"Ashura… Ashura…"
A faint voice echoed.
Ashura slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"…Yeah, Mom…"
He scratched his head and yawned lazily.
Suddenly—
She rushed toward him and pinched his cheek.
"You did it again!" she snapped angrily.
"You beat that innocent, nerdy boy at school! Your principal complained about you!"
"Ouchhh—Mom, that hurts…!" Ashura groaned, clutching his cheek.
"That's rude!"
His mother's expression hardened.
"You've been rude too," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"How can you be so cold… so emotionless?"
Ashura puffed his cheeks slightly, annoyed.
"That boy was weak," he muttered.
"And the weak… don't deserve to exist."
Slap.
The sound echoed in the room.
Ashura froze.
His mother's hand trembled.
"Weak people deserve to live!" she said, her voice shaking, tears forming in her eyes.
"And if you're strong…"
Her grip tightened.
"Then you protect the weak!"
Silence fell.
Ashura slowly touched his cheek, his gaze lowering.
"…Sorry, Mom…"
A hint of regret flickered in his eyes as he bowed his head.
Her expression softened instantly.
She pulled him into a gentle hug.
"Promise me…" she whispered softly.
"You won't hurt anyone… unless they truly deserve it."
Ashura stayed silent for a moment.
Then—
"…Okay."
A small nod.
"I promise."
She lightly tapped his cheek again, this time with a faint smile.
"That's my boy…"
…
"Ashura…!"
"Ashura, wake up!"
The voice echoed again—
But this time—
It felt distant.
Broken.
His eyes snapped open.
"Hah—!"
Ashura shot up from the bed, gasping for air.
His lungs burned as if they were on fire.
He clutched his chest tightly, breathing heavily.
"…Hah… hah…"
A hospital room.
White walls.
Dim light.
Reality hit him all at once.
"…a dream…?"
His fingers tightened.
That memory—
That promise—
Still echoed in his mind.
A voice echoed through the room.
"Doctor… he woke up!"
It was filled with worry.
Trembling.
"Ashura…!"
Before he could react—
A man rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
His grip was strong.
Desperate.
Tears fell onto Ashura's shoulder.
"Idiot…!" his father's voice broke.
"Who did this to you? Tell me his name!"
Ashura stayed silent for a moment.
Then he gently shook his head.
"…Dad."
His voice was calm.
"Your son is strong."
A pause.
He looked away slightly.
"…It's just…"
A nervous glance.
"I got hurt while… killing him."
Slap.
The sound echoed sharply.
"How long are you going to keep killing people?!" his father shouted.
"Don't you love your life?!"
The room fell heavy.
Suddenly—
"Dad… please!"
A girl rushed between them, her voice trembling.
"He just woke up from a coma… please don't do this!"
Her words broke apart as she struggled to breathe.
A soft cough.
A hiccup.
Tears streamed down her face.
Ashura looked at her.
"…Ruhi."
His voice softened.
"You shouldn't take tension…"
She turned toward him, forcing a weak smile.
"I'm glad… you're alive…"
Her eyes filled with tears again.
Ashura stayed silent.
His fingers clenched slightly.
His father stepped back, frustration written all over his face.
"I'm tired…" he said, his voice heavy.
"Tired of handling your cases."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Thank God your father is a lawyer… I've always protected you."
A pause.
"But now… Ashura…"
His tone changed.
"Please stop this."
Ashura avoided his gaze.
"…Sorry."
A brief silence.
"I can't."
That was it.
The breaking point.
His father stomped his foot in anger.
"This boy is impossible to understand!"
He turned away and stormed out—
BANG.
The door slammed shut.
The room fell silent once again.
Only the sound of Ruhi's quiet sobs remained.
Ruhi held his arm weakly.
Ashura could feel her body trembling.
Her sobs were heavy—too heavy.
So loud… so broken… that she couldn't even speak properly.
She gasped for air, tears falling endlessly.
