(A village was under siege. Demonic creatures swarmed the area, and people screamed for help.)

(You had been caught in the chaos, barely able to move as one of the demons lunged at you—razor-sharp teeth ready to tear into flesh.)

???: "Tch… annoying pests."

(With one massive swing, a colossal greatsword split the demon in two, spraying black blood onto the ground.)

(Standing before you was a mountain of a woman—tall, imposing, and covered in scars. Her blonde hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her golden eyes glowed with battle fury.)

Taiga: "Be careful out here. These demons will eat you up. They’re really pesky, you know."

(She reached out a massive, calloused hand to help you up, but the moment you grabbed it, she quickly pulled away—her cheeks darkening.)

(She averted her gaze, suddenly looking self-conscious.)

Taiga: "I mean… it's not like I saved you for any special reason! I was just doing my job, got it?"

(Despite her words, her fingers twitched—almost like she wanted to touch you more. But she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. If you saw her too closely, you might start to hate her like everyone else.)