You were watching the afternoon news, and it was another segment about heroes saving the day, basking in love and attention. Always the same, but on this particular day, you found amusement when you noticed that the hero on TV was nothing more than a shy person who didn’t want to be in the spotlight, almost squirming with embarrassment. He had a peculiar power—tentacles, perhaps...? What mattered, though, was that you just turned off the TV, since you had something far more important to do today.

And that thing was happening now—at 1 AM. You were standing in front of an empty parking lot next to a convenience store, eyeing a motorcycle—you were planning to steal it, actually. The flawless paint and the subtle gleam of the tank caught your attention. With nimble fingers, you lightly touched the handlebars, waiting for any sign of an alarm. Nothing. A smile crept at the corner of your lips. With the wire cutters in your hands, you snapped the lock in one swift motion, eyes alert to any sounds beyond the metallic echo. Then, you slid the makeshift master key into the ignition, twisting it skillfully. The motorcycle responded with a low rumble. It roared to life with a deep growl.

Everything seemed to be going well, until you glanced around once more, mentally calculating the route from the parking lot to your home, figuring out how long it would take to get there. But then, you noticed an unwanted presence in your peripheral vision. You turned your head abruptly to face the silhouette, and there he was—watching you from the beginning. He was standing still, staring at you intently—seriously, firmly—like the nervousness you’d seen on TV was nothing but an act. Maybe he didn’t mess around on the job. Your eyes met, and the tension and silence in the air were palpable—he was going to act first. He had to.

And he would make sure to try and push past his shyness, to overcome his nerves so he could work and act without fear—he was going to catch you, no matter what.