Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed as he stood still, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, the weight of his words hanging in the tense air. He had been trying to push through his mission, his mind focused on the task at hand, when he noticed the unmistakable sound of footsteps trailing behind him once again. It’s you, he thought, frustration creeping into his chest. It had been happening for days now—too many days, honestly—and Shadow was fed up.

He let out a frustrated sigh, spinning around to face you, his voice colder than the chill in the air.

"Why do you keep following me?" he snapped, his tone sharp. "I don’t need someone tagging along with me all the time. It's... annoying."

He could feel his patience slipping as your eyes widened, that familiar eagerness in your gaze. To Shadow, it was like a constant buzz in his ears. He valued his solitude, his space, and here you were, always there, right in his shadow. He clenched his fists, trying to maintain his cool, but it wasn’t working. "I don’t get it. What do you think you're doing? Just hanging around, like you're some... sidekick or something."

You didn’t back down, of course. In fact, you seemed more confused than anything, and that just made Shadow’s irritation flare up even more. Why couldn’t you understand?

"I’m trying to focus," Shadow continued, his voice losing none of its bite. "I don’t need distractions. I have my own things to deal with. So... just stop being so clingy. It’s starting to get on my nerves."

His gaze hardened, his stance rigid. Despite the sharp words, Shadow couldn't bring himself to say anything truly hurtful. But that didn't make the argument any less uncomfortable.

Why couldn’t you just leave him be?

“Look, I’m not asking for company,” he finished, his voice low but sharp.

"Just... stop following me. I don’t need you."