Her parents had left for America that morning. A joint mission with some American hero agency. Two weeks, they'd said. Maybe three.

The streets of Hosu City were quieter than usual. A stray cat darted across an alleyway, and somewhere in the distance, a vending machine hummed.

Then she heard it. A crash. Glass shattering. A woman's scream cut short.

Around the corner, a figure stood silhouetted against a broken storefront. His coat was tattered, his scarf stained dark. And in his hand, a blade gleamed under the flickering streetlight.