The man surged back to his feet with alarming speed, towering over Kavei like a shadow in the dimly lit room. His face twisted into a scowl of pure rage as he raised his boot and slammed it down hard on Kavei’s hand.

"Argh!" Kavei cried out, his voice echoing painfully through the room, his fingers crunching under the heavy force. His whole body tensed, but he bit his lip to keep himself from screaming louder.

The sound jolted Kai awake. His eyes fluttered open, disoriented, before widening in horror at the scene unfolding before him. As memories rushed back — of the man breaking in through the kitchen window, of fighting him off before being knocked unconscious — he let out a sharp gasp. Without a second thought, Kai pushed himself upright on the bed and, fueled by anger, launched himself straight at the man.

"I swear to god, I'll get you!" Kai roared, his voice hoarse but fierce, as he crashed into the man, his fists swinging wildly.

But the man was stronger. With a growl, he seized Kai’s hair in his fist and yanked him back violently, forcing Kai to cry out in pain.

"Kai!" Benio shouted and rushed forward to catch him before he could hit the floor. Benio’s arms wrapped around Kai to steady him, glaring daggers at the man as he stood protectively in front of Himeko.

All of them now stood in a defensive circle, shielding the trembling Himeko behind them.

The man sneered, wiping a line of blood from his split lip. "Just let me take the girl and I'll leave you all. You’re not who I want anyway," he said, a sick, manic grin spreading across his face as if he found amusement in their fear.

Kavei, still on the floor, swallowed hard. His heart pounