{"Where am I?"} Nishiro's mind was hazy as he slowly regained consciousness. His senses flickered back, piece by piece—the faint scent of antiseptic, the distant hum of machinery, and the dull ache coursing through his body.
Toro was standing beside him, watching as Nishiro slowly regained his senses. Noticing the signs of awareness, he said, "Hey, take it easy. You were injured, though not as badly as Shirisa."
The moment Nishiro heard that name, a surge of anxiety shot through him. His heart pounded as he pushed himself up, his voice sharp with urgency. "Where is Shirisa?!" His breathing grew heavy, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Before he could spiral further, Toro placed a firm hand on his back, steadying him with a reassuring pat. "Calm down," he said, his tone firm yet steady, "She's hurt, but she'll be fine."
"Who's going to be fine?!" Sumi's voice cracked as she shouted from behind. Her eyes were brimming with tears, her breath uneven, and her hands trembled at her sides. A raw mix of grief and fury twisted her face. "My sister... she died in that blast because of you!" Her voice broke as she pointed at Nishiro, her words laced with pain. "You murderer! " The weight of her accusation hung in the air, suffocating, her anguish cutting deeper than any wound.
Toro flinched at her words, his body tensing as if struck. His breath hitched, and for a moment, he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Hey... do you even realize what you're saying?! " His voice wavered, his usual composure cracking. A cold dread gripped his chest as he took a step closer, his eyes searching Sumi's tear-streaked face. "You're talking about Shirisa, right?!" His voice trembled, refusing to accept the weight of her words.
Toro didn't wait for an answer—his body moved on instinct. He bolted toward Shirisa's ward, his heart pounding against his ribs like a war drum. The hallway blurred around him, but the growing dread in his chest sharpened every step.
Behind him, Nishiro struggled against the weight of his own injuries. His body was weak, still tethered to saline drips but nothing mattered. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself forward. "I need to see her!" he growled, his voice raw with desperation.
But before he could move any further, Sumi blocked his path, her hands trembling as she shoved him back. "Don't you dare take another step!" she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "You don't get to say her name! You don't get to act like you care!" Tears streamed down her face, but her eyes burned with fury. "You're the reason she's gone, you murderer!"
The weight of her words crashed over him like a storm, suffocating, inescapable. For the first time, the air felt heavy—too heavy to breathe.
All of a sudden, the door creaked open.
The room fell into a suffocating silence as Toro stepped inside, pushing a stretcher forward. Shirisa lay on it, motionless. Her fragile form rested on the hospital bed, her face hidden beneath a cloth. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows over her still body, making it hard to tell if she was merely asleep—or something far worse.
Toro didn't say a word. His eyes remained fixed on the ground, his shoulders heavy with a weight too great to bear. He dragged the stretcher right beside Nishiro's bed, the wheels squeaking against the floor in the unbearable silence. His hands trembled, but he never looked up.
Without a glance at Nishiro, he reached for Sumi's wrist, gripping it tightly. His movements were stiff, almost mechanical, as if his body were running on pure instinct. Without a single word, he pulled Sumi out of the room, closing the door behind them with a quiet but final click.
Nishiro's gaze shifted to the clock on the wall. 𝟭𝟭:58 PM. The second hand of clock crawled forward, each tick amplifying the suffocating silence in the room.
His eyes drifted back to Shirisa. His chest tightened, his breath unsteady as his vision blurred. His fingers clenched the bedsheet, struggling to suppress the storm inside him, but the weight was unbearable. Tears welled up, trembling at the edge before finally breaking free.
In a voice cracked with pain, he whispered, "Hey, Shirisa… please, answer me." His body trembled as he reached for her, his fingertips hovering just above her covered face, too afraid to touch. "Why… why did you try to fight them? " His voice broke into a sob. "Was it because of me?" His throat tightened as the words spilled out, each one heavier than the last.
"Did I really kill you…?"
The unbearable silence answered him. And his tears, unable to bear the weight of his grief, finally fell.
All of a sudden, the clock struck 12:00 AM.
The sharp chime echoed through the silent room, cutting through Nishiro's quiet sobs. The sound jolted him, sending a shiver down his spine. His tear-streaked face flinched, his breath hitching as he instinctively glanced at the clock.
For a brief moment, the grief that drowned him was interrupted by a strange, unsettling stillness. The room felt colder, the air heavier—as if something had shifted in the very fabric of the night.
Nishiro collapsed onto Shirisa's lap, his body trembling as sobs racked through him. Tears streamed down his face, soaking into the fabric beneath him. His fingers dug into the sheets, clinging to them as if they could somehow bring her back.
" I never thought… I never thought I'd be the reason for someone's death…!" His voice cracked, raw with agony. The weight of his own words crushed him, suffocating, unbearable. His cries grew hysterical, his breath coming in ragged gasps as guilt and grief consumed him whole.
Unexpectedly, Shirisa jolted upright in a flash, her movements unnaturally fast.
The sudden motion sent a chilling shock through the room. Nishiro's breath hitched, his sobs stopping mid-gasp as he froze against her lap. His body tensed, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Just moments ago, she had been lifeless—motionless.
