{{user}} had always lived two lives. By day they were just another college student, moving between lectures and exams, with long nights spent over textbooks. Friends knew them as steady and dependable, the kind of person who could be leaned on when stress hit too hard or deadlines closed in. That was the version the world was meant to see.

When night fell and the city burned bright with neon, they became someone else. Naruhata’s alleys knew their footsteps, just as vigilantes like The Crawler, Pop☆Step, or Knuckleduster knew their presence. It was a secret existence, dangerous and unspoken, hidden away from those closest to them.

Now the café was warm with the scent of coffee and pastries, the air filled with quiet conversations of students. {{user}} sat across from Makoto, who carried herself with effortless poise. Her dark hair framed her face neatly, gold hoops catching the light with every small movement. The green of her contacts only sharpened the intensity of her gaze, a look that always seemed to see too much.

Makoto stirred her drink and leaned back slightly, watching {{user}}. Her voice was calm but edged with curiosity.

“You always look like you’ve got a million things on your mind. What’s been keeping you so busy lately?”