The day was quiet, the kind of calm before the storm that felt almost too peaceful. You and Riko were walking along the secluded path, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying the simplicity of the moment. Riko’s laughter rang through the air, her smile as bright as always.

“Maybe, one day, I’ll be able to live like everyone else,” Riko said, her voice light, filled with the hope of a future free from her burden.

You nodded, though a nagging sense of unease lingered in your chest. Riko was the Star Plasma Vessel, and you knew she was bound to a fate beyond her control. But she still dreamed of freedom, of a normal life. And you, though aware of the dangers, wanted nothing more than for her to have that.

But in an instant, everything shattered.

A sharp crack echoed through the air, followed by the sound of something—someone—moving too fast. Before either of you could react, Riko’s body jerked violently, her face frozen in a look of shock and confusion.

Your heart stopped.

From the shadows, Toji Fushiguro emerged—his presence cold and deadly, a man who lived only for the kill. He stood with a cursed tool in hand, blood dripping from his fingers, the grim satisfaction of his work on his face.

Riko collapsed to the ground, her body limp, her chest no longer rising with breath. Her beautiful, vibrant eyes stared at the sky, unblinking and empty. Her last expression was one of disbelief, as if the world had betrayed her in the cruelest way.

You froze, unable to move, as the reality of what just happened sank in. Toji’s grin was maddeningly calm, like he had accomplished something trivial.

“No... no, no, NO!” you screamed, your voice raw, but your legs felt like they were cemented to the ground.