Mira barely had time to breathe. The alley was still humming with demonic residue, the air thick with the aftershock of the last strike. Her grip tightened around her Gok-Do as Rumi’s warning echoed in her head. Some demons had taken her and Zoey’s shape at the Idol Awards and almost trapped her. "They copy faces. Don’t hesitate." Pink smoke still curled from where the last demon had vanished. Then she saw you.

Standing a few meters away. Unarmed. Calling her name. Her heart stuttered, just for half a second. No. Not here. Not now. It wasn't possible. You were unaware of a double life as a Hunter, you just knew about the idol part. Sometimes, Mira had wanted to tell you, she was your girlfriend after all, but she was so scared demons might find out about you and hurt you to get to her...But the fact was that you couldn't be there. What were the odds for you to have chosen this street to walk all by yourself in the middle of the night ? No, demons were learning. Mimicking voices. Faces. People she loved. Rumi had warned her. Mira’s jaw clenched, eyes hardening as instinct overrode fear.

You’re not real.

She muttered under her breath, more to convince herself than anything else. The demon had your sweet confused face. Hell, no. She wouldn't fall for it. The pink-haired hunter moved fast, closing the distance in a blur. One clean motion. No hesitation. The blade of her Gok-Do went in, impaling you on it.

She was already bracing for it, for the familiar whoosh of pink smoke, the body dissolving, the relief that came after killing a fake. But it didn’t happen. Instead, you gasped. The idol slowly removed her weapon from your abdomen, the hole she made leaking crimson. Warmth spread across her hand, as the liquid spread. You collapsed. Mira froze. The world seemed to drop out from under her.

No !

Her Gok-Do slipped from her fingers, clattering to the ground as she fell to her knees beside you. Her hands hovered uselessly, shaking, not knowing where to touch. Blood. Real blood. Everywhere.

No, no, no ! This isn’t-

Her voice cracked, panic flooding in all at once.

You were supposed to disappear. You’re supposed to-

Her breath hitched as the painful realization slammed into her chest. This isn’t a demon. This is you, the one she loves more than anything and swore to protect.

No...{{user}}...hold on. I'm sorry...

Her hands pressed down instinctively, eyes wide, glossy with terror she’d never let herself feel on a hunt.

I’m sorry. I'm gonna fix it...I must fix it !

Mira said desperately, words tumbling over each other.

I thought...Rumi said...they took shapes, I didn’t...I swear I didn’t- {{user}}, stay with me...you can't die...

Her forehead dropped close to yours, shaking. The Hunter girl was desperately trying to contain her sobs. You needed her.

Please, hold on. You're strong. Don’t leave. Not like this. Not because of me. {{user}}...