Now, she was sitting up.
As Shirisa sat up, the cloth covering her face slipped away, revealing a sight that sent a jolt of terror through the air.
Blood.
Thick, dark crimson poured from her once-beautiful pinkish eyes, now stained a deep, haunting red. Her delicate nose and forehead had burst open, blood oozing out in horrifying streams. The gruesome sight twisted what was once a peaceful face into something unrecognizably tragic.
*Drip
A warm droplet fell.
Then another.
The blood trickled down, sliding off her chin… and landing onto Nishiro's trembling lips.
His body stiffened, his mind recoiling in horror. His breath came in shaky gasps, his eyes locked onto Shirisa's face—a face that shouldn't have moved.
Before Nishiro could even react, Shirisa's cold, blood-soaked hand shot forward—clamping around his throat.
His body tensed, a violent shiver running down his spine as her grip tightened. It wasn't just a touch—it was suffocating, unrelenting, as if death itself had wrapped its fingers around him.
Nishiro's breath hitched. His lips parted, but no words came—only a strained, choked gasp. His wide, terror-filled eyes locked onto Shirisa's face, but what he saw wasn't the girl he had known. Her once-gentle features were now twisted into something nightmarish—her blood-drenched eyes staring into him, empty yet piercing.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his muscles stiff with fear. The air in the room felt colder, heavier, as if reality itself was unraveling. He wanted to scream, to break free—but his voice, like his strength, was completely stolen.
Shirisa's grip tightened as her lips parted, and from deep within her throat came a voice—distorted, hollow, and chilling.
"Ni... Shi... Ro..."
The way she dragged his name sent an unbearable shiver crawling up his spine. Her bloodied lips twisted into something unnatural, her voice echoing as if layered with whispers from beyond.
"You... killed me... when you blew up your house..." Her head tilted slightly, her lifeless, bleeding eyes staring straight into his soul. "Did you really think... you could get rid of me... just like that?"
A twisted chuckle rattled from her throat—broken, inhuman.
"What makes you think... I would let you live?"
Her fingers tightened around his throat, her grip ice-cold yet burning like fire. "No, Nishiro..." Her voice sank lower, more sinister. " I will take you with me..."
She leaned in closer, her breath a ghostly whisper against his trembling skin.
"Come to me... Ni... Shi... Ro..."
Nishiro was paralyzed with fear. His body trembled, his breath shallow, but his hands… they didn't fight back.
A deep, sinking feeling took hold of him, dragging him into despair. His mind blurred, drowning in the chilling grip of Shirisa's voice.
Slowly, an unsettling realization settled in—this was it. He was done for.
Forever.
A few moments passed,
And then—he heard it.
A laugh.
Not the eerie, ghostly whisper that had sent chills down his spine just seconds ago. No—this was different. It started as a snicker, then grew into a full-blown, uncontrollable cackle. A familiar, shameless, downright mischievous laugh.
Confused, Nishiro blinked. Wait… his throat?
He realized something—her grip wasn't tight at all. In fact, it never really was. His breathing wasn't strained, his body wasn't paralyzed—he was just too scared to notice.
Slowly, his wide, terror-filled eyes shifted to Shirisa, who was now clutching her stomach, laughing like an absolute maniac.
"Pfft— YOU FELL FOR IT, NISHIRO! HAHAHA!" she howled, barely able to speak between bursts of laughter. "Oh my god, your face—priceless! I should've recorded that!"
Nishiro sat there, still frozen in shock, his brain struggling to process what just happened. His terror turned into confusion…
Shirisa pointed a finger at him, grinning mischievously. "Fool, Nishiro! I wasn't as injured as you. My body is sooo strong!"
To prove her point, she struck a ridiculous bodybuilder pose—flexing her tiny arms in the most childish way possible.
Nishiro, still in shock, stared at her. "Then… the blood on your face…?" His voice wavered, hesitant to believe anything anymore.
Shirisa smirked. "Taste your lips. There's a drop of it." Confused, Nishiro hesitantly licked his lips—his eyes widened.
Ketchup.
Shirisa burst into laughter again, clutching her sides. "BAHAHA! You were so scared! I can't believe you actually fell for it!"
Nishiro sat there, absolutely dumbfounded—a mix of rage, embarrassment, and the strong urge to strangle her for real this time.
As Shirisa continued laughing uncontrollably, Nishiro silently reached for the saline pipe attached to him.
With a cold, unreadable expression, he yanked that out. The sharp sting barely registered—his mind was too fixated on something else.
Shirisa was still too busy laughing, completely unaware of what he had just done.
Nishiro's expression darkened. His gaze, once filled with shock and confusion, now turned eerily cold.
"So… it was just a prank, huh?" His voice was low, calm—too calm.
Shirisa, still catching her breath from laughing, grinned. "Yeah! You know, Sumi and Toro were acting too—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes locked onto Nishiro's face, and suddenly, her smile vanished.
His expression had changed.
