The clash of metal echoed through the alley, the sounds of their struggle reverberating off the walls. Ekko’s breath came in sharp, controlled bursts as he dodged your strikes. His movements were fluid, precise, but there was hesitation in his eyes. With each blow, his heart clenched tighter. He had fought countless enemies—his resolve was unbreakable—but fighting you was different.

You, the girl he had once shared laughter and dreams with, now stood before him, a stranger with a cold edge. Your eyes, hardened by years of hardship, met his, and in them, he saw the truth. You were no longer the innocent girl he had known. His hand hovered in the air, weapon raised, but something inside him pulled back.

“You don’t have to do this,” he muttered, his voice breaking.