She stared at it — the white frosting, her fake name “Ayame Mizukawa” and candles that read 13.

The least I can wish for is... nothing else goes wrong.

She drew in a quiet breath and reached toward the cake—

KNOCK KNOCK.

Everyone froze.

Satoshi stepped toward the door casually, peering through the peephole—

CRACK!

The shot ripped clean through the socket of his eye — the back of his head bursting in a spray of red that splattered across the cake and Ayame’s face. Her eyes widened in shock, a breath caught halfway.

RAT-A-TAT-TAT.

A burst of gunfire shredded the lock region of the door.

Outside— Matilda stood firm, eyes dead cold, unloading her pistol with vicious precision. The metal silencer spat rounds like whispers of death.

Meanwhile, downstairs —

Dalton stood guarding the stairs that led to the first floor. A few Mizukawa men already lay crumpled at his feet, unconscious.

One of the yakuza shouted, “He’s blocking the stairs—take him down!”

The rest charged forward, katana drawn.

Dalton didn’t move. Calm. Still. He raised his hand and crossed his fingers into a hand sign.

“Paa.”

(paper.)

The word was low. Quiet. A command.

The first blade struck his shoulder — and did nothing.
The second katana slashed across his chest — no blood.
Dalton didn’t flinch.
Each attack passed through him as though his body rejected the very concept of harm.

Gasps broke from the gang.

“What the hell—?!”

Another sword came down on his back — a perfect arc — and was met with no resistance, as though the blade simply passed through mist. But Dalton remained fully solid.

Still grinning, he lifted the same crossed fingers.

“Guu.”
(Rock.)

In a blink, he moved.

A blur of motion — Dalton slipped through the crowd like water, yet his fists landed like wrecking balls.

CRACK.
A backhand to one swordsman — his chest split open in an X-shaped wound, like a blade had carved him apart.

CRUNCH.
He spun low, elbowing another in the gut — the man staggered back, arms limp, blood spraying from thin slashes that hadn’t been seen before.

Dalton didn’t carry a weapon.
But every punch, every jab, landed with the Cut of a katana.

Dalton moved through them like wind through a field of wheat — leaving behind screams and slashed-open torsos.

Dalton came to a stop.  He exhaled slowly.

A few remaining yakuza stared at him, wide-eyed and trembling, too afraid to step forward.

“W-What the hell is he…?”

A low muttering spread among them like static.

Close-up on dalton.
His face half-shadowed.
Eyes sharp.
Blood splattered across his face.

Caption:
Nero Ability: “Janken Arts”

Inside the apartment meanwhile, chaos.

The other two men hit the ground, ducking behind chairs and walls.

Hiro Mizukawa didn’t flinch. He grabbed the round dining table by the edge and flipped it over in one fluid motion, using it as a shield. Bullets thudded into the wood.

“Rika—get her out of here!” he barked, voice sharp even under fire.

He slipped off his coat and draped it around Ayame’s shoulders as more rounds punched through the door.

Rika moved fast, already by Ayame’s side, pistol in hand, eyes sharp.

Ayame didn't move. She sat frozen, a smear of blood across her cheek. Still not being able to process what has happened. 

Gunfire cracked again.
Then—
Suddenly, silence.

Only the hiss of smoke curling from bullet holes in the door.
Then—
THUMP.
A boot hitting the door.

THUMP. THUMP.
Again. And again.
The lock was already wrecked — it wouldn't hold much longer.

Hiro’s hand tightened on Ayame’s shoulder.
“Come,” he said low, then louder — “Now!”

The thumping continued behind them as he led Ayame and Rika through the hallway into the kitchen. While the other two men took their stance to deal with what's about to get in.

THUMP.

The door groaned under the impact.

In the kitchen Rika and Ayame stood in front of the back door. Thumping still being heard.

Hiro Mizukawa spoke, sharp and final:

“Leave. Now!”

CRASH—

The front door gave in with a splintering crack.

Matilda moved first.
Stepping forward through the shattered frame—

BANG!
A shot rang out instantly. One of the men had been waiting — crouched at a distance, his pistol already raised.
The bullet ripped past Matilda’s shoulder, missing by inches.

She cursed under her breath and jerked back, pressing her body against the outer wall beside the entrance.

Her breath stayed calm.

Then — she dropped low. Let the gun peek into the entrance.
BANG! A shot fired from below. The bullet slammed into the man's foot.
He screamed.

Matilda slid into the room fast —
BANG! Her second shot hit his skull clean. He crumpled, silent.

She didn’t stop moving.

Just ahead, the other guard leaned out from behind the hallway wall, ready to fire—
Too late.

Matilda’s arm snapped forward and fired once.
BANG!
Bullet to the temple.
He collapsed before the trigger on his gun even clicked.

Matilda walked through the hallway.

She reached the kitchen’s threshold.

And froze.

Inside—
Hiro Mizukawa stood still as stone.His coat was gone. His sleeves rolled up.

Both arms extended, index fingers outstretched like twin pistols.

The back door loomed behind him, from where Ayame escaped.

He stood there like a gatekeeper.

         Caption:
          Nero Ability: “Divine light.”