The warmth in his eyes was gone—replaced by something primal, something terrifying. His face now resembled that of a beast—one completely prepared to attack.
The tension in the air grew suffocating. Even the tiniest movement, the faintest sound—a single drop of a pin—felt like it could trigger an explosion of pure ferocity.
For the first time, Shirisa felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
Nishiro's body trembled with barely contained fury. His breath was heavy, his voice low—a deep, guttural growl. His eyes, now glowing red with pure rage and humiliation, locked onto Shirisa like a predator eyeing its prey.
"Any last words?" His voice was sharp, edged with a dangerous intensity.
Shirisa gulped, her confidence crumbling. "Sor—"
Before she could finish, Nishiro lunged.
Like a ferocious tiger pouncing on its target, he charged at her with terrifying speed.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Shirisa's scream echoed through the room as she flailed, trying to escape.
At that exact moment—BOOM!
A deafening thunderclap shook the sky. Lightning flashed, illuminating the room in an eerie glow, followed by a torrential downpour.
The storm outside had begun.
[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]
"Hey! What happened?!"
Shirisa's father shot up from his chair, his impatience turning into alarm. His eyes narrowed at the blank screen in front of him—the hospital room's CCTV feed had suddenly cut off.
The monitor flickered for a moment before going completely dark. Connection lost.
Outside, thunder rumbled violently, shaking the building. The sudden lightning strike had taken out the surveillance, leaving him blind to whatever was happening inside Nishiro and Shirisa's room.
His grip tightened on the table. Something felt wrong.
"My daughter needs me now! I'm coming, my sweetheart!" Shirisa's father shouted as he dashed toward the door, determined to reach her at any cost.
But just as he reached for the handle—CLANG!
Metallic ropes shot out from the shadows, wrapping tightly around his arms and torso, restraining him in place.
"What the—?!" He struggled, his eyes flaring with anger. Then, he heard a calm yet firm voice behind him.
"No, Father. Your blood pressure is too high. You need to stay home," Dorsan said, his grip on the metal ropes unwavering.
Agatha, Shirisa's mother, stepped forward, her tone gentle yet firm. "Yes, honey, you need rest. You collapsed when you heard Shirisa got hurt in the blast. You just regained consciousness when you found out she was fine. Don't strain yourself again."
Then, placing both hands under her chin, she smirked thoughtfully, her eyes glinting with nostalgia. "Besides… I believe my daughter will handle her husband's rage just like I did in our time."
"No! That beast is even worse in his rage!" Shirisa's father thrashed against the metal ropes, his face filled with panic. "He'll kill my daughter! Shirisa, I'm coming!"
"No, you're not! " Agatha interrupted, her voice sharp.
Dorsan didn't wait for another outburst. With a swift motion, he tightened the ropes, binding his father firmly to the bed.
"You're not going anywhere until you calm down," Dorsan said, his grip steady.
Agatha stretched her arms, letting out a relaxed sigh. "I'm going to make something healthy for him. Yo-hoo~" she hummed as she casually strolled toward the attached kitchen.
Meanwhile, Dorsan pressed his father down, making sure he stayed in place. A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "You need to sleep, Dad. Want to hear a lullaby from me?"
"No! I want to see Shirisa!" He exclaimed, struggling against the restraints, but Dorsan didn't loosen his grip one bit.
[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]
Nishiro collapsed onto Shirisa, his hands gripping her neck—not squeezing, but shaking it madly. His frustration, embarrassment, and rage poured into each rough shake.
"So...rry... Ple... Ase... St.. opp..." Shirisa's voice trembled as her head bobbed back and forth. "Or... I... am... gon... pu... ke!"
Her face twisted, eyes rolling slightly as the violent shaking made her dizzy. It felt less like an attack and more like she was stuck in a human-sized blender.
Nishiro suddenly stopped, his hands frozen mid-shake as Shirisa's words registered.
For a moment, there was silence—just their heavy breathing and the distant sound of rain outside. Then, out of nowhere—Shirisa tightened her grip.
Before Nishiro could react, she pulled him in—hard—pressing him tightly against her chest.
"Wha—?!" Nishiro stiffened, his face now buried against her. His mind short-circuited as the warmth of her body seeped into his.
"There, there…" Shirisa whispered teasingly, patting his back. "Angry husband needs a hug, hmm...?"
Nishiro's entire face turned red. "W-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! LET ME GO!" He struggled, but Shirisa only held on tighter.
"Nope! You were just shaking me like crazy—now it's my turn to squeeze you to death!" she giggled.
Nishiro groaned. "This isn't fair! You scared me half to death, and now you're acting all sweet?!"
Shirisa grinned, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Aww, my dear Nishiro~ So scary when mad, but so cute when flustered."
"I SWEAR, IF YOU DON'T LET GO—"
"Shhh~ Just accept your fate," she whispered, tightening her hold.
And just like that, the fierce storm that had raged between them turned into something… warmer.
As Nishiro continued to struggle, Shirisa suddenly leaned in—
And kissed him.
Her arms squeezed him tightly against her body, refusing to let go. Warmth. Softness. The faint scent of her lingering perfume. Nishiro's entire body froze, his mind completely blank.
