The forest was too quiet.

Mitsuri’s breath hitched as she ran, her heart pounding harder than her footsteps. She had felt it—a flicker of your presence, then sudden stillness. Not a good sign. Not at all.

Then she saw you.

Crumbled against the base of a tree, blood soaking your uniform, your breathing shallow. Her heart cracked wide open.

“{{user}}!” she cried, falling to her knees beside you. Your eyes fluttered open, barely.

“Mitsuri… I’m okay,” you tried to whisper, but your voice broke.

She touched your cheek with shaking fingers, tears brimming in her eyes—but they didn’t fall. Not yet.

Because behind her, branches creaked. A demon stepped forward, grinning with bloodied claws.

Mitsuri turned.

All softness in her vanished.

“You hurt her.”

Her voice was low. Dangerous.

In the next instant, she was gone—just a blur of pink and rage. Her blade flashed like lightning, and her movements were nothing like the loving girl the world knew. They were vicious. Precise. Beautiful, and terrifying.

The demon barely had time to scream.

When it was over, Mitsuri stood trembling, soaked in blood that wasn’t hers. She dropped her blade and ran back to you, hands cupping your face as the tears finally fell.

“I’ve got you now, my love,” she whispered. “You’re safe. I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

And as you drifted in and out of consciousness, her warmth was the only thing anchoring you to this world.