Not far from the chaos, inside the convenience store, Reina sat casually at the counter, munching on melonpan. Kota stood by the sink, elbow-deep in dishes. The sounds outside—shouting, crashing, the unmistakable ring of fists against flesh—filtered through the walls. Both turned their heads toward the door at the same time.

“What’s going on out there?” Kota asked, pausing mid-wipe, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Reina didn’t answer immediately. She simply swallowed, eyes still closed, and placed her snack down with deliberate calm… then picked it up again. One hand slipping into her pocket, she stood and walked to the door. Kota followed, drying his hands with a napkin. Outside, they stopped just past the threshold. A chaotic brawl unfolded before them. A lone girl was taking on a whole group—and winning.

Kota’s eyes went wide, his jaw slack. “No way…” he gasped. “That’s—”

Reina stood motionless beside him, her right hand still tucked in her pocket, nibbling the last of her melonpan, completely unbothered. Her eyes locked on the girl. The three thugs who had just fled skidded to a stop, spotting Reina. Their eyes locked on the jacket she wore. Recognition hit them like a freight train.

“No freakin’ way…” one of them whispered, his face going pale.

“A Nightingale!” another shouted in panic.

“It’s that store owner!” Scarface growled, recognizing Kota as they broke into a sprint toward the duo.

Aoi turned at the sound of their voices, eyes widening. “No—!” she started, but they were already too close.

The scarred thug lunged first; his fist cocked back. Reina calmly sidestepped, letting his momentum drag him forward—then drove her knee into his gut.

THUMP! A sickening thud echoed through the air. The force folded him in half, his breath whooshing out in a violent gasp.

“GAHH—!” He hit the ground hard, clutching his stomach. The second thug charged without thinking. Reina slid her right hand from her pocket, her expression flat as stone. Her fist connected with his face in a clean, brutal arc.

CRACK! His nose erupted in a spray of red as he flew backward, crashing onto the pavement.

“So these were the ones who robbed you earlier,” Reina muttered, her voice low and unimpressed as she looked down at the writhing duo. The last one veered toward Kota, switchblade flashing under the moonlight.

“This is your fault, old man!” he snarled. “If you’d just handed over the money, none of this would’ve happened!” He slashed out—but Kota met the blade with his forearm, deflecting it to the side.

The thug’s eyes widened. “What—?” Before he could recover, Kota drove his knee into his ribs, lifting him off the ground, then pivoted and slammed his fist into the thug’s jaw.

WHAM! The thug hit the ground with a grunt, out cold.

Aoi slammed her fist into another girl, sending her flying, but her eyes drifted, widening at the sight of Reina’s movements. Smooth, precise, and merciless. “Who is that girl…?” she muttered, watching as Reina calmly took down another thug like it was nothing. Then her gaze snapped to Kota, just as he took down the last thug with a clean, practiced move.

“What the—YOU CAN FIGHT?!” Aoi shouted, her voice cracking in dramatic disbelief, eyes going wide and turning comically white.

“Yeah, I can! I mean… it’s been a while since I threw a punch, but that was fun!” Kota grinned proudly, completely missing the irritated vein popping on Aoi’s temple.

“So you’re telling me… this whole time, you could’ve handled those guys from earlier without me?!” she barked, rage bubbling in her tone as she barely ducked under a bat swung at her face. She retaliated with a punch that snapped the girl’s head back, sending her toppling over.

Aoi sidestepped as another boy lunged toward her, landing a swift kick to his chest that launched him away. Suddenly, a girl yanked her back by the hood, tugging with both hands.

“Tch—” Aoi slipped her arms from the sleeves, letting the hoodie fall behind her. The girl stared dumbly at the empty fabric in her grip.

“Huh—? Oof!” Aoi’s fist cracked across her cheek, sending her sprawling as the hoodie dropped to the ground. Now left in just her black undershirt, sweat glistening on her skin, Aoi charged forward, eyes burning, fists flying—every movement sharper than the last.

