Ryan ran across the city rooftops, moving with speed and precision. The wind cut against his face as he advanced, using each step to feel the flow of divine energy within him. He wanted more control, more power—he wanted to break the sound barrier.
But he wasn't there yet.
Even moving at an impressive speed, something was missing, a fine-tuned adjustment he hadn't fully grasped. But that didn't stop him from trying, using his route to Riko's apartment as an improvised testing ground.
As he approached the building, Ryan opted for a… less conventional entrance. Instead of using the door, he climbed the structure with agility, reaching the window as if it were nothing.
He tapped lightly on the glass, a smug smirk on his lips.
Geto, who was on the other side of the room, looked up, visibly unsurprised. With a sigh, he slid the window open and spoke in a tone of controlled exasperation:
"You couldn't have just used the elevator?"
Ryan, without missing a beat, flipped into the apartment with an unnecessary acrobatic move, landing theatrically. "I could… but this way is way more interesting, don't you think?"
Geto just shook his head, but before he could respond, an excited voice interrupted.
"Ryan!"
Riko appeared, already dressed in her school uniform, her eyes shining with relief. "I was starting to get worried, you know?"
She quickly approached, grabbing his hand and pulling him along without hesitation. "Come on! Gojo's already rushing us so we don't run late!"
As he was dragged through the apartment, Ryan protested, his voice lazy and carefree. "But it's still early… We've got plenty of time, you know?"
Geto, walking behind them, sighed. With his hands stuffed in his pockets, he followed at a relaxed pace.
The walk to Jujutsu School was peaceful—at least for most of them.
Gojo, as always, strolled with his hands clasped behind his head, completely at ease. Geto maintained his usual calm demeanor, and Kuroi stayed close to Riko, attentive to any details.
Ryan, on the other hand, noticed something subtle.
Riko, though still holding his hand, wasn't saying a word. Her palm was sweaty, her fingers slightly trembling. Her anxiety was almost palpable.
He glanced to the side, locking eyes with Gojo, who seemed completely carefree—until he noticed Ryan's gaze and shot him a playful wink.
Ryan furrowed his brow, his mind working quickly. "If I didn't already know what that wink meant from our conversation yesterday… I'd definitely think this guy was gay."
Soon, the gates of Jujutsu High stood before them.
Gojo stretched lazily. "Man… can't believe we made it here without any trouble. What an easy trip, huh?"
Geto, always more cautious, kept his serious stance. "The mission isn't over until we deliver the girl."
Ryan, who had been relaxed up until then, turned his gaze to Riko.
She looked tired from the climb, but there was something else. It wasn't just physical exertion—it was the weight of what awaited her beyond those gates. He could see the hesitation in her eyes.
Ryan opened his mouth to say something—anything that might ease the tension. But the moment he drew a breath to speak…
His phone started ringing.
He raised an eyebrow, confused. At this hour?
Sliding the device from his pocket, he glanced at the screen.
Alya, Ice Princess.
His brows knit together. "Alya?"
Riko and the others cast curious glances, but Ryan didn't hesitate to answer.
He lifted the phone to his ear and began speaking in a casual tone. "Hey, Alya. Is this about the student council elect—"
"Kuze-kun! Please, help me!"
Her voice cut through any train of thought he had.
She was whispering, but her breathing was heavy, erratic.
In an instant, an icy grip tightened around Ryan's chest. His posture shifted, his expression hardened.
"What happened?" His voice came out firm, serious.
"I-I'm not really sure…" Her voice trembled. "There have been strange men following me all day, and…"
Ryan's heart pounded.
"…I tried hiding at the school, but there's no one here!"
Then came the sound he didn't want to hear.
Sobs.
Small, broken—but real.
Alya was trying to keep her composure, but by the end of her sentence, her voice cracked.
"I-I'm scared…"
At that moment, Ryan's world slowed down.
His once-scattered senses converged on a single thought.
"Men after Alya? Why?"