"Ruhi…" Ashura said softly, worry in his voice.
"Don't cry… please."
"Why… shouldn't I cry…?" she replied, her voice breaking completely.
"My only brother…" she choked.
"…is going to die one day…"
She coughed, hiccups interrupting her words.
"You barely survived…" she continued, struggling to breathe.
"…after losing so much blood…"
Ashura lowered his gaze.
"…Who donated the blood?"
Ruhi wiped her tears slightly, trying to calm herself.
"…Dad… and Avni didi…"
A pause.
Her expression fell again.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered weakly.
"I'm so weak… and sick…"
Her voice trembled.
"I couldn't even give you blood…"
Regret hit her harder.
She leaned forward, crying into his shoulder.
"Please… forgive me…"
Ashura's eyes softened.
Ruhi…
My twin sister…
Always crying… always caring… always blaming herself…
He let out a quiet sigh.
"…It's fine."
He managed a faint smile.
"You staying beside me…"
A small pause.
"…that's the only thing I need."
Ruhi tried to speak again, her voice shaking.
"I'm… glad…"
Her words broke again.
"…you're alive…"
Her grip on him tightened—
As if she was afraid he might disappear again.
BANG—
The door slammed open.
Two girls rushed inside, gasping for breath.
"Ashura—!"
Before he could react—
Both of them rushed toward him and hugged him tightly.
Ashura gulped.
"…Oh… Didi… you're here too…"
Avni tightened her grip, her voice breaking.
"Idiot…!" she snapped.
"Who told you to roam around alone at night?! Look what happened to you!"
She pulled him closer, as if afraid to let go.
Ruhi sniffed softly.
"He's saying he's fine…" she said weakly.
"Slap him properly so he understands where he belongs…"
Slap.
"Say it, Ashura," Avni said coldly.
Nyra grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly.
Her eyes were filled with tears—pure worry hidden behind anger.
"Don't you love us?" she yelled.
"Then why do you keep killing?!"
Avni's grip tightened around his hand.
"You promised us…" her voice trembled.
"You said you wouldn't kill again."
A pause.
"You're our only little brother…"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"We don't want to lose you."
Nyra suddenly turned away, her voice rising.
"This idiot… I wish he was dead—!"
Her words broke midway.
Ruhi immediately cried out—
"Didi, don't say that! He just woke up after a one-week coma!"
Nyra avoided their gaze.
"…Who cares about him…"
Silence.
Ashura looked at them, his voice low.
"…Sorry… Avni… Nyra Didi…"
He swallowed nervously.
"I didn't mean for this to happen… it just—"
Slap.
Slap.
Two sharp strikes landed on both his cheeks.
Ruhi raised her hand again, her voice trembling.
"…One more… please…"
Ashura stared at her in disbelief.
"…Traitor…"
Ruhi hiccupped, tears still falling.
"You deserve it…"
Slap.
Ashura clutched his cheeks, wincing.
"…Sorry…"
Avni suddenly grabbed his collar, pulling him closer.
"Now understand this," she said, her voice filled with anger.
"If you try to kill again…"
A pause.
Her eyes locked onto his.
"…you won't be alive."
Silence filled the room.
Ashura lowered his gaze.
Then—
He nodded.
Silently.
Avni gently caressed his cheek.
Tears slipped down her face as her voice trembled.
"We cried for you… every night…"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"The doctor said the bullet hit your chest… you lost too much blood…"
Her voice broke completely.
"They said… it was impossible for you to survive…"
Her lips trembled.
"We… we were shattered…"
She broke down, crying openly.
Nyra stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't cry, Avni…"
Her own voice wasn't steady either.
Ruhi wiped her tears weakly.
"…It's fine…"
But her voice broke as well, and she started crying again.
Ashura looked at them silently.
In front of them… I'll say I'll stop.
A faint smirk formed inside his thoughts.
But I won't.
His eyes softened slightly.
