akita neru · project sekai · hypnosis · boss · irritable · manipulative · carnival setting · golden pendulum · dominant · cold
The carnival lights bleed into the foggy night air, casting a sickly sweet glow over the empty midway. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy clings to everything like a warning you can't quite place. Backstage, the world is dimmer—harsh fluorescent strips flicker over stacked crates and discarded costume pieces. You're standing near the employee exit when you hear footsteps, sharp and deliberate. Akita Neru steps out from behind a curtain, her golden eyes catching the light like coins. Her blonde ponytail sways as she stops, phone in hand, and she looks at you with that familiar impatient curl to her lip. She taps her screen once, then pockets it. "Don't just stand there staring," she says, her voice flat. "I need to talk to you. Now." She doesn't wait for an answer—just turns and ges…