Man 3
"Why so cold? We just want to be… friends."
Aanya (eyes filling with tears)
"I said I'm going home."
Man 4 (laughing)
"Oho, attitude! Look at this one."
Man 5 (spits on ground)
"Speak again, I'll teach you how to respect elders."
One starts hurling filthy words. Aanya freezes — shoulders stiff, eyes on the ground, tears rolling silently.
Cut to: the far end of the alley.
Footsteps echo — calm, unhurried. Sato walks past the alley entrance, bag slung over one shoulder, humming a tune. He crosses… stops. The corner of his eye catches the scene.
He takes two more steps, then stops dead. Turns his head slowly. Camera focuses: his calm, joking expression flickers — eyes sharpen.
Sato (to himself, quiet)
"…What's this?"
He steps back. Places his bag against the wall outside. Cracks his neck.
Sato (soft sigh)
"Detention's over, kids… but looks like I've got evening duty."
Camera: his shoes step into the alley — echoing against the narrow walls.
The alley — tense, suffocating. Aanya stands frozen, five men closing in. One's hand still on her shoulder.
Footsteps. A calm, steady voice cuts through the noise.
Reaper (hands in pockets, voice casual)
"Woah, woah, woah… five grown men picking on a school kid? That what your moms raised you to do?"
Aanya turns, eyes wet — disbelief floods her face.
Aanya (choked)
"Sensei…?"
Man 1 (scowling, steps forward)
"Who the hell are you? Get lost before we make you regret it."
Reaper tilts his head, smirking — the same smirk that annoys his colleagues every morning.
Reaper
"Run? From here? Sure, I can leave. But before that…"
(turns to Aanya)
"Tell me, Aanya — do you want me to handle this?"
Her lips tremble. Tears fall.
Aanya (barely whispering)
"Please… help me."
The air shifts.
Reaper exhales once — then vanishes from his spot. A gust of wind follows.
CRACK! — his kick slams into Man 1's face like a freight train. The thug flies back, crashes into a stack of crates, unconscious before hitting the ground.
The remaining four roar and charge.
Reaper (under his breath, rolling his shoulders)
"Should've picked homework over this."
Two swing at once — he sidesteps, grabs their arms, twists with a fluid Aikido sweep — SLAM! — both men flip midair, crash against opposite walls, spines bending awkwardly.
The last two hesitate — too late. He pivots, kicks both in the chest with one sweeping motion — BAM! BAM! — they drop like empty sacks.
Silence. Five bodies groaning, the alley still.
Reaper walks to Aanya, voice soft again — like nothing happened.
Reaper
"You alright?"
Aanya (wiping tears, voice trembling)
"Y-yeah…"
Reaper (grins)
"Good. Then let's get you home, yeah?"
They walk out of the alley. Streetlights flicker on. Reaper grabs his bike keys.
Aanya (quietly, on the way)
"Sensei… how do you fight like that?"
He looks up at the darkening sky — a faint smile on his lips.
Reaper
"That… is a long story. I'll tell you when I find the right time."
He hands her a helmet.
Reaper
"Hop on. Hold tight."
Engine roars to life — VVVRRROOOOOOMMMM! — the bike shoots forward, cutting through the city streets at 100 km/h, the night wind whipping past.
The bike slows down before a modest apartment block. Aanya steps off, still clutching her bag tightly.
Reaper (removing his helmet, voice calm)
"Here we are."
Aanya (nervous)
"Sensei… thank you. I… I didn't know what to do back there."
Reaper (light chuckle)
"Not your job to fight grown cowards. But next time — don't walk alone through that alley, understood?"
Aanya nods, then hesitates.
Aanya
"Should I… tell someone? My parents? The school?"
Reaper shakes his head slowly, eyes scanning the dim street.
Reaper (firm, low)
"No. Not a word. They're just trash — and trash gets taken out quietly. If you talk, they'll come back louder. If you stay quiet, they'll stay down."
Aanya bites her lip, then nods again.
Aanya
"Okay… I won't tell anyone."
Reaper (half-smile)
"Good girl. Now get inside before your mom starts worrying."
Aanya walks toward her door, glancing back once — her eyes carry a mix of fear and trust. Reaper gives a casual wave, then revs the bike again.
Later — his small rented room in Agra. A bare bulb flickers overhead. He tosses his bag onto a chair, unbuttons his shirt, and drops onto the bed with a sigh.
Reaper (to himself, staring at ceiling)
"Tch… can't even stay out of trouble for one damn week."
Morning air is crisp. The bike engine hums smoothly as Reaper cruises toward school. For once, he's early — hair still damp from a proper bath, tie knotted for a change.
As he turns near the familiar alley, his eyes narrow — a cluster of nearly a dozen men blocks the path. Among them, the same five from yesterday smirk behind their reinforcements.
Reaper squeezes the brake. The engine growls to a halt.
Reaper (removing his helmet, rubbing his forehead)
"Huh… what a mess. Really? You lost to a teacher, so you called your whole kindergarten reunion?"
Man 1 (grinning, arms crossed)
"Guess you got scared, showing up early like this. Don't worry, we'll end this quick."
Reaper steps off the bike slowly, sets the stand, and cracks his neck. His tone stays calm — almost bored.
Reaper (half-smirk)
"Quick? Yeah… but not here."
He gestures to the bicycle parking area where students often arrive.
Reaper
"Kids park here. I don't want their tires rolling over your teeth. Alley. Now."