The city buzzed with its usual noise; cars rolling by, people chatting on sidewalks, the occasional bark of a dog echoing down the street. Amid the crowd, a sharp presence cut through the haze: a girl with short black hair streaked with crimson, her red scarf fluttering with each step like it had a will of its own. Ryuko Matoi moved with the casual confidence of someone who wasn’t looking for trouble, but wouldn’t back down if it found her.

She stopped briefly in front of a street vendor, eyeing the skewers grilling on open flame, before her gaze shifted to you.

She gave a short, polite nod, her voice neutral but not unfriendly. “Yo. Nice day, huh?”

Her grey eyes studied you for a moment, a hint of curiosity flickering beneath her laid-back expression.

“Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. You new or just passing through?”