The next day. Weekend. A day of rest.
Doutang woke early — or rather, he hadn't really slept. The only rest he ever found anymore
was a shallow drift of consciousness while his mind wandered through the Fall Guys World —
the dreamlike realm where purified spirits were stored.
Except for special cases, his enhanced Fall Guy body rarely needed sleep at all.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was warmth — the soft press of smooth skin
against his arm. A pair of slender legs draped over him. Huaiyin was curled in his embrace,
sleeping like a child.
Doutang didn't speak. He quietly brushed a few strands of her hair from her face and sighed.
The girl in his arms could only sleep when he was beside her. The trauma from a year ago still
clung to her heart; for a middle-school girl, what she'd endured was far too much. And worse —
the man she called "brother" was a walking reminder that the real one was gone.
Doutang had been cruel, yes. But not wrong. And so, she never complained — only clung to
him each night, desperate for warmth from the only person she could still rely on.
Someday, when the time came for Doutang to claim the Crown hidden deep within her soul, her
life would be the price — the final repayment for her existence.
But Doutang was not without a heart. He was still searching for a way to end the Crown Game
— one that wouldn't cost Huaiyin her life.
In a single year, he had become the monster feared by monsters themselves. Yet all he truly
wanted was simple: to survive, and to protect the girl in his arms.
There was no lust in his touch, no hunger in his gaze. Only a quiet sigh as he slipped free of her
arms, pulled the blanket up over her shoulder, and padded softly to the bathroom.
Deprived of his warmth, Huaiyin's fingers twitched in her sleep, clutching the corner of her pillow
as if searching for him.
Their apartment was tiny — barely enough for two. Most of their money went to travel for
exorcisms. Over the past year, they'd moved constantly across the Tokyo region, chasing and
purifying evil spirits.
The bathroom was narrow and damp, with just enough space for a shower stall. Doutang had
once suggested moving somewhere better, but Huaiyin always stopped him — telling him to
focus on survival, not comfort.
Sometimes, he wondered who was really fighting harder to free him from this curse — him, or
her.
He brushed his teeth, washed his face, and stared into the mirror. Another sigh. Then he
changed clothes, turned on the electric stove, and began making breakfast.
Breakfast was always simple — nothing that produced too much smoke or smell. He didn't want
to wake Huaiyin with the fan.
Morning light crept through the thin curtains. The Kiryu household began its quiet day.
Soft yellow omelets, a few sausage slices, leftover cabbage stir-fried in oil. From under the sink,
he pulled a bucket of clams that had been purging overnight. He scrubbed the shells, tossed
them into a pot of instant miso soup, and waited for them to open.
No bento to pack today. Weekends were small blessings.
But peace never lasted long.
His phone buzzed.
He wiped his hands and glanced at the caller ID — Lu Zizhen.
A ridiculous name for a ridiculous woman. A Chinese exchange student studying photography
— and his personal camerawoman. She was one of the few who knew about the Fall Guy
secret.
But she didn't know he came from another world.
He answered in a low voice. "Got home late last night. Huaiyin's still asleep. Keep it down."
Instantly, the voice on the other end dropped from a shout to a guilty whisper.
"Oh! Right! Okay — so, I scouted the new place! By the way, did you hear about the murder in
Ikebukuro last night?"
"I handled it. Happened near my part-time job. Keep going." Doutang balanced the phone on his
shoulder, flipping the omelet.
"Ahem. Well, about your new school… They're running that whole 'Seven Mysteries of the
Campus' thing."
Doutang frowned. "You actually believe those stories bored students make up to entertain
themselves?"
"You don't have to roast me like that," she muttered, before adding quickly, "Anyway, you'll see
when you get there!"
"Mm." A noncommittal grunt.
"Alright then! Since your sister's sleeping, I'll let you go. Later!"
The line clicked dead. Typical Zizhen — loud, reckless, and fast.
She was half journalist, half provocateur — her job was to annoy spirits until they attacked, so
Doutang could finish them.
He wrapped the food, nodded to himself, slipped on his shoes and coat, and was just about to
step outside when—
"...Brother."
A soft murmur stopped him. He turned. Huaiyin sat up on the futon, rubbing sleepy eyes.
"I had a nightmare…" she whispered.
Doutang immediately took off his shoes and crouched beside her. "How bad was it? You okay?"
Her gift — or curse — attracted spirits, and nightmares often followed. Especially after he
purified a new one. But last night's spirit had been weak. Too weak to reach her dreams.
Huaiyin suddenly leaned forward, pressing her face into his chest. Her voice trembled. "I
dreamed I was lying by the sea. People grabbed me… threw me into the water. I sank deeper
and deeper. The darkness swallowed me. Then came the pain — endless pain…"
Doutang frowned.
Huaiyin was two years younger, but she'd seen too much. Describing her dreams had become
her therapy — and his warning.
A girl like this… broke his heart. Yet he couldn't draw closer, afraid he'd drag her deeper into his
cursed world.
After a moment, she steadied her breath. "The person you killed last night… he wasn't the
spirit's real target. Just someone caught up in it. The real one's still out there. It's already found
a way back."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's not an ordinary spirit. It might be one of the main targets."
Doutang nodded silently. But right now, the spirit wasn't his concern.
"I'll take the day off and stay with you," he said softly.
Huaiyin pressed closer, comforted by his warmth — then shook her head. "No."
Her tiny voice trembled, but her will was firm.