“Tch… This is getting ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath, her brows furrowed as more thugs spilled into the area. It felt like they were multiplying. A group broke off and charged toward Reina and Kota, fury in their eyes after seeing their comrades lying on the ground.

“No—” Aoi barely got the word out before a blur rushed her. A girl appeared in front of her, blade flashing.

“Eyes over here, you damn bitch!” the girl snarled, swinging her knife. Aoi swerved—barely. The blade grazed her cheek, a thin line of blood beading on her skin. The sting grounded her. Her eyes narrowed. She caught the girl’s wrist mid-swing and drove her fist into her face with brutal precision. The girl dropped like a sack of bricks.

“Damn it!” Reina hissed, her fist colliding with another thug’s jaw, sending him reeling. She clenched her right hand tighter, wincing as pain shot up her left side.

“Reina, are you okay?!” Kota called, ducking under a punch before slamming a thug down with a sweeping kick. He noticed the way she shifted her weight, just slightly.

“Please don’t push yourself—you know your left side’s still healing!” he reminded her, blocking an incoming strike and retaliating without missing a beat.

“I know!” she snapped back, leaping back from a bat-wielding attacker, the force of the dodge throwing her off-balance for a second.

Meanwhile, two boys backed away from Aoi, their faces marked with swelling and fear. One’s eyes darted to the nearby store shed—and stopped. A six-year-old girl, trembling in the arms of her older sister. Both were frozen in fear. A wicked grin spread across his face.

“You’ll do,” he sneered. He sprinted over, yanking the little girl from her sister’s arms.

“No! Kaede!!” the older sister screamed, scrambling to her feet. “Let her go!!”

“Let me go! Big sister!” the little girl cried, flailing in panic.

“Stay down!” barked the second thug, shoving the older girl to the ground as she tried to follow. She hit the dirt hard, a sharp cry leaving her lips as Kaede sobbed in her captor’s grip.

“That’s my little sister—please!” The older girl’s desperate cries pierced through the chaos, her voice trembling with panic. The words reached Reina, Kota, and Aoi like a crack of thunder—Aoi’s eyes shot wide, snapping to the scene.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Let her go!” the girl pleaded again, tears streaking down her cheeks as she reached out— But her body was yanked back violently. The second thug’s arms wrapped around her waist, trapping her in place. She struggled, screaming.

“Oh no!” Reina gasped, trying to push forward— But more thugs swarmed in, cutting her off.

“Damn it!” Kota growled, his expression darkening with fury.

“Hey now, over here, sweet cake!” the first thug jeered, holding Kaede in front of him like a shield, her tiny frame trembling in his arms. “You better calm down—looks like we found your weak spot!” He cackled, locking eyes with Aoi. “Bet you can’t do jack now, huh? What now, tough girl?”

Aoi froze, her breath catching. Her fists clenched. The sight of Kaede crying, reaching for her sister, triggered something raw deep inside.

“Leave her alone! Let her go!!” the older sister screamed, thrashing in the thug’s hold, her arm stretching toward her sister.

“Kaede!!” she cried out again, as the little girl reached back, their fingers just barely brushing— Before being yanked apart.

“Big sister!!” She cried out, their hands separating as they further drifted apart—and something inside Aoi stirred. Her eyes widened in horror as a fragment of the past crashed into her mind: a moment burned deep in memory. Her sister’s hand... slipping away from hers. Not because it was pulled, but because she had pushed Aoi to safety. That final push—desperate and selfless—before their hands slowly, helplessly, drifted apart.

......

A sudden push— Aoi’s breath caught in her throat. Time seemed to halt. She didn’t move. She couldn’t. All she felt was the weightless sensation of being pushed away— Her outstretched hand slipping further from the one who saved her.

“AOI!!” Her sister’s voice—terrified, desperate—echoed in her ears.

“Big sister!! BIG SISTER!!” Aoi screamed back, her voice cracking with fear.

And then— The screech of tires. The blinding headlights. The sickening sound of metal crashing into flesh.

