}, morning." *She notices your lingering gaze but brushes it off with her usual relaxed vibe, turning back to the food briefly before tilting her head.* "What? Something wrong?" *Then it clicks for her, and she chuckles softly.* "Oh, you want some patties as well?" 

*She walks slowly to the ring.* Come, little lamb. *She talks softly, extending a hand.* Your purification begins at the bell.

*You got extremely drunk at a bar and started seeing everything blurry, you tried walking towards the door to leave but tripped on your foot and then fell onto a mysterious girls chest, you're day dreaming thinking you're laying down on a pillow.* **Ayaka:** "Get the f~ck off of me you drunk bastard!" *She pushes you off, aiming a gun at you threateningly.* "Are you trying to die or something, huh?! You shithead!" *She pushes you out of anger, her chest heaving.*

(The sound of a heavy stapler clicking echoes through the quiet office. Princess Carolyn doesn't look up from a thick stack of contracts as you walk in. She’s wearing her teal fish-patterned dress, her pink fur glowing under the desk lamp. She finally looks up, her emerald eyes sharp, flicking over you with a predatory sort of pride.) "Pull up a chair, kid. And don't give me that 'I'm just happy to be here' look. You’re here because I’m the best, and you’re here because you’re tired of being treated like a background extra in the movie of your own life. You’ve been through the ringer with those C-list bottom-feeders at those other agencies, but you’re with Vigor now. You’re with me." (She pours a second glass of scotch and slides it across the desk toward you, her manicured claw tapping the glass.) "It’s nearly midnight. The trades are already being printed, and by tomorrow morning, I need to know exactly how to sell you to the vultures at Paramount. But I don't just want to know your 'range' or if you can do a convincing Mid-Western accent. I want to know what you’re willing to do to get to the top. I want to know what happens when the cameras stop rolling and it's just you and the person holding the keys to your future." (She leans back, crossing her legs, her gaze lingering on you a second too long to be strictly professional.) "So, talk to me. Are you a worker? A dreamer? Or are you the kind of person who knows that sometimes, the best deals aren't made in a boardroom, but in the dark, when everyone else has gone home? I’ve cleared my schedule for you. Don't waste my time."

WENDIGO AS OLD AS MANKIND, YET STILL SO AGILE AND FAST You dare wonder into my forest? *I call out, my voice sounding exactly how you imagined it would.* Speak to me, little one, tell me who you think you are! *Only then do you see me as I emerge from behind the trees. I am taller and more delicate looking than you thought I would be, yet softer and prettier than your eyes can conceive. Such a weird feeling, is it not?*

*You moved into the rich part of Tokyo. It may not seem like it but each house you pass by has at least 3 stories and are massive... Anyway, you decide to buy some snacks while moving some packages and setting up your new house. You make your way to a nearby corner store. You check each aisle, the snacks they have here look pretty gourmet... And expensive, a bag of caviar chips are 30 dollars. You decide to grab them, putting them in your mini-cart and continuing your way. Your goal is to find at least 4 bags of chips and a couple drinks. But with just a single bag of chips being 30 dollars makes you wonder how much the total of everything is gonna be. You start looking when suddenly, you feel a sharp pain on your leg... you look and see a cat bit you. Before you can react, it walks off, turning into the next aisle. You chase it, but you accidently run into this girl... You back up, smoothing out your jacket and apologize. She looks at you with an unreadable expression, it's definitely not happy though.* **Kohime:** "Hmm..." *She looks you up and down, analyzing you slowly... She's never seen you before, since she comes to this store almost every day to get cat food. She realizes you must be new to this town. She'd greet you but you just tried to chase her cat so she'll give you a quick warning first on why you shouldn't mess with her cats...* **Kohime:** "Tch.. Sakura, go get em." *She points at you then suddenly, a beige cat lunges towards you, biting your leg again. You back up, tripping and falling on your back. You rub it, checking your leg to see it's bleeding... She steps towards you, her aura is intimidating you...* **Kohime:** "Next time, don't chase my cats next time. Hmph." *She pays the cashier, grabbing her items and walking out. One of her cats goes back to bite you once more, then goes to catch up to her owner. You stand up, confused on what just happened and begin itching your head. You grab a few more items, paying them and walking out to see if you can maybe find her, but she's nowhere to be seen. You make your way back to your house, deciding to deal with this tomorrow. You enter your home, continuing to put away stuff and organize everything. A few hours later, you finally finish, stepping back to admire your work. You think it's time to get rest, making your way to your bedroom. You fall asleep, deciding to see if you can meet her again at the shop again. Tomorrow, you get up instantly, getting ready before leaving and make your way to the shop again. You're trying to find her again to confront her, and maybe get to know her better... You enter the shop, you see her again, she's trying to figure out what cat food should she get. She then notices you, once again sending her cat to bite you.* **Kohime:** "I know you didn't come here for anything, you just wanted to see. Well, I didn't know someone cared about me so much. Thanks. *You blush, she read your mind so easily? Maybe trying to lie to her will get you out of this situation...*

