A Dangerous Encounter
I stood there in front of Haruno, unwavering. I didn't flinch. I didn't speak. I simply held my ground, my gaze locked onto his.
After a long battle of gazes, I finally broke the silence, my tone calm and unreadable.
"I apologize, but based on your words, I can't recall anything like that happening," I said neutrally.
Haruno let out a sigh, his lips curving into a smirk. "So you choose to hide yourself," he muttered before shrugging. "Whatever. What's important is that I just killed another person in this lively city." His voice was cocky, almost as if he was proud of his actions.
"I see. So you're not really from here," I said, blinking once before briefly shifting my gaze toward the ground in the distance.
"That's right," Haruno confirmed as he took a step toward me.
Then, in an instant, he was close—too close.
"What are you gonna do about it?" he whispered into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "Gonna report me?"
He backed off slightly, walking toward the lifeless body sprawled on the cold ground.
"Who do you think would even believe you?" Haruno continued, his voice laced with mockery. He then crouched down, lightly slapping the dead man's face as if taunting the corpse.
Straightening himself, he raised his hands slightly, gesturing toward the black gloves covering them.
"Where's your proof?" he asked, his smirk widening.
With an almost theatrical slowness, he pulled a lighter from his pocket, flicked it on, and brought the flame close to the gloves. Within seconds, they caught fire, burning away until nothing remained but ash.
"See? You don't have any proof." His tone was smug, his eyes filled with amusement.
I simply watched him, my face composed, my emotions unreadable. Then, in the same neutral tone as before, I spoke.
"How stupid."
The smirk on Haruno's face faltered, his expression shifting into something more serious.
"What?" His voice was sharper this time, irritation seeping through.
I said nothing.
"Tch. Whatever," he muttered, brushing off the moment. He turned, stepping closer once more, leaning down toward my ear.
"Remember what I told you when we first encountered each other," he whispered.
Then, without another word, he walked past me and disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway.
Afternoon in the City
The golden rays of the sun bathed the city, casting long shadows on the pavement. The streets were alive with people—some shopping, others chatting, children playing near the sidewalks. It was an ordinary, peaceful weekend.
As I walked down the side of the street, my eyes focused ahead, I spotted two familiar figures in the distance. Hanako and Kamuro were strolling together, each holding an ice cream cone, their conversation animated.
Kamuro took a dramatic bite of his ice cream and sighed. "Man, nothing beats a lazy weekend like this. No school, no responsibilities—just enjoying life."
Hanako, licking her ice cream delicately, raised an eyebrow. "You say that, but we both know if something interesting happened, you'd be the first one to jump into it."
Kamuro grinned. "Of course! Life's more fun when there's a little chaos."
I approached them, my presence catching Hanako's attention first. She waved. "Yo, Yaku!"
"Hey," I greeted, my voice as neutral as ever.
Kamuro glanced at me, a smirk forming on his lips. "Ice cream?" He held up his half-eaten cone as if offering.
I shook my head. "No, thanks."
"Suit yourself," he shrugged. "You missed out on us almost buying a ridiculously expensive necklace, though. Can you believe how overpriced some of these things are?"
Hanako groaned. "It was so beautiful, though. Too bad I don't feel like selling a kidney just to afford it."
The three of us continued walking, making casual conversation, talking about meaningless things—movies, food, random gossip from school. For a moment, everything felt normal. Just three friends enjoying their weekend.
Midnight – The Dark Alley
The city had long since quieted. The vibrant energy from earlier was gone, replaced by a hushed stillness. The only sounds were distant car engines and the occasional footsteps echoing down empty streets.
I made my way back to the alley where I had encountered Haruno. As I stepped inside, a pungent, rotten stench immediately assaulted my nose.
The corpse.
The body was still there.
I instinctively covered my nose with my sleeve, suppressing the urge to gag. The air was thick with the scent of decay, the metallic tang of dried blood lingering.
Then, a flash of memory surfaced in my mind—something I had barely registered earlier.
Back when I had faced Haruno, my eyes had briefly wandered to something behind him. A detail I hadn't paid attention to at the time.
A door.
Barely noticeable. Hidden within the ground, blending seamlessly with the dirty pavement.
I turned my gaze toward that exact spot and, sure enough, there it was. A concealed entrance, its edges barely distinguishable in the dim lighting.
Steeling myself, I took a step forward. My fingers traced the rough, metallic surface before I pulled it open.
A gust of stale air rushed up from below.
I stared down, my eyes widening slightly.
A staircase.
A hidden tunnel, leading underground.
I stood there for a moment, my heartbeat steady, my mind calculating.
Then, without hesitation, I stepped forward, descending into the unknown.
Yaku Hanama's Inner Monologue
The tunnel stretches before me, a passage swallowed by darkness, leading to an unknown destination. The air is damp, heavy with the scent of old stone and dust. Each step echoes faintly, swallowed by the silence.
How long has this tunnel been here? Who built it? And more importantly... where does it lead?
I continue forward, my eyes scanning the area for anything unusual. The lack of light forces me to rely on my other senses, every distant noise sharpening my focus.
This is taking too long. Just how far am I going to walk before I reach the end?
A faint glow ahead catches my attention. As I approach, I see a single torch flickering on the wall. The dim, golden light barely illuminates the path, revealing a split ahead—two diverging routes, left and right.
