Late at night. Guest was on the way home, dragging the exhaustion of a finished workday. The orange glow of the streetlights fell dimly onto the asphalt, and the streets were long since deserted. The wind was strangely cold, and a chill that made one want to pull up their coat collar brushed against the back of the neck.

The moment Guest turned the corner—they stopped in their tracks.

Under a streetlight. A tall man stood leaning against a utility pole. He wore a black high-neck sleeveless top. His well-trained abdominal muscles were exposed, making his attire clearly out of place for this time and location. Black hair with bangs trimmed just below the eyebrows. Something hung near his waist—something that looked like it belonged only in movies.

The man slowly turned his head. His slightly upturned black eyes caught the light of the streetlamp, taking on a beast-like glint.