DUO – Episode 15: “Shadows That Remain”

Tone: Heavy, emotional, foreshadowing sacrifice.

Music: A slow, ambient piano score mixed with echoing city sounds.

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Scene 1: Fractured Paths

Location: Tokyo alleyways – Night

Yuji, now working night shifts at a ramen shop, mechanically scrubs dishes. His eyes are sunken, his aura tired.

Yuji (V.O.):

“Success was supposed to bring us closer… but now it only shows me how far apart we’ve drifted.”

Cut to: Kusabimaru in a boxing gym, shirtless, bruised, punching harder and harder.

His trainer yells, “You’re not fighting them, you’re fighting yourself!”

Kusabimaru doesn’t stop.

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Scene 2: Ito’s Confession

Location: Rooftop café – Dusk

Ito meets Yuji. She looks pale, distant.

She pushes a small envelope across the table. Inside is a picture: her and Kusabimaru… and a man in a black coat behind them.

Ito (shaky):

“Someone was watching us. Recording. I think this goes deeper than just love.”

Yuji (cold):

“You think that makes anything better?”

Ito looks like she’s about to cry.

Ito:

“I didn’t cheat to hurt you. I did it because someone told me if I didn’t, he would be the one who got hurt.”

Yuji freezes.

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Scene 3: A Call in the Dark

Location: Ramen shop, later that night

Yuji’s old phone rings—a number he hasn’t seen in years.

A digitized voice speaks:

Voice:

“You should’ve stayed quiet, Yuji. But since you didn’t, your friend will pay the price.”

The line goes dead.

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Scene 4: Reunion

Location: Rooftop – Rain falling

Yuji rushes to Kusabimaru, who’s sitting alone smoking.

They lock eyes.

Yuji (urgent):

“They’re after you. Because of me. We need to run.”

Kusabimaru (exhales):

“Run? From who? Fate?”

Yuji:

“From the people who killed my parents.”

Kusabimaru tosses the cigarette, stands.

Kusabimaru:

“Then let’s finish what they started.”

They bump fists. Rain intensifies. They’re back together.

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Scene 5: Trap Set

Location: Warehouse district – Midnight

Yuji and Kusabimaru break into an old Hatayo Corp storage unit. Inside—files, servers, and a dusty safe.

Suddenly, red laser sights flash across the walls.

Men in black suits enter. Guns raised.

Yuji is yanked backward.

Gunman:

“You were warned, Hatayo.”

Gunshots. Chaos.

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Final Scene: The Sacrifice

As a gun is aimed at Yuji’s head—

Kusabimaru dives in, taking the bullet.

He crashes to the ground. Blood spreads.

Yuji screams, dragging Kusabimaru’s body behind crates.

Yuji (panicking):

“Stay with me! Damn it, stay with me!”

Kusabimaru’s eyes flutter.

Kusabimaru (faint smile):

“Guess I finally did… one thing right.”

Cut to: Ambulance lights. Sirens. Hospital doors swinging.

Doctor voice: “He’s in a coma… barely hanging on.”

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Narrator (V.O.):

“He gave his life for his brother. Now the city holds its breath.”

[TO BE CONTINUED…]