---
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Ketsuro Aoi lay on a narrow hospital bed, staring at the cracked ceiling above him.
The steady beep… beep… of a heart monitor echoed like a countdown.
His chest burned.
Not pain—
pressure.
He slowly raised his hand and touched the bandage near his heart.
Under it, the red mark pulsed faintly.
Alive.
---
Ketsuro (Inner Monologue)
"Every time it glows… my heart feels heavier."
---
The door slid open.
MIYU KISARAGI walked in, calm as ever.
Her eyes met his immediately.
---
Miyu
"You're awake earlier than expected."
Ketsuro
"…How long was I out?"
Miyu
"Six hours."
She paused.
"Six hours you won't get back."
---
Those words hit harder than the wound.
---
Scene 1 – The Truth
Miyu pulled a chair and sat beside him.
She didn't smile.
She didn't comfort him.
She told the truth.
---
Miyu
"The power you used last night is called Crimson Pulse."
She placed a finger near her own chest.
"It slows the world by forcing your heart to beat faster than time itself."
---
Ketsuro's eyes widened.
---
Ketsuro
"So… what's the cost?"
Miyu didn't answer immediately.
She stood up.
Walked to the window.
Rain still fell outside.
---
Miyu
"Each second you steal from time…" "…steals seconds from your life."
Silence.
---
Miyu
"You shortened your lifespan by three minutes last night."
---
The monitor beeped.
Once.
Twice.
Ketsuro clenched his teeth.
---
Ketsuro (Inner Monologue)
"Three minutes… for one dodge?"
---
Scene 2 – Training Begins
Abandoned subway station.
Underground.
Dim lights flicker.
Miyu stood across from Ketsuro.
---
Miyu
"If you're going to lose your life anyway—" "Learn to control how much you lose."
She tossed a metal rod at him.
Hard.
---
Miyu
"Dodge."
---
The rod flew fast.
Too fast.
Ketsuro panicked.
The red mark burned.
---
Ketsuro
"No—!"
Time slowed.
Just a little.
He moved aside.
The rod missed.
Time snapped back.
---
Pain.
Sharp.
Ketsuro dropped to one knee.
Gasping.
---
Miyu
"Two seconds."
She looked at him coldly.
"You lost ten seconds of life."
---
Scene 3 – Rival's Entrance
Slow clapping echoed through the tunnel.
Clap… clap… clap…
A tall boy stepped out of the shadows.
White jacket.
Sharp eyes.
A red vein pattern running across his right arm.
---
Unknown Boy
"So this is the heart-marked rookie?"
He smirked.
---
Miyu
"…Raiga Shindo."
---
RAIGA SHINDO.
The name carried weight.
---
Raiga
"I was hoping you'd be stronger."
He cracked his knuckles.
Red veins glowed brighter.
---
Raiga
"Using time to run away?" "That power deserves someone with guts."
---
Ketsuro stood up slowly.
Blood trickled from his lip.
---
Ketsuro
"…I don't run."
Raiga laughed.
---
Raiga
"Good." "Then let me show you the difference between borrowing time—"
Raiga's veins flared violently.
The ground cracked.
---
Raiga
"—and dominating it."
---
Final Scene – Promise of Conflict
The air grew heavy.
Two red powers pulsing.
Heart vs Veins.
Miyu stepped back.
---
Miyu (Inner Monologue)
"This fight will decide how fast he dies."
---
Ketsuro clenched his fist.
His heart screamed.
---
Ketsuro (Inner Monologue)
"If every second costs blood—"
"I'll make them worth it."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…
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