Alya wasn't a Jujutsu Sorcerer. She wasn't a fighter. She was just a normal girl.
So… why were they after her?
And more importantly… who were they?
Ryan didn't have the answers, but he could already feel his blood boiling.
There was no time to hesitate. His mind worked at high speed, but his words came out sharp, firm.
"Alya, you're still at school, right?"
On the other end of the line, Alya tried to hold back her sobs. Her voice came out fragile, almost a trembling whisper.
"Yes… I ran to the teachers' office, but there's no one here… They're going to find me, Kuze… They're going to—"
Ryan clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening in frustration. He couldn't let that happen.
"Stay hidden. I'm coming." His voice was steady, leaving no room for doubt.
Her sobs became more pronounced, and then, with a thread of desperate hope, she pleaded:
"Call the police… Please…"
Ryan furrowed his brows, irritated. The police? This wasn't a case for them. He didn't trust them to arrive in time, and even if they did… they wouldn't solve this the way he needed them to.
"Don't worry." His voice was cold, determined.
The call ended, leaving behind a suffocating weight in the air.
Everyone around him had heard. Silence settled, broken only by the soft wind blowing through the school gates.
Riko looked at Ryan, concern written all over her face. Her eyes carried a silent plea, a fear she didn't know how to express.
"W-What's going on, Ryan?"
He let out a sigh, trying to stay calm. With a gentle gesture, he squeezed Riko's hand and, with the other, brushed his fingers through her hair. A small act, but one filled with meaning.
"Riko… I need to leave for a few minutes."
The light in her eyes flickered, a shadow of sadness briefly crossing her face.
"So you…"
Before she could finish, Ryan interrupted her, his voice low but firm.
"I'll be here. Soon. I promise."
She looked deep into his eyes, and in that moment, she understood. These weren't just words. It was a real, unbreakable promise. She knew Ryan well enough to know he never said things like this lightly.
Taking a deep breath, Riko stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his in a quick but sincere kiss. When she pulled away, her eyes were misty, but her voice was soft, filled with trust.
"I will always believe in you."
Kuroi, who had been trying to keep her composure, turned as red as a tomato.
"R-Riko!"
But Ryan paid no attention. His gaze was already on Gojo and Geto. When he spoke, his voice carried an unusual seriousness.
"I hope you're men of your word."
Gojo simply smirked and tapped his chest lightly.
"My word is my honor, partner."
Beside him, Geto didn't need to say much. He just nodded, his expression calm but resolute.
"Leave it to us."
Ryan clenched his fists, feeling the energy surge through his body.
"I won't take long."
With one last glance at Riko, he released her hand and took off.
In the blink of an eye, he was nothing more than a blur, racing down the stairs at high speed.
Riko stood there, staring at the spot where he had disappeared, her hands clasped together and her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She wanted to believe everything would be fine.
He had promised.
Gojo stretched lazily, turning to the others.
"Alright, let's finish this mission—"
But then… something happened.
As Ryan ran, something inside him felt different. He was already fast, already strong, but now…
Now, it was different.
His body responded better, energy flowed more intensely. He could feel his speed increasing, the air cutting against his skin with more force than before.
Maybe it was urgency.
Maybe it was because he wasn't just running to test his limits anymore.
Now, he was running to save Alya.
And nothing would stop him from reaching her.
At the school, Alya was curled up under the teachers' desk.
Her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, pressing them against her chest as she trembled. Silent tears streamed down her face, falling onto the cold floor beyond her control.
Her wide, tear-filled eyes were locked onto the door.
She felt like, at any moment, it would open.
And those men would walk in.
Her heart pounded violently, each beat echoing like thunder in her ears.
Fear suffocated her.
She didn't know who they were. But she knew they were there.
Ever since she left home, she had felt something was off. A disturbing sensation.
"They were watching me… following me…"
She tried convincing herself it was paranoia. But then, she realized.
