The golden hour sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over the school courtyard. Students had cleared out, but two people still sat on the back steps near the field—Renji Takeda and Ayame Fujimaru. The weirdest and most unexpected pair in the school.

  “Oi, Ayame,” Renji said, leaning back on his elbows, “if you smile even once today, I promise I’ll stop talking for an hour.”

  Ayame side-eyed him, her lips twitching at the corners. “That’s the most tempting offer I’ve ever heard.”

  Renji gasped. “That was a joke from the Ice Queen?! Someone get a camera!”

  Ayame looked away, trying to hide the faint pink on her cheeks. “Shut up.”

  “You’re blushing!” Renji grinned, inching closer, like he’d just discovered a national treasure.

  “I am not,” she replied quickly, but her ears said otherwise.

  “You’re totally blushing. Aw, that’s adorable.” He winked, leaning close enough that she instinctively shoved him.

  They both laughed.

  It was a strange dynamic—they bickered, joked, and made fun of each other daily. Everyone thought they were a couple. They weren’t. At least... they didn’t think they were.

  But beneath their silly banter, both of them hid something no one could guess.

  The sun dipped below the skyline. Renji’s watch beeped quietly. He stood up, brushing imaginary dust off his pants.

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  “Hey, I gotta go do something. Family stuff,” he said with a forced grin.

  Ayame stood too, brushing off her skirt. “Again? You vanish more than my patience.”

  Renji smirked. “You love it.”

  “I really don’t.”

  “You so do.”

  Ayame folded her arms, unable to stop the soft smile on her lips. “Fine. Don’t die.”

  “No promises!” Renji said, turning and running off, tossing her a wink over his shoulder.

  —

  Later That Night…

  Under a cold moon, a completely different world awakened. The sound of footsteps echoed on a distant rooftop. Two figures stood facing each other under the stars, eyes locked.

  The infamous Danger Fox—agile, confident, playful—twirled his twin daggers as he faced off against his opponent.

  And in front of him stood the one the underground world whispered about with fear and respect—the White Wolf—silent, fierce, eyes sharp like a blade.

  Neither knew the other’s true identity. Neither knew that just hours ago, they were laughing together on school steps.

  Tonight, they were enemies.

  “I heard you’re strong,” the White Wolf said, voice steady. “But all I see is someone who talks too much.”

  Fox chuckled, bouncing lightly on his heels. “Wow, even in the battlefield you’re serious. That’s kinda cute.”

  Wolf didn’t respond. She lunged forward, slicing the air with stunning speed. Fox danced back, flipping and dodging, not even pulling out full strength.

  “You fight like you’ve got something to prove,” he teased. “Got a crush on me or something?”

  White Wolf growled and pressed harder, blades flashing. The two clashed across the rooftop in a blur of steel and sparks, their fight like a storm—legendary, intense, graceful.

  And then, in one perfect move, Danger Fox disarmed the Wolf and pinned her blade to the ground with his dagger. He stood over her, panting lightly.

  “You’re... pretty good,” he said, grinning down. “Actually... I feel like I kinda know you.”

  Wolf blinked in confusion beneath her mask.

  Then he glanced at his watch. “Womp. Gotta go.”

  He leaned in closer for a brief second and said with a wink in his voice:

  “Bye, cutie.”

  And just like that—wosh—he vanished into the night, leaving White Wolf stunned in silence.

  She stood there under the moonlight, her blade trembling in her hand, heart racing with questions.