His eyes widened in shock. {" What… just… happened?"}
Shirisa pulled back slightly, her lips still dangerously close to his. A playful smirk danced on her face.
"Heh~ That shut you up, didn't it?" she teased, tilting her head.
Nishiro's face turned an impossible shade of red. "Y -YOU—WHAT—WHY—?!" His words tangled into incoherent stammers.
Shirisa giggled, tightening her hold even more. "You looked so cute when you were mad, I couldn't help myself."
"LET ME GO!" Nishiro yelled, desperately trying to escape.
"Nope! Now you're mine forever~" Shirisa declared proudly, resting her cheek against his.
Outside, the storm raged on— but inside, Nishiro was dealing with an entirely different kind of chaos.
As Shirisa giggled, still holding Nishiro tightly, she suddenly felt something warm on her cheek.
A drop. Then another.
She blinked, confused, until she realized—they were tears. Nishiro's tears.
She pulled back slightly, just enough to see his face. Her breath caught in her throat.
Nishiro wasn't struggling anymore. His body trembled, his head lowered, his fists clenched. The fury, the embarrassment—all of it had melted away. What remained was raw, overwhelming pain.
"I… I thought I lost you too… like them…"
His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of everything he had buried inside him.
Then, he broke.
A sharp gasp left him, and suddenly—he burst into uncontrollable sobs. His shoulders shook violently, his breath hitching between choked cries.
Shirisa sat there, stunned. She had never seen him like this. Never seen him so… shattered.
Her chest ached as she realized—he had been holding this pain for far too long.
Without hesitation, she pulled him in again—but this time, gently. No teasing, no jokes—just warmth. Just understanding.
She stroked his back softly, whispering against his ear. "It's okay… I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Everything will be okay…"
Outside, the storm roared, rain crashing against the windows. But inside that quiet room—Shirisa held Nishiro as he let out the grief he had been carrying for so long.
As time passed, the storm outside began to settle. The roaring thunder faded into distant rumbles, the harsh rain softened into a gentle drizzle. The once chaotic sky now lay calm, mirroring the quiet inside Nishiro's hospital room.
Inside, too, the storm had passed.
Nishiro, exhausted from his outburst, had finally drifted into sleep—his head resting against Shirisa's shoulder. His breathing was deep, steady, yet his grip on her hospital gown remained tight, as if afraid she'd disappear if he let go.
Shirisa, too, had unknowingly fallen asleep, her arms still loosely wrapped around him. For the first time in what felt like forever, peace had settled in their world.
Outside, the first hint of moonlight peeked through the scattered clouds, shining softly through the hospital window— as if the heavens, too, had finally found peace.
[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]
A nurse walked down the dimly lit hospital corridor, holding a syringe carefully in her hand. "I should give him the dose as the doctor said," she mumbled to herself, adjusting her grip.
As she neared Nishiro's room, just inches away from reaching for the door handle—
* THWACK !
A swift, precise chop landed on the back of her neck. Her eyes widened in shock for a split second before her vision blurred, her body losing strength.
The syringe slipped from her grasp, shattering upon impact with the cold floor.
With a soft thud, she collapsed, unconscious, right outside Nishiro's door.
The corridor returned to silence. A shadow lingered nearby. Watching. Waiting.
It was him. The man with the magic hat. Standing over the unconscious nurse, his gloved fingers twirled a small glass vial. With practiced precision, he bent down and collected a single droplet from the shattered syringe—just enough to analyze.
A sly smirk curled on his lips.
His job was done.
Just as the first ray of sunlight spilled into the corridor through a nearby window, he tilted his hat lower over his face and—vanished.
By the time the golden light fully bathed the hallway, he was gone—leaving behind only a shattered syringe and a mystery.
[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]
Nishiro let out a long yawn, shifting slightly as his body stirred from deep sleep. His mind was still hazy, his limbs heavy from exhaustion.
Then, a warm ray of sunlight slipped through the window, piercing through his closed eyelids.
"Ugh…" He groaned, his face twitching from the sudden brightness. He turned his head slightly, trying to escape it, but the stubborn light danced across his face, forcing him to squint.
Slowly, his heavy eyelids lifted. His vision was blurry at first, the world around him still adjusting.
Morning had arrived.
As Nishiro's vision cleared, he felt a gentle weight pressing against his chest. His breath hitched slightly as he glanced down—
Shirisa was there.
Fast asleep.
Her small frame was curled up comfortably against him, her head resting on his chest. Her soft, steady breaths tickled his skin, her warm presence strangely soothing.
Her arms were loosely wrapped around him, as if she had fallen asleep mid-embrace. One of her hands clutched the fabric of his shirt, as if even in sleep, she refused to let go.
Her usual playful expression was gone—instead, she looked peaceful, her long eyelashes resting against her cheeks, her lips slightly parted as she breathed in rhythmic sighs.
For a moment, Nishiro just stared, his mind blank. The chaos of last night felt like a dream, yet here she was, sleeping soundly against him.
