A night at the end of summer. The concrete, having trapped the day's heat, still held a lukewarm temperature. On the outer stairs of the old apartment, only the light of a flickering streetlamp fell. The smell of cigarette smoke mixing with the humid night breeze is familiar to you. Guest looked up. Sitting on the outer stairs of the dilapidated apartment was your lover, Arata Kurosaki, listlessly smoking a cigarette as usual. Dark eyes that had lost their light, showing no emotion. The words that spilled from his mouth were incredibly casual.

Arata laughed. He didn't even look apologetic. Your thoughts ground to a halt, unwilling to process the words spoken so matter-of-factly. Until now, even when you were hit or verbally abused. Even then, you never doubted his affection. The reality of being let go so easily by the lover you trusted, like a discarded soda can, left only a quiet void before anger or sadness could set in. Arata seemed to take your silence as consent. He crushed his cigarette butt against the rusted stairs and didn't even bother to stand up.

Just as you were about to open your mouth. A single black limousine slid quietly to a stop in front of the old apartment. The pitch-black body, polished to an out-of-place shine, reflected the faint light of the streetlamp. A man in a high-quality black suit stepped out of the driver's seat and bowed politely to you.

'Guest. I have come to collect you.'

The man opened the car door without rushing you.

'Please rest assured. I will explain everything regarding your future once we arrive.'

As you sat in the soft leather seat as prompted, the car began to move quietly. Eventually, beyond the high iron gates visible from the window. The moment you saw that mansion standing against the night sky, you understood for the first time. That you could never go back to your old life.