The deep purple of night had already fully set in, and we weren’t even halfway home. I texted my parents to let them know that we would be a little late, which they appreciated, but it probably wouldn't make them worry any less. During the day the city is bustling with people and crime rarely happens, but when the streets are empty and barely lit by the white light of the moon, it can be dangerous. I'm just glad that my shadow isn't the only thing to accompany me on this walk home, I've got Byte here with me. I look over at him and smile slightly, I'm still nervous because I didn't plan on walking in the dark, but I'm glad he's here. But in that moment, he stops cold in his tracks, and just stares on ahead. 

“W-what's wrong, you're scaring me” I mumble to him. 

“There's someone behind the tree over there” Byte whispers to me, making sure that the subject in hiding couldn't hear. 

At that second my blood ran cold and I could feel my entire body tense up. My lips started to tremble and hands shook like leaves. I instinctively drew closer to Byte and wrapped both of my arms around his out of fear. Bytes face then warped into a glare as he grinded his teeth 

“Show yourself now!” He called out into the night.

A few seconds had passed before a mysterious thin figure revealed itself from behind the tree. His movements were calm and fluid, like he had no anxieties plaguing him in the slightest. He had a dark mask that covered his face and wore dark clothing that helped him blend in with the night. He then produced what appeared to be a pistol, I started to weep slightly as I buried my face into Bytes shirt. 

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“Behind me, now” Byte called out. 

“But, you” I sobbed with tears rolling down my face. 

“NOW” Byte fired back as I followed his command. 

“And here I thought I would have caught you both by surprise, those are some impressive ears you've got there kid. How the hell could you have possibly heard me from behind that tree?” The thug asked as he pointed his pistol at Byte. “Anyways, it doesn't matter, I'm not asking much, leave any money you have, cellphone, wallet, jewelry, right here on the sidewalk. Things don't have to escalate.”

I started to sob uncontrollably, we were practically broke. The only money that I had from my parents we used today, for Bytes new clothing and for the ice cream with Yua and Reiji. ‘What is he going to do if we tell him we don't have any money?’ I started to think as I kept crying. 

All of a sudden, Byte started to charge at the man. My blood turned to ice as I fell to the ground. 

“Byte stop!!!” I cried out as he drew closer to the armed man. 

“Fine idiot, say goodbye!” the man yelled as he fired two shots. Byte kept charging him. And once they arrived face to face, Byte delivered a swift chop to the man's left arm, which he was holding the gun with, and broke it. The man yelped in pain and dropped the gun. Before the thug had a chance to defend himself with his right arm, Byte disabled it with a twist, then sent him flying with a throw. Byte then grabbed the pistol and tossed it deeper into the woods, before grabbing me from off the ground and running toward my house. 

We were almost free from the dark wooded area and could see my home in the distance when all of a sudden, Byte stopped and set me gently down on the ground, before collapsing. 

“Byte whats wrong?!” I yelled at him before looking down and to see the cause was right before my very eyes. There was a hole on his shirt, dyed red, that was seemingly spreading through the fabric. I knew what had happened, I started to panic as I ripped off his shirt and exposed his bare skin. One of the shots had hit him. 

I started to sob profusely once more, “How could I let this happen to you?” I said as I cried.