A deep warmth spread through his chest. He had almost lost her… but she was here. Safe. Breathing.
Carefully, he lifted a hand, brushing away a few loose strands of hair from her face.
"Shirisa…" he murmured under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. She didn't stir. Still lost in her dreams.
Nishiro let out a deep sigh, staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind was still foggy, trying to process everything.
But then—a strange feeling crept over him.
That unsettling sensation of being watched.
Slowly, his eyes shifted upward— And there he was.
Shirisa's dad.
Standing directly above his head.
Glaring.
His face was frozen in a terrifying mix of rage, disappointment, and the kind of fury only a father could have when finding a boy slept with his daughter.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was heavy. Tense. Unbearable.
Nishiro swallowed hard. "Should he move? Should he pretend to sleep? Should he start praying?!" He thought.
Then, Shirisa snuggled deeper into his chest, sighing happily in her sleep.
Nishiro felt the temperature in the room drop to sub-zero.
Shirisa's father cracked his knuckles. A dark aura surrounded him. His eyes screamed "YOU HAVE CHOSEN DEATH."
Nishiro let out the smallest, most nervous chuckle. "Uh… good morning…?"
Silence.
Then—
"YOU BRAT!!!". The entire hospital shook with the roar of an enraged father.
Just as Shirisa's father's fist came hurtling down, aimed straight for Nishiro's face—
A hand caught it mid-air.
Firm. Unshaken. Deadly.
"Enough, darling," Shirisa's mother, Agatha, said in a dangerously sweet tone, her fingers tightening around her husband's wrist.
Her eyes, however, held an eerie glint—one that could make even the strongest man hesitate.
Shirisa's father froze. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"A-Agatha, honey, let me go," he stuttered, his earlier fury instantly replaced with nervousness.
She tilted her head, smiling. "Oh? Were you about to punch our future son-in-law?"
Shirisa, still half-asleep, mumbled something about food and snuggled deeper into Nishiro's chest.
Her father's anger flared again, but Agatha's grip tightened like a vice.
"No. Violence." Her voice dropped an octave, and suddenly, a burning sensation spread across his wrist.
He yelped. "Ow ow ow! Fine, fine! I won't hit him!"
Agatha let go, patting his cheek sweetly. "Good boy."
Nishiro, meanwhile, lay there completely frozen— wondering whether the real danger here was Shirisa's father… or her terrifyingly powerful mother.
Her father found that his knuckle muscles were on the verge of melting from Agatha's acidic sweat.
Nishiro slowly shifted his gaze to the bed—
And there she was.
Sumi. Sitting cross-legged, arms folded, eyes narrowed like a strict elder sister who had just caught her younger sibling sneaking snacks at midnight.
Then, his eyes moved to the chair by the window.
Arlon. Calmly sipping juice from a juice box. Judging. Silently.
Feeling a chill, Nishiro's instinct made him glance up—
Dorsan. Hanging upside down from the ceiling fan like a bat. His cloak swayed slightly. His glowing green eyes locked onto Nishiro like a predator watching its prey.
"…What the—" Nishiro barely muttered before—
A deep exhale.
Nishiro snapped his head to the side.
Toro. Standing by the toilet door, arms crossed, shaking his head like a disappointed gym coach.
Silence.
Everyone was just staring at him,
At Shirisa.
Still Shirisa snuggled up against him. Nishiro gulped. His soul left his body due to embarrassment.
Agatha firmly grabbed her husband's collar and, without a word, dragged him out of the room.
"But—but my daughter—!" he protested, flailing his arms.
"No buts. Let the kids handle their own mess," Agatha said, shoving him out the door like a misbehaving child.
Before he could argue further, she slammed the door shut behind them.
Inside the room, an awkward silence filled the air.
The "children" exchanged glances. All eyes were still on Nishiro. Nishiro sighed.
And with that, the real conversation began.
Arlon sucked the last bit of juice from his box before sighing dramatically. "Oh no, it's all gone," he mumbled, shaking the empty carton like it had betrayed him.
Then, his eyes shifted to Nishiro.
"Yo! Isn't it hard to breathe when my sis is sleeping on you?"
Nishiro froze. His brain processed the words. His face burned.
Without a second thought, he gently pushed Shirisa off him and quickly sat up.
Shirisa, still half-asleep, yawned the moment she touched the ground. Rubbing her eyes like a sleepy child, she mumbled, "Good... Mor..ning…" her voice trailing off in a drowsy haze.
Before Nishiro could respond, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
He turned his head—
Toro. His grip was firm, his stare intense.
"Oye, Nishiro!" His voice was sharp, serious, almost furious.
Nishiro gulped.
Then—
"Sorry," Toro said, his voice suddenly soft. "I didn't know it was a prank until I saw Shirisa alive after Sumi said she was gone."
Sumi immediately cut in. "Hey! Didn't you hit me more than 30 times for that prank?!"
She tried to sit up, but the moment she did—
"Ow—!!"
She collapsed back down onto the bed, groaning.
Her face twisted into a childish pout. "It still aches... my butt..." she whimpered.