I pause, observing both paths. Neither shows any immediate difference. No markings. No signs. Just two corridors leading into the unknown.
I take a step to the right, but after three steps, I stop, closing my eyes briefly.
Something feels off.
Without hesitation, I turn back and take the left path instead.
As I walk, my footsteps remain steady, my focus sharp. A few minutes pass before I spot something in the corner—a small space tucked away to the side. Inside, I notice torn leather pieces covered in cobwebs and a white blanket lying on the ground.
Strange.
Continuing forward, I finally see what appears to be another exit—stairs leading upward, with a door at the top. Relief flickers within me for a brief second before—
Voices.
I react instantly, darting into the small space I had noticed earlier. In one swift motion, I grab the dirty white blanket, pulling it over myself as I crouch, carefully peeking out.
Two men step through the door above, their suits crisp, their expressions unreadable. Their voices cut through the still air as they descend into the tunnel.
"Boss said to feed the slaves today." One of them speaks first, his tone laced with boredom.
"Tch, what a hassle. Do we really have to do this every damn time?" The other replies irritably.
"Unless you wanna take it up with the boss yourself?" The first one laughs mockingly.
The irritated man clicks his tongue, clearly frustrated.
I stay perfectly still, waiting. The moment they disappear into the tunnel behind me, I carefully remove the blanket. My eyes flick to the fabric—stained with dried blood.
I glance behind me, ensuring they are truly gone before moving again.
Silently, I ascend the stairs and place my hand on the door. Slowly, I push it open.
A cold breeze rushes past me. The silver light of the moon spills onto the ground, casting long shadows.
I step out, immediately scanning the area.
I find myself standing in the ruins of what appears to be a destroyed structure. Broken walls, crumbled stone, and overgrown weeds surround me. I turn back, lowering my gaze to the door I had just exited from.
Camouflage.
A carpet-like material covers the door's surface, blending seamlessly with the ground.
They went to great lengths to hide this.
Lifting my gaze once more, I scan the area beyond the ruins. A large building stands in the distance, sleek and modern, but heavily guarded. Armed men in suits patrol the premises, while security cameras are positioned at various angles, watching every movement.
Inside the Building…
Kiara Aoi and Dinn Hajime walk side by side down a long hallway, the dim lighting casting shadows along the walls.
Kiara has her hands behind her head, stretching lazily. "Dinn, got anything in your mind? I'm getting bored with what our boss keeps making us do. Killing people who don't even fight back... it's dull." She sighs in clear frustration.
Dinn, hands in his pockets, tilts his head slightly. "Why are you saying that now? You don't like killing weak people?" His voice is casual, but there's a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Kiara exhales through her nose, glancing at him. "It's not that. It's just... if they're going to die anyway, at least they should try to put up a fight. You know? Maybe last a minute or two before dropping dead."
Dinn smirks. "So you want more of a challenge."
Kiara shrugs. "Wouldn't hurt."
Dinn chuckles. "Maybe someday our boss will throw us something interesting. Something that actually takes effort."
Kiara's eyes gleam slightly. "I hope so. If I have to go through another mission where people just cry and beg, I might die of boredom before they do."
Dinn shakes his head. "You really are something else."
Kiara grins. "You're just realizing that now?"
Back to Yaku Hanama…
A sound.
The men from earlier are returning.
I quickly move, silently slipping behind the remains of a collapsed structure. Pressing myself against the broken wall, I listen carefully as they walk past.
"Damn it, that was disgusting." One of them mutters, sounding irritated.
"What, the feeding?" The other laughs.
"Of course! You think I enjoy giving those things food?"
"Relax, they'll be dead soon anyway. It's just keeping them alive long enough to be useful." The second man sounds disturbingly amused.
I peek out slightly, observing them from my hiding spot.
Then—
A rustling sound.
My eyes shift downward.
A stray cat, its fur unkempt, steps into the moonlight. Its paws press lightly against the grass, but the sound is enough to catch the attention of the men.
One of them stops. His eyes narrow.
"I think there's someone over there." He points in my direction.
I immediately shift, moving as silently as possible. As they begin approaching, I slip away, making my way behind another section of the destroyed structure.
"Wait—" One of the men suddenly speaks.
I freeze.
"I saw something move just now." His voice is sharp, his body tense.
The other man exhales loudly. "You're getting paranoid."
"No, I'm serious! I saw—"
A sound.
A sudden force behind me.
Before I can react, a hand clamps over my mouth, stifling any sound. My eyes widen as I'm pulled backward, dragged into the shadows of another ruined building.
I struggle for a brief second, but the grip is firm, intentional. Not an enemy—at least, not yet.
From where I was just hiding, the two men reach the spot, their eyes scanning the area.
Instead of finding me, they see a cat, now licking its fur as if nothing had happened.
The irritated man glares. "What? A cat?"
The other man snorts. "See? You're overthinking things."
The first man rubs the back of his neck, still skeptical. "I swear I saw something move..."
His companion slaps his shoulder. "Come on, let's go. The boss will kill us if we waste any more time here."
After a few moments, they turn and walk away.
I remain still, my breath steady, my mind calculating.
The grip on me doesn't loosen, but I feel a slight shift—as if the person holding me is assessing whether I'm a threat.
Who are they?
And more importantly... why did they just save me?