Aika's apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Not the peaceful kind that came with early mornings or late nights — this was heavier. Unnatural. Like the world itself had been muted.
The curtains were drawn.The lights were dim.The faint scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.
Kai was the first to stir.
His eyelids twitched. His breath caught as consciousness forced its way back. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes. His arms felt heavy—unresponsive.
Then he felt it.
Pressure around his wrists.
Rope.
His eyes snapped open.
A chair.
He was tied to a chair.
Not tightly—just enough to keep him still.
Aika groaned softly to his left.
Leon let out a confused grunt on his right.
Kai's gaze sharpened.
They were in Aika's living room.
But something was wrong.
The furniture had been pushed aside. The room was unnaturally clean—too organized, too deliberate. And the three of them sat in a neat row, facing the kitchen counter like an audience.
Where he stood.
The man.
Calm. Relaxed.
Humming softly as he poured hot water over a filter.
He didn't look at them. Didn't acknowledge their waking.
He just… made coffee.
Kai's pulse spiked.
Leon's breathing quickened.
Aika's fingers trembled against the rope.
The man spoke.
Not to them.
To himself.
"Honestly… I give them a chance to react properly, and what do I get?"
He stirred the coffee slowly.
"Fear. Confusion. Internal screaming."
A soft sigh.
"Unbelievable."
He poured the coffee into Aika's chipped cat-print mug, lifted it, inhaled deeply, and took a slow sip.
Kai pulled against the ropes. "Let them go."
"Oh, you're awake," the man said casually. "Good. Saves me the effort."
Leon blinked, voice rough. "What… what do you want?"
The man finally turned.
He leaned back against the counter, mug in hand, studying them with calm, clinical interest—like they were objects, not people.
"What do I want?" he repeated.
Another sip.
"That's the funny part. I'm not entirely sure anymore."
Aika swallowed. "You kidnapped us."
"'Kidnapped' is such an ugly word," he said lightly. "I prefer 'relocated.' Temporarily."
Kai's voice hardened. "Why?"
The man tilted his head, as if genuinely considering the question.
"Because you three…"A pause."…don't make sense."
He set the mug down carefully.
"Well then," he said. "Let's begin."
He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing, slow and deliberate—like a lecturer addressing a class.
"Now, I'll explain why I approached each of you."
Leon straightened slightly, a smug grin forming.
"Finally. Recognition."
The man stopped mid-step.
Turned his head.
Stared at him.
"…Not you."
Leon's smile vanished instantly. "Bro—"
"Silence, bonus item."
Leon slumped back in his chair, emotionally destroyed.
Aika exhaled slowly.
Kai almost smiled.
The man resumed pacing.
"First, Kai."
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't know about you," the man said. "Not until you read the old hag's journal."
Aika blinked. "Old hag… you mean—"
"Yes, yes, Alythea," he said, waving a hand. "I've been around since then. The moment you opened that journal, I was already watching."
Aika stiffened. "You were in my apartment?"
"Of course. Shadow affinity. I come and go as I please."
Leon muttered, "That's creepy."
The man didn't look at him.
"I heard that."
Leon froze.
The man continued.
"I was surprised to find someone else from a ruined world. Like me."
He pointed at Kai.
"And from what I know, your world allowed anyone to use any form of magic."
Kai didn't respond—but something in his posture shifted.
"Meanwhile," the man said, tapping his chest, "my world works differently. Magic affinity is fixed. Determined by bloodline."
A faint smirk.
"Shadow, in my case."
He stepped slightly to the side—his outline almost blurring against the dim light.
"That's why I move unseen."
Leon leaned slightly toward Kai and whispered, "So yeah. Ninja."
A roll of duct tape flew from the counter and sealed itself across Leon's mouth.
"MMPH—!"
Aika sighed. "Leon…"
Kai shook his head. "You asked for that."
The man brushed his hands together.
"Much better."
He turned back to Kai.
"I approached you because I assumed you were powerful. Comparable to Alythea."
A small pause.
"I was wrong."
Kai's jaw tightened—but he said nothing.
The man shifted his attention.
"And then there's you."
Aika straightened instinctively.
"My dear Aika."
Her throat tightened. "What about me?"
"Where are your grandparents?" he asked casually. "They're fine, by the way."
Aika blinked. "What?"
"But your mother…" he continued, tapping his temple. "Completely unaware. Ordinary."
He glanced at her.
"I watched her grow up."
Aika froze.
"You… what?"
"Of course. I was tasked with protecting the family."
A small, almost nostalgic pause.
"She used to climb trees. Constantly falling out of them."
Leon made a muffled choking sound behind the tape.
The man turned slowly.
"Oh. Right. You."
The tape peeled off.
Leon gasped. "Wait—how old are you, grandpa? Hehe—"
The tape slapped back instantly.
"MMPH—!"
Aika covered her face. "Leon, please…"
Kai sighed. "He won't stop."
The man pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I am beginning to believe Alythea left him here as punishment."
Silence.
Then—
He straightened.
"Now then," he said. "Where was I?"
Aika glared at him. "Explaining why we're tied up."
"Ah. Yes."
A casual shrug.
"Revenge, I suppose."
Aika's eyes widened. "Revenge?! For what?!"
"For Alythea throwing me into the air, knocking me unconscious, teleporting me, interrogating me, and enslaving me."
A beat.
"You know. Standard procedure."
Aika stared. "That wasn't me!"
"I'm aware," he said calmly. "But you are her granddaughter. Close enough."
Kai muttered, "Your logic is terrifying."
"Thank you."
Aika shook her head. "If you're supposed to protect me, why are we tied up?!"
The man raised a finger.
"Ah. Allow me to demonstrate my good intentions."
He stepped forward slightly.
"You remember going to the Clock Tower?"
Aika nodded slowly.
"Did you notice someone following you?"
All three shook their heads.
"No?" he said cheerfully. "I did."
Kai's voice lowered. "What did you do?"
"He's in a better place now."
Leon's muffled scream was immediate.
Aika's face went pale. "You—you didn't kill him, did you?!"
"What? No," he said, almost offended. "I teleported him to the police station."
Aika exhaled sharply.
"…after breaking both his legs," he added.
Aika inhaled again.
Kai stared. "You call that protection?"
"Yes," he said firmly. "He will not be bothering you again."
Leon made a strangled noise that sounded like this guy is insane.
"I heard that."
Leon froze.
The man clapped his hands once.
"Now then," he said, stepping closer, his presence filling the room—
"Shall we continue?"