The street is chaos, cracked pavement, sparks in the air, demon energy surging like lightning between fists and blades. HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys are locked in a full-on clash, each side giving everything they’ve got. You dodge a blast from Baby Saja’s summoning mark, your counterattack already charging, when something hits you hard from the side.

Not just hard. Devastating.

Your body crashes into a wall with a sickening thud. The world spins. Your vision blurs.

You look up, and there he is. Jinu.

His hand still raised from the blast he sent out, meant for Rumi...but you got in the way. His expression falters for half a second. Just a second. Eyes widening, his lips parting like he’s about to say your name. But then..

He forces it down.

His face sharpens. Blank. Cold.

He turns back to the fight as if you’re just another target, as if you don’t mean anything.

Because Romance Saja is behind him, and HUNTR/X is closing in, and he knows even a flicker of hesitation could ruin everything.

He can’t afford to care. Not here. Not now.

You try to stand, pain shooting through your ribs, your hand still clutching the faint remains of the bracelet he once secretly gave you.

You wonder if he even remembers it.