---
Kurojin blinked, still stunned.
> "Uhh… Mia?"
Mia stood in front of him, her face red, but her eyes glowing with courage.
> "When I saw you play soccer earlier… my heart started racing."
Kurojin looked confused.
> "Huh?"
In his head, Ard laughed.
> "Maybe this is your only chance to go on a date with her."
Kurojin swallowed hard.
> "I… yes."
> "Really?" Mia smiled, lighting up.
> "Yeah."
She quickly pulled out her phone and showed him a location.
> "Let's meet here tomorrow, okay?"
Kurojin nodded with a small smile.
> "Sure."
She turned and walked away, waving.
Kurojin stood still, heart pounding. As he began walking home, he looked around one last time — but Yuki had already disappeared again like a ghost in the wind.
> "She really is something else," he muttered.
---
That Night
He stepped inside the house. Sakura was sitting in the living room, watching anime. Kurojin ignored her and headed to his room, collapsing onto his bed.
Ard's voice echoed in his mind.
> "Aren't you excited for tomorrow?"
Kurojin sighed.
> "Not really."
> "Why not?"
Kurojin turned toward him.
> "She's not interested in me… not the real me. You're the one who kicked the ball that made her notice me. Not me."
Ard was silent for once.
Kurojin stared at the ceiling, eyes heavy, and slowly drifted to sleep.
---
Flashback
A young Kurojin was laughing with four other kids. They sat under a tree, sharing snacks and making silly faces.
> "Let's make a promise!" one boy shouted.
"We'll be best friends forever!"
> "Yeah!" the others cheered.
But the memory faded into silence. The kids were gone, each sent to different high schools… and they never saw each other again.
---
The Next Day
Kurojin stood in front of the mirror, trying to force a smile.
> "That looks weird," Ard said, chuckling.
"Haven't you smiled before?"
Kurojin just looked down.
He left the house quietly and walked to the location Mia had sent.
When he arrived, he saw both Mia… and Yuki.
> "Hey," he waved, confused.
"Why is she here?"
Yuki sighed.
> "Just observing."
Before he could say more, Mia grabbed Kurojin's hand.
> "Come on! I'm so happy you came!"
She pulled him along through the city. They bought ice cream, took photos, and shared a few laughs. For the first time in a while, Kurojin let himself smile.
> "So… how's it going?" Ard asked playfully.
> "It's… nice," Kurojin admitted.
The sun set as they walked under streetlights.
> "I'll walk you home," Kurojin said.
> "Thank you," Mia smiled.
They turned a quiet corner.
Suddenly—
> SHUNK.
Kurojin froze as pain exploded in his stomach. He looked down to see a knife sticking out of him.
> "W-what…?"
Blood trickled down his shirt. He turned slowly — and saw Mia, holding the blade, her face trembling… but still smiling.
> "Why…?" Kurojin gasped, collapsing to the ground.
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
> "I'm sorry… I didn't want to do this. But… I'm on a mission. I was told to kill the Demon King."
> "But… I'm not him…" Kurojin coughed blood.
> "You're his vessel. That's enough."
Kurojin stared at her in disbelief.
> "I really thought… you were different…"
Tears welled in his eyes.
> "This is why I hate people. Every time I trust someone… they leave or betray me."
He curled on the pavement, shaking.
> "I just wanted a normal life…"
Ard whispered inside his head.
> "She must be one of them…"
Mia stepped closer, knife trembling.
> "If I don't do this, they'll hurt my family…"
She raised the blade again — but before she could strike—
BOOM!
Yuki appeared in a burst of flame, grabbing Mia's wrist mid-swing and kicking her hard across the alley.
> "Are you alright, Master?"
Kurojin wiped his eyes, still shaking.
Mia groaned and stood.
> "I don't want to hurt you. But I have to. If I fail, they'll—"
Suddenly her phone rang. She answered it quietly, her face changing.
> "What? …I understand."
She hung up, gave Kurojin one last glance, then vanished into the night.
Kurojin fell to his knees. Yuki walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
But Kurojin whispered through gritted teeth.
> "This is all your fault… Ard."
Ard said nothing.
> "My life was better before you came. It was lonely… but peaceful. Now it's just pain."
Tears streamed down his face.
---
Far away…
A mysterious figure leaned against a wall, watching silently from the shadows.
> "So… he's finally waking up."
To be continued...
---