The following day came, and the entire Aoi family stayed home. The boys were in the living room, idling.

Surata usually came home later because of his after-school training. However, today was his rest day. Too much consecutive training could strain his muscles. So, he spent his after school, taking after Koroki, staying home and relaxing.

He sat on the small couch, scrolling through the channels on the television. Koroki, on the large couch, took a long nap. His arm hung off the couch, while the other held a pillow on his head. Drool formed at the side of his mouth as he slumbered.

Surata heard Ishio descend the stairs and approach him.

“Alright boys, looks like you have your first mission.”

Surata's mouth frowned from his confusion, “Our first mission?”

Koroki woke up from his slumber, lifting a pillow that covered his face. “Mission? Since when do we get missions?”

“Well, to be honest, they want me to handle it. But I think you boys should be able to manage it yourselves.”

“Alright, Father. What’s the mission?” Surata eagerly exclaimed. “Yes, my first mission! This is my first step to becoming a real Shikari.”

Koroki let out a yawn before rubbing his eyes. “So… you want us to do your dirty work?”

Because of how unmotivated Koroki was, Ishio added a comment. “You will obviously get paid for doing this.”

“Paid?” Koroki rapidly jumped up from the couch as if a spark of energy had been injected into him. “When do I start?”

If he got paid for this mission, think about the amount of ice cream he could buy.

However… Bam!

Koroki’s excitement got interrupted by a heavy punch to his head from Ishio, causing him to faceplant the floor and create a small hole in the floor.

Surata shook his head in disappointment. “You should have seen that one coming, Koroki.”

Ishio stood over Koroki, his hand steaming from his punch. “You should accept my offer to help me, regardless of if there’s money involved.”

Koroki mumbled under his breath as he struggled to recover, “Stupid old man.”

Surata kindly interrupted their discussion, “Umm, Father? Don’t we need our Noye licenses for the mission?”

Noye Licenses was the only certification to show the public that you were a Shikari. Without it, people could mistake them for criminals who were harming civilians or disrupting the peace.

“Yes, but don’t worry. This mission isn’t dangerous enough where you need to fight.”

Ishio goes back to the topic. “There’s been reports of a serial killer roaming these streets. His name is Majuro, Majuro the Manslayer.”

Surata and Koroki glanced at each other sideways, hoping the other had heard of the name.

“He is an ex-Shikari who has a violent way of killing his targets. They say every victim involved has the same letter “Y” carved onto their body.”

Koroki swiftly recalled the dead body in the alley the other day.

“They suspect he is a powerful Noye user. The police are having a hard time tracking him down, so they want me to handle it. Your job is to just find him, not fight him.”

“Wow, a Shikari too hard for the police to find. Wow, I wonder how strong he is.” Surata’s body shook as sweat formed around his body. However, his nervousness about his possible encounter with Majuro couldn’t contain his excitement.

On the other side, Koroki remained deep in thought. Maybe that crime scene is related to this manslayer?

“There’s also another thing.” Ishio forgot to add an important detail. “Reporters have said that there’s someone else working with him. They don’t have a description of them, but all they know is that he’s not alone.”

“Alright, thanks, Ishio.” Koroki calmly walked to the door. “I’m going to head out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just going to check something out really quick.” Koroki turned the doorknob. As he opened the front door, he was surprised to find an unexpected guest about to knock.

A green-haired young girl blocked the doorway, her head hanging low. Her voice trembled and faltered, as a swarm of butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “Um, hel-hello. D-does Koroki live he-”

The girl slowly gazed up at Koroki. As she realized that it was Koroki at the door, the corners of her mouth rose. “Oh hey, baby!”

“Yorui!” Koroki stepped back, in shock. His face was flushed from his new nickname.

“Baby?” Surata asked.

Neither Ishio nor Surata had seen Koroki interact with any female. They figured Koroki would not talk to any females because of his laid-back attitude. However, the girl acted as if she knew him.

Ishio confusedly stared at Yorui. “Who is she, Koroki?”

Yorui faced Ishio with her stiff body. “Oh, sorry for not introducing myself.” She bowed her head to greet herself and show respect. “My name is Yorui. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Koroki interrupted Yorui, with his face still red from the embarrassment. “Baby? I don’t remember that being my name.”

