Leto drew in a sharper breath, regripping the metal bar. His posture opened, his head tilting just slightly. Jai stayed calm, remaining within talking distance. He let his words do the heavy lifting. "People who've already decided—don't stand this long." Jai's words were precise, spaced carefully. 

The silence stretched before Leto scoffed quietly. "What would you know?"

"More than you think." 

Jai let the moment breathe.

"I know what it's like to have something stripped to nothing within the span of a single day. I know what it's like to bear the weight of your own life on your shoulders, alone. And I know—that you don't know what to do next." 

Jai took a single, measured step forward. Not closing the distance, just acknowledging it. Leto turned fully at that moment, meeting Jai's eyes.  

"This isn't the end, Leto."

Leto's grip tightened, knuckles pale. His breath staggering as he looked down—the ground feeling further away than it had moments ago. The fence creaked as he shifted his weight. He exhaled slowly, pulling one leg over the fence, then the other before scraping off the top. Awkward, but careful. When his shoes finally met the concrete, the impact was heavier than he anticipated. 

The fence was just fence again.

Tears stream from Leto's eyes, blurring his vision. He brought his arm up, wiping at his face. 

"Thank—" 

The word caught on his sleeve. By the time he brought his arm back down, Jai was already gone. 

Having slipped away further down the block, Jai’s dirty shoes were light against the concrete, the weight finally lifting from his shoulders. His hands were sweaty, his breath shaky, and his pace asymmetrical; yet despite it all, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Taking a minute to look at his handmade watch—"it was nearly midnight. "Shit! I need to hurry!" he swore to himself.

Moving with urgency, he didn't look back. Sprinting through the streets, Cell City felt louder here than it did where the citizens gathered. The city reclaimed Jai, humming its usual tune. Jai climbed gutters and leapt between buildings, moving the way only someone who’d done it a hundred times could. Eventually, he made it to a secret spot atop the roof of a building, one that gave him a perfect view of the ocean. A tradition he had never once failed to fulfill.

The blue moonlight shimmered across the sea, its light caught on Jai. Stars surrounded the moon, basking in its glow. Taking a deep breath, Jai caught the sea air as it rolled in. For a few seconds, the city fell quiet enough for him to hear the waves. He checked his watch once more.

"Cutting it close," Jai muttered to no one. He sat down, plopping his loot bag next to him. The time was 11:57, displayed on his cracked, makeshift watch. The red numbers blinked forward. "I've still got time." Jai mumbled, rummaging through his bag.

He started to pull items out one by one. An old napkin, a half eaten protein bar, a snapped toothpick, a string, and a near-empty lighter. The napkin was laid out flat to the best of his ability with the protein bar weighing it down. He took the string and wrapped it around the toothpick tightly, plunging it into the protein bar. Slipping his watch off, Jai placed it just in front of him.

"Just in time." Jai spoke softly. The time read 11:59 as he ignited the lighter. Its flame was weak, flickering in the wind, but held strong as Jai brought it close to the string. The string caught flame as planned, burning brightly. A minute passed. Midnight had finally arrived.

"Happy birthday—to me." Jai sang, ending it there. He blew out the makeshift candle and closed his eyes to make a wish. The smoke of the extinguished flame swirled off the string, fading away into the night sky. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes again, smacking his hands together in preparation to feast. Pulling the toothpick out, he took a huge bite out of the protein bar. He exhaled through his nose, shoulders sinking. "That hit the spot."

Lights of every screen in the city suddenly flashed on, blinding Jai. The sound of the city’s midnight countdown echoed through the streets, bouncing between buildings. "What the hell? Just how far behind is my watch?" Jai questioned, inspecting his watch, pieced together with scraps of a digital alarm clock.

Jai spun his head to face the screen, taking another bite of the protein bar. "Well I'm already here, guess I'll stay to see who the luck fella is," he murmured through a mouth full of food. Ten seconds left, the numbers turning bigger with each tick. Finally the clock struck zero, and the screen went black. A long second passed before a name was officially shown on screen.

***Jai Rho Jinsei ~ Cell City's Next Savior!***

Scanning the screen countless times, thinking it was a mistake, Jai stared in disbelief.

"Me?!" Jai exclaimed.