The same night a masked vigilante saved Yuki from five attackers in a dark alley, a part of Tachibana Takemi's world shattered in that very same darkness. But her story began hours earlier, with morning light filtering through her bedroom curtains.
The morning light filtered through the curtains of Takemi's room. On one side of her wall hung recent pictures, her and Kana at the summer festival, both making exaggerated peace signs; Sakura mid-laugh at someone's joke; a group photo from the school entrance ceremony where everyone looked stiff and formal. Normal high school memories.
On the other side of the room, older photographs showed a different dynamic entirely. Ten-year-old Takemi grinning next to her teenage brother Kaito after winning some neighborhood baseball game, both covered in dirt and triumph. Another showed them building a snowman together, her small hands barely reaching the middle section while he adjusted the head. In every image, they stood close, comfortable with each other in the way siblings are when they're still friends. The photographs remained, but the siblings in them had disappeared.
Takemi made her way downstairs, the familiar sounds of morning routine greeting her as she entered the kitchen. The aroma of miso soup and grilled fish filled the air, while her father sat at the table absorbed in his newspaper.
"Good morning, Mom! Dad!" Takemi called out cheerfully.
"Good morning, Takemi!" her father replied, glancing up from his paper. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, Father." Takemi replied.
She moved into the kitchen where her mother was putting the finishing touches on breakfast, steam rising from the rice cooker as dishes were being arranged.
"Is everything ready? I'll help with whatever's left," Takemi offered, rolling up her sleeves.
"Thank you, dear," her mother said warmly. "You're always such a help."
Takemi smiled and continued with the morning preparations, the routine bringing a sense of normalcy to her day. On the counter, she noticed the familiar note from her brother, already gone to school as usual. The brief message was functional, devoid of the warmth their relationship had once held: Leaving early. Do not wait for me. - Kaito
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Takemi left for school on her solitary walk, her spirits high despite everything. Upon reaching the school grounds, she spotted Kurogane, who lived nearby but no longer walked to school with her as they had when they were younger.
Takemi headed toward her usual gathering spot with her friends while Kurogane walked off to meet Haruto and Kazama. She caught a glimpse of their group as they walked in.
"Yo! Haruto! Kazama!" Kurogane called out as he approached his friends.
"Oh Kurogane, good morning!" Haruto responded with his usual enthusiasm. "Have you guys tried that new game yet?"
"Before we get to that," Kurogane said, suddenly blocking Kazama's path and reaching up to touch his forehead in an exaggerated gesture, "have you noticed something strange around here?"
"Now that you mention it," Haruto joined in, "how did our perpetually late friend manage to arrive on time?"
Kurogane poked at Kazama's side playfully. "How come, how come?"
"Shut up you guys," Kazama said with a slight smirk, "let me breathe."
"'You guys! Let me breathe!'" Kurogane mimicked an exaggerated version of Kazama's voice, sending both him and Haruto into fits of laughter.
The three continued their teasing as they made their way to the classroom.
Once inside, as they settled into their seats and continued their conversation, Haruto picked up where he'd left off.
"So about that game I was mentioning, have you seen the character designs? I'm telling you, it's going to break records."
"Are you talking about... what was the name again?" Kurogane began, but his question was cut short as their teacher entered the classroom.
The familiar rustle of students adjusting themselves and settling into their proper seats filled the room.
"Be seated, everyone. I'll be taking attendance shortly, so please respond promptly," Fujimoto-sensei announced. "I also hope you've all completed your homework."
A collective murmur rose from the students at the mention of homework, causing the teacher's expression to sharpen.
"Quiet!" The classroom fell silent as attendance began.
"Alright, today I'll be asking some questions from our previous lesson. Everyone should be prepared," Fujimoto-sensei continued once the roll call was complete.
As the review session began, Takemi found herself answering most of the questions with quiet confidence. She could feel the attention of her classmates shifting toward her, their expressions ranging from impressed to surprised.
"Bro, did you see that?" Haruto whispered to Kurogane in amazement. "Is she some kind of genius? She's really committed to her studies."
Kurogane chuckled softly. "She's been like this since we were kids."
