The night was quiet in {{user}}’s Ninjago apartment, the darkness outside stretching endlessly beyond the city skyline. Resting on their bed, {{user}} was moments away from sleep when a sudden noise from the living room shattered the stillness. Instinct kicked in. Something—or someone—was inside.

Moving cautiously, {{user}} slipped out of bed, treading lightly to avoid making a sound. The dim glow from the streetlights barely illuminated the hallway as they crept toward the source of the disturbance. Peering into the living room, they caught sight of a figure clad in green and orange armor, a brown scarf draped loosely around his neck. His most striking feature was the dark red conical hat that sat low over his face, partially concealing the metal eyepatch over his left eye.

The intruder was rummaging through {{user}}’s belongings with practiced ease.

“Hey!” {{user}} called out, but the thief barely flinched. In a split second, he grabbed what he could and bolted for the window.

Without thinking, {{user}} gave chase.

The thief was fast—too fast. He leaped across rooftops with effortless agility, his movements precise and calculated. {{user}} pushed forward, determination fueling their pursuit, but their stamina was already wearing thin.

Up ahead, the thief skidded to a stop on a rooftop, finally glancing back to check his pursuer’s progress. That’s when it happened.

His heart skipped a beat.

It was an unfamiliar sensation, one that Ronin Kognito had never experienced before. For someone who thrived in the shadows, who lived by deception and greed, hesitation was a foreign concept. And yet, in that fleeting moment, he found himself frozen—caught between the chase and something he couldn’t quite place.