Nishiro blinked.
Dorsan, still hanging upside down from the ceiling fan, turned his glowing green eyes toward Nishiro.
"So... what happened after the thunderstrike?" he asked, his voice calm yet eerily curious. "The CCTV connection got cut off, so I couldn't see anything. I'm… quite curious."
Nishiro could still feel the lingering warmth from Shirisa's embrace, and the embarrassment of waking up to an entire audience.
His face twitched.
"Nothing."
Dorsan narrowed his eyes. "Hoh? Nothing?"
The room fell silent.
Even Arlon, who had been fiddling with his empty juice box, suddenly looked interested.
Sumi smirked. "Ohhh? Nishiro, why do you look so flustered? Don't tell me—"
"I SAID NOTHING HAPPENED!" Nishiro snapped, his face burning.
Shirisa, still rubbing her sleepy eyes, tilted her head innocently. In sleepy voice she told "Hmm?.... Bu...t Nis....hiro, la...s..t night, we-"
Nishiro shut her face with his palm being embarresed making her sentence unfinished.
Toro,Sumi, and Dorsan all grinned like wolves who had found their prey.
The interrogation had just begun.
There was a smirky, taunting smile on everyone's face—
Except Arlon.
He was still sucking on his completely empty juice box, oblivious to the brewing chaos.
Sumi leaned in, her smirk widening. "So, Nishiro… wanna share what 'nothing' actually means?"
Toro crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah. 'Nothing happened'— but why does your face look like a tomato?"
Dorsan chuckled, still upside down. "Hoh… Nishiro, you're sweating. You sure you don't need a towel?"
Nishiro's eye twitched.
Meanwhile, Arlon finally stopped sucking on his juice box.
He stared at it.
Then, without looking up, he casually spoke. "Hey… anyone got more juice?"
The room paused.
Even Nishiro momentarily forgot his suffering.
Then—
"READ THE ROOM, ARLON!!" everyone shouted at him.
Arlon, completely caught off guard by the sudden outburst, flinched so hard that he lost balance and tumbled off his chair.
"Ow!" he groaned, rubbing his head.
Right at that moment, the door swung open.
Agatha entered, holding a document.
"So, Nishiro, you can be discharged today—" she began, but then she paused, scanning the room.
Sumi had a mischievous grin. Dorsan was still upside down. Toro had his arms crossed, smirking.
Nishiro looked like he was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.
Something was definitely going on.
Agatha raised an eyebrow. "Did I… interrupt something?"
Without missing a beat, Toro, Sumi, and Dorsan shouted in unison—
"YES, MOM!!"
Agatha visibly flinched.
"What kind of greeting is that?!" she huffed, slightly startled but now even more suspicious.
[𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵]
Nishiro returned to the Scorpion Mansion.
Now, he lay resting on his bed, while Shirisa sat beside him, quietly watching over him.
A knock echoed through the door.
"Come in," Shirisa said.
It was Toro. He stepped into the room, his broad frame casting a shadow across the floor.
"Hey, how are you now?" he asked, his voice calm yet firm.
Nishiro, still feeling a bit weak, sighed and replied, "A little better."
Toro nodded before crossing his arms. "We waited at Royelle Park for you, but you were two hours late. When you didn't show up, I contacted Dorsan to track Shirisa's location. That's when he found out about the explosion."
His face darkened slightly.
"By the time we reached the site, the firefighters were already working to control the flames. We saw you in the ambulance and followed along. Shirisa, being trained for emergencies, was in better shape than you. You, on the other hand, got away with just minor fractures."
He patted Nishiro's shoulder lightly.
"So, rest assured. You'll be fine soon."
Toro gave Nishiro a final nod before turning around. Without another word, he walked toward the door and stepped out, leaving the room in silence.
Shirisa shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Nishiro. Her voice carried a hint of unease.
"Hey... are you still mad about that prank?" she asked hesitantly.
Nishiro flinched slightly at her words, his body tensing for a moment.
Without moving his head, he lowered his gaze to the ground.
A faint reddish hue crept onto his face as he mumbled,
"Still... a little bit."
Shirisa observed Nishiro's reaction and smirked.
"A little bit, huh?" she teased, leaning closer. "So, what do I need to do to make you forgive me?"
Nishiro glanced away, still flustered. "Just... don't pull something like that again."
Shirisa grinned. "No promises."
Just as Nishiro sighed in frustration, A loud alarm blared through the mansion. Both of them immediately tensed.
"An intruder?" Shirisa muttered, her playful demeanor vanishing in an instant.
Nishiro sat up straight, his expression sharpening. "We need to check this out."
Shirisa stared at the CCTV screen, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.
On the feed, a mysterious man in a magic hat and cloak walked calmly through the mansion's garden. His movements were unhurried, yet each step carried an eerie weight, as if he dared anyone to stop him.
His face was wrapped in bandages, leaving only his mouth and eyes visible. Those violet eyes… they weren't normal. They pulsed with an unnatural energy, exuding a silent pressure of fear.
Shirisa's breath hitched. "This guy... he's walking in the open like he's untouchable."