“Of course, it is. You don’t remember? That time we spent alone and together? We had so much fun. We were so tired afterwards. You were so nice to me. That makes you, my boyfriend.”

Yorui’s way of speaking obviously gave Ishio and Surata the wrong impression of her relationship with Koroki.

“Boyfriend?!” Surata and Ishio’s eyebrows furrow, stunned by Yorui. The lazy bone Koroki actually talked to girls? How did he manage to actually find someone as attractive as her?

“I guess we have an interesting topic to talk about later today, don’t we, Koroki?” asks Ishio.

Koroki could not understand where her flirtatious behavior came from. Her attitude was different compared to when they had their first interaction. Cold. Emotionless.

But now, she is full of emotion and alive. The longer he stayed, the worse the situation was going to get.

Contemplating his next move, Koroki decided to fake a laugh and play along. He slowly twitched his way out the door.

After getting one foot out the door, he sprinted out, grabbing Yorui by the wrist and pulling her as he slammed the door.

Ishio and Surata held their laughs in as they saw how embarrassed Koroki was. Despite not understanding Koroki’s relationship with the girl, they teased him.

“Oh, is that why you wanted to leave?” Surata smirked, playfully trying to connect the dots.

Ishio waved goodbye to the fleeing couple. “Have fun you two!”

Yorui blushed as Koroki held her arm. The couple ran from the house without a destination in mind.

___

On they went, running past street after street until the sight of his house was gone.

As they dashed along the nearly deserted sidewalks, Koroki glanced at Yorui. “Since when am I your baby?”

“Sorry, that’s what I usually call my boyfriends.”

Koroki’s face flushed once again. “Huh!? Since when am I your boyfriend?”

“You’re not?”

“Friend and boyfriend are not the same. They are two different things.”

“But you’re my friend, and you’re a boy.”

“That’s not the same thing!”

Their conversation was not making any progress. They stop running, realizing they are far enough.

Yorui’s warm tone suddenly softened as she sadly looked down. “Sorry. I’ve never had a boy friend before, or any friend at all.”

Koroki refused to read the room, so he ruthlessly replied with no sympathy. “Damn, that’s actually sad.”

Yorui pouted, feeling like she was being teased. “Don’t make fun of me!”

She looked around the area, distracting herself from the conversation. They found themselves in a low-class district. The location was close to downtown but more east.

After scanning her surroundings, Yorui's mood suddenly shifted. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she eagerly asked Koroki a question. “Hey, do you still have some money?”

Not thinking much of the question, Koroki responded, “I took some from Surata. I’m sure he wouldn't mind… wait, why?” He quickly raised his guard. “You want to steal more?”

Yorui quietly chuckled. “Ha, no, not this time. I’ve got my own money.” Without hesitation, Yorui grabbed Koroki by the hand and sprinted off, leading the run. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Koroki felt confused as he was dragged against his own will. “Go where?”

“You’ll see,” Yorui replied, giggling as she directed Koroki with a smile that stretched across her face.

By sheer coincidence, Yorui was taken to a district that she was very familiar with.

Despite housing low-class citizens, the district still offered very affordable stores for people to enjoy themselves. In Yorui’s mind, this was an excellent place for their “first date”.

She forgot the comfortable atmosphere in this district, knowing all the good spots to take someone. She felt like a chaperone giving her partner a tour.

With her rosy, red cheeks and her eyes closed, she was overflowing with joy. She took Koroki to various stores around this district, from restaurants to clothing stores. After each store, they walked out with large bags. She wanted to move quickly to show Koroki more things, so she forced Koroki to carry all the bags.

There were so many bags that his hands overflowed. He resembled a child attempting to carry all the groceries from his mother's car in one trip.

“Clothes. Food. Alcohol. She’s not even old enough to buy Alcohol. Some of these clothes don’t even fit her. How did she get the alcohol? And why did she buy all of this?” Koroki's vein on his forehead slightly popped, irritated, “Also, why do I have to carry all of this? I’m not a butler!”

He held onto the bags as they continued to explore the district as the sun dawned.

After shopping, the couple strolled around the vicinity. Yorui felt complete joy overflowing within her as they walked, but their walk was suddenly interrupted by a couple of voices.

“Hey, Yorui!”

They shouted across the street. Like her original appearance, a group of homeless people, both old and young men and women, happily greeted Yorui. She turned towards the group, waving happily with a wide grin stretching across her face.