"I—I felt like I was being followed the moment I stepped out of my house… I felt eyes on me… It was terrifying… Until I was sure. Three strange men were after me. I noticed them, so I took the busiest streets to get to school, but…"
She bit her lip, her tears falling harder.
"Three strange men."
She tried to escape, changed her route, searched for crowded areas. But it was useless.
And when she finally reached the school…
Empty.
"When I got here, I saw there was no one! I ran to the teachers' office and… No one!"
Reality crashed down on her.
The classrooms, the hallways, the courtyard…
Nothing but the echo of her own hurried footsteps.
She ran into the teachers' office, holding her breath.
But she found no one.
Alone.
Completely alone.
Alya clenched her teeth, biting her lip to suppress a sob. But it was useless. The tears kept falling, soaking her sleeves as she tried to hide her face.
The fear was suffocating.
And then…
The sound she feared most.
Outside, in the hallway.
Footsteps.
Heavy ones.
Getting closer.
"We've already searched all the rooms on the first floor… So the girl is probably hiding here."
A male voice echoed from the other side of the door, laced with impatience.
Alya's chest tightened. The air felt like it was being sucked from her lungs. Her fingers dug into her knees as she tried to stop her body from shaking.
The doorknob turned.
Her heart stopped.
She wanted to disappear. She wanted to turn invisible, to dissolve into nothing.
But the door opened.
"Ah... there you are."
The man who entered smiled smugly, his predatory eyes fixed on her.
Two others appeared right behind him, and one of them chuckled, his voice dripping with malice.
"Well, well... She's a beauty, don't you think?"
The third tilted his head, observing Alya as if she were an object on display in a storefront.
"Look at that face... She doesn't seem Japanese. Lucky us."
Alya couldn't react. The fear was so suffocating that her body felt paralyzed. Her mind screamed at her to run, to fight, to do anything—but all she could do was tremble.
Tears spilled uncontrollably, staining her cheeks.
The group's leader sighed, bored.
"The orders are to keep her in our possession until further instructions."
The other, however, smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with something vile.
"Ah... So, nothing was said about... using the merchandise, right? Just look at this cutie... I'm sure we can have plenty of fun before that."
Alya's world collapsed in that instant.
She didn't think.
She just screamed.
The sound of pure desperation tore from her throat as she dashed toward the window.
"GET THAT BITCH!"
The man's voice came as a roar, and the other two lunged at her like beasts.
Alya stumbled, the floor seeming to spin beneath her. Her body weakened, and in a reflexive act, she dropped to her knees and covered her head with her arms, as if that could keep them away.
"KUZE! HELP ME!"
It was a raw, desperate plea—a cry that carried all the terror and supplication of someone who saw no way out.
And then...
The window exploded.
Shards of glass flew like sharp blades, glinting in the cold light before scattering across the floor.
And in the midst of the storm of fragments, something burst through the empty space.
No.
Someone.
Ryan shot in like a missile, the impact of his arrival reverberating through the room.
Before the men could even grasp what was happening, his foot was already crushing one of the henchmen's skulls, the sickening crack echoing through the air.
The second had no time to react.
Ryan's hand clamped onto the man's head, his fingers gripping like a deadly hook, and he used his own momentum to drag him along with the movement.
The first henchman's body was flung like a rag doll against the wall, already lifeless.
Ryan landed on his feet, his breathing heavy, muscles taut.
Behind him, Alya stared, her eyes wide.
She trembled, but now it wasn't just from fear.
"K-Kuze-kun!?"
Her voice was a mix of shock and hope.
Ryan didn't fully turn to her. He only tilted his face slightly to the side, his voice firm, carrying something deep—something that promised nothing would happen to her anymore.
"Alya..."
His tone was like thunder in the tense silence of the room.
"You don't have to cry anymore."
He cast a glance over his shoulder, his expression grim, his eyes burdened with something only he understood.
"This time..." He exhaled slowly, each word dripping with certainty.
"I made it in time."
_______________________
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