Kira's knees scraped the cold pavement as she tripped, falling hard onto the ground. Her palms burned, her breath caught—her heels slipping from under her as fear surged through her chest.
Behind her, the stalker's footsteps drew closer.
She tried to crawl, but her ankle throbbed with pain. Her body trembled, not from the cold—but from the fear that this was it.
Is this... really how it ends?
Faces began to flash before her eyes—her little sister Hanae with her innocent laugh, Renn's ridiculous pouting, Ryujin's firm yet distant gaze.
And then—her mother.
"Gomen ne, okaasan..." (I'm sorry, Mom...) "I think I can't fulfill your dream now..." Tears welled up as she pressed her forehead to the ground.
"I'm sorry..."
Her quiet sobs echoed through the empty alleyway.
And then—
That laugh.
Creepy, slow, crawling up her spine like a centipede.
"Finally," the stalker whispered, voice shaking with excitement. "We can be together, Kira… or should I say… Luna."
Kira froze.
Her name—that name.
Her breath hitched. "You… you know my identity?" She looked up, terror flickering in her eyes. "Anata wa nani mono da?" (Who are you?)
The man laughed again, the sound twisted with obsession. "I've become your biggest fan, Kira. You're just like me… hiding your true face from the world."
He continued, "I've been always watching you."
Kira shook her head, trembling. "No. None of my identities are false! I'm not like you." Her voice cracked. "What do you mean you were watching me?"
She paused. Her thoughts raced.
No… could he be…
Her eyes widened. "Wait… are you that hacker? Kairos?!"
The man blinked in confusion, clearly thrown off. "Huh? I don't know who you're talking about. But you—" he stepped forward, raising his knife—"You will be mine."
Kira's heart sank.
Is this really... the end?
"Yada..." (No…) she whispered. "No.. I don't want this…"
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Tareka… tasukete…" (Someone... help me…)
And then—
Kira heard that attacker's struggling voice.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?! LET ME GO!"
Kira's eyes snapped open.
A tall figure—around six feet—stood between her and the attacker. Dressed in all black, a mask covering his face. But what shocked her the most—
He was stopping the knife with his bare hand.
Blood dripped steadily onto the pavement.
That man said, "Tsk... why do I always get into trouble whenever I step outside?"
Kira gasped. "Ne, anata daijoubu?" (A-Are you... okay?) "Your hand…!"
The man didn't reply right away. He glanced at her, eyes narrowing slightly under his mask.
Kira Yukimura? he thought. What is she doing here?
His hand clenched around the knife.
The attacker tried to break free, but the masked man stepped closer.
"How dare you lay your hands on her…" his voice dropped to a deadly tone. "She's my prey."
In a flash, he twisted the blade from the stalker's grasp and flung it into the darkness.
With one swift punch, the stalker was launched back, crashing into crates and rolling to the ground with a groan.
Kira stared in awe.
Who is this person? she wondered. He's… so strong…
But the attacker scrambled up, wild-eyed. "I'll come again, Kira… I'll come again!"
And then he bolted—out of the alley and ran towards the busy road.
The masked man sighed and turned around.
Kira was struggling to stand. Her ankle had swollen, and the pain made her wince. She lost her balance—but before she could fall, the man caught her.
Kira looked up into his shadowed face.
"Thank you... for saving me," she whispered.
He said nothing.
Then, gently, she reached for his wounded hand. "Please… let me see."
She pulled out her handkerchief, wrapping it around his palm. Blood soaked through the fabric, but he didn't flinch.
"Does it…hurt?" she asked softly.
He finally spoke.
"Iie." (No.)
And he started to think, "She is kinda more pretty in real life."
There was silence. Then Kira whispered, voice heavy with guilt, "I always hurt the people who try to get close to me… I'm really… sorry…"
Suddenly, voices echoed through the alleyway.
"Kiraa!! Nee-chan!"
Kira's head snapped up.
"Hanae… Ryujin…?"
That man's eyes narrowed. He turned toward the darkness.
Time to go.
He silently slipped away, his form melting into the shadows.
"Kira!!" Hanae burst into tears as she threw herself into her sister's arms.
"I'm okay, Hanae," Kira whispered, holding her tightly. "It's over now."
Ryujin was right behind them, his jaw clenched with concern. "Where is he? The one who attacked you?"
Kira looked toward the spot where her savior had stood.
But no one was there.
"…He's gone."
Ryujin frowned. "Who?"
She pointed. "The man who saved me. He was just here…"
But the alley was empty.
Kira stared, breathless.
And somewhere deep in the alley, a shadow watched.
---