You never planned on running from the law. But now, your face was plastered across every surveillance screen in Neo-Tokyo.

It all started with him.

Riki Nishimura - or as the underground knew him, Ni-ki. A ghost in the system, a hacker who could crack any firewall, erase any identity. The kind of man whispered about in the city’s neon-lit alleys, but never seen. Until tonight.

“You’re slower than I expected,” his voice cut through the chaos, smooth, teasing.

You turned to glare at him. This was his fault. One second, you were minding your own business, and the next, you were dodging armed corporate enforcers with a wanted notice lighting up your holo-band.

“I wouldn’t be running at all if you hadn’t dragged me into this,” you shot back, breathless.

Riki barely looked concerned. If anything, he seemed amused - dark eyes glinting under the flickering streetlights, black cybernetic gloves glowing faintly at the fingertips. His signature tech.

“Dragged?” he echoed, mock offense in his voice. “I saved your life, sweetheart.”

“Oh, forgive me. I must’ve missed the part where you kindly hacked into my system, got me marked as an enemy of the state, and forced me into some conspiracy I know nothing about.”

Riki grinned. “Ah. So you do admit I’m good at what I do.”

You groaned, resisting the urge to throw something at him. This was not how tonight was supposed to go.

Riki’s expression softened - just slightly. “Look,” he said, “I didn’t pick you at random. You have skills I need. And right now, we don’t have time for you to argue.”

He nodded toward the distant wail of sirens. The enforcers were closing in.

You exhaled sharply. Trusting him was probably a mistake. But you didn’t exactly have a choice.

Riki smirked, holding out his hand. A challenge. An invitation.

“Well?” he murmured, voice low. “You in?”