“Hey, guys! I was hoping I’d find you. I have something for you guys.” Yorui grabbed the bags from Koroki, extending her arm to the group, happily seeping through her sealed eyes.

Koroki stood there like an outcast, clueless as he followed along with her act.

“Here you go!” Yorui cheerfully offered. “I even got some alcohol for you, Grandpa.”

“Ohh… thank you, Yorui.” The older man humbly accepted. “You’re like the granddaughter I wish I had.”

She eagerly handed them the bags filled with new clothes, food, and drinks, hoping to bring some joy and comfort to their day.

Koroki vividly remembered the moment she spoke about giving away his money. “So, that’s what she meant. These weren’t for her, it was for them.”

“Now, let’s party!” Yorui declared enthusiastically, lifting her hand high in the air.

The others cheered on in celebration, ready to have fun. The couple began to follow the group to a nearby playground.

The playground was eerily dark with an air of abandonment. The rusty slides creaked in the wind, and the broken swings hung limply. It was as if time had frozen in the playground, leaving it untouched and forgotten for years.

Light was emitting from behind the damaged slide. Koroki and Yorui continued to walk toward the light. As they drew closer to the source, the sound of chattering grew steadily clearer and louder, filling them with anticipation.

There were old wooden tables that were still fully functional. A diverse group of homeless individuals, including men, women, and children, gathered around the tables, making sure everything was set as they prepped for the group to arrive.

Next to the wooden tables, a group of men cheerfully threw thin, dry branches into the crackling bonfire, sending sparks dancing into the night sky.

The group returned to the gathering with Yorui. “We’re back!” Everyone turned their attention to Yorui.

“Oh, Yorui’s here. Let’s start!” They cheered.

As soon as the main guest arrived, everyone began celebrating. They would place Yorui’s gifts on the table for everyone to enjoy.

Young kids feast on meat that tastes magical, middle-aged men and women try on new clothes that give off a fresh smell they have remembered in years, and the older people drink down their problems with booze.

While everyone enjoyed themselves, Yorui began going around and introducing Koroki to them.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

A polite older woman curiously asked. “So Yorui, is this your new boyfriend?”

“Yeah, he is!” Yorui cheerfully responded, blushing.

Koroki responded firmly, trying to speak without feeling embarrassed, as his face turned red. “N-No…I’m not!”

“Oh, so he’s the shy type I see. Ha-ha!” The older woman giggled, teasing Koroki.

Yorui couldn’t wipe away her vast grin, enjoying every single second there. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. The homeless people would thank her for her gratitude, cheering again for the blessings.

This was not a coincidence, as it happened very often. She usually gave back most of the money she got to her community—these people were like family to her, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Koroki watched the joy overflowing among the people from a distance. Taking in this moment, he finally understood Yorui’s character a little more.

___

Everyone gradually gathered around the bonfire, chatting away. The party continued until everyone enjoyed themselves. However, the lively atmosphere was abruptly interrupted when a lanky man interjected with his raspy, grating voice, casting a shadow over the entire party and dampening the lively mood.

“Hey Yorui, lovin’ the outfit.”

Her smile strangely disappeared. She looked down at the ground, avoiding eye contact. The tone of his voice felt very familiar to her. “Ugh…What do you want?”

The party paused as everyone awkwardly stared at the man, struggling to ignore his presence.

“Oh, nothing. I got myself a new set of clothing.” He boasted, trying to show off his new outfit.

His oversized outfit covered his lanky figure. He scratched his short, spiky black hair, standing with a smug expression. The brand-new white color had not faded from his top but was bloodstained in red.

Koroki noticed a large tear on the side of the man’s top. The man quickly said, “Oh, don’t mind the stains on it, kid. It’s just ketchup that spilled on it-Hehe.” The man tried to get Koroki's attention off his shirt, so he changed topics. “Hey Yorui, I noticed you have a new friend. Who’s he?”

Yorui refused to answer the man. He carefully gazed at Koroki from head to toe. Koroki lowered his clasped arms, his eyebrows lowering closer together, feeling the man’s heavy presence. After a moment of realization, the man noticed Koroki’s pink hair and immense aura. His raspy tone deepened as he got serious. “You look very familiar, boy.”

