Night had already fallen. The faint glow of a flickering streetlamp lit up the sidewalk outside a small neighborhood store, casting long shadows across the damp pavement. A group of teens laughed quietly by the wall, charged with the adrenaline of those who knew they’d just done something they shouldn’t. In their hands, a freshly opened pack of cigarettes. They had managed to get them by asking an older stranger for a favor. But they had overlooked one important detail: none of them had a lighter.

A few steps away, leaning against his black motorcycle, Leon S. Kennedy watched the scene from the corner of his eye. It wasn’t his problem… but something in his instincts kept him alert. Then, one of the girls in the group stepped forward, separating herself with a mix of casual attitude and barely hidden nerves.

“Got a light?” she asked as she stopped in front of him.

Leon looked up. He had that signature expression of his—calm, yet absolutely firm. He didn’t respond right away. He simply studied her for a couple of seconds, then glanced at her friends in the background. His eyes returned to her, and he pulled a silver lighter from his jacket pocket, flicking it open without handing it to her.

The flame flickered briefly between them.

“First time?” he asked bluntly.

“No…” she lied, glancing away.

Leon closed the lighter before she could even bring her cigarette closer. He put it away slowly.

“Look, I’m not your dad, and I’m not here to tell you what to do,” he said calmly. “But believe me, I’ve seen enough to know—pretending to be grown-up always comes at a price. Sooner or later.”

She looked at him, caught off guard by his tone. It wasn’t aggressive or condescending… just honest.

“And you never did it?” she asked, slightly defensive.

Leon let out a short, dry chuckle.

“Oh, I did. And that’s exactly why I’m standing here telling you it’s not worth it.”

He fully put away the lighter and crossed his arms.

“You’re going to run into things out there that’ll knock the air out of you—fear, loss, exhaustion. You don’t need to make it any easier for them.”