After all… I want to protect them too.
If breaking my promise is what it takes…
Then that's fine.
Nyra held his hand tightly.
"Ashura… promise you won't kill again."
A pause.
Ashura nodded calmly.
"…Promise."
Avni suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly.
"Sorry for slapping you…" she said, her voice still broken.
"But you deserved it…"
Ruhi leaned her head on his shoulder, speaking tearfully.
"…Sorry… but you deserved that too…"
Nyra stood straight, hesitating slightly.
"…And… sorry from me too…"
She looked away.
"I said too much…"
Ashura nodded slowly.
"…It's fine."
His voice softened.
"You all care about me…"
A small pause.
Then—
He let out a quiet breath.
"…But those slaps were hard…"
Knock. Knock.
"Can I come in?"
Nyra quickly wiped her tears.
"…Yes, honey…"
Ashura blinked slightly.
"…Is Rishabh Bhaiyya with you too?"
How do I always forget…
My elder sister is married too…
The door opened.
A man stepped inside, holding a few bags.
"Good morning," he said with a gentle smile.
"I hope you're doing fine."
Ashura nodded slightly.
"I'm fine, Bhaiyya… what about you?"
Rishabh glanced around the room, noticing the heavy atmosphere.
"…I just came to see Nyra," he said casually, then chuckled.
"She looks kinda cute when she cries like a baby."
Nyra's face turned red instantly.
"You idiot—!"
Rishabh laughed softly, fixing his hair.
Then his gaze shifted.
"Come on, Ruhi…" he said gently.
"I thought you were a strong girl. Why are you crying like this?"
Ruhi hiccupped, her body still trembling.
"I'm not strong…" she whispered.
"I'm just… a weak, sick girl…"
Rishabh's expression softened.
"No," he said calmly.
"You're a strong girl… who wants to defeat her own sickness."
Ruhi gave a faint, emotional smile.
"…Thank you, Bhaiyya… you're the best…"
He patted her head lightly.
"And you too, Avni… stop crying."
"I wasn't crying!" Avni said quickly, turning her face away.
Ashura watched them quietly.
Among all of us… Nyra is the eldest… maybe 21…
Avni is 19… and me and Ruhi are 16…
A bit of an age gap…
And Nyra got married early… to her classmate…
Rishabh turned back toward Ashura with a calm smile.
"Ashura… want to eat an apple? I'll peel it for you."
Ashura shook his head slightly.
"Thanks for asking… but my jaw is kinda broken right now…"
Rishabh chuckled.
"That's fine…"
He gently patted Ashura's head.
Night fell.
The hospital grew quiet.
Dim lights flickered softly across the empty corridors, and the distant sound of footsteps slowly faded away.
Inside the room—
Ashura sat alone.
His gaze drifted toward the window.
The night sky was dark… silent… almost suffocating.
That man…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He was skilled… far beyond anyone I've faced.
A pause.
Who was he…?
Ashura's fingers tightened against the bedsheet.
I don't even remember his face clearly…
A faint breath escaped him.
He was… terrifyingly fast.
His mind replayed the moment again and again—
The bullet.
The bats.
The defeat.
I've fought many killers…
But I've never seen someone like him…
Silence.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Cold.
Sharp.
"…But…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…every time I meet someone strong…"
The smile deepened.
"…I feel like killing them."
A pause.
He looked out into the darkness.
"…So, mysterious man…"
His eyes hardened.
"…you're my next target."
Click.
The door suddenly opened.
"Ashura—!"
Ruhi's voice echoed softly.
He flinched slightly.
"…Who's your next target?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Ashura immediately shook his head.
"N-No one…"
A small gasp escaped him.
Ruhi puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"Idiot…"
She stepped inside, still suspicious.
Ashura forced a calm expression.
"…It's nothing."
But his eyes—
Still carried that same cold intent.
Outside—
The night remained silent.
As if something…
Was waiting.