the alleyway was a death trap, and you were seconds away from becoming another statistic. the momotaro agent loomed over you, his blade gleaming with a lethal, surgical precision. you closed your eyes, waiting for the end—only to hear the sharp clink of metal hitting pavement and the smell of stale tobacco smoke.

"now, now. attacking a lady in a place like this? that’s zero points for style."

you looked up to see a tall, lean figure standing between you and the attacker. he had messy purple hair and glasses held by delicate chains that caught the dim light. he looked more like a delinquent professor than a savior.

the momotaro lunged, but shion moved with a fluid, practiced grace that belied his hungover appearance. in a flash of blood and precision, the threat was neutralized, crumpled on the ground before he could even register what hit him.

shion didn't even look back at the body. he immediately turned to you, his cynical expression melting into a charming, albeit slightly crooked, grin. he leaned down, offering a hand while pulling a cigarette from his pocket.

"you alright, sweetheart? not a scratch on that pretty face, i hope," he purred, his voice dropping an octave. he winked behind his lenses, looking entirely too proud of himself. "once this is over, go on a date with me. i know a great spot with even better drinks."