"How do you know that?" Haruto asked, while adjusting his glasses.
"We grew up in the same neighborhood, same school section," Kurogane explained in hushed tones. "I've known her for years now. But even for me, she's always been something of a mystery."
Kazama's attention was caught by their conversation, though he kept his expression neutral. "Is that so? That explains some things."
Kurogane turned to him with curiosity. "What do you mean, 'explains some things'?"
"Oh, me?" Kazama acted innocent. "Nothing, just thinking out loud."
Their whispered conversation was interrupted when the teacher's sharp gaze fell upon them.
"If I see you and Haruto disrupting my class again," the teacher warned Kurogane, "you'll both be writing apology letters one hundred times."
"Sorry, Sensei," both Kurogane and Haruto replied in unison, their voices flat.
During the break, Takemi found herself surrounded by a small group of students seeking help with difficult problems. Haruto was among them, listening intently as she explained complex concepts with patient clarity.
Meanwhile, behind the classroom, Kurogane and Kazama had joined another group engaged in casual conversation and jokes.
"Tachibana-san," called a student from another section, approaching with official purpose, "could you help deliver some equipment to the other classroom? Sensei requested it be moved there". The teachers trusted Takemi with such tasks because of her academic brilliance and reliability.
Takemi looked up from her tutoring session. "Of course. Let me find someone to help."
"I'll help," offered by one of her classmates nearby.
As they made their way through the hallways carrying the requested materials, Takemi was surprised to see a familiar figure emerging from their destination classroom.
"Nii-san," she said hesitantly, her voice carrying a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
"Takemi," Kaito, her brother, acknowledged with minimal warmth.
She opened her mouth to say more, perhaps to bridge the growing distance between them, but her brother simply walked past without another word. Takemi stood there for several seconds, the missed opportunity for connection leaving her with a familiar hollow feeling.
"Takemi? Are you alright?" her classmate asked, noticing her distraction.
"Oh, sorry," Takemi replied with a forced laugh. "Just lost in thought."
They completed their task and returned to class, but the brief encounter lingered in Takemi's mind for some time.
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When the final bell rang, students began the familiar ritual of packing bags and changing shoes.
"I'm home!" Takemi called out as she entered the house, the familiar warmth enveloping her.
"Welcome back," her mother replied from the kitchen. "How was school today, dear?"
"It went well. Sensei asked me lots of questions during the review," Takemi said with a small smile.
"I'm sure you answered them all perfectly," her mother said, reaching out to pat her head affectionately. "My brilliant daughter. I made your favorite, katsudon."
Takemi's face lit up with genuine pleasure. "Really? That's perfect, I'm starving."
They sat together at the table, the simple ritual of a shared meal bringing comfort after the day's complexities.
"Itadakimasu," they said in unison before beginning to eat.
Later that evening, Takemi sat at her study desk working through homework problems. Her room was quiet except for the scratch of pencil on paper and the occasional flip of a textbook page. The window was open, letting in the cool evening air.
Her phone rang, interrupting her calculations.
"Hello, Miku?" Takemi answered, after seeing the caller ID.
"Takemi!" Miku's voice was tight with panic. "There's a huge problem. I don't know what to do. My sister Yuki, she hasn't come home yet, and our parents are also worried and I'm clueless and..."
"Slow down," Takemi said, already closing her textbook. "Where was she supposed to be?"
"She was coming back from Ginza. She texted me two hours ago saying she'd be home soon, but now her phone is switched off." Miku's voice cracked. "What if something happened to her?"
"Have you tried calling her friends? Maybe she's with someone." Takemi replied while opening her closet.
"I did! Nobody's seen her!" Miku sobbed. "Takemi, I'm scared."
Takemi's mind raced. "Listen. Call the police non-emergency line and file a report. Give them her description and tell them where she went. I'll come meet you and we'll search the area together while we wait for them to respond. With my powers, I can cover ground faster. Okay?"
"Okay," Miku said shakily. "Thank you."
Takemi quickly changed clothes and hurried downstairs. She found her mother in the living room.
"Mom, Miku's sister is missing and she's alone. I'm going to help her search while the police are notified. I'll be back as soon as possible," Takemi said quickly. She then picked up her shoes.
