Title: Shared Ground

Rain fell hard across the ruined street, washing blood into the cracks of broken concrete. The fight had ended badly for both sides—too many injuries, too much destruction, and a new enemy neither side had expected.

A fresh explosion shook the building beside you just as debris came crashing down.

Before it could strike, Mikado Momodera caught your wrist and pulled you sharply behind what remained of a shattered wall. His grip was firm, immediate, practical—nothing wasted.

“Stay low,” he said, eyes fixed ahead.

The creature stalking through the smoke was far too strong for either of you alone. Even wounded, Mikado stayed unnervingly composed, already calculating distance, movement, timing.

When the enemy lunged again, he moved first, forcing it back while leaving a narrow opening only you could take advantage of. The coordination came without trust, built purely on survival.

Minutes later, when the threat finally collapsed into silence, the rain returned as the loudest sound.

Mikado exhaled once, steadying himself, then glanced over with the same controlled expression he always carried.

“Don’t mistake this for cooperation,” he said, wiping blood from his hand. “You were simply more useful alive.”

Yet he remained there a moment longer than necessary before turning toward the dark street ahead, making no move to leave until he was certain the danger had truly passed.