Gen lay on the sofa while Sophia used the first aid kit they had cobbled together to patch him up.

He was so well known in town for getting into scraps that nobody noticed that, for the last three months, he had been showing much more damage than usual, and the townspeople didn’t catch on.

His grandfather had left almost six months ago, and Gen managed to keep his calm for three months during the summer, but he reached a boiling point upon hearing that one of the juniors from the rugby team—in which he moonlighted from time to time—had been killed in an accident.

Of course, it wasn’t such a thing, just another death caused by one of the Gainen. Gen was still unsure about the true nature of these monsters; Reiji, his grandfather, was never talkative about them, and Gen was too respectful to bother him.

If it weren’t for Sophia, who pieced together every bit of information Gen knew to deduce some facts, he wouldn’t even think about them as interdimensional—something she insisted they were, because it made sense.

“You know we are in huge trouble if that detective talks, don’t you?” Sophia asked Gen as she finished bandaging one of the nasty cuts left by the Gravity Gainen.

The young brawler didn’t answer, too lost in thought, something quite unusual for him, as he usually operated on instinct and anger.

“I’m talking to you.” She snapped, punching his shoulder.

“What!? FUCK! That hurt! What the fuck!? Ya’re supposed to be healin’ me, not makin’ it worse!” Gen fumed at Sophia.

“Don’t tell me you were thinking! You’re going to hurt yourself.” She replied with a mocking smirk on her face.

“There are some days I don’t fuckin’ know how ya and I are friends.” He replied, trying to hide the hint of hurt from her words.

“Look, it wasn’t my intention to hurt you, but we need to get our heads in the game. The detective is coming any second, and we need to get our stories straight.” Sophia pleaded, realizing she might’ve gone a bit too far.

“I’m goin’ to tell him the truth. He knows my grandpa, and he knows ’bout the Gainen.” Gen affirmed, honesty shining in his eyes. He might be aggressive and impulsive, but he would never be deceitful.

“If I end up having to call my parents to bail me out, I’m going to be so mad.” She fretted as she put the remaining supplies back into the first aid kit.

“Ya can leave if ya don’t want to get caught in this.” Gen offered as he stood up, going to grab a glass of water from the kitchen counter overlooking the living room.

“I might not be the most affable person ever, Gen, but I’ll be damned if I leave a friend hanging.” She replied, standing up and putting the first aid kit away in a cupboard. “I’ve got your back, because I know you would have mine.”

“Not to mention he already saw me, so I don’t think I’m getting out unscathed.” Sophia reasoned with a smirk, showing that, as much vulnerability as she was willing to show, she was also cunning.

“Plus, it’s better if I’m here to double-check what you say, or the poor man will be confused.” She bantered, a smirk plastered all over her face.

“Ya must be kiddin’ me…” Gen began to reply, but was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

“Saved by the bell.” Sophia chuckled. “That must be the guy. Let him in, and let’s compare notes with him. With any luck, we won’t go to jail.” She added.

“If push comes to shove, I’m punchin’ the guy.” Gen assured her as he went to open the door.

The young brawler opened the door to reveal the haggard silhouette of Jean Étienne Murasaki, police detective. His worn-out beige coat, tinged red by the last lights of the sunset, hung over his scruffy, patchy beard, ruffled by the winds of fall.

“So, Gen Shishioh, we have a lot to talk about.” The old detective listlessly spewed the words as he entered the foyer, taking off his coat and revealing a ratty brown suit with a blue tie and a white shirt that hadn’t felt the kiss of a hot iron in years.