Then everything went black.

The memory shattered like glass.

..............

Back in the present, Aoi stood frozen, staring at the two hands, once again, being torn apart.

“NO!!” The older girl’s scream rang out, sharp with despair.

Aoi’s fists trembled. Her jaw tightened. And in that instant, something inside her snapped. A gleam of raw fury flared in her lavender eyes. In a blur, she vanished from her spot. Before the thugs could react, Aoi was there.

CRACK! Her foot collided squarely with the face of the thug holding the child. His body flew backward, slamming into the pavement. She caught the little girl mid-fall, twisting her body in a fluid double somersault. Her feet kissed the ground, only to spring again. In a flash, she was at the second thug's side.

“Don’t—touch—her!!” Her voice cut through the chaos like lightning. One brutal kick sent him reeling, crashing into the side of a dumpster.

“You cursed bastard!!” A boy roared, swinging a bat down toward Aoi.

She didn’t flinch. With both girls in her arms, she leapt high and fluid, twisting midair. Her feet landed behind Kota and Reina just as Reina spun and kicked the attacker square in the chest, sending him flying.

“Kaede!” The older sister cried out, falling to her knees as Aoi gently placed the child in her arms. The two clung to each other, trembling, tears streaking down their cheeks. Reina and Kota stood still for a moment, stunned, watching the quiet storm that was Aoi walk past them.

“Can you keep them safe?” Her voice was calm, but her eyes were fire—locked on the wave of thugs rushing toward them like a flood.

“Y-Y-Yeah…” Reina muttered, still shaken by what she’d just seen. There was something different about Aoi now—something feral, focused, haunted.

Aoi took a step forward. Then another. She stopped just ahead of them, her body positioned as a barrier between the danger and everyone else.

The gang charged in. Aoi moved. Each strike was ruthless, precise. A kick to the ribs. A jab to the throat. A sweep that sent a boy crashing to the pavement. But her thoughts weren’t on her fists. They were somewhere darker.

Do you see now? She mused, slamming her elbow into a girl’s stomach before pivoting into a backfist that knocked another boy aside.

This is why I keep my distance.

Another attacker. Aoi ducked, then drove her knee up hard into their gut.

Because the longer I stay…

Her heart cracked just slightly.

The more things fall apart.

A fist grazed her shoulder—another thug slipped past her defenses. Reina and Kota immediately rushed to intercept, shielding the sisters. Reina grunted, pain flashing across her face as she twisted awkwardly, dodging a wild swing and retaliating with a punch of her own.

Kota stood firm beside her, deflecting blow after blow. And in front of them, Aoi stood alone, fighting like a storm, desperately trying to hold back a tide she knew too well.

“Damn it…” Kota gritted his teeth, powerless to reach Reina in time.

Aoi’s eyes darted to Reina, backpedaling, her steps shaky, while the enemy girl grinned, knife gleaming in the light as she charged.

Why am I even here?

Panic buzzed in Aoi's chest, and her breath caught.

What’s the point of any of this? Why did I ever stay?

And then—

CRACK!

A blur tore through the air. In the blink of an eye, a foot slammed into the knife-wielding girl’s side. She was launched like a ragdoll, her body crashing through a wooden stand with a deafening crash, debris flying as a thick cloud of dust engulfed the area.

Everyone froze. Even the gang stopped mid-charge. Eyes wide. Silent.

A figure hovered midair where the dust began to settle—calm, steady, unshaken. Her combat boots landed with a low thud, her stance wide and grounded. The wind tugged at her dark navy-blue jacket, its hem dancing behind her. A black undershirt peeked beneath the open front, the distinct crest of Sayonaki High stitched proudly on her left chest, paired with dark navy-blue pants. Long brown hair fell behind her shoulders, slightly tousled, as she slowly raised her head, revealing sharp, slate-blue eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.

Aoi’s breath hitched. That uniform… Her eyes trembled, recognition crashing through her like lightning. The girl turned to her; voice soft but resolute.