---
The tension was a living thing.
The air itself seemed to tremble as Rin and Ayame faced each other—the fox-girl crouched low, claws curled and teeth bared, Ayame with her blade angled, her stance steady, eyes sharp as steel. Neither of them moved, but everything about them screamed that the next heartbeat would erupt into violence. My pulse hammered in my ears; I was frozen, caught between fear and the impossible urge to shout.
Then—
"Stop!"
Sora's voice rang out like a bell cracking through the fog. I hadn't even noticed her move, but suddenly she was behind Rin, her small frame trembling with the weight of the moment. Her hands stretched out, clutching the little bracelet she had poured her heart into weaving, her face desperate but resolute.
For an instant, Rin's head jerked back, ears twitching at the sound. Her glowing eyes flickered, narrowed, then faltered. It was like the command had reached something deep inside her, tugging at the frayed edges of her fury.
