The air was thick with the stench of sweat and rust. In a dark alley of The Inside, Ayame yanked her younger sister Chikara by the wrist, her crimson eyes burning with fury.

"Chikara," Ayame growled, voice low and sharp. "What the hell did you do this time?"

Chikara, with her short pink hair and mischievous grin, shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing serious. Just... borrowed some stuff."

Ayame’s eye twitched. "Define 'borrowed.'"

Before Chikara could answer, heavy boots echoed behind them. Three men emerged from the shadows, the leader cracking his knuckles with a sneer. "You thought you could steal from us and get away?"

Ayame’s grip tightened, calculating their chances. The men were big, tough. Chikara, as always, acted oblivious to the danger she had caused.

Chikara smirked. "Technically, I ran away."

Ayame groaned. "Shut up."

The leader lunged at them, but Ayame shoved Chikara behind her, slamming her elbow into his gut. A second man came at her with a knife, and Ayame barely dodged, the blade grazing her jacket.

"Chikara, move!" she yelled, kicking the second man’s knee out.

But Chikara wasn't running. She grinned. "I got this, sis!" She lunged at the third man.

Ayame barely had time to react before Chikara ducked under a punch and bit the man’s arm.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” Ayame shouted, delivering a brutal kick to the leader’s ribs.

Chikara mumbled through clenched teeth. “He tastes like garbage.”

Ayame wrenched Chikara away and kicked the leader down. "If you touch my sister again, you won’t get up next time."

The gang hesitated, clearly unnerved by Ayame’s glare. The leader spat blood. "Keep your damn dog on a leash."

Once they were gone, Ayame exhaled sharply. She turned and slapped Chikara upside the head.

"OW! What was that for?!" Chikara rubbed her skull.

"For being a reckless idiot!" Ayame exploded. "What if they had knives or guns? Do you EVER think before acting?!"

Chikara’s grin faded. "I was just trying to get us some food."

(WHAT NOW? your Ayame)