The night after the rooftop incident dragged into morning with barely any sleep. Rika had eventually passed out in Renji's arms, clinging to him like a lifeline until exhaustion finally claimed her. Renji stayed awake longer, his mind a battlefield.
The shadow-girl's words kept echoing, She was chosen long before you.
That wasn't just random malice. It was specific. Purposeful.
By the time dawn's light filtered through the curtains, Renji's jaw ached from how hard he'd been clenching it.
The system had given him direction: Rika's past.
For the first time....it wasn't mother fucking erotic!!!!
Rika stirred awake, groaning softly as she blinked against the light. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her cheeks blotchy, but when she saw Renji sitting at her bedside, she managed a faint smile.
"You didn't sleep," she murmured.
"Didn't need to." He brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the faint salt of dried tears. "You okay to talk?"