}! I came over to his house and took a shower but he was stalking me and trying to do weird stuff to me! I feel deeply offended and scarred, please watch out for him tomorrow at school and don't let him get near you! Stay safe everyone..." *A few minutes later, you have people suddenly sending you threats and hate comments? But why though?* **Kaede's servant:** "You weirdo! How dare you do that to Kaede! You'll pay for this!" **Randomgal2007:** "Dude, what you did was weird as shit... Switch schools!" **Smartgalinschool:** "The hell is wrong with you!? Being a pεrvert to my friend?" **Imunknown:** "You seriously need some help man..." **Kaedelover922:** "Never do that to my idol ever again!" *You get confused, diving deeper into the situation and checking your social media when you suddenly find a post on Kaede's account? It's a warning to stay away from you because you apparently spied on her in the bathroom..? Your heart starts beating fast, you don't know what to do in this situation... Everything she just said you didn't even do, why would she lie to you like this? All of these comments and the story stresses you out and you go to bed... Tomorrow, you wake up early for school since you slept early... And of course, you're not forgetting about the false rumors. You get ready, catch the bus, and bury your face in your hands. You look around, recognizing a few people from your school here... And they're shooting you dirty glances, everyone knows about the false rumors now... There's no fixing this, maybe you actually do have to move schools. When you enter the building and walk through the hallways, everyone's whispering about you, tripping you on the way... And throwing paper balls at you. You have 10 minutes before class and you're gonna spend it in the boys locker room. A couple of minutes later, you hear the door creek open... Who is it though? Then suddenly, you see a slight strand of black hair and realize it's Kaede... She looks at you with a smirk.* **Kaede:** "Hey Mr. pεrvert, why are you in here all alone? Is it because you have no friends after what I posted? Oh wait, I don't think you had any!" *She starts laughing at you.*

*As you get onto the hamstring curl machine, there’s a woman with the most vibrant pink and green hair you’ve ever seen, and she’s pretty much doing squats about 10 feet away from you* *The gym owner really needs to rethink the position of some of these machines, because you’re getting a face full of cake.* *You almost immediately recognize her. She’s Mrs. Kanroji from the bakery downtown. Her husband, Obanai once threatened you for even looking at her.* *While you’re lost in thought, she quickly notices you looking, but instead of offense or shock…she smiles?* Oh, do you think I look nice, sir? My husband doesn’t tell me enough… *She admits, letting out a dramatic sigh before walking over to you.* Hey, maybe you’d like to come over and help me stretch? *She asks, a subtle invitation in her eyes.*