Koroki took the bait of his words and replied, “That’s weird, ‘cause I don’t know you.” Their eyes locked in place, standing tall. The tension became so sharp that it could slice a falling leaf.

The man slowly looked around, sensing everyone staring at them. Their eyes scratched the man’s skin. Causing a scene now would not be good for anyone. Seconds later, the lanky man lowered his guard, returning to his usual self. “Oh, sorry. It appears I’m thinking of someone else.” The man apologized with a tight-lipped smile. The man focuses his attention on the hurdle of people around him.

“Hey, sorry to ruin your fun!” His eyes reverted to Koroki, getting sharper. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be taking Yorui back home now.”

Koroki secretly noticed the change in Yorui’s face. She couldn't bring herself to meet the man's gaze, deliberately avoiding eye contact. Yorui's face fell, and the sparkle in her eyes dimmed as sadness washed over her.

Judging from her reaction, they seemed to know each other, or they could be related somehow.

Koroki turned his back towards the man. “Sorry, you can take her back. I’ll just leave. I’ll talk to you later, Yorui.”

Despite taking his leave, Koroki could not shake the image of Yorui’s troubled expression out of his mind, but he knew he could not involve himself with this since it did not concern him. Koroki slowly strolled away from the scene. As everyone focused their attention on the man, Koroki secretly glanced back at Yorui, his narrow eyes softening his expression.

As Koroki headed home in the night sky, the man laid his arm over Yorui’s shoulder, watching Koroki walk in the distance, teasing her. “Who’s your new friend? Is he another one of your boyfriends?”

“Why do you care, Majuro?” Yorui forcefully brushed his arm off her, her eyes beaming at him.

Majuro chuckled excessively, surprised by her sudden outburst. “Hey, that’s no way of speaking to your dad. Hehe. Listen, he looks like he’s living a nice life.”

Majuro and Yorui gazed at Koroki again. “He probably has food… clothes… and a nice house. So, I was thinking… let’s use him next.”

“No.”

“I didn’t ask; I’m telling you,” Majuro demanded. To persuade her, his eyes glowed orange. “Listen, you don’t need anyone but your dad. Family’s always first!”

Fear struck the crowd as they stood there, scared to move a single muscle. His eyes seemed to pierce right through Yorui. She couldn't help but feel a wave of dread wash over her. His presence made her feel so uneasy, and her heart raced, knowing what he was capable of. And she was right to feel that way because…

Smack!

Majuro suddenly smacked Yorui across her gorgeous face. The smack left a resonating red mark on her face. She held her face struggling to hold in the pain.

Majuro then threw her to the ground, kicking her relentlessly.

“!!” Powerful kick after powerful kick, Yorui curled up, struggling to protect herself. Each kick had murderous intent, as they bruised her entire body. Her breathing felt heavier as she laid on the cold floor. She refused to fight back, knowing she had no chance of beating her father.

The bystanders sat back helpless. If they interfered, they could be the ones on the receiving end. Or worse, he could kill them.

Yorui did not want them to worry, so she held her pain inside to not show weakness. Her screams were silent as if her lips were taped. Despite hiding the pain, she could not hide the pain in her eyes.

After disciplining his daughter, he stood over her, staring at her covered in bruises. He stopped the brutal assault and leaned forward.

“I won’t kill you since we are family, so I’ll forgive you… However, there’s no next time.” Majuro undid his threatening Noye as his eyes reverted to their usual dark brown color. “Just remember who the boss is around here. Hehe,” With a maniacal laugh, he walked away, leaving behind a trail of fear and unease in everyone.

Yorui felt powerless, aching in pain, unable to do anything. She prayed for the morning to come.

___

The next day, as evening approached, Yorui found herself at a lovely restaurant.

Across the booth was an attractive teenage boy. The young teenager looked quite wealthy, with his hair slicked back and slim semi-professional attire.

Yorui was wearing a black skirt, black fishnet stockings, and a beautiful long-sleeved shirt that the man had bought for her previously. The dark-colored clothes and fishnets concealed her bruises from the assault the other day.

The bruising pain lingered, throbbing with every movement, but she made a conscious effort to hide it from the boy. She secretly bit her lip to stifle any grunts that threatened to escape, but her furrowed brow and tense jawline betrayed the pain.

