The next morning, Akira woke earlier than usual.
He had dreamed — not of monsters, not of shadows, not of the void.
He saw Rina crying.
And behind her, a smile.
A soft smile.
A beautiful smile.
Reiji's smile.
Akira sat up instantly, sweat covering his forehead.
"Why… did I see that?"
Masahiro answered after a silent moment.
> "Your soul is warning you. The bond you carry with her… it is strong enough for premonition."
Akira stood, grabbed his uniform, and left quickly.
Rina wasn't sleeping.
She hadn't slept all night.
Her mind kept replaying the sensation from last night — like something invisible had touched her shoulder.
But when she arrived at the dance academy, Reiji was already there, stretching calmly.
He looked up.
"Good morning," he said softly.
Rina hesitated — then smiled faintly. "Morning…"
He tilted his head, observing her carefully.
"Did you sleep well?"
"…Not really."
Reiji stepped closer — too close — but with gentle eyes.
"Try not to worry. You're safe here."
She didn't know why…
but she believed him.
Reiji held out a hand.
"Shall we go in?"
She placed her hand in his.
And the shadow of her death wrapped quietly around her ankles.
Meanwhile, Akira walked through the city with a knot in his stomach.
Something kept pulling at him.
Like invisible threads tying him toward Rina's direction.
When he reached the shop, the pendant pulsed violently.
Masahiro's voice sharpened.
> "Kid. She's in danger."
Akira froze. "…Rina?"
> "Move. Now."
Akira didn't hesitate — he dropped everything and ran.
At that same moment,
Reiji stood behind Rina inside the empty dance hall.
He watched her reflection in the mirror — her hair, her posture, her heartbeat through her neck.
Rina didn't know that the reflection behind her…
did not blink.
Reiji whispered:
"You really do smell like hope."
She turned. "What did you say?"
He smiled, soft and harmless.
"Nothing."
But his eyes…
red flickered for half a second.
Outside the academy's window, a shadow passed by — swift, golden, silent.
Ryozen, watching the scene from afar, eyes narrowing.
"…Reiji. So he's hunting her next."
Back in New York — the eagle descended in a slow spiral onto a wooden perch.
Michael looked up.
His hands were gentle as they brushed the feathers.
The pigeon on his shoulder preened calmly.
"A message from him, hm?"
He untied the scroll, broke the seal, and read it.
His eyes — calm blue — sharpened.
"…It has begun."
He placed the letter back on the counter and exhaled.
"Ryozen, you never call unless the world is breaking."
He reached behind the counter.
A wooden case opened — revealing a small, silver feather-shaped blade glowing faintly.
He holstered it smoothly.
"Time to move."
The bell on his shop door rang as he stepped out.
A feather fell behind him — glowing bright gold.