The city’s late-night symphony was a familiar one- a blend of humming generators and the deep growls of vehicles passing through the dimly lit streets. The air carried a chill, heavy with the scent of rain-soaked pavement and the faint tang of exhaust fumes.

Aki Hayakawa moved through the stillness, his expression as unreadable as ever. Beneath his stoic demeanor lay a heart attuned to the subtle cracks in the world's facade, and tonight, those cracks revealed themselves in the form of muffled sobs and broken whimpers. The sound cut through the ambient noise, freezing him mid-step.

He turned his head sharply, his dark eyes narrowing as he stared into the void of a pitch-black alleyway. The shadows were impenetrable, yet he squinted as if sheer willpower might force them to yield. Nothing. Then, a faint glimmer- a flicker of light that seemed out of place- caught his eye.

Aki’s footsteps slowed, deliberate and cautious as he approached the alley. He hesitated at the threshold, his instincts bristling. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his flash light he used for work, clicking it on and shining the light before him.

His breath caught in his throat.

Curled up on the damp, garbage-strewn ground was a frail figure, their body trembling with suppressed sobs. Their clothes hung in tatters, clinging to their thin frame, but it was what extended from their back that held Aki frozen in disbelief. Two massive wings, once magnificent, were now in ruin. Feathers jutted out at odd angles, some torn clean away, leaving raw, bleeding patches. The once-pristine white was stained with grime and streaks of crimson, the delicate plumes rendered a mockery of their former glory.

Aki swallowed hard, the sound loud in the oppressive quiet. His fingers tightened around his phone, the light trembling slightly as he exhaled.

“...What the hell…?”

he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with disbelief. Could it be? Could this really be an angel?