Soundscape:

[Empty crosswalk beeps. Flickering neon. Faint breeze drifting through a vacant Shibuya Crossing.]

🌙 

Shibuya Crossing – Past Midnight

Kasane walked alone beneath the glowing billboards, her breathing still steady from the extra training session.

The mission briefing haunted her thoughts, but she needed the quiet — the rhythm of her own footsteps across empty pavement.

Shibuya Crossing was almost unrecognizable at this hour.

No crowds.

No traffic.

Just a vast grid of white lines, stretching like a ghost of daytime chaos.

Her boots clicked softly against the wet concrete.

The massive screens overhead cycled muted advertisements — their shifting colors washing over her in blues and reds.

Kasane exhaled, fogging the cold air.

Kasane (monologue):

“Four days…

and everything’s already changing.”

She adjusted her jacket.

And then—

She stopped.

A presence.

Quiet.

Heavy.

Like a shadow holding its breath.

Her hand instinctively hovered over her katana.

🔥 

The Appearance

A flicker of fire shimmered on top of a streetlight.

Kasane’s eyes sharpened.

Then—

A figure dropped from above, landing silently in front of her.

Tall.

Black cloak.

Dark hair wearing a black bandana.

Holding a long staff and tattoos on his arms faintly glowing with ember-like veins of fire.

His presence felt strong and suffocating all at once.

Kasane’s grip tightened.

Kasane: “…Who are you?”

The stranger tilted his head, studying her with unsettling calm.

??? “Kasane Arisato, right?”

She froze.

Kasane: “You know my name.”

??? “Hard not to. Since HE’s been talking about you nonstop.”

Her chest tightened.

Kasane: “Wha…who?”

??? “I wanted to see why.”

The boy ready’s his staff.

His voice dropped — deep, cold, but not malicious.

??? “Well….show me…Arisato.”

⚡ 

The Fight Begins

Kasane barely inhaled before the staff ignited —  flames swirling around it like a serpent.

He moved.

Fast.

Kasane dodged the first strike by instinct alone, flipping backwards as the pavement erupted with a burst of energy where she’d been standing.

Kasane: “Tch—!”

Lightning crackled along her katana as she drew it, slashing upward.

The blade met the flaming staff — sparks of blue and red scattering through the air.

He pushed her back effortlessly.

??? “Your stance is good.

Your resolve… mixed.”

Kasane grit her teeth and lunged, swinging in an arc of lightning.

He parried with his staff.

Kasane: “…Who the hell are you?”

He smirked.

??? “None of your business...”

Kasane ducked a sweeping strike, pushing off the ground and kicking off a traffic light to gain height.

Lightning wrapped around her arms as she flipped, slicing downward with all her force—

The stranger raised his staff, absorbing the blow into swirling  flames.

The explosion of clashing energies lit up the empty crossing like fireworks.

Kasane slammed into the ground hard, rolling to a knee.

Kasane (monologue):

“He’s reading every move…”

He approached slowly, like a predator who had already decided the outcome.

🔥 

End of the Clash

Kasane forced herself up, lightning flaring violently across her limbs.

She launched forward in a final burst.

The stranger vanished from sight.

A cold voice came from behind her:

??? “…Too slow.”

Her body locked for a split second—

and he tapped the back of her neck with his staff.

Kasane collapsed to one knee, panting, refusing to fall completely.

He didn’t strike again.

He just watched.

Calm.

Curious.

The Revelation

Kasane looked up, hair falling across her face.

Her right eye flickered—

A glowing white iris and light blue pupil. .

Lightning.

Death.

The Unknown Eye.

Just for a moment.

But he saw it.

His expression shifted.

A crease of recognition.

A flash of subdued awe.

??? “Ah…

So that’s why he’s interested.”

Kasane clenched her fists.

Kasane: “Who are you?”

He rested his staff on his shoulder casually.

??? “Aiden Revane.”

Kasane’s heart sank.

???????

“…Nova Academy.

Second-year.

Top of the combat program.”

Aiden smirked.

Aiden: “Good to finally meet you, first-year.”

She grit her teeth, humiliated.

Kasane: “You— ambushed me.”

Aiden: “I evaluated you.”

Kasane: “Same thing. I went through enough evaluations!”

Aiden shrugged.

Aiden: “You’ll get stronger.

You have to.”

He stepped back into the glow of a nearby billboard,  flames swirling faintly around him.

Aiden:

“And next time…

try not to lose so fast.”

With a burst of fire, his form dissolved — leaving Kasane alone under the neon lights, breathing hard, jaw clenched.

She pressed her hand to the pavement, forcing herself to stand.

Kasane (monologue):

“What the hell…just happened?”

Shibuya Crossing flickered once, then returned to silence.

Camera zooms out — Kasane standing alone in the massive, empty intersection, neon lights painting her silhouette in blue and red.

• End of Chapter 9 -