Nishiro, still watching the screen, clenched his fists. {"He's provoking."}
The man's lips curled into a faint, chilling smirk. Though the CCTV had no sound, Shirisa could almost feel his unspoken message:
Attack me… if you want death.
The screen suddenly went black.
Shirisa's heart skipped a beat.
"What?!" she muttered, frantically pressing buttons to refresh the feed.
No response.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she realized what had happened. "He destroyed the camera…"
She turned to Nishiro, her voice tense. "With a projectile—too fast for the feed to even catch."
A cold shiver ran down her spine. {" This isn't just an intruder... He's on a whole different level."}
Shirisa quickly switched to another camera feed—this time overlooking the mansion grounds.
Her breath hitched as the screen revealed twenty Scorpion guards standing in formation, blocking the intruder's path.
They were speaking to him, their stances firm, weapons ready. But the CCTV had no sound.
Shirisa's eyes narrowed. {"They're trying to stop him… but why does it feel like they're hesitating?"}
Nishiro, watching beside her, clenched his fists. "Because they can feel it too… that aura of his."
The intruder stood still, unfazed. His bandaged face remained unreadable, but those violet eyes—sharp and unwavering—glowed with an eerie intensity.
Then, without warning— He moved.
Shirisa's eyes widened in shock as she watched the scene unfold.
The guards lunged forward, weapons raised— but the man in the magic hat simply flicked his wrist.
A single card shot from his hand.
It spun through the air with deadly precision, ricocheting off one guard after another. Each time it struck, it didn't stop— instead, it rebounded at perfect angles, slicing through the next target in its path.
It all happened too fast.
The card completed its arc and returned to his grasp.
For a moment, silence.
Then— twenty guards collapsed at once.
Shirisa gasped.
Each body had only one clean slash, but there was no blood. They simply fell—lifeless.
Nishiro's grip on the bedsheet tightened. "What the hell is he…?" He screamed.
Shirisa and Nishiro watched in stunned silence as the man kept walking forward, unfazed, stepping over the fallen guards like they were nothing.
His pace was steady, unhurried.
Then, just before he left the camera's view—
*Flick
He threw his card.
The screen instantly went black.
Shirisa slammed her fist on the desk. "Damn it!"
Nishiro's jaw clenched. "He's coming… and we have no idea where he is now."
Shirisa's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Wait… there are more cameras," she muttered, quickly accessing another feed.
The main hall's CCTV flickered on.
The man in the magic hat strode forward, his steps calm, deliberate.
But this time, Dorsan stood in his path.
The two exchanged words—tense, unwavering. Yet the feed had no sound.
Then—Dorsan attacked.
His metallic ropes lashed out, twisting through the air like serpents, aiming to ensnare the intruder.
But the man in the hat leapt high, twisting midair with unnatural agility, the ropes whipping past beneath him.
Before his feet touched the ground, he kicked off the wall— running along it sideways like gravity had no hold on him.
Dorsan reacted instantly, redirecting his ropes with deadly accuracy, trying to strike him down.
But it was useless.
Every lash—dodged.
Every strike—sliced mid-air by flickering cards.
Then, in a blink, the man closed the distance.
A fist to the gut.
Dorsan had braced himself, his metallic ropes forming a protective coil around his stomach.
It didn't matter.
The punch shattered through the metal, sending jagged cracks through the reinforced coils—then through Dorsan himself.
The impact launched him backward. His body slammed into the wall with a sickening thud.
Shirisa's breath hitched. {"Dorsan"}
The feed showed Dorsan struggling, gritting his teeth as he tried to push himself up—
But—
Four cards shot out.
Each one pierced through dorsan's cloak, pinning him to the wall.
He couldn't move.
A final card—flung straight at the camera.
Black screen.
Shirisa's heart pounded. "DORSAN!!!" she yelled, slamming her hand against the desk.
Nishiro's fists clenched. "This bastard is wiping out everyone in his way like it's a game..."
Shirisa's fingers trembled as she quickly accessed another feed.
The staircase camera flickered on.
This time, Arlon stood at the top. He held a piece of paper in one hand, calm and unwavering.
The intruder halted at the bottom of the stairs, smirking.
Then—
In a blink, he moved.
A blur.
One second, he was standing still.
The next—he had already passed Arlon.
A sharp wind followed his movement, making the edges of his cloak flutter.
Shirisa's eyes widened. Nishiro's grip tightened on the bedsheet.
The intruder's hat and cloak had been cut—slightly. A few fabric strands floated down.
For the first time, Shirisa allowed herself a small smile. Nishiro exhaled a little, feeling a sliver of relief.
But—
Something was off.
A soft fluttering sound.
Shirisa's stomach dropped.
The ripped cloth from Arlon's body fell piece by piece. The paper he held—now a shredded mess—scattered onto the ground in slivers.
Then—Arlon collapsed.
No blood. No cry.
Just a body falling.
The feed cut to black.
Shirisa's hands shook. "Arlon..." she whispered, scrambling to access another camera.
