"You're Rumi, right?" Jinu asked, his voice tentative, eyes scanning mine as though searching for a forgotten name.
I froze, the sting of tears behind my eyes threatening to break free—but I forced a small nod. "Yeah... I am."
He scratched the back of his head, visibly nervous. "Um, so... is the reason you ran away yesterday because of... what you saw?"
I blinked. What I saw? Then it hit me.
"The truck incident?"
Jinu bowed quickly, hands clenched. "Please... don't tell anyone about that."
"W-What?"
He looked up at me, panic flashing in his eyes. "I know it probably looked terrifying to a normal person, I just—I don't know how to control it yet. One day I woke up and... things were different."
His voice cracked at the edges. I could see it now—not fear, not arrogance. But confusion. Loss.
"You're lost," I whispered.
He met my gaze and gave a small nod.
"Only you and my two roommates know," he continued. "I mean, today I was late because I crushed the elevator buttons again. I had to use the stairs. They try to help, but I keep breaking things... phones, handles, even utensils. I can't figure out how to dial it back."
I stared, processing everything. "So... you thought I was scared of you?"
He nodded, sheepish. "I thought... maybe I scared you. You cried, and then you ran away."
A surprised laugh escaped me. I wiped my eyes and said with a bittersweet smile, "I ran because... I didn't want you to see me cry. It was embarrassing."
His face softened.
He stepped toward me. "It's okay to cry. Idols... are human too."
"Humans, huh..." I chuckled. "Thanks."
"And thank you for keeping my secret."
"I won't tell anyone," I promised.
His phone buzzed—and snapped in half in his hand.
He winced. "Ugh. Not again."
I reached out instinctively, touching his hand, guiding his palm. "Breathe. Focus on pulling the power inward. Like a vacuum."
My voice faltered. Memories from my training days flooded back—when I was just a scared girl learning to fight demons.
Our eyes locked. His gaze had changed. Not haunted. Not broken. But... free.
I let go abruptly, heat rushing to my cheeks. "S-Sorry. I didn't mean to touch you."
"I-It's okay," he said, voice just as flustered.
I cleared my throat. "Um, bye! See you tomorrow at your dance practice!"
He waved. "Y-Yeah! Buh-Bye!"
As we walked our separate ways, he whispered to himself:
"Wait... did I ever tell her my name?"
______________________
/At Home/
I buried my face into my pillow.
"That was so awkward!! Ugh!!"
Derpy meowed and curled beside me.
I stroked his fur. "He really doesn't remember me, huh..."
I stared up at the ceiling. "But he looked... lighter. Happier. Like the pain was gone. Even if he forgot the those memories too."
I sighed. "Let's just try to be his friend again. Right, Sussie?"
Sussie nodded solemnly.
Suddenly, a familiar, gut-wrenching pressure settled in my chest. The air shimmered—a ripple.
"Demons."
Back when the demon realm still lay beneath the Honmoon, any time a demon tried to surface, we'd detect them instantly—long before they had the chance to hurt anyone. But now that the Honmoon is fully sealed, things have changed. The demons who managed to stay hidden in the overworld have become harder to track.
The Honmoon still reacts when they get close to humans, but by then… the danger is already near. That means we have less time—less warning—to save lives.
Thankfully, I have one advantage on my side:
A pet who can teleport.
I grabbed my sword and leapt onto Derpy. "Let's go."
In a blink, we teleported.
/Forest Park/
The same place I last saw Jinu.
The memory burned in my mind—his face, bloodied and broken, his body surrounded. And now, the air felt thick again. Too quiet. Too still.
I crouched low, blade drawn, heart pounding like a war drum. A growl echoed through the trees. The bushes rustled.
Something was coming.
I burst through the underbrush—eyes locked forward, ready to strike.
"JINU!"
He was collapsed on the ground, breath shallow, bruised and torn. Four snarling demons encircled him like vultures waiting for the final breath.
My vision tunneled. Instinct took over.
I leapt.
My blade met the first demon's neck—it disintegrated into ash before it hit the ground.
Another lunged. I spun mid-air, cleaving straight through its chest. Dust exploded into the air, vanishing like smoke.
Landing hard beside him, I dropped to my knees. "Are you okay?!"
