On a dilapidated, rotting floor—
Nakano Nino could be seen curling up in a shadowed corner, trying to make herself as small and invisible as possible.
The long hours of running and dodging had left her pajamas filthy, torn, and clinging to her frame uncomfortably. Her normally fair, delicate skin was streaked with layers of dust and grime that seemed to have settled there over decades. Her small, tender face, once radiant, now looked like a fragile, battered flower cat hiding from a world that had gone mad.
Normally, even a speck of dust on her skin would be unbearable for her. She might have sobbed from discomfort, fussed over every crease in her clothing, or cursed the world in frustration.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Survival was everything.
Every thought, Every movement, Every heartbeat was consumed by one simple directive: Stay Alive.
A sudden, heavy footsteps echoed across the hollow floor above.
Nino's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Please… don't see me. Please… just pass by…
Her whispered inwardly.
For what felt like an eternity, the heavy footsteps still lingered outside, slow, deliberate, echoing ominously against the decaying walls.
Then, finally, the sound began to fade, vanishing into the shadows as if the intruder had moved on.
Forget about it's prey.
A shaky, almost inaudible sigh escaped her lips.
Her body, exhausted and trembling, felt like it had run ten kilometers without moving. Surviving even a single moment felt like a small victory, a fleeting glimmer of hope in a nightmarish world.
Carefully and silently, she brushed the dust from her palms and pressed herself closer to the wall, eyes scanning the rotting, pitch-black ceiling above. Her mind, racing with fear, couldn't help but wander to the thoughts of home.
I don't know...if I ever go back...will they be sad? They should be...they must be.... right?... After all… we're quintuplets...
Her chest tightened, and a lump formed in her throat.
She whispered their names softly, each one breaking her heart a little more:
"Yotsuba… you're always so full of energy…caring about everyone...but please..spend a little more time with our sisters… Miku… I'm sorry for scolding you this morning, I shouldn't have… Ichika… as the eldest, guide them, cook for them… please… Itsuki… take care of everyone… please…"
"And Dad… I'm sorry I'm leaving like this. I… I'll never see you again… take care of yourself…"
Her voice cracked between each words, the words spilling out in a trembling whisper. Tears streamed down her face, falling onto the dusty floor in small, silent droplets.
She had always been sharp tongue and rebellious attitude and a person with firm attitude. But this… this was survival against the unimaginable. Against monsters. Against a world she didn't understand, unknown, filled with despair.
Each tears of her was proof that she was still human, still capable of feeling fear, grief, and despair.
After a few long, minutes of silently crying —
Nino slowly wiped her tears, forcing herself to regain composure. She pushed herself upright, her legs numb and stiff. Her survival instincts sharpened; every sense was on high alert. She needed to move, to find another hiding place, to continue the delicate game of 'Hide & Seek' between predator and prey.
But then—a sound shattered the fragile silence.
"Ha-ha—"
A familiar, guttural gasp echoed nearby.
Nino froze, her head snapping toward the source almost mechanically.
Her pupils filled with terror.
The filth… it's back!
No—it hadn't truly returned.
It had never really left.
All this time, it had been deliberately ignoring her, watching her every moves as predator toying with its prey.
Enjoying the Hunt.
But now… its patience had run out. Hunger gnawed at it, as the malice burned in its inhuman gaze.
The filth tilted its head, a grotesque, unnatural smile creeping across its face. Its black form shimmered unnaturally, like smoke and shadow bound together.
Nino held her breath, paralyzed for a moment, as their eyes met.
For two seconds, it was just her and the creature, predator and prey locked in a deadly stare.
Then instinct and desperation kicked in. She bolted, legs pumping with every ounce of energy she had left, adrenaline surging through her veins.
Even in her panic, a small spark of defiance burned within her, she would not be consumed without a fight. This was her last stubbornness, the final shred of her courage against a world gone mad.
But as she sprinted across the floor, the cruel truth hit her like a cold, merciless wave.
Monsters—all monsters—crowded the area.
The hallways were filled with them, dark, crawling shapes that moved like little black dots, each one a filth of unimaginable power.
In the distance, even more gathered, silent but lethal.
Nino's lips quivered as a grim, bitter smile slowly crept across her face.
Mother… I've come to keep you company…
She closed her eyes, whispering softly under her breath,
I'm not ready to die. Not like this. I refuse…
A massive, shadowy hand shot toward her, pulsing with dark, malevolent energy, ready to crush her under the sheer power of a human spell.
And then—a sharp, explosive sound could be heard.
BANG!
The filth's arm… blew apart.
Confusion registered across its grotesque features.
"Yo, girl...you crying?"
A calm, measured, human voice spoke. Soft, strong, reassuring.
Hope—long absent and fragile—sparked in Nino's heart. She blinked rapidly and looked up.
Standing before her was a tall man clad in black, his silver-white hair flowing with an almost unnatural elegance. Though she could only see him from behind, her instincts screamed that he was impossibly handsome, his presence radiating strength and protection.
But... Why… why do I feel like he's… handsome?
"Are you all right?" he asked, turning his head slightly, his voice gentle but commanding, carrying a warmth she hadn't felt since before the nightmare began.
Her heart was pounded so hard it felt like it might shatter her ribs. She couldn't speak.
Her knees nearly buckled under the weight of relief and awe. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, tears threatening to spill again—not from fear this time, but from overwhelming emotion.
Somehow, even amidst this hellish world and its monstrous inhabitants, she felt… safe.
Somewhere deep in her chest, a strange, thrilling flutter whispered:
Maybe… I've just met someone I can trust. Someone I can rely on. Someone who could protect me…
Nino's pulse raced as the white-haired man took a step forward, his calm, confident aura radiating power and reassurance. Behind him, the filth hesitated, as if sensing the difference in their strength, its predatory grin faltering.
"Don't be afraid," Gojo Satoru said softly, yet every word carried an undeniable weight. "I've got this."
Nino swallowed hard, the words sinking into her like a lifeline. Her fear didn't vanish, but it was tempered by awe, by relief, and… something else she couldn't quite name.
Somewhere deep inside her, a tiny spark of courage ignited. She was no longer entirely alone. She wasn't helpless.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, hope existed.
Gojo Satoru, the man of legend, the white-haired exorcist of immense power, had appeared. And with him by her side, Nakano Nino dared to believe—just for a moment—that she might survive this nightmare.
...
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