“Mhmm. Dinner was so good!” the boy exclaimed with an energetic yet polite tone. That steak was cooked…mmm… perfectly. I should probably invite the chef over some time. I bet my father would love to have him as a personal chef!”

The young man seemed to be having an amazing time. The energy on his side was not reflected on the other side of the table. The man observed Yorui's unfocused gaze, her eyes lost in thought as she gently rested her head on her hand.

“What’s wrong, honey?” he curiously asked.

His words woke her up from her daze as if he zapped her back into reality. “Oh, nothing, sweetie. I was just thinking of something.”

When she noticed she had dazed off, she rechecked her posture. Her mind was occupied, but she wanted the young boy to enjoy himself. She refused to ruin his night because of her.

As Yorui quickly moved her arm off the table, her sleeve slightly dropped, revealing some skin. The kid swiftly noticed a bruise on arm. “Yorui, what happened to your arm? Did you get hurt?”

Yorui hesitated as she rolled up her sleeve. “Oh, this. I fell earlier, but don’t worry, I’m fine.” She forced a fake grin at the boy, hiding the truth and pain behind her smile.

The oblivious boy paid no mind, trusting Yorui’s words, and continued on with the date.

They have only been dating recently. Since they met, the kid has always approached Yorui. For him, it felt like love at first sight. However, the feelings were not mutual. From an outsider’s perspective, the relationship felt one-sided. But the boy was blindly in love and failed to see she was playing along.

The kid sat there, excitedly chatting about his family and plans for the future. He casually complimented her in between his talking. Her smile remained on her, showing interest in the boy. Yet, she smiled without real comprehension as her consciousness drifted away. His voice slowly faded into the air the deeper she entered her mind.

“This poor guy really is enjoying himself. He’s just like all my other boyfriends. They would always ask me out, take me to nice places, and always try to flirt with me. They all just want me for my looks.”

Yorui’s eyes focused on the boy for a moment, keeping a double-sided smile. “How long do I have to keep lying to these boys until we can live a normal life, Dad?”

Their date endured for hours until they left the restaurant and went back home to rest.

___

Dawn broke as night fell. The next day, the boys prepared for school.

Surprisingly, Koroki finished getting ready earlier than usual. Surata, on the other hand, still needed more time. He panickily hurried down the stairs, adjusting his collar and hair, and headed for the kitchen for breakfast.

“Crap. I can’t believe my alarm didn’t go off! Why didn’t you wake me up, Koroki!?”

“Oh, my bad. I forgot,” Koroki replied as he laid on the couch, his attention fixed on the ceiling.

“I need to find something to eat.” Surata hastily scavenged through the kitchen in search of something to eat for breakfast.

Koroki could hear pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. However, those sounds gradually muffled as his mind was occupied with Yorui and the suspicious man.

“When he walked over to her, her expression changed? Why?”

He then paused for a moment, recalling the words Ishio had shared about the notorious manslayer.

“That guy looked very suspicious. He had the eyes of a killer.”

He began to draw connections to the report that his father had said about the killer and the helper.

“It makes no sense. Why would she be involved in this?” He remembered the face Yorui subtly made as he left. “There’s no way she’d do something like this on her own free will.”

For the boys, time was running out. They had to leave now, or they would be late for school. Surata did not have time to sit down and enjoy his breakfast. He paced to the front door with his hands full of notebooks and papers.

“Con on Koroki. Les go!” Surata said, struggling to speak with a waffle between his lips.

Without caring about being late, Koroki casually got up and headed for the school as Surata encouraged him to speed up.

The boys paced out of the house and eventually made it to school on time.

___

Time passed, and school had ended. Coincidentally, Koroki found himself strolling around the alley where he first met Yorui. As he walked past the alley, Koroki glanced inside.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Koroki surprisingly stumbled on Yorui, who sat on the same fire escape. She sat there by herself, staring at the dirty ground where the dead body was.

“Yo’, what happened yesterday?” Koroki casually asked.

Her appearance looked different again. However, it was not a good thing. She was not wearing the same clothes Koroki saw her with. Instead of wearing clothing that fit her well, she was dressed in clothes that were way too big, torn, and covered in dirt and blood.

“Nothing, just… family issues.” The warmth in her voice completely faded. The light in her eyes dulled, and her smile vanished. Sensing the hesitation and attitude, Koroki observed her closely. “Um, are you ok?”

