"So, are you going to tell me what the hell’s gotten into you or not? You were fine this morning, and then out of nowhere you got all tense. And more importantly — where the hell are you going?" Zaira shouts, quickening her pace to keep up with Ren.

"I told you, nothing happened. So stop following me."

Zaira grabs his wrist and yanks him back, forcing him to face her. She’s about to push further, but stops short the moment she sees the tears in his eyes.

"Zaira, please... This doesn’t concern you or your friends. Stay out of it — I’m saying this for your own good," Ren says, his tone softening. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"I’d like to remind you that I’m your family too — your own flesh and blood. I don’t deserve to be kept in the dark! Please, tell me what’s going on... maybe I can help."

"You’re right... I’m sorry. Actually, there is something you can do. If I’m not back by the time classes end, please walk Yuzu home and stay with her until I return."

"You do realize that saying that just makes me even more worried, right?"

Ren gives her a faint, apologetic smile.

"I have to go now. See you later, Zaira."

With a light tug, he slips his arm free from her grip and heads down the subway stairs. She can only stand there, watching helplessly as he vanishes into the crowd.

At that time of day, the train to central Tokyo isn’t particularly crowded, and Ren finds himself sitting alone in the carriage.

He’s heading to the maid café, planning to question Iris’s coworkers and gather as much information as possible.

His dull gaze remains fixed on his phone screen, which stubbornly shows no sign of life.

Every day, without fail, Iris texts him at eleven when her shift ends and again at one when she goes back to work. The eleven o’clock message came through — but the one at one never did.

When he tried calling her, her phone was unreachable.

At first, Ren assumed it was something simple — maybe her phone had died. That’s why, at two, as soon as lunch break ended, he called the maid café where she works. But when her coworkers told him she never came back for her shift, his concern turned into despair.

Iris... please... answer me... please... if something’s happened to you, I... I don’t think I could go on without you...

Heavy tears begin to fall onto the touchscreen. His thoughts inevitably spiral toward the worst-case scenario. A crushing pain tightens around his chest, making it hard to even breathe.

When the train stops, only one passenger boards his carriage — a striking young man in a tracksuit, with hair black as night and piercing blue eyes. An old black metal pendant hangs around his neck.

The carriage is completely empty, yet he chooses the seat right next to Ren.

The intrusion irritates him, but he says nothing — he’s not in the mood to pick a fight over something so insignificant.

After a long stretch of silence, the young man is the one to break it.

"Rough day, huh?"

Ren ignores him, but the guy keeps going.

"Yeah... definitely looks like it. You’ve got it written all over your face."

"Please. Leave me alone."

"Oh, someone’s got a temper. Want to tell me what’s got you in such a mood?"

"Listen, I’ll say this one last time nicely. You can see I’m not in the mood, so don’t push it. And if you’re trying to hit on me, you’ve picked the wrong guy."

The black-haired boy bursts into a loud, completely out-of-place laugh.

"Relax — I don’t swing that way. Not to brag, but I’d say I’m one of the biggest connoisseurs of women out there. Still, you’ve got the face of someone carrying a lot on his mind. Who knows — maybe I’m just the right person to help you deal with it, Ren Toya."

"How do you know my name? I don’t think we’ve met."

"Oh, we know each other — at least by name. Nice to meet you... my name’s Axel Volkom."

Ren stiffens in an instant. Every muscle in his body tightens, coiled and ready to strike despite his outward calm.

"Axel Volkom, huh? Thanks for saving me the trouble of tracking you down. But I’ve got something else to take care of right now. Maybe another time."

"Where are you rushing off to? Let me guess... looking for your sister, Iris?"

He doesn’t even finish the sentence before Ren grabs him by the hoodie and slams him against the wall of the carriage, pinning him there with his forearm pressed against his throat.

"You bastard — tell me where Iris is right now, or I swear I’ll rip your head off your shoulders!"

"Easy now, easy — no need to get so worked up. Your sister’s still alive... though I wouldn’t exactly say she’s doing well. After all, a hostage is useless if they’re dead. And in my defense, it was self-defense — that idiot actually thought she could beat me. Naturally, she paid the price."

That bastard defeated Iris? Leon wasn’t exaggerating when he said this vampire was much stronger than him. Damn it, I swear I’ll make this piece of shit pay for this!

Ren lets out a feral growl of rage as he presses his arm even harder against Axel’s throat.

"I told you to tell me where Iris is! Open that fucking mouth if you don’t want me to shut it for good!"

Axel’s gaze sharpens, turning more dangerous, and a faint, malicious grin spreads across his face.

"You’ve got some nerve giving me orders. It still doesn’t seem to be clear to you that you’re not the one calling the shots, brat."

With a sharp elbow strike, Axel breaks free from Ren’s grip, then slams an open palm into his chest, sending him flying across the carriage.

Ren drops to his knees, catching himself on his arms as blood spills from his mouth and his breathing turns labored.

Axel looks down at him, his expression mocking, almost disgusted.

"Picking a fight with someone out of your league must be a family habit, huh? Since you’re so eager to see your dear sister again, I’ll be waiting for you tonight — midnight sharp — at the top of the highest hill in Tama. Come alone, and don’t try anything funny. Otherwise, I’ll tear her into pieces so small the wind will carry them away. I’ll send someone to guide you, so you don’t waste time."

The chime announces the next stop. The train starts slowing down, and when it finally stops and the doors slide open, Axel steps out — but not before giving Ren one last sadistic look, still lying on the floor clutching his chest in pain.