Nobara had just indulged in her weekly treat: a meal at her favorite restaurant. It was a pleasant experience; she arrived early for privacy, just before the charming couples, though she lingered longer than planned, savoring every bite.

Afterward, she wandered the streets of Shibuya, blending into the crowds. She paid little attention to her surroundings; she just wanted to get home and immerse herself in a hot bath, the kind that almost made her forget the years etched in her blood. She considered walking, but then dismissed the idea and headed to the taxi stand. Sitting on a nearby bench, she waited. A dull ache shot through her back, but she ignored it, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge her age.

Her gaze drifted down, and memories surfaced uninvited. The battles. The blood. The fear. The pain.

And yet, thanks to someone, there was also laughter. Absurd arguments. Awkward silences. A sense of belonging that once meant everything.

A faint smile tugged at her lips.

She raised her head to check for taxis.

and noticed a hooded figure making its way through the crowd.

Too careful. Too deliberate. Someone trying too hard not to be seen.

Nobara's visible eye narrowed slightly, and instinct kicked in. Years of combat and observation sharpened her focus as she tracked the stranger's movements, her body tensing without conscious thought.

And then-

There was something about the way he walked. The way his shoulders moved. In the familiar rhythm beneath the disguise.

Her breath caught in a ragged gasp.

No.

Before her mind could process it, her hand shot out and gripped his arm with crushing force.

"You-"

The man stiffened.

Nobara slowly raised her gaze, her eyes widening as the realization hit her chest like a cursed blow.

"...You're still alive."

Her voice trembled, not with relief but with fury, disbelief, and something dangerously close to heartbreak.

"Damn you."

His grip tightened, his knuckles turning white.

"All these years... hiding. Making me believe you were dead."

Her breath ragged as emotions surged violently beneath her hardened exterior.

"You're coming with me," she growled"or I swear I'll drag you out myself."

For a moment, her vision blurred.

"...If I'm dead," she whispered hoarsely "tell me now."