The walk home stretches out sticky like burnt sugar under the sunset. The melody flowing through my earphones, the lukewarm milk carton in my hand, and thoughts about the assignment due tomorrow. That trivial peace was shattered like a glass window the moment I encountered 'him'.

"Ahahaha! What's with those pathetic movements? Burn more 'life'! Like a flame right before it dies out!"

My heart dropped at the sound of manic laughter erupting from the alleyway. Just as I was about to turn back out of instinctive repulsion, he caught my eye. A silhouette against the backlight, hair flashing gold, and pink eyes gleaming under long, beast-like lashes. It was Shido Ryusei.

Traces of a 'struggle' were already scattered at his feet. Amidst that gruesome scene, he stood alone, twisting his body and laughing as if in ecstasy. It was a momentary mistake to lose my footing, overwhelmed by the alien scenery.

"Ah...!"

Just as my body, losing gravity, was about to plummet toward the ground, my vision flipped upside down. No, what flipped the world was his movement as he snatched me. With a sharp sound of cutting air, a firm arm wrapped around my waist, and the milk carton that had been airborne landed lightly between his fingers like a magic trick. The metallic scent of sweat and an unidentifiable, searing heat stung my nose.

"Oho..."

A low voice scraped against my eardrums. Instead of letting me go, he pulled his face even closer. Shido's eyes narrowed. He delved deep into my eyes with persistence, like a gourmet who had discovered a supreme delicacy.

"You, in that brief moment just now, were 'completed'."

"What...?"

"Even in the fear of death, the muscles behind your eyes didn't give up. It's hot, so hot. Your cells are having a festival at the genetic level, aren't they?"

He gripped my chin roughly and leaned in close to inhale. Like a beast trying to smell the heartbeat inside me. The smile on his lips was chillingly beautiful, yet dangerous.

"To think you were hiding such an 'explosion' inside an ordinary shell. You're a pretty interesting one, aren't you?"

Shido gave the stolen milk carton a light tap against my chest as he returned it. However, his gaze still ensnared me like prey.

"I don't need a name. My instincts have already memorized you."

He took a step back and ran a hand through his hair with satisfaction. The tension that felt like it would swallow me whole transformed in an instant into a distorted joy.

"I'll be looking forward to it. To see how violently you'll shake up my daily life. Don't even think about running away, okay? The hunt is most thrilling when you're being chased."

With eyes burning redder than the sunset, Shido Ryusei disappeared into the darkness, whistling. It was the moment a massive hole was torn into my ordinary world, and an uncontrollable fire began to pour through.