**Paras City – Yuki's House, Quiet Afternoon**
The gentle spring morning had melted into a warm, lazy afternoon. Sunlight filtered through the curtains in soft golden beams, casting long shadows across the room. The air was peaceful, filled with the faint scent of jasmine tea that had gone cold on the table and the comforting warmth of two bodies resting close together.
Yuki and Honokage had fallen asleep while looking through the old album of Astra's childhood drawings. Yuki's leg was casually draped over Honokage's, her arm wrapped loosely around his waist. Her head rested on his chest, rising and falling with his steady breathing. Honokage's arm was curled protectively around her shoulders, his dark hair slightly tousled, face relaxed in sleep for the first time in weeks.
Outside, birds sang softly in the trees, and the distant sound of children playing in the rebuilt streets drifted through the open window.
Yuki stirred first. She blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the golden light. A small, content smile touched her lips as she felt Honokage's warmth beside her. She didn't move immediately — just stayed there, savoring the quiet moment, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his side.
Honokage woke a few seconds later. His crimson-black eyes opened, and he looked down at her, a faint softness in his usually stoic expression.
"You're awake," he murmured, voice low and slightly rough from sleep.
Yuki lifted her head just enough to meet his gaze, still smiling.
"Mhm… I didn't want to move. It's been so long since we could just… be like this."
Honokage didn't reply right away. He simply tightened his arm around her a little more, pulling her closer. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was comfortable, filled with everything they had lost and everything they were slowly regaining.
Yuki's voice was soft when she finally broke it.
"Hono-kun… thank you for coming back. Really."
Honokage's eyes flickered with guilt again, but he only nodded once.
"I'm here now."
**Meanwhile – Paras City Streets**
Two figures walked along a quiet footpath near the edge of the city. Both were dressed in dark hoodies and masks, faces hidden, moving with deliberate casualness. They looked like ordinary passersby, but their steps were too measured, too purposeful.
One of them — the shorter figure — spoke in a low, coded whisper.
"Potatoes."
The taller one replied without missing a beat.
"Chips."
The first person stopped walking and turned to study the other carefully.
"Mangos."
The second nodded slowly.
"Vanilla Ice Cream."
The first person raised their index finger, pointing subtly at a large poster on a nearby wall where a long shadow was falling. The poster showed Idol Yuki standing with a microphone, one hand raised high, advertising a concert scheduled for that very evening.
The first person's voice dropped even lower, still in code.
"Mangos… Kill… Mangos."
The second person nodded seriously.
"700 Thousand Chocos reward… Ye ye."
The first person switched to a normal whisper for a moment.
"Follow me…"
As they walked away, the sunlight shifted. The shadow on the poster disappeared, fully revealing the image of Yuki smiling brightly on stage.
The second person nodded once more.
They turned into a small, abandoned train station on the outskirts of the city. The platform was empty, overgrown with weeds, the tracks rusted and silent. Almost no one ever came here anymore.
The first person stopped in the middle of the deserted platform and spoke in a low, serious tone.
"Silence… Hear me out."
The second person stopped, then sat down on an old wooden bench.
The first person sat beside them, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag. Smoke curled from their mouth before they dropped the cigarette and crushed it under their boot.
"Now we can talk normally… There is no people. But always be aware — anyone can hear us."
The second person tilted their head slightly.
"And why are we hunting Yuki the idol? Her value isn't even that much…"
The first person smiled beneath the mask, eyes glinting.
"Everyone thinks we are just normal criminals… But actually our plan is…"
The second person leaned in.
"What's our plan?"
The first person's voice became cold and calculated.
"Yuki stays with a cursed leviathan named Honokage… We need his giant heart to make a godly weapon that can take over the world. So our first goal is to act like we are trying to kill Yuki. Second, when Honokage uses his powerful moves to protect her… we will attack him suddenly."
The second person nodded quietly.
"The plan isn't bad after all…"
The first person crossed their legs, still speaking in a low tone.
"Alright… Now we are only just waiting for the plan to be executed. But we have to do it carefully since… there are too many fans there."
