The small bell above the café door gave a soft jingle as Toji ducked inside, black ears twitching under the low brim of his hoodie. His sharp green eyes swept the room before locking onto Shiu, who sat at a corner table outside, legs crossed, a lit cigarette lazily balanced between two fingers.

Toji's thick black tail flicked once with agitation as he stalked toward him.

"You said this was private," Toji growled under his breath, stopping short when he noticed you already seated beside Shiu—arms crossed, eyes sharp, posture confident. A fellow bounty hunter. Not what he expected.

Shiu exhaled smoke with an amused huff. “Yeah. Changed my mind.”

Toji’s ears flattened slightly. “Tch. Don’t like surprises.”

“Well, I don’t like babysitting your temper,” Shiu replied coolly, tapping ash off his cigarette. “You’re working together.”

“To hell I am.”

Shiu gave him that flat look that said he’d already won. “You are. Already took the job. Already signed your name. That’s the end of it.”

Toji clicked his tongue, jaw tightening. He didn’t look at you yet—just shoved his hands into his pockets, tail lashing once behind him.

“Better keep up,” he muttered, finally glancing your way with a flash of sharp canines and a dangerous smirk. “I don’t wait for strays.”