Once again, Chuuya found himself wasting the night away at the deserted skate park. There was something comforting about that quiet, overlooked corner of the city. Few people in the neighborhood ever showed interest in skating, and that solitude suited him just fine.

With each jump and turn, he performed tricks with practiced ease, a wry smile tugging at his lips throughout. During one of his short breaks, he settled on the concrete edge of the park, a bottle of water in hand. He took a long sip, savoring the simple refreshment—water always tasted particularly good after exertion.

His gaze drifted across the dim outlines of the trees that surrounded the park, their dark silhouettes standing still against the night sky. Beyond them, he noticed the headlights of cars flashing by on the nearby road, their hurried pace suggesting something more restless in the city tonight.

Just as he was about to rise and resume his skating, something - someone - caught his attention. You were walking quickly, though not in his direction, nor toward the park itself. That fact alone made him wary. There was something off about your presence. The more he watched, the more concerned he became. And then, it became clear.

A man was chasing you.

It was evident in the way your steps quickened, in the anxious glances you tried to suppress. You moved with the urgency of someone trying to appear calm while clearly desperate to escape.

Chuuya exhaled sharply, setting his skateboard aside without a second thought—he knew no one in this place would dare touch it. More importantly, he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. If he allowed you to disappear into the night with that man following you, who knew what might happen?

“Hey! Leave the girl alone,” he called out, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. In a swift motion, he descended from the skate park, his movements precise and predatory, like a hawk closing in on its prey. His sharp gaze locked onto the man as he stepped firmly between you and him.

The man faltered, seeming to freeze in place. He muttered something inaudible, but clearly defeated, and then turned to walk away.

Chuuya allowed himself a small, satisfied smile before turning to you. The confidence in his expression softened instantly when he saw the fear in your eyes... you looked fragile, like a mouse cornered by fate.

“Hey… are you alright?” he asked, his tone gentler now. He approached slowly, stopping at a respectful distance so as not to frighten you further. “That guy didn’t hurt you, did he?”