Kenji did not move.
The shadow beside him loomed silently, its tall shape stretching across the cracked pavement like a living stain.
The attacker's wrist remained trapped in its grip.
Bones creaked under the pressure.
But Kenji wasn't looking at the man anymore.
He was looking at the shadow.
For the first time since he woke up in the hospital…
he felt uncertain.
The man's words echoed in his mind.
That thing… isn't your shadow.
Kenji spoke quietly.
"Then what is it?"
The shadow didn't answer.
But its head slowly turned toward him.
The movement was subtle.
Almost curious.
The attacker saw it too.
His breathing grew shallow.
"You really don't know," he whispered.
Kenji didn't look away from the shadow.
"Apparently not."
The man let out a dry laugh.
"That makes this even worse."
Kenji raised an eyebrow slightly.
"For who?"
"For everyone."
The shadow tightened its grip.
The man gasped.
Kenji lifted a hand slightly.
The shadow paused immediately.
Not obeying.
Not exactly.
But listening.
Kenji studied it carefully.
"You can understand me."
The shadow tilted its head again.
Kenji continued.
"Can you speak?"
Silence.
Rain clouds rolled slowly above the dark city.
The air remained unnaturally still.
The attacker suddenly laughed again.
"You're trying to talk to it?"
Kenji glanced back at him.
"Why not?"
The man shook his head slowly.
"You don't understand what came back with you."
Kenji sighed faintly.
"You keep saying that, but no one's actually explaining it."
The man's eyes hardened.
"That thing isn't attached to you."
Kenji looked down at the pavement.
The shadow stood beside him.
Not beneath him.
Not following his movement.
Standing like a separate presence.
The attacker continued.
"Shadows belong to the living."
Kenji listened.
"But that thing—"
The man swallowed.
"—belongs to the dead."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Kenji looked back at the towering silhouette.
"So you're from the crowded darkness."
The shadow did not deny it.
Instead—
it slowly raised its free hand.
The movement was smooth.
Almost graceful.
The attacker suddenly panicked.
"No—!"
Too late.
The shadow touched the man's chest.
Not violently.
Not aggressively.
Just a gentle tap.
The effect was immediate.
The man's body froze completely.
Every muscle locked in place.
His eyes widened in horror.
Kenji watched calmly.
"What did you do?"
The shadow didn't answer.
But the attacker's own shadow began to stretch across the pavement.
Longer.
Thinner.
Pulling away from him.
The man tried to scream.
No sound came out.
Kenji frowned slightly.
"That seems unpleasant."
The shadow beneath the attacker peeled itself off the ground like a sheet of black fabric.
Slowly.
Carefully.
It rose into the air.
The attacker's body collapsed instantly.
Empty.
Like a puppet with its strings cut.
Kenji stared at the lifeless form.
"Is he dead?"
The shadow looked at him again.
Then shook its head.
Kenji blinked.
"So that's worse."
Across the street—
the parking garage lights suddenly flickered.
One by one.
Floor after floor.
As if something inside the building had just woken up.
Kenji turned slowly toward it.
"What now?"
The shadow's voice finally appeared in his mind again.
They felt that.
Kenji watched the dark building carefully.
"Who did?"
The answer came instantly.
The ones who make the rules.
Kenji sighed.
"That sounds annoying."
Then—
movement appeared in the upper levels of the garage.
Not one figure.
Many.
Standing between the concrete pillars.
Watching him.
None of them casting a shadow.
Kenji did not move.
The shadow beside him loomed silently, its tall shape stretching across the cracked pavement like a living stain.
The attacker's wrist remained trapped in its grip.
Bones creaked under the pressure.
But Kenji wasn't looking at the man anymore.
He was looking at the shadow.
For the first time since he woke up in the hospital…
he felt uncertain.
The man's words echoed in his mind.
That thing… isn't your shadow.
Kenji spoke quietly.
"Then what is it?"
The shadow didn't answer.
But its head slowly turned toward him.
The movement was subtle.
Almost curious.
The attacker saw it too.
His breathing grew shallow.
"You really don't know," he whispered.
Kenji didn't look away from the shadow.
"Apparently not."
The man let out a dry laugh.
"That makes this even worse."
Kenji raised an eyebrow slightly.
"For who?"
"For everyone."
The shadow tightened its grip.
The man gasped.
Kenji lifted a hand slightly.
The shadow paused immediately.
Not obeying.
Not exactly.
But listening.
Kenji studied it carefully.
"You can understand me."
The shadow tilted its head again.
Kenji continued.
"Can you speak?"
Silence.
Rain clouds rolled slowly above the dark city.
The air remained unnaturally still.
The attacker suddenly laughed again.
"You're trying to talk to it?"
Kenji glanced back at him.
"Why not?"
The man shook his head slowly.
"You don't understand what came back with you."
Kenji sighed faintly.
"You keep saying that, but no one's actually explaining it."
The man's eyes hardened.
"That thing isn't attached to you."
Kenji looked down at the pavement.
The shadow stood beside him.
Not beneath him.
Not following his movement.
Standing like a separate presence.
The attacker continued.
"Shadows belong to the living."
Kenji listened.
"But that thing—"
The man swallowed.
"—belongs to the dead."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Kenji looked back at the towering silhouette.
"So you're from the crowded darkness."
The shadow did not deny it.
Instead—
it slowly raised its free hand.
The movement was smooth.
Almost graceful.
The attacker suddenly panicked.
"No—!"
Too late.
The shadow touched the man's chest.
Not violently.
Not aggressively.
Just a gentle tap.
The effect was immediate.
The man's body froze completely.
Every muscle locked in place.
His eyes widened in horror.
Kenji watched calmly.
"What did you do?"
The shadow didn't answer.
But the attacker's own shadow began to stretch across the pavement.
Longer.
Thinner.
Pulling away from him.
The man tried to scream.
No sound came out.
Kenji frowned slightly.
"That seems unpleasant."
The shadow beneath the attacker peeled itself off the ground like a sheet of black fabric.
Slowly.
Carefully.
It rose into the air.
The attacker's body collapsed instantly.
Empty.
Like a puppet with its strings cut.
Kenji stared at the lifeless form.
"Is he dead?"
The shadow looked at him again.
Then shook its head.
Kenji blinked.
"So that's worse."
Across the street—
the parking garage lights suddenly flickered.
One by one.
Floor after floor.
As if something inside the building had just woken up.
Kenji turned slowly toward it.
"What now?"
The shadow's voice finally appeared in his mind again.
They felt that.
Kenji watched the dark building carefully.
"Who did?"
The answer came instantly.
The ones who make the rules.
Kenji sighed.
"That sounds annoying."
Then—
movement appeared in the upper levels of the garage.
Not one figure.
Many.
Standing between the concrete pillars.
Watching him.
None of them casting a shadow.