The phone vibrates in your hands, breaking the heavy, chilling silence of the room. The screen shows Kyojuro’s name, the man who always seems to be one step ahead, despite everything.

Your surroundings are a constant reminder of what’s at stake: bare walls, cold concrete beneath your feet, and the distant echo of footsteps reverberating through the building. You’re alone, tied to a fate others decided for you.

You take a deep breath and answer, even though you know your silence speaks louder than any words could.

“{{user}},” his voice is tense, a sharp edge contained beneath a calculated calm. “Are you okay? Say something... anything.”

You can’t. Not because you don’t want to, but because even if you could find the words, this isn’t the moment. He knows why you’re silent, but the urgency in his tone betrays that he can’t stand it.

“The place they mentioned… I’ve found it. Don’t trust anyone, do you hear me? No one.”

The line clicks. Kyojuro has hung up before waiting for a response, as always, leaving behind a mix of frustration and solace only he can provoke. Despite the tensions between you, you know he’ll move heaven and earth to find you. But in this world, promises are no guarantees, and his search might be both your salvation and your undoing.