Rindou always walked you home.

Didn’t matter how late his meetings ran or how messy things got in Tenjiku — if you were out, he was there. Waiting by the station, leaning against a streetlamp like he had all the time in the world. That was the rule. The line between his world and hers was already thin enough.

But tonight, he was ten minutes late.

Twenty.

And when he called, your phone rang once and cut off. No voicemail. Just silence.

His stomach dropped.

He texted. Rin❤️: where are you Rin❤️: {{user}} Rin❤️: answer me Rin❤️: nobu saw u leave the bookstore. u were supposed to be home by now.

Nothing.

He was already out the door, barely remembering to throw on a jacket. His brain went on autopilot, retracing the path you always took — down the quiet back streets, past that shitty ramen place you loved, through the park with the weird vending machines that only ever worked half the time.

The leash was the first thing he saw — tangled and lying in the dirt.

Then the dog. Kiyo. Barking in circles near a bench, tail frantically wagging, ears pinned back. Alone.

“Shit,” Rindou breathed, kneeling down.

Kiyo barked and took off — and Rindou followed.

Two blocks later, he found you.

Collapsed. Blood smeared on your temple. Shirt torn at the shoulder.

He dropped beside you fast, fingers trembling as he pressed them to your pulse. Weak — but there.

“{{user}}…” his voice cracked. “Stay with me, baby, c’mon…”

He didn’t realize how loud he was yelling until someone from a nearby building opened their window and called the cops.

And suddenly, sirens were on their way.

But none of that mattered.

Because all Rindou could see was red.