The second person pulled a small cinnamon roll stick from a packet and offered it.
"Want it?"
The first person chuckled and took it without a word.
The second person ate one too.
They finally removed their hoodies. Light fell on their faces.
**Sakura** — short blonde hair, emerald green eyes, big eyelashes, extremely youthful appearance almost like a teenager.
**Uzumaki** — slightly trimmed blue hair, indigo eyes, adult expression with a hint of mischief.
Sakura reached into her pocket and pulled out a small badge. Her golden nails reflected the light slightly as she handed it to Uzumaki.
"Here it is… My details. No. 1 Cyborg Assassin, my addresses, pin and more."
Uzumaki read it carefully, then handed it back.
He crossed his legs, hands resting behind his neck.
"Well… You seniors always flex on me as I am new at this job."
He turned to Sakura.
"But why are we doing this together?"
Sakura leaned back slightly.
"It's because the boss had said."
She stood up, pulling her hoodie back over her head.
"Let's go and hide somewhere else… When the night falls and the concert starts, we will go."
Uzumaki stood up, sweating a little.
"Hmm hey… Why are you being in such a hurry?"
He pointed down the empty platform.
"Let's explore the city first? We came from too far not only for hunting, right!?"
Sakura sighed and turned to him, eyes sharp.
"Not a single chance. We are here for the mission."
Then she glared at him.
"And also one thing… I am only here to help you in the mission. Nothing else."
Uzumaki suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Oh come on… Cyborgs can't be this emotionless… Like I am a cyborg as well… But look, I am serious depending on situations. You must be like that."
Sakura threw his hand off and shoved her hands back into her pockets.
"No thanks…"
She started walking away.
Uzumaki raised his hand.
"Ahh… Don't go like that at least?"
She didn't listen.
He sprinted after her, removed the hoodie from her head, and held her palm softly.
Uzumaki smiled.
"Nothing will decrease if you explore the city even a bit."
Sakura rolled her eyes, but a tiny smile escaped despite herself.
"Uhh fine… But only this time… But if this ruins our plan, I am not letting it go."
Uzumaki grinned.
"Don't worry… Just let's go…"
Sakura sighed but the small smile remained.
"Fine."
The next train arrived slowly at the abandoned station. It was almost empty. They entered and sat together.
The train started moving, soon entering a long tunnel before emerging beside a massive sparkling sea. Sunlight reflected beautifully off the water, birds soaring overhead.
Sakura saw the sea for the first time in her life. Her expression stayed serious, but she couldn't look away, emerald eyes fixed on the shimmering water.
Uzumaki leaned toward her.
"Hey?"
Sakura turned, still distracted.
"Yes??"
Uzumaki grinned.
"You know? That blue area you are seeing… it's called the sea."
Sakura tilted her head.
"Sea? Like fishes live inside there?"
Uzumaki chuckled.
"Nope… Not just fishes… There are various kinds of animals living inside it — sharks, crabs, dolphins, whales…"
Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
"How do they look like?"
Uzumaki stared at her, genuinely shocked.
"You… You really don't know how they look?"
Sakura lowered her head a bit.
"No… Is there something wrong?"
Uzumaki softened immediately.
"No… Nothing is wrong… But I'm really shocked that you don't know about them."
Sakura stayed quiet.
Uzumaki pulled out his phone and showed her pictures of aquatic life — colorful fish, majestic whales, playful dolphins.
Sakura turned and looked, and for the first time a warm, genuine smile appeared on her face.
"Those are really beautiful… You are so lucky that you know about them."
Uzumaki smiled gently.
"Have you ever read a book?"
Sakura shook her head.
"Honestly… I don't go to school."
Uzumaki's expression grew softer.
"But… why?"
Sakura sighed, looking out at the sea again.
"I wasn't a cyborg at first… My parents abandoned me because I had some mental issues and it affected my emotions as well… I never cried or laughed in my life…"
Uzumaki's voice was quiet.
"That's extremely sad… How do you live like that?"
Sakura's voice was flat but honest.
