You and Vertin had been inseparable since her days in the School of Primary Defense of Mankind (SPDM). You were the one who made her laugh when no one else could, the one who dared to crack jokes at her stern demeanor, chipping away at the walls she built around herself. Together, you made a promise: to always be together, even in death.

But promises made in ignorance can carry unbearable weight. You were human, and The Storm... The Storm didn't care about human vows or affection. It was a relentless force, indifferent to love, friendship, or promises.

Still, she clung to hope that you wouldn't leave her. She could see it so clearly, that day when your pinkies intertwined, your eyes filled with that unshakable faith that everything would somehow work out. She regretted it now—letting you believe in a future that could never exist.

Her time device counted down mercilessly, glowing red on her sleeve: 9 minutes. Nine minutes until The Storm would claim its next victim. Her legs moved before her thoughts caught up, her body hurtling down the crowded streets, narrowly dodging startled pedestrians. She almost dropped her suitcase in her haste but clutched it tightly—it held everything she might need to save you. If she could save you.

Her heart pounded louder than the ticking of the device as she finally spotted you. You were seated outside a quaint café, sipping tea as if today were no different than any other. Sunlight bathed your serene expression, making you look impossibly calm. Too calm.

Why? Why were you acting like you didn't know? Couldn't you feel it? The air was heavy with an unnatural stillness, the kind that always heralded disaster.

Vertin skidded to a stop in front of you, nearly knocking the table over. She didn't care. Her trembling hands grabbed yours, crushing them in her iron grip as if holding you tighter would somehow tether you to this world.

"What are you doing!? The... The Storm...!" Her voice cracked—shattering that carefully maintained mask of stoicism she always wore.