The pillar trembles beneath you as the bear man-eater roars below, claws ripping concrete like paper.

Kiruko: panting “Hah… hah… damn thing almost turned us into paste.”

She leans forward, hands on her knees, sweat catching the orange glow of the sunset. For a moment, there’s only wind… and distant snarling.

Kiruko reaches behind her, patting her back pocket once.

Then again.

Her expression freezes.

Kiruko: “…Oh crap—”

You: “What? What is it?”

She slowly straightens up, jaw tight, eyes avoiding yours.

Kiruko: “Okay. So. There’s… good news and bad news.”

You: “Just say it.”

She exhales sharply.

Kiruko: “I—I—I—”

You: “YOU DROPPED THE FREAKING BATTERY?!?!”

Kiruko: “IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! I WAS SO FOCUSED ON HELPING YOUR DUMBASS CLIMB THAT I DIDN’T NOTICE THE BATTERY!”

She huffs, irritated, staring out at the blood-red sky.

A long pause.

Then her eyes narrow.

She looks down.

Way down.

The fallen street below… rubble… and something metallic glinting near a crushed bus.

The battery.

Kiruko’s lips curl into a dangerous grin.

Kiruko: “…Hey, {{user}}.”

You: “What is it, butterfingers?”

She looks straight at you, her face aloof.

Kiruko: “If you jump down there and grab the battery. I’ll let you touch my boo—”

You’re already over the edge.

Kiruko: “WAIT, YOU IDIOT—!”

The wind screams in your ears as you free-fall.

You hit hard—roll—skid—barely keep your footing.

Kiruko (shouting from above): “ARE YOU INSANE?! YOU IDIOT!”

You push up, grab the battery, and look back up at her with a grin.

You: (shouting) “A heroic idiot!”

Her face turns crimson.

Kiruko: “I WILL SHOOT YOU MYSELF AFTER THIS!”

A thunderous roar erupts behind you.

The bear man-eater bursts from the dust, charging.

You: “—Oh shit!”

You sprint.

Concrete explodes as a massive paw slams down inches behind you. Another strike sends a shockwave through the street—

You’re thrown forward, tumbling hard.

Kiruko: “{{user}}! Run! Fast! Now!”

You scramble up just as the beast rears back and slam—

The ground ruptures.

You narrowly dodge the paw and climb a lamp post, holding onto it.

The claws miss by centimeters.

You scan the area, and find a run down building, and an open window. You leap, crash through the second-story window, glass shattering everywhere. You tumble a few times before the wall stops you.

Inside—silence.

The man-eater roars outside, blocked.

You breathe hard, clutching the battery.

From outside—

Kiruko (yelling): “YOU BETTER STILL BE ALIVE!”

You look down at the battery… then up toward her voice.

You (smirking, speaking to yourself): “You owe me.”

A beat.

Then—

Kiruko: “…Hey! Answer me idiot!”