"The boss adopted me. Made me a cyborg, and now I serve him."
Uzumaki looked at her for a long moment.
"Don't you get time to read books or search for something that you love or like?"
Sunlight through the window fell on Sakura's face, the sea outside still reflecting beautiful light.
Sakura answered softly.
"I don't get enough time… As I am the best assassin, I have to do codings as well besides killing."
She turned to him.
"I am actually interested now. What did you do that you know about so many things?"
Uzumaki smiled.
"I read books in my free time, watch videos on my phone and do many more activities before becoming a cyborg. But after it, I still manage to read and be an assassin."
He continued gently.
"The thing you are asking about is nature. Animals. Creatures. Life and many more."
Sakura looked confused.
"I didn't understand what you are saying."
Uzumaki sighed softly.
"You need time to understand those… Humans hurt the innocent lives… That's what I hate the most."
The train reached the next station.
Uzumaki and Sakura stood up.
Sakura whispered.
"You are really an incredible guy."
Uzumaki grinned.
"Yes I am."
Sakura looked down.
"That's really weird… that even after being senior and experienced, I don't know such cool things like this."
They walked down the stairs of the station.
Normal public moved around them — busy, ordinary city life.
Sakura got serious and whispered to him.
"We should wear our hoodies again and talk in codes."
Uzumaki disagreed immediately.
"Nah… We don't need to. Just act normal and harmless. That's it."
He made her stand in front of a small food stall.
"Wait here. I'm coming."
He walked to the stall and talked to the owner.
Sakura stood alone, suspicious.
*Why did he go like that? Is he trying to leave the mission or planning a betrayal?*
She watched him carefully.
But then Uzumaki returned with a tray of fresh dumplings, smiling.
"Sorry for being late. But we have got our food now."
Sakura stared at the dumplings.
"Food?"
She looked at them curiously.
"What is this thing?"
Uzumaki chuckled.
"Don't tell me you don't even know about dumplings."
Sakura shook her head honestly.
"Actually… I don't know…"
Uzumaki sighed dramatically.
"Then you are just meaningless…"
He picked up a dumpling and tried to feed her.
"Okay, taste it and say if you like it or not."
Sakura rejected it at first.
"Nah, I don't want it… You eat… I am just okay with rice crackers."
Uzumaki insisted with a grin.
"No… You must eat it."
Sakura kept trying to avoid it.
Then he gently placed the dumpling at her mouth.
Sakura stiffened, shocked, face turning bright red.
She blushed furiously and stomped her feet on the ground.
Her voice came out muffled around the dumpling.
"Who the hell told you to feed me like that!?? In front of thousands of people crossing the road!!!"
Then she bit down.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Sakura's voice softened.
"That's really good…"
Uzumaki winked, already munching on several dumplings.
"I told you… Those taste pretty good…"
Sakura looked around. People were watching them curiously.
She blushed harder, embarrassed.
She suddenly grabbed his hand for the first time since the mission started.
"Let's go somewhere else… You made me embarrassed."
Uzumaki sighed but smiled.
"Okay… As you wish."
**Night Falls Over Paras City**
Yuki woke up slowly, stretching her arms with a big yawn, a bright smile on her face.
"Hono-kun? You know what's special today?"
Honokage, still lying beside her, opened one eye.
"I know… There is a concert today."
Yuki winked playfully.
"Exactly! And I, the idol, will sing again! Fans will cheer again — yayyy!"
She pouted instantly.
"But you must come too. Last time you came but stayed only for two minutes."
Honokage rolled his eyes.
"Uhh fine… I will watch from the seats."
Yuki's smile returned, bright and genuine.
"Good… You are my motivation… I will sing better now."
**Scene at the Concert Venue – Evening**
The concert hall was already filling up. Other idols were preparing backstage. Fans had taken their seats, buzzing with excitement.
From a distant building rooftop, two hooded figures sat watching.
Sakura's voice was low.
"Are you ready?"
Uzumaki nodded.
"Yes."
The night deepened.
The city lights glowed brighter.
And the hunt for Yuki had begun.