INT. SHIN’S ROOM – MORNING

Shin pulls on a hoodie, adjusting a silver ring on his eyebrow. Blonde hair, cocky smirk. He grabs his phone.

SHIN
Mondays suck...
(pauses)
Well, guess I’m skipping today. Again.

Narration kicks in briefly:

NARRATOR (V.O.)
He’d skipped a lot last year. Enough to make the headmaster, Mr. Nakashita, seriously consider kicking him out.

SHIN
(grinning)
Mr. Nakashita can shut it too. He doesn’t own me.

He slips on fingerless gloves and checks his reflection.

SHIN
Alright. Let’s get down on the town.

EXT. CITY STREETS – MORNING

A grey sky. Shin walks aimlessly through quiet streets.

SFX: DISTANT YELLING

Shin hears a commotion from an alley. He turns, sees:

— THREE MEN in BALACLAVAS
— A GIRL with brown hair, cornered and shaking

GOON #1
Just give us the money. Then we’ll go.

Shin walks forward, cocky as ever. Places a hand on Goon #1’s shoulder.

GOON #1
Huh?

SFX: BANG!
Shin punches him in the jaw — one-hit KO.

GOON #2 and #3
What the—?!

SHIN
(smiling, cracking knuckles)
So... just the two of you, huh?

One charges. Shin catches the punch.

SHIN
Wrong move.

SFX: CRACK!
He kicks him into a trash can. Down.

SHIN
You’re not even trying!

Last goon pulls a knife. Shin laughs.

SHIN
A knife? That’s cute.

Grabs his arm, slams it against a wall repeatedly.

SFX: DULL CRACK

Knife drops. Shin grabs his shirt.

SHIN
People like you make me violently ill.

SFX: CRACK!
Headbutts him — he drops like a brick.

INT. ALLEYWAY – MOMENTS LATER

The girl trembles. Shin walks over, calm now.

SHIN
You alright?

GIRL
(nods)
Yeah... thank you.

SHIN
Don’t mention it. Try not to get robbed next time?

He chuckles. She smiles faintly.

GIRL
You’re that kid, right? The one always fighting?

SHIN
(grins)
The one and only.

GIRL
I get it. People suck sometimes.

SHIN
Well... nice meeting you.

He starts to walk off.

GIRL
Wait! What’s your name?

SHIN
(over his shoulder, smirking)
Shin Yagami.

He walks off. Cue intro music...

EXT. CITY STREET – LATER

Rain begins to fall. Shin pulls out his phone.

SHIN
9:45 AM... School already started.

He shrugs, hood up.

SHIN
School’s hell anyway.

He walks. Spots a glowing sign:

SIGN: LITTLE KEEPERS – Pawn Shop

SHIN
Huh? Pawn shop? That’s new...

INT. LITTLE KEEPERS – MOMENTS LATER

Shin enters. Bell jingles. The shop is packed with old junk. An OLD MAN with a round, bald head watches from behind the counter.

Shin roams. Eyes land on a BLACK ORB.

SHIN
What the hell...? Doesn’t look like a necklace.

OLD MAN
That’s a pendant. Brings good luck... or so they say.

SHIN
What kind?

OLD MAN
All kinds. Like a guardian. Protects you when hope’s lost.

SHIN
How much?

OLD MAN
1,000 yen.

Shin raises a brow. Drops the cash.

OLD MAN
Been trying to get rid of that garbage for years. Brought nothing but bad luck.

SHIN
WHAT?! You just said—!

OLD MAN
It’s cursed. Deeply cursed.

SHIN
I want a refund.

OLD MAN
Sorry kid. Once sold, never bought back. Business.

SHIN
(snarling)
HOW THE HELL IS THAT BUSINESS, YOU STUPID OLD BASTARD?!

Grabs the man’s collar. The man laughs.

OLD MAN
You’ll see.

EXT. PAWN SHOP – MOMENTS LATER

Thunder cracks overhead. Shin puts the orb around his neck, tucking it under his shirt.

NARRATOR (V.O.)
He had no idea...
what he’d just brought home.

CUT TO BLACK.