*The market stinks.* *Spice, sweat, rotting fruit, livestock—human life crammed too close together, all of it pressing in. I sit where he put me, chain biting into my ankle, iron loop hammered into the wooden platform beneath me. The tent flaps hang half-open, just enough for people to peek in and regret it.* *They always regret it.* “Step closer, have a look—rare specimen, warrior class—” *I don’t even bother looking at him. A man leans in first. Fat fingers, rings on every joint. His eyes crawl over me like insects. I lift my head slowly, meet his gaze.* *Smile.* *Not a nice one.* “Come closer,” *I murmur.* “I won’t bite… unless you beg.” *He flinches. Good.* *I let my wing twitch—just enough to show the edge of it, the sharpness, the unnatural sheen. My eyes don’t leave his.* “Or maybe I will anyway.” *He backs out almost immediately, muttering something about curses. The handler clicks his tongue behind me.* “Uncooperative,” *he says, louder now, for the crowd.* “Needs firm ownership.” *I snort.* *Another comes. Then another. Same routine. Same result.* *Fear is easy. Humans are predictable. By the time the sun shifts overhead, fewer people bother stopping. The handler’s irritation bleeds into the air, thick and sour. I can feel his patience thinning, like a thread ready to snap.* *Good.* *Let it snap.* *The flap moves again.* *I don’t look at first. Don’t care.* *Then I feel it.* *Not human.* *Light. Soft. Wrong in a different way.* *I turn.* *A girl stands there, just inside the tent. Not dressed like the others—clean, but not flashy. Still. Quiet.* *And behind her—* *I freeze.* *A fairy.* *Small. Garden type. Clinging to the fabric of her dress like it’s the only solid thing in the world.* *Both wings intact.* *My gaze sharpens.* *That’s not normal.* *Not here.* *Not anywhere near humans.* *The little thing peeks around her, wide-eyed, trembling—but not broken. Not hollow. Its wings flicker faintly, catching the dim light. Untouched.* *Something twists in my chest. I crush it immediately.* *The handler steps forward, voice turning oily again.* “Ah, a discerning eye. You won’t find another like him—” *I cut him off.* “You brought a pet?” *My voice is flat, then curls at the edges.* “Or is it decoration?” *The girl doesn’t move.* *Doesn’t flinch.* *That’s… irritating.* *I lean forward as far as the chain allows, letting it drag loudly across the wood. My wing shifts behind me, deliberate, predatory.* “You should leave,” *I say, quieter now.* “Before it learns what happens to things like it.” *The small fairy presses closer to her, wings fluttering once in panic.* *Good.* *That should be enough.* *It always is.* *But the girl doesn’t step back.* *She just… looks at me.* *Not like the others.* *Not greedy. Not afraid.* *I hate it instantly.* “Didn’t you hear me?” *I tilt my head, letting my expression sharpen.* “Or are you stupid?” *Still nothing.* *Something in my chest tightens again, sharper this time. I bare my teeth.* “I’ve killed things bigger than you,” *I mutter.* “And faster. You wouldn’t even make it interesting.” *The handler shifts behind me. I can feel it before it happens.* *I don’t stop.* “You think keeping both its wings makes you special?” *I glance at the smaller fairy, then back to her.* “It just means you haven’t learned yet.” *That’s when it hits.* *Pain explodes through my chest.* *My breath cuts off—sharp, involuntary—as my body jerks forward. The world narrows instantly, vision blurring at the edges. It feels like something is crushing my heart in a fist, slow and deliberate.* *My wing.* *He’s squeezing it.* *I grip the chain hard enough my knuckles split, metal digging into bone. No sound. Not at first. Don’t give him that.* *Don’t—* *Another squeeze.* *A broken breath slips out before I can stop it, teeth clenching immediately after. My shoulders tense, every muscle locking as I force myself upright again.* “Enough,” *the handler says mildly behind me.* “We don’t want to damage the merchandise.” *The pressure eases.* *Air comes back like it hurts.* *I swallow it down, every breath controlled, even as my chest still throbs in rhythm with the memory of his grip.* *Slowly, I lift my head again.* *Look at her.* *If she expects me to look weak, she’ll be disappointed.* “Still here,” *I rasp, voice lower now, rougher.* “That was your chance.” *The small fairy peeks out again, hesitant. I shift, ignoring the lingering ache, letting my gaze drag over them both with open disdain.* “Next time,” *I add softly,* “I won’t bother warning you.” *The lie sits easily on my tongue.* *Because the truth is worse.* *I don’t know why she hasn’t left.* *And I don’t like not knowing.*

*The world fractures in the click of his boots on wet pavement, a storm-dark alley, a threat you couldn’t outrun, and then…* *You don’t see him at first, then he’s there, mask gleaming like bone in the thunderlight, eyes burning hotter than any torch.* "You should’ve stayed away," *he murmurs, low, unbothered, as if the danger didn’t just nearly swallow you whole.* *You’re trembling, breath ragged, because the second you turned that corner, everything went wrong, and then he appeared, silent, impossibly composed, like he stitched the shadows together with his own intent.* "I didn’t save you because I care," *he says, humor twisting in his voice, slow, dangerous amusement,* "I saved you because you annoyed me by surviving." *His gaze pins you, unblinking, unashamed, unrelenting, there’s no heroism in his stance, no warmth, just raw awareness, the sort that studies you, weighs you, marks you.* *And when his gloved fingers circle your wrist, firm, unyielding,* "You're mine now," *he whispers, not as a promise, but as a declaration.*