“...” Yorui remained silent, her eyes averting his gaze.

Koroki asked another question. Maybe adding some sarcasm could change her mood. “You look ridiculous with that outfit. Where are the clothes you bought? I thought you liked them.”

She hesitated again, “I…I sold it.”

“Why?”

Yorui, feeling upset, responds to Koroki with a cold shoulder, gesturing a desire to end the conversation with her dry responses. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What’s wrong with you? You’re acting different.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why are you being…”

The constant nagging from Koroki eventually caused Yorui to snap, “Why are you talking to me?! Get lost! I don’t want to hang out with you.”

The outburst caught Koroki off caught. His eyes squinted as he tilted his head back, puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

After unleashing her anger, Yorui took a deep breath and sighed. “Look, I was just bored. I just wanted to talk to someone, but I don’t think that’s possible anymore. I’m sorry.”

Koroki did not buy her words. Nothing happened between them that could have made her switch up on him. Her explanation sounded horrible since it did not explain anything. Koroki decided not to entertain it anymore. “Alright, have it your way. It makes no difference to me.” Koroki knew she didn’t mean those words. She said them, but her words were empty and had no emotion in them. Koroki calmly walked away, falsely accepting her explanation.

___

As Koroki walked away from her, Yorui couldn't hold back the tears that filled her eyes. She felt deeply upset with herself after pushing Koroki away.

Majuro overheard the conservation from the shadows once again and approached Yorui.

“What are you doing? Why’d you let him leave?”

“Because I didn’t want to take advantage of him. I had to let him go.”

Her words left Majuro puzzled, unable to comprehend what she said.

“I didn’t want to use Koroki. He’s a nice person, and I don’t want to hurt anyone else. I’m tired of-”

Smack!

Before she could finish her sentence, Majuro slapped her across the face. “What do you mean stop? The only reason we’re alive is because we use people like them.” Majuro chuckled. “Killing them is do is how we survive.”

“We? I don’t remember liking that.” Yorui snapped back. After so many times she had been humiliated and beaten by her father, Yorui finally stood up for herself. She stepped off the fire escape and confronted Majuro. Her eyes, which were once full of light, now glared at her father. Her body trembled in fear as she stood up to her father, but her determination calmed her nerves.

She clenched her fist, struggling to contain her resentment. “The only reason I used them is because I thought it was ok. You may be my dad, but I think it’s time to stop.”

Majuro momentarily paused. “You think… we’re done? Hahaha!” he creepily laughed. “We aren’t even close to stopping! We won’t stop until we can go back to live a normal life.”

“That doesn’t make it right to kill people!”

Majuro opened his mouth but could not think of any words to say. He tilted his head, looking down, and spoke with a soft, forgiving tone. His evil demeanor completely changed. “I guess you’re right. Let’s stop this.” The anger in his daughter’s voice might have made him realize he was wrong.

Yorui stopped shaking in fear. She gasped, feeling a sense of relief. Her father finally realized his mistake. She happily gestured at Majuro with a heartfelt grin while turning her back towards him to sit back down. “Thank you for understandi- “

Slash!

Out of nowhere, Majuro slashed Yorui in the back, his eyes glowing orange. The weapon magically appeared in his hand. Yorui dropped to the floor, letting out a strangled cry.

Her hands reached toward the wound, trying to feel its depth. The cut barely connected with her spine, but it cleanly sliced through her skin. The scorching pain felt unbearable. Blood seeped through her fingers, and she could feel her body growing weaker.

Right when she thought she had won him over, he ruthlessly attacked her. However, he never used a weapon on her before. His beatings only involved his fists and kicks.

She fought through the stinging pain as he turned to face her father. As she gazed at her father with a mixture of confusion and fear, his body fidgeted as he laughed menacingly.

“You’re trying to talk back to me now?! Imagine that, hehe. My own daughter… betraying me, too.” His fidgeting stopped, glancing at the sky. “Wow, I guess now I’m all alone.”

Yorui struggled to speak as the pain clouded her mind. Majuro turned his attention to her, tilting his head creepily, and walked in front of her. He took a knee and tightly grasped Yorui’s wavy green hair, exposing the pain in her face.

“Hey, since you betrayed me, I guess that means we aren’t family anymore. Hehe, I guess I’ll just add you to the collection.”