Her mother's expression tightened with concern. "Be careful. And keep your phone on."
"I will. I promise." Takemi replied with a determined face.
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Takemi met Miku at the agreed location near Ginza station. Her friend's eyes were red from crying.
"Did you file the report?" Takemi asked as she took notice of Miku's face.
"Yes. They said they'd send someone, but it might take a while because there are multiple incidents tonight." Miku twisted her hands anxiously. "What if we don't find her?"
"We will," Takemi said with more confidence than she felt. "Which area was she supposed to be in exactly?"
"She was shopping near the main street," Miku replied while taking a look at her phone every few seconds.
They split up to cover more ground, staying within shouting distance. After nearly an hour of searching, she spotted a figure sitting by a small fountain.
"Yuki-nee !" Takemi called out, recognizing her instantly.
The young woman looked up, startled. Her face was tear-stained, her clothes disheveled. Takemi quickly called Miku over, and together they helped Yuki to a nearby bench.
"Are you hurt? What happened?" Takemi asked gently, offering her water bottle.
"I... there were these guys," Yuki said shakily. "They started following me, saying things. I ran, but... I think I dropped my purse somewhere. It has everything. My ID, my cards, my house keys… I was with an officer earlier… but then… he…. he left. He said something…else came up"
"We should wait here," Miku said firmly. "The police will search for it."
But Takemi's mind was already calculating. The area was probably still crawling with those men. The police response was delayed.
She was attacked ? The purse had her personal details. If those guys are still there, they could track her down here. I need to do something, Takemi thought.
"I'll go look for it," Takemi said decisively. "I know this area, and with my powers, I can move quickly and stay hidden if needed. You two stay here where it's safe". She sounded confident even though she wasn't familiar with the area.
"Takemi, that's too dangerous….." Miku snapped, her brows lifting sharply, a twitch of frustration pulling at the corner of her eye, "Didn't you just hear what my sister said. There are dangerous people out there!"
"Shirai Takeru patrols this district," Takemi said. "If he's there, it's the safest place I could be. I'll be in and out before you know it. Just... stay here"
"But my sister was attacked anyway," Miku replied in a loud tone.
"A hero saved me" Yuki interjected with a soft tone, "a masked hero was there. He saved me from those goons".
"See ? Another hero is also there! And I bet at this point Shirai Takeru is also going to be there. So two heroes. Nothing to worry about." Takemi said with confidence with both hands on her waist.
Miku hesitated, then nodded. "Okay then. Please be careful. And keep your phone on"
"75% battery with tracking on. Don't worry" Takemi showed the battery and navigation status of her phone to Miku to put her mind at ease.
Using her powers to create a subtle camouflaging force field around herself, bending light around her body to make her harder to spot, Takemi made her way back into the area where Yuki had been attacked as per the directions she provided.
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The alley was dimmer now, the streetlights casting long shadows between buildings. Takemi moved carefully, her force field shimmering faintly around her like heat waves. She could hear voices ahead. Multiple people.
She crept closer, pressing against the wall of a building, and peered around the corner.
Her blood turned to ice.
Five men were scattered across the alley in various states of injury. Two sat against a wall, one holding his ribs and groaning. Another lay flat on his back, still unconscious. The other two were struggling to stand, their faces bruised and bloodied.
And standing in the center of it all was Shirai Takeru.
But he wasn't arresting them.
He must have just arrived, Takemi thought, relief flooding through her. He fought them off. Now he'll….
"Can you idiots do nothing right?" Takeru's voice was cold, disgusted. He grabbed one of the conscious men by his collar and hauled him up. Hiro had already received his share of scolding and it was the others' turn. "What were your intentions? Don't you know who you work for ? You even let that woman escape who saw all of you! Do one thing right. Atleast."
Takemi's breath caught in her throat.
"The police took her, boss," the man wheezed. "We weren't expecting…."
"Excuses." Takeru dropped him back to the ground with a thud. "Where's her purse?"
"Over there." One of the others pointed to a small pink bag lying near a dumpster.
No, Takemi thought, her mind refusing to process what she was seeing. No, this isn't….
