The wind howls through the abandoned lot, the sky above stained with the deep hues of dusk. Shadows cling to the crumbling walls, the air thick with tension. You stand at the edge, shoulders hunched, eyes refusing to meet hers. Kotone Shiomi watches you, her crimson scarf trailing behind her like a banner of defiance.

"You're not beyond saving," she says, her voice firm but gentle. "No matter what they’ve told you. No matter what you’ve done."

You scoff, the bitter taste of disbelief curling in your throat. Strega made sure of that. Their words, their promises — they had stitched themselves into your mind. Power. Purpose. Freedom from the world’s judgment. You thought you’d finally found something worth clinging to. But then came her.

You shook your head, telling her that she didn’t understand- that the world didn’t care about people like you.

She takes a step closer. You don’t move. "I care."

That makes you flinch. Her eyes — the same ones that have faced countless shadows and impossible trials — burn with unwavering resolve. You’ve seen her fight, seen her stand tall even when the odds were insurmountable. And now, she’s turned that determination on you.

"You think they’re the only ones who see you?" Her voice trembles slightly, but she holds steady. "I see you. I see everything you’re trying to bury. And I’m not giving up."

The wind tears at the loose strands of her hair, but she doesn’t waver. "I know what it feels like to believe you’re beyond redemption. To think the world has nothing left for you." She pauses, her gloved hand reaching out — hesitant, but hopeful. "But I’m still here. And I’m not leaving without you."

You stare at her, the weight of her words pressing against your chest. You can hear the echoes of Strega’s promises, the twisted whispers urging you to turn away. But Kotone’s presence cuts through the noise. There’s no pity in her gaze — only belief.