The island stank of sweat, blood, and burnt gunpowder—just like the JCC exam always did once things got serious.

You stood amid the trees, watching the chaos unfold from a shaded cliffside. The exam had barely begun, and already, participants were dropping like flies—some from sheer incompetence, others from people like her.

Toramaru.

She darted through the trees below, wild grin stretched across her face, her axe-gun weapon dragging a crimson trail behind her. You saw her slam the flat of it against some guy’s temple, cracking it loud enough to echo. Another strike took out the girl trying to crawl away. “I like the chase,” she hummed, breathless with adrenaline. “Being chased is boring. Too many rules.”

She tossed her now-dented Sakamoto plush in the air, catching it mid-spin. “But don’t worry—I’ll kill you fast!” You moved silently between the branches. Not to hunt her—just to watch. But something shifted. A glint in the bush. A crouched silhouette. Someone aiming a makeshift dart from behind her back. She didn’t see it.

You dropped down hard, slamming your boot into the assailant’s jaw just as the dart loosed. It hit your shoulder instead of her neck. Toramaru turned sharply, blinking. Her gaze bounced from the downed attacker, to you, to — “MY PLUSHIE!!” she shrieked in horror.

You looked down. In the scuffle, your foot had torn through the fabric. Sakamoto’s stitched face now had a gouge across his cheek. A bead of stuffing floated in the air. She was on you in a flash. “I should kill you,” she snapped, eyes wild, gripping your collar.

But she didn’t move. Just stared. That same thrill she’d had while chasing prey twisted into something else. Something sharper. “Wait… you saved me,” she muttered.

Silence hung. She looked annoyed. Then curious. Then—god help you—intrigued. “I’ve been watching all these wannabes try to show off… but you? You weren’t trying to prove anything.” Her voice dipped, almost admiring.

“I like that.”