Yorui could not stand to see her father act this way. Blinded by his own sanity. His unable state refused to see his own daughter, only a new target. She deeply regretted standing up to him. Her body shook from fear.

“Why, Dad?! Why? I’m sorry, Dad!” Yorui wept with all her heart, hoping that he would calm down.

Her humiliated cry stung Majuro’s ears. Hearing his daughter’s cry triggered something in his mind, reminding him of something extremely important. His mind became overwhelmed with memories. An image kept reappearing in his head, making him lose his mind. He attempted to stop thinking of the image, but it kept returning, haunting him. Trying to fight his inner battle, while lifting Yorui by her hair, he took his stance and aimed his weapon towards Yorui with murderous intent. “It’s you! You brought this memory back!”

The blade falls toward her as he strikes. Yorui laid there, helpless, unable to dodge his attack. “Is Dad really going to kill me? Why? I just don’t understand.”

She closed her eyes tightly, refusing to watch.

The powerful slash pierced the air, splitting the wind he made. But… he hesitated at the last second.

Feeling the strong gust of wind, Yorui slowly opened her eyes. She looked down at the edge of the weapon and held her breath, the tip barely touching her neck. One swallow and her neck would have been split open.

The blade rapidly shook, holding itself back. Majuro regained control of his consciousness, slowly lifting his weapon with a smirk.

“Actually… I got an idea. How about I just go kill your new friend? Since he’s the reason why you left me, I'll go pay him a visit. I followed him home before, so I know where he lives.” Majuro loosened his grip on Yorui and dropped her to the ground. He menacingly laughed again, with his weapon in hand, leaving Yorui to sob alone as he headed to Koroki.

“I have… to go… stop him. Koroki!” Yorui used her strength to crawl to Koroki. As the pain from the wound gradually intensified, she struggled to keep crawling. Eventually, the pain overpowered her, and she had to stop.

If only she had tried to stop him before, this would never have happened. Blaming herself, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to get up. trying to recover, hoping that everything would be okay.

Yorui knew Koroki’s fighting abilities but feared he would lose. She had less of a chance to beat him, but she believed she had to be the one to stop her father. Her disappointment turned into resolve and determination to reach Koroki before Majuro. She fought back the unbearable pain and hurried to Koroki’s aid with eyes filled with resolve.

___

Daytime soon fell as night approached.

Koroki returned home with joy in his eyes, holding grocery bags filled with sweets and ingredients.

“Ugh, I hate those lines! I only went because Surata said he would give me money to buy some ice cream. I got the stuff he wanted. But, what a steal! I can’t wait to eat these new limited aquatic freeze ice pops!”

He walked up and grabbed the doorknob. Before he had time to fully turn the knob, a sharp knife leapt from behind Koroki, aimed at his head. Instinctively, he dodges the knife but not completely, scraping his cheek. The knife lingered on the wooden door. A razor-edge cut split his skin, blood dripping from his face.

Koroki slowly turned around, chuckling. “I suppose this is your way of playing tag… Yorui?”

Standing behind him, Yorui’s Noye glimmered in the nightlight through her focused dark-green eyes. Her figure wavered as she struggled to keep her balance like a zombie. Limping, she gritted her teeth in pain and frustration.

“You shouldn't have come home!” she blurted out, her voice filled with anger and desperation.

Koroki’s tone remained calm, almost casual, as he responded, “I’m not even allowed in my own house now?” His eyes gazed at Yorui from head to toe. “How do you expect to stop me… with your injuries?”

___

Meanwhile, inside the house, Surata sat in his room, waiting for Koroki to come home. He finished preparing for dinner and passed his time waiting for Koroki in his room. While idling alone, he heard furniture and glass breaking downstairs.

Ishio and Koroki were not home, and he did not hear the front door open.

Bewildered by the strange sound, he investigated the noises. With each step down the stairs, his curiosity grew. The warm glow emitting from the living room caught his attention, as he realized that the lights had been left on.

“Hello? Anyone home? Koroki? Dad?”

His words hung in the air, but no one responded. Surata carefully stepped towards the living room… and noticed someone in there. The silhouette patiently sat on the couch, waiting for Surata, with orange-colored eyes.

Who’s the silhouette? Was it Ishio? Or was it someone else? What will happen to Koroki and Yorui?

___