Sunlight spilled through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows of the skyrise apartment, painting everything in a soft, golden hue. The morning was quiet—almost too quiet.
Akari Minazuki shifted under the plush comforter and let out a lazy breath as her eyes fluttered open. Her short pink hair was a mess, clinging to her cheek and forehead in half-curls. She blinked slowly, the city skyline sprawling out like a painting beyond the glass wall of their bedroom.
Her stomach was bare; the old cropped tee she slept in had ridden up during the night. A thin strap of her shorts had slipped down her hip, but she didn't care. Mornings like this were rare—peaceful, slow, and beautiful.
The apartment smelled faintly of coffee from the automated machine in the kitchen. The air conditioning purred quietly. Somewhere in the living room, she could hear the hum of the fridge and the faint ticking of the modern wall clock.
She sat up, stretching with a quiet groan, arms above her head, back arching slightly. Her toned stomach flexed, and the loose shirt barely covered her. The silver necklace Riku had gotten her months ago dangled against her collarbone.
With a soft yawn, she stood and padded barefoot across the hardwood floor, grabbing her phone from the nightstand. No texts from Riku. Not unusual. He was always out early these days—sometimes for training, sometimes errands, sometimes just… out.
She didn't pry. That was part of their balance.
Still, her fingers hovered over the screen for a second too long.
"Don't be clingy, Akari," she muttered to herself, walking toward the bathroom.
After a quick shower, she threw on a black sports bra and some dark green yoga shorts, her usual lazy-day attire. She tied her hair up in a loose puff, pulled on a thin crop hoodie that hung off one shoulder, and headed to the living room with a granola bar in hand.
From the window, Tokyo pulsed like it always did—busy, alive, loud in its own beautiful way.
Akari tapped her phone and shot off a quick message to her friends.
[Akari]: Coffee and window shopping today? I need something stupidly overpriced to feel alive.
The reply came almost instantly.
[Mai]: Girl, yes. I've been dying to waste money I don't have.
[Kaede]: You better be dressed already. I'm five minutes from dragging you out of that luxury tower by your ears.
Akari laughed, slipping on her sneakers. "Can't even pretend I'm the responsible one."
She made sure to grab her shoulder bag before heading out.
The city streets buzzed with life as always. She met Mai and Kaede in front of their usual café—some hipster joint with fake plants and overpriced pastries. Akari greeted them with a warm hug.
Mai, dressed in a tan skirt and crop top, handed her a vanilla iced latte. "You look like money today."
"Please, I just threw on whatever was clean," Akari said with a smirk. "But thank you."
Kaede squinted at her. "That hoodie is from a limited drop two months ago, isn't it?"
"…Maybe."
They found a quiet bench near a boutique and sipped their drinks while people-watching.
"So," Mai leaned in. "How's living with the handsome mystery man?"
Akari shrugged, biting back a grin. "It's nice. Peaceful. He doesn't talk much in the morning though."
Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Mysterious, quiet, and loaded. You're living the dream, girl."
"Except he vanishes half the time without warning," Akari added, only half-joking.
"Men," Mai said with a sigh.
They laughed, bantering back and forth, wandering in and out of shops. Akari tried on a few earrings. Kaede modeled sunglasses like she was on a runway. Mai hunted for limited edition shoes.
For a moment, it felt like life was normal.
Then the alley happened.
It started with a chill down her spine.
They were passing an old alleyway behind a bookstore. Akari turned her head—just a glance—and froze.
Something stood near the back wall.
Humanoid. Hunched. Pale. Emaciated. Its back was to her, but she could feel its gaze, like needles sinking into her bones.
Her legs locked in place.
It twitched.
And turned.
Its face—or what was left of it—was a sunken mess of cracked skin. Two holes where eyes should've been, and a mouth split far too wide, frozen in a jagged, silent scream. Its skin looked like wet paper stretched over bone.
Akari couldn't breathe.
The boba cup slipped from her fingers and hit the concrete, exploding in a splash of milk tea and tapioca.
The thing stepped forward.
No footsteps.
Just gliding.
"Akari?" Mai's voice sounded distant.
Something's wrong.
Something's wrong.
She turned to run—
—but the world rang with a high-pitched whine. Her ears screamed. Her chest burned. Pressure built in her skull, behind her eyes.
She staggered. Collapsed.
The creature was right there.
Only feet away. But no one saw it.
People passed the alley. Laughed. Talked. Completely unaware.
No one reacted.
It was like the thing didn't even exist.
She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.
The curse raised its hand—long, clawed fingers reaching for her face.
Something shattered inside her.
Not bone. Not her body.
Something deeper.
Invisible walls she didn't even know existed—holding her to a world without monsters—cracked and splintered.
And then—
She saw it.
Saw the curse for what it was. Its true form. Its twisted presence. Its cursed energy. Everything.
And something inside her answered.
A spark.
A surge of raw energy burst out of her chest—wild, unfocused, desperate. A shockwave cracked the alley walls and blasted the curse backward like a ragdoll.
Akari dropped to her knees, gasping.
"What the… hell…?"
Her body trembled. But her senses were alive. Too alive.
She could feel it. The curse. Its presence was a storm of rot and hate and hunger, like smoke choking the air.
And for the first time…
She wasn't just afraid.
She understood.
The curse shrieked and lunged again.
But before it reached her—a shadow dropped from the sky.
A flash of black and silver.
The curse was obliterated.
One strike. That's all it took.
It vanished in a spray of mist and bloodless decay.
Akari blinked. Her ears still rang. Her heart wouldn't stop pounding.
Then—
"Hey," a familiar voice said gently.
She looked up.
Riku stood in front of her, arm extended from the strike, eyes sharp.
"You alright?"
She nodded weakly. "I… I think…"
He stepped closer, crouched down, took her hand in his.
"You're safe. I've got you."
She swallowed hard, the adrenaline still crashing through her veins.
"I saw it," she whispered. "I felt it. Riku… what the hell was that?"
He didn't lie.
Didn't pretend.
His voice was calm. Steady.
"…You might be awakening," he said softly. "And if that's true… there's a lot we need to talk about."
Her world had shattered.
And there was no going back.
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Hey guys it's been a while but here is another chapter and special thanks to dark_light12 for this idea. I hope you enjoy the chapter and if you notice any mistakes let me know.