Rain dripped from the edges of the rooftop, pooling into tiny rivers at their feet.
Hikari's hand was still in Riku's—warm despite the cold air, trembling despite her calm face. The city stretched out below them, neon lights painting their silhouettes in pink and blue.
She didn't look at him when she spoke.
"You're wondering why I dragged you into this mess."
Riku tried to laugh, but it came out shaky. "Dragged? You literally jumped off a building and told me to follow. I think that's called kidnapping."
Her lips curved into the faintest smile, but it faded quickly.
"They'll keep coming for me… and now, for you too."
The sound of tires screeching echoed from the street below. Riku stepped closer to the edge and saw three black cars pulling up. Men in dark suits spilled out, each one moving like they'd done this a hundred times before.
"Friends of yours?" he asked, stepping back.
"Enemies," she corrected softly. "The kind who don't miss twice."
Before he could react, she grabbed his wrist. "We have to go. Now."
They ran through the rooftop door, their footsteps pounding down the stairwell. The hum of the city faded behind the slam of each metal door they passed. Riku's chest burned, but adrenaline made his legs move faster.
By the time they burst into a narrow alley, the rain had become heavier, turning the ground slick and reflecting the glow of streetlights. Hikari finally stopped, leaning against the wall, her breathing ragged.
Riku leaned beside her, wiping water from his face. "So, wanna explain why people with expensive cars and bad suits are chasing you?"
She hesitated, glancing toward the alley's mouth as if weighing the danger against the truth.
"My name isn't just Hikari," she said finally. "It's Akiyama Hikari… Princess of the Imperial House of Sairen."
Riku stared at her. "…A princess. Of course. And I suppose I'm secretly a millionaire?"
"I'm serious," she said, her voice sharp but trembling. "I've been in hiding for a year. My father was betrayed, my family… they're gone. The throne is empty, and the Black Lotus wants to make sure I never take it."
Before Riku could say anything, a shadow moved at the alley's entrance. Two men stepped into view, their shoes splashing in the water. One smirked.
"You can't hide forever, Princess."
Hikari's grip on Riku's hand tightened. "Run."
They took off again, weaving through the maze of backstreets, the men's footsteps chasing them. A bullet cracked the air beside Riku's head, making him duck instinctively. His heart pounded in his ears.
Finally, they reached a dead end.
"Perfect," Riku muttered. "Do you also have a habit of running into traps, or is this my lucky day?"
Hikari stepped forward, pulling a silver dagger from the folds of her coat. The blade caught the streetlight, gleaming with an intricate crest.
"You stay behind me," she said, her voice calm now—too calm.
The first man lunged, but she moved like flowing water, sidestepping and striking in one motion. The second man hesitated, giving Riku just enough courage to swing a rusted metal pipe he found on the ground. It connected with a sickening crack, and the man stumbled back.
Sirens wailed somewhere in the distance. The attackers fled into the night.
Hikari turned to him, her hair plastered to her face from the rain. For a moment, they just stood there, breathing heavily, watching each other.
Then she stepped closer, pressing something into his palm a small, ornate pendant, warm as if it had its own heartbeat.
"Keep it safe," she whispered. "It's the key to everything."
And before Riku could ask what she meant, she took his hand again, pulling him back into the rain, the city swallowing them whole.