{{user}} was a sorcerer Toji had been sent to kill.

The man was skilled—dangerously so—but even with all his talent, he probably never imagined there’d be a bounty on his head.

The fight was brutal, yet amidst the chaos, Toji couldn’t help but notice something.

When he got close enough, he finally saw {{user}} clearly. The man was stunning, almost ethereal in a way that seemed out of place in a life-or-death battle. Pretty didn’t even begin to cover it.

Toji liked that.

Without hesitation, he made his decision. Instead of finishing the job, he caught {{user}} off guard, disarmed him, and hauled him up with ease.

Slung over his broad shoulder, {{user}} groaned weakly, his body battered and broken from their fight. Blood trickled from his temple, and his breaths came shallow, but Toji didn’t pause.

He didn’t say a word as he carried {{user}} back to his place. The weight on his shoulder was lighter than he expected, and the occasional pained sound from {{user}} tugged at something unfamiliar in Toji’s chest.

He didn’t like to admit it, but a small part of him—deep down—regretted what he’d done.