"I—I'm fine," he groaned, trying to sit up. His voice was hoarse, but still there.
"No, you're not." I yanked a cloth from my pouch, quickly wrapping the gash on his arm. "I'm happy I got here in time. I'm a hunter. I hunt demons. Long story."
His eyes searched mine, wide and stunned. "You're strong... That explains a lot. I guess we both have secrets."
"Yeah. Yours is brute strength. While mine is more on the sword."
He gave a faint, grateful smile. "Still. Thank you."
But we weren't alone yet.
A new swarm emerged from the shadows—creatures in twisted forms, hissing, growling, surrounding us like a pack sensing weakness.
Jinu suddenly stepped in front of me, his arms out. "You're strong, yeah. But I don't want you getting hurt. Not for me."
My heart skipped.
The lead demon hissed, voice low and jagged. "Hand over the human boy."
I raised my blade, the wind brushing against the edge. "Come and take him."
"Attack!!"
"Jinu!" I shouted. "You remember what I said? Now, stop holding it back. Let it out. Watch my blind spots!"
"R-Right!"
I dashed forward, my blade a blur of silver light. Every slash erased a demon in a cloud of black ash.
Jinu followed, fists clenched. One punch sent a demon flying—its body evaporating in the air before it could land.
He kept them off me. Every time one came from behind, he was there—quick, raw, and stronger than he even realized.
But they kept coming.
One demon slipped past and lunged at him. I spun too late—
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
My blade cut through it, vaporizing the beast mid-lunge.
He panted. "Thanks, Rumi…"
Another wave pushed through the trees.
And then the chant began:
"Grim Reaper... Grim Reaper..."
The sound chilled my blood. My hand tightened around my sword.
What did they mean? Why that name?
A massive demon emerged, wielding a blade of obsidian.
"RUMI!!"
Jinu's voice ripped through my thoughts.
I turned—too slow.
He was already running.
And then—SLASH!
The demon's sword carved across his back. A horrible sound escaped his throat.
"NO!!" I screamed, eyes wide, slicing the demon in two—dust and silence replacing its form.
Blood didn't spill—but his body trembled. Weak. Wounded.
"Jinu, hang on!" I caught him as he fell. "Please!"
"I-It's okay... I'll live…" His words barely held together.
"Stop lying, idiot!"
"DERPY! SUSSIE!"
In a burst of light and smoke, Derpy crashed in from the ground, tail ablaze, Sussie bounding behind.
The demons snarled—but Derpy swiped his paw, ash erupting in a wide arc.
I held Jinu close. He was slipping.
Then—
Two shadows appeared in the distance. Familiar.
"It's them!"
Baby. Romance.
They landed beside us, claws slicing through demon after demon.
Romance's eyes locked with mine. "We've got this. Get him out of here!"
Baby grunted, "To your tower. We'll meet you there."
I hesitated. I still didn't fully trust them—not after everything.
But then Romance said it.
"Protect him."
Just like Jinu had for me.
I nodded. Whispered, "Hold on."
And mounted Derpy, Jinu cradled against me.
The world shimmered as we vanished.
____________________
/Huntrix Tower/
I laid Jinu gently on my bed, his breath shallow. Hands trembling, I grabbed bandages, cloths, anything to stop the trembling in his body.
Derpy and Sussie stood silently, tense.
I sat by his side, held his hand.
"Please…" My voice cracked. "Please don't die. Not again."
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
_____________________
/Narrator's POV/
He looked unconscious.
But inside—his mind was spiraling.
"Please don't die. Not again..."
He heard her voice—soft, pained. Familiar.
Images surged.
Flashes of light. Screams. A name screamed in the dark: "Oppa!"
"You left them."
"You're no good. Just like your father."
He writhed in his sleep. "Stop... These aren't mine…"
Voices. Shadows. Chains. Blood. His own screams.
And then—light.
Not harsh. Gentle. A memory? A dream?
"That's just your demon talking."
"You're good for me."
"If there's no hope for you, how could there be hope for me?"
He ran. Toward it. Toward her.
And then—
"RUMI!!"
He shot up, panting, reaching toward the ceiling.
His arms—bandaged. He was safe.
And beside him—her.
Tears glistened in her eyes.
He stared, something stirring deep in his chest.
And the question floated in the air:
Did he remember her?