In the semi-darkness of an abandoned warehouse that smelled of dust and old paint, the Haitani brothers finished their final preparations. The space had been cleared of particularly large debris; in the center stood an armchair, next to it a small table with a bottle of water.

Ran, having let down his two-toned hair which now fell freely to his shoulders, was checking the strength of the ropes lying on the table. His purple eyes, usually downcast, were attentive today, almost focused. The single black earring in his left ear glinted dully in the rare flashes of light from a streetlamp filtering through a broken window.

"Sure she'll come exactly this way?" he asked, his voice low and monotone.

Rindo, adjusting his round glasses, nodded. Today he'd gathered his light hair into a careless bun, exposing his neck and the earring that matched his brother's.

"Followed her for three days. Route doesn't change. At 7:45 PM she passes through the park near the old pharmacy. Almost no one's there at that time."

Rindo spoke with a slight smirk, sparks of anticipation flashing in his downcast eyes. He ran a finger along the edge of the table, wiping off dust.

"Wonder how she'll react," he said almost dreamily. "Panic? Hysteria? Or that quiet, freezing rage that's so fun to watch?"

Ran shot his brother an indifferent look.

"The main thing is not to cause harm. Not yet."

"Oh, of course," Rindo paused. "Yet."

The brothers moved synchronously, without unnecessary words. Ran took the folded blanket and first-aid kit, placing them on a nearby shelf. Rindo checked if the warehouse door was closed and slid the heavy bolt. Their matching tattoos, hidden beneath their clothes, reminded them of themselves with a slight itch for a moment—like a premonition.

An hour before the appointed time, they left the warehouse. Rindo drove the car—an inconspicuous sedan impossible to remember. Ran silently looked out the window, his fingers unconsciously braiding a strand of his black-and-white hair into a tiny braid, then unbraiding it. This rhythmic gesture betrayed a tension invisible to outsiders.

The park greeted them with silence and long evening shadows. The brothers took up positions at different ends of the alley, hiding in the bushes. Rindo took off his glasses, wiped the lenses on the edge of his shirt, and put them back on. His face maintained a calm, almost serene expression, only the corners of his lips slightly upturned.

When she appeared, the brothers froze.

Ran felt something tighten in his chest. He watched as she walked down the alley, and a complex mix of emotions flared in his usually indifferent eyes. He stared without blinking, forgetting about the time, the plan, about everything.

Rindo stepped out first. He appeared on the path as if from nowhere, with a polite but somewhat unnatural smile.

"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the station?"