vox secretly, only to see him staring at her already, so she looked away.

vox was smiling when he was talking with shoto earlier, but y/n could sense the irritation and resentment in his tone. and his smile seems a bit sarcastic.

is he on bad terms with shoto? he said he knew him. y/n thought.

the server gave her a bowl of perfectly cooked ramen with lots of toppings. it looks so good.

but y/n's jaw dropped when he saw vox's bowl, which was thrice bigger than her bowl.

vox rubbed and rolled the chopsticks in-between his palms before breaking it easily.

"hmm? you're staring?" he asked.

"says the guy who wasn't staring earlier." y/n said and gave her chopsticks to vox.

vox chuckled and did the same thing to y/n's chopsticks. after he broke it into a pair, he gave them to y/n and started eating.

"hey boss man." vox called. "i'll need a bottle of sake and a glass as well."

y/n almost choked on her ramen. "you'll drink? but we have classes tomorrow."

"i won't drink a lot. i still have to get you home." vox said with a smile that has reassured you, guarantee.

the two of you just ate silently. honestly, the server was expecting the both of you to be all lovey-dovey, but he wasn't surprised when he only saw vox stealing glances.

he really expected that from him.

"how long have you both known each other?" the server asked.

"just a few days ago. i transferred to her school and joined her club along with the boys." vox answered.

"along with the boys?" the server asked. "eh?! young miss, you have to put up with this man and those other four?!"

"hmm? w-well i guess so...?" y/n answered.

"but aren't they a handful?" the server asked and laughed.

"no! they're definitely not!" y/n defended. "they're amazing, sir! they've helped a lot despite only being in the club for a few days! if it wasn't for them, my club would be in ruins! they're great! i'm glad to have them!" she chirped with her eyes twinkling.

the server almost gagged, stopping his laughs while vox stared at her in plain amusement. the lady really never failed in surprising him during the times he never expected it.

damn, y/n. you really are something. vox thought while painfully gawking at her

"do you know them all, sir?" y/n asked. "oh and your ramen is sooo good!"

"thank you, young miss." the server said, suppressing his laughs. "wow, akuma. you got yourself a fine lady. you're so lucky."

the two almost choked, especially vox. "i-it's not like that." vox was the first to deny.

"yes, i know them all, young miss. they usually eat in my truck." the server said.

"they're really amazing, aren't they?"

the server nodded after glancing at vox mischievously. "yes, they are."

"mhmm!" y/n nodded like a child. "mysta may be rude and always cusses a lot, but he's really, really! affectionate! oh and luca..."

y/n continued talking about vox and his friends while they eat. the server listened to her with full ears, especially vox who is also staring at her in a way someone could easily misunderstand.

"are you alright?" the server whispered at vox.

"huh?"

"you're red." the server pointed out. "she's just blabbering about your friends. you must like her a lot."

"n-no—!" vox almost yelled when he remembered y/n was just beside him.

"cut it out." vox said to the server with his flustered face. the server just laughed and poured him sake.

the three of them continued eating and talking about the boys. vox couldn't help but notice the mess beside y/n's lips.

he took a tissue and gently tugged y/n's jaw to face him.

"let me..." he mumbled while wiping the side of her mouth. "there. you're one messy eater."

"you didn't have to..." y/n almost spoke not a word. she's been a blushing mess with vox tonight, and it feels like she's having a stroke sooner or later.

aside from being flustered, y/n was a little embarrassed for showing vox this side of her. it wouldn't be too long until vox loses his respect for her.

"thank you, boss man." vox said to the server after paying. y/n bowed to him as well before leaving his truck.

"was it good?" vox asked.

"yup! i'm very full!" y/n chirped while caressing her stomach.

she then let out a cute burp, which made her surge all her blood to her face in embarrassment. again.

"aaaaaa i'm so sorrryyyy!" she cried with a tini-tiny voice while covering her face with both palms.

vox just let out an aww before giving her a head pat. "you're so cute, president."

"please don't say that..."

"can't handle the truth now, can you?"

"it's nice to walk like this after a good dinner." y/n said as she redeemed herself. "i'm sorry, the station is still a bit far away."

vox asked what station is she heading to, until they found out that she, vox, and luca goes down the same station from the one near the school.

"looks like i'll be walking you right to your house, huh?" vox said as he walk over to the card reader.

y/n also walked over it after having her card scanned. the both of them waited for the last train of the night.

it was silent. awfully silent. vox knew it was the different silence compared to earlier, so he glanced at y/n.

but she was just looking at nowhere.

"we still have a few minutes before we ride the train." y/n said before vox could utter anything.

but the coldness in y/n's tone gave vox the shivers.

"give me your hand," she said while still staring in the same direction.

only a few people were waiting for the train. the flickering lights by the end of the hall were already enough to give them the eerie vibes, and vox couldn't be more uneasy.

vox just took her hand without a word. at that moment, he felt a pang in his chest before a bright light flashed in his eyes.

it stung, of course. he rubbed his eyes before slowly opening them.

nothing changed.

"what was that..." vox mumbled, still holding onto y/n's hand.

"look." y/n called.

vox turned his head to where y/n was pointing, only to see a black figure wrapped with black smoke...

no. it wasn't smoke. it was more like an aura... vox couldn't explain it in words. but staring at it made him so rattled and uncomfortable. it was distressing.

"look around."

vox did.

no one was moving but only the two of them. even the time was frozen.

"what is this..." was the only thing that escaped his mouth.

the jumping cat was still in the air. the yawning man still has his mouth opened. the flickering of the light was stopped too.

"y/n—"

vox glanced at his hip when he noticed something heavy. it was a weapon. a katana.

his katana.

"w-what..? t-this wasn't supposed to be here..?" vox mumbled while staring at the weapon with horror written on his face.

he stood up, letting go of y/n's hand.

"y/n! just what is happening?!" he started panicking.

"calm down."

"if you could just look at me—!"

"calm down, vox." y/n gently insisted.

vox just swallowed a lump in his throat and calmed himself down a bit.

y/n remained staring at the black spirit, and only god knows what she's thinking right now. vox on the other hand couldn't help but just lay his hand on his old weapon.

from its handle, he caressed it with care. the feeling slowly seeped back into his body, like the nostalgia was eating him back to his past. it feels tingly. it feels surreal.

"kill it for me." y/n said and glanced at him with the softest smile vox has seen in his entire existence. "vox, kill it for me."

vox's knee felt heavy. he slowly fell down the floor on one knee with his sheathed katana as support to his balance.

"understood..." he mumbled and stood up.

his heart feels so light, but his body feels heavy. vox couldn't figure out if it's because of y/n's presence, or maybe something else.

but the only thing in his mind right now is to follow y/n's orders.