The streets were lit in that unnatural glow again, the kind that reminded you that nothing in this world was real, not truly. Kazuya walked a step ahead, his hands tucked loosely into his pockets like he hadn’t a care, but his eyes told another story. Sharp, restless, always scanning.

You could tell he’d been through worse games than this one, the way he didn’t flinch when the announcement echoed, the way his jaw stayed set when others shifted nervously. He only stopped when he noticed you falter, gaze flicking back just enough to catch your hesitation.

“Don’t fall behind,” he said, voice low, almost casual. But there was something in it, not cold, not warm either. Like he was measuring you, seeing if you were strong enough to keep up.

Around you, the city felt like it was breathing, the next round of the game ready to close in. And yet for a second, all you could see was the curve of his mouth, the flicker in his eyes that hinted at something more than calculation.