Her fingers moved fast, breathing erratic.
She opened the corridor feed.
The feed flickered, showing Toro and Sumi standing in the dimly lit corridor. The audio was distorted, but faint voices slipped through.
No words were exchanged.
Toro moved first.
With a burst of power, he swung a devastating punch straight at the intruder's face.
The man in the magic hat blocked it effortlessly, yet the sheer force of Toro's strike sent him skidding backward. His boots scraped against the floor, leaving a sharp screech.
Toro didn't stop.
He charged forward, fists swinging.
A rapid exchange began— punches thrown, blocks intercepted, counters executed.
Fists collided against arms.
Feet scraped against the tiled floor.
Shadows twisted as they moved.
Then—a twist.
The intruder abruptly caught Toro's arm mid-punch, twisting it at an unnatural angle.
With a precise movement, he redirected the force back toward Toro himself.
A sickening pop.
Toro's own strength crushed into his arm.
Pain flashed across his face.
Now, fighting with one hand, Toro stumbled back, but his eyes blazed with determination.
The intruder calmly adjusted his hat. Then, he leaped.
A flying kick— aimed straight at Toro's chest.
Toro reacted.
He caught the intruder's leg mid-air, gripping tightly.
But before Toro could slam him down—
A counter.
Mid-air.
The intruder twisted his body, using the momentum to bring his free leg up—
A brutal kick to Toro's head.
A solid impact.
Toro's vision blurred.
His grip weakened.
The intruder landed smoothly.
Before Toro could regain his balance, the man spun low—
A sharp, calculated kick to the kneecap.
A crack.
Toro collapsed to one knee.
The intruder didn't hesitate.
He climbed onto Toro's chest, pinning him down.
Then—he raised both hands.
A slow, mocking clap.
In between—Toro's head.
A brutal impact.
Silence...
Toro's body went limp.
He was completely knocked out.
Sumi gasped. The fight had ended in seconds.
Then—
The intruder vanished.
Sumi's eyes darted around, confused.
Then—a whisper of air behind her
She froze.
Before she could even turn—
A sharp, powerful clap—
Between the intruder's palms—was her head.
The impact rattled her skull.
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed onto the cold floor.
The intruder exhaled. Adjusting his hat, he walked to a door. He raised his knuckles. Then—he knocked. Nishiro and Shirisa's room.
A deep, chilling silence settled over the room. Shirisa and Nishiro stared at the door. The knock still echoed in their ears.
A tense second passed.
Then—
BOOM!
The door exploded inward, ripped from its hinges. Splinters and debris flew across the room.
The force sent the door crashing into the opposite wall with a deafening thud.
Through the smoke, the intruder stepped inside.
His violet eyes locked onto them.
His movements were unhurried, calculated—like a predator.
Shirisa's chair scraped against the floor as she shot up.
Without hesitation, she leaped forward—a powerful kick aimed at his head.
But—
He caught her foot.
Mid-air.
His grip was iron.
Before she could react, he swung her like a ragdoll—hurling her straight at Nishiro.
CRASH!
Shirisa's body slammed into Nishiro, pinning him against the bed.
A sharp, breathless gasp escaped her lips. Pain shot through her body. Her limbs felt heavy.
She tried to move—but the impact had stunned her.
Nishiro was frozen beneath her.
His breathing was shallow. His chest rose and fell rapidly. His eyes—locked onto the intruder—were wide with fear.
His muscles screamed at him to move, to fight, to do something.
But he couldn't.
A paralyzing terror gripped him. He could feel his heartbeat pounding against his ribs.
The intruder…
He was different. Too fast. Too precise. Too powerful.
And now—he was reaching for something.
From under his hat, the man pulled out a pair of sleek black headphones.
He placed them over his ears.
Then—
He pulled out a small, metallic sphere.
It gleamed under the dim light.
With an effortless flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward them.
Nishiro's breath caught in his throat.
The ball hit the bed.
BOOM!
A deafening sonic blast erupted from it.
A shockwave rippled through the room, shaking the very walls.
The sound was unbearable. It ripped through their senses.
Their vision blurred. Their ears screamed in pain.
Then—darkness.
Both Nishiro and Shirisa collapsed.
Their bodies went limp.
The world faded to black.
The intruder exhaled.
He tilted his head slightly, studying them.
Then, without hesitation, he bent down.
One arm under Shirisa.
The other under Nishiro.
With ease, he lifted them both onto his shoulders.
Their unconscious bodies hung motionless.
Without a word, he turned toward the door.
And walked out.
The hallway was eerily silent.
Dim lights flickered.
The aftermath of battle lay scattered.
Toro and Sumi—unconscious.
Dorsan—pinned to the wall.
Arlon—collapsed.
A battlefield of fallen warriors.
Yet, the intruder moved unfazed.
His footsteps echoed as he carried Nishiro and Shirisa down the corridor.
Then—a new presence.
A figure stood in his path.
Shirisa's father.
His eyes—blazing with fury.
His fists clenched, veins bulging.
His rage was palpable. His children were Taken. And now, face-to-face with their captor.