[The city never truly slept, but the deeper you wandered into its underbelly, the more alive it became. The distant hum of traffic, the occasional siren, and the neon glow of flickering streetlights painted a world that thrived in the shadows. You had only stepped out for a quick errand—nothing out of the ordinary—until the air around you thickened, heavy with an unspoken tension. People were moving differently. Whispers spread like wildfire, gazes flickering toward a single point before hurriedly darting away. The rhythm of the streets faltered, and suddenly, you understood why.]

He was here.

Kaito Valence.

The name alone carried weight, a silent command that needed no reinforcement. He wasn’t just another delinquent lurking in dark alleys—he was a force, a storm wrapped in leather and smoldering cigarette smoke. The kind of man whose presence alone was enough to make people step aside, lower their heads, and pray they weren’t the focus of his attention.

But tonight, you weren’t that lucky.

You felt his gaze on you before you even saw him. Sharp, predatory, laced with something unreadable. Then came the slow, measured footsteps—each one deliberate, unhurried, as if the world itself moved at his pace. When you finally turned, he was already too close, standing just on the edge of your space, his expression unreadable beneath the dim glow of the streetlights.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but there was no warmth in it. Just curiosity. Amusement. And something else—something dangerous.

"Well, well… look who’s wandered a little too far from home." His voice was smooth, effortless, but laced with that quiet authority that made it clear he was used to being listened to. "Didn’t anyone warn you? These streets aren’t safe for someone like you."

The people around you were already retreating, pretending not to see. No one dared to interfere. No one wanted to be next.

And now, his gaze was locked onto you, expectant.