Takeru walked over and picked up the purse, rifling through it. He pulled out an ID card, examined it, then put it back inside the purse. Then he pulled out a small canister of gasoline, from the smell that wafted across the alley and doused the purse with it.
"Boss, what are you…." one of the men started.
"Evidence," Takeru said simply. He pulled out a lighter.
The purse went up in flames with a soft whoosh, the fire casting dancing shadows across the alley walls.
Takemi's hand instinctively covered her mouth to stifle any sound. Her whole body had gone rigid. This couldn't be real. This was Shirai Takeru. The Shield of the Local.
"Get up," Takeru ordered the men. "We're moving to the secondary location. And if any of you screw up like this again, I will dock your pay. Understood?"
"Yes, boss," they muttered, helping each other to their feet.
Takemi didn't move. Couldn't move. She watched as Takeru helped the most injured man stand, even offering his shoulder for support. The gentleness was familiar as she'd seen him help injured civilians the same way.
But these weren't civilians.
These were criminals.
And he was their boss.
As the group limped out of the alley in the opposite direction, Takemi finally allowed herself to breathe. Her legs felt weak. Her hands were shaking.
I need to go, she thought frantically. I need to get out of here before….
She turned to leave and her foot caught on something. It clattered loudly against the pavement.
Takemi froze.
"Did you hear that?" one of the men's voices carried back.
"Probably a cat," another replied.
"Check it anyway," Takeru's voice commanded.
Takemi didn't wait. She ran, her force field rippling around her as she moved, praying it would be enough to keep her hidden. She heard footsteps behind her but didn't look back. She just ran, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might burst from her chest.
She didn't stop until she'd made it back to where Miku and Yuki were waiting.
"Takemi!" Miku stood up as she approached. "Did you find….." She stopped, seeing Takemi's face. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I... the purse was already gone," Takemi managed, her voice shaking. "Someone must have taken it. We should... we should go to the police station and report it stolen. They can put a hold on the cards."
It wasn't a lie, exactly. The purse was gone. She just couldn't tell them why. Not yet. Not until she understood what she'd seen.
Yuki looked like she might cry again, but Miku put an arm around her sister. "It's okay. We'll handle it. Thank you for trying, Takemi."
They walked together to the nearest police station where Yuki filed a report about her stolen purse. An officer took her statement, asked questions and wrote everything down. Takemi sat in a plastic chair, staring at nothing, the image of Takeru burning that evidence playing over and over in her mind.
By the time Takemi finally made it home, it was past twelve o'clock.
Her mother met her at the door, relief and anger warring on her face.
"Takemi! Where have you been? You said you'd be back soon and it's been nearly two hours!" Her mother pulled her into a tight hug, then held her at arm's length. "I called you ten times!"
"I'm sorry," Takemi said, pulling out her phone. The screen showed twelve missed calls. "I put it on silent while we were searching and forgot to turn it back on. I'm so sorry, Mom."
Her father appeared in the doorway, his expression stern. "Your mother was about to call the police. Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"We were about to file a missing person report," her mother added, her voice breaking slightly.
From the stairs, Takemi caught a glimpse of Kaito watching the scene unfold, his expression unreadable. But Takemi knew that she got him worried as well.
"I'm sorry," Takemi repeated, bowing deeply. "It won't happen again. I promise."
Her father's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Go to your room. We'll discuss this in the morning."
In her room finally, with the door closed and moonlight streaming through her window, Takemi sat at her desk where her homework still waited, abandoned hours earlier. She stared at the textbook without seeing it.
Her eyes fell on one of the photographs on her wall. Ten-year-old Takemi standing proudly next to twenty-year-old Takeru, both of them holding a trophy from a fishing event. She remembered that day so clearly, how tall he seemed and how strong. How safe she felt standing next to him.
"You've got potential, kid," he had said, ruffling her hair. "You said you want to be a hero ? One day you'll be protecting people just like me."
She'd treasured those words for six years.
Now they felt like poison.
"Why?" The question emerged as both whisper and sob.
But so was what she'd seen tonight. And she was the only one who knew the truth.
For now.