Exiting my house and shutting the door behind me, I took a step forward and stretched out my limbs. The orange-tinted clouds obstructed my view of what I supposed was a featureless and ethereal sky behind them. I completed the final stretches on my legs and accelerated forward. Behind me, the door suddenly opened, and Kyoko stepped out, equipped in her pajamas.

"Take care!" She shouted while wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"She can be pretty sweet, sometimes," I thought as I decided my pace.

"Oh, and I'll be having that pudding in the fridge!" She added with a grin on her face.

"…"

That cheeky devil… I've told her off multiple times already for touching my pudding. I shot her my annoyed, tight-lipped smile, and continued my jog.

A normal start to the day, huh? After yesterday's events, I'm glad I can enjoy at least a moment of peace. With my head still occupied by unanswered questions, I appreciated this short period of tranquillity. I have to use this occasion to clarify some of yesterday's extraordinary occurrences.

I stopped to take a sip from my water bottle.

First, I need to analyze Nakano's explanation of the guardians. So, apparently, I'm a 'Ranger'? I also have some sort of powers; does that mean I can generate lightning equipment like Ryuuji? Curious, I pointed my arm outwards and concentrated on my clenched fist. To my surprise, sparks began forming around my fist, they quickly strengthened into an unstable rod of lighting. I got startled and stumbled backward, simultaneously letting go of the entity. My still opened bottle of water left my other hand and spilled to the ground.

Huh? I didn't actually expect anything to appear…

A rampaging chihuahua suddenly interrupted my performance. It ran up to my leg and sniffed me cautiously from a safe distance.

"Hey, can you grab Routa for me?!" I heard a familiar, high-pitched voice yell from behind me.

I swiftly grabbed the leash attached to the tiny canine; it was now too busy licking the spilled water from my bottle to realize its capture. After a failed attempt at escaping, the dog accepted its fate and commenced a stroll towards the origin of the footsteps behind me.

I turned around so that I could hand the leash to the owner.

"Thanks Taro, you saved me," Nakano said with relief.

She took the leash and slouched over, throwing her hands and weight onto her knees. This perfect angle captured Nakano as droplets of sweat traveled down her neck and disappeared into her chest area, which was overly exposed due to her baggy pajama top.

Embarrassed, I quickly glanced away.

"O-oh, Nakano! I wasn't expecting to s-see you here." I stuttered and hoped Nakano didn't get a grasp on the situation.

"I'm… I'm just… walking Routa," she struggled to catch her breath.

"..."

She must've noticed her embarrassing angle, as she swiftly lifted herself up. Her blushing face housed two pupils that shot me with questions like "Did you see?" and "You weren't looking, were you?"

"I s-saw nothing… cute dog you have there, he-he…" I tried to change the topic apparent in both our minds.

Nakano looked to the side; her lower lip protruded into a cute pout. She slowly lifted her right hand and began twirling her feathery hair.

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"I guess it's fine… so, what are you doing here so early?" She asked, still sulking.

"Was she always this cute?" I asked in my head.

"Just jogging, it's a hobby of mine."

"Oh, so that's why you look so good," she said, taking me by surprise.

"…Well, I—" I tried to come up with a response, but nothing came out of my mouth.

"Anyway, what were those sparks?" She changed topics, I can't tell if this was random or if she realized how embarrassing her last line was.

"Sparks? OH, that. That was me experimenting with what I believe are my guardian powers." I said as I leaned down to pick up my empty water bottle, but a gust of wind blew it into a nearby alleyway.

"Ah, so that's what it was. But you know… you should probably avoid using them out in the open like this."

I heard her say as I chased down the water bottle.

"Well, I didn't actually expect anything to appear…" I muttered; Nakano was now too far away to hear me.

The dark alley swallowed the bottle deeper inside. The intensity of the forceful wind gradually increased with each step I took, and a sense of déjà vu struck me.

"Not again…" I exclaimed as a familiar object revealed itself before me.

A portal, similar to the one engraved in my mind from yesterday, was now mere meters away from me. This time, its surface area is significantly larger, though; the one from yesterday didn't even compare to this monstrosity.

Just like the last one, this otherworldly structure also radiated a coruscating light. This time, though, it was a much more devilish shade of purple, almost a vermilion red. The thought of what sort of horror would materialize from it sent shivers down my spine.

"Taro?!" Nakano's voice echoed behind me.

I want to reply. I want to, but I've got a feeling that if I let anything slip from my mouth, the portal will spawn a merciless demon to silence me.

The footsteps behind me stopped, Nakano said nothing; she probably got the same sensation as me. The portal held our senses captive; we both stood still, too terrified to take our eyes off it.

Suddenly, a series of tiny barks broke the tension.

Routa…

"It's coming…" Nakano's breath trembled.

The red light flashed white and to no surprise, our fears came true. A black, slender silhouette elevated from the portal.

"Listen closely, Taro! I need you to buy me time, just trust me and distract it for a minute!" Nakano shouted without hesitation; her voice was much more stable now.

"Distract it? I can't even move Nakano… I told you, I'm not a guardian." My voice soared into a pathetic scream.

"I can't Nakano… I just ca—"

"Taro! I'm begging you. Move, please…" Nakano faltered.

The demon was now approaching us. The image of its expressionless face stirred up my stomach.

"...…"

"I…" ...I'm pathetic.

Yet again, I'm standing by helplessly, my life at the hands of another. This is now the second time I'm in this pitiful state; there's not much longer till I vomit at the level of my powerlessness.

Please… no more of this.

I bit my tongue with the most force that I could muster up. Blood gushed out of my mouth and streamed down my chin; I bared the pain with increased resolve. With this, I shut down my debilitated mind and let my body take control.

The demon halted its slow approach after my display. Entertained by my rapidly changing emotions, it gradually raised the corners of his mouth to form a revolting grin.

I'm not foolish enough to take my eyes off the demon, but I seriously want to know what Nakano is planning.

No. I have to stop thinking; all I can do right now is return Nakano's trust.

After what seemed like an eternity of stillness, the demon made its move.

"I'm relying on you, adrenaline."

The demon transformed its arm to shape a serrated needle which launched in my direction. Instantaneously, I extended my arm and recollected my concentration from before. A chrome wall of lightning discharged from my arm. It swallowed the incoming attack and disappeared, leaving no trace.

"B-but… that's assassin's ability," Nakano commented in shock.

I didn't have the luxury to process her surprised reaction. The demon was already charging at me with bloodlust in its eyes. With no time to look for a different strategy, I repeated my previous defense. Once again, the lightning emerged from my hand.

"Did I get it?"

I made a grave mistake.

The wall of lightning before me blocked my vision of the demon.

"…"

My body bathed in crimson as something slammed me into a dumpster. The demon sacrificed the entire left side of its body, but by doing so got past my defense, the impact of that attack sent me flying to the side.

I screamed in excruciating pain. The demon's corrupt laughter accompanied my roar.

"Thank you, Taro; that's enough!" Nakano cried out.

"Devour it," she uttered calmly.

Suddenly, the demon's laughter ceased.

I witnessed the demon's body disappear. It got swallowed whole by the beast that now stood in its place.

It was a griffon, one composed of the same electric matter as the energy that I manifested to defend myself before.

Cough.

A sea of blood flooded out of my mouth.

Nakano ran up to me. Her expression made me think she was looking at a dying puppy.

Weird, she's clearly saying something, but…

…for some reason, I...

…I can't hear her.

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