Anger, the Gentle Assassin (Part 1)

Tanimaki and the others were walking through the castle town at night. The brick-paved sidewalks bore the weight of history, but age had taken its toll, leaving them cracked and worn in places.

The streets were already deserted, and even the moon was nowhere to be seen. Beyond the reach of the streetlights, it seemed as though the darkness had swallowed everything whole.

If one of Undo’s assassins were going to appear, there could be no more fitting stage.

“This feels like the kind of night an enemy would show up, meow. Actually, hurry up and show yourself, meow.”

Tanimaki sounded strangely excited.

“This isn’t an RPG. You’re taking this way too lightly.”

Debiru immediately chided him. His tone was calm, but the awkward reserve he had shown when they first met was gone. As he continued traveling with Tanimaki and the others, he had gradually begun to overcome his shyness without even realizing it.

Just then, something darted across the edge of Tanimaki’s vision.

“Meow?”

“Tanimaki, what’s wrong?”

Mayutan grew concerned when Tanimaki suddenly stopped walking.

“Is something there? I can’t see a thing.”

Debiru also went on alert.

Then, for the briefest instant, Tanimaki once again thought he saw something moving swiftly through the darkness.

“Th-There’s something out there, meow!”

Mayutan and Debiru looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Mayutan immediately put on his Tokimeki Night Glasses.

“Where is it, Tanimaki?” Mayutan asked.

“It’s moving incredibly fast, meow! I only caught a glimpse, but I definitely saw something!”

Apparently, it was moving so fast that only Tanimaki, with his exceptional ability to track movement, could see it.

“It might be an enemy! Both of you, get ready to defend yourselves!” Mayutan shouted.

“I still can’t see anything...”

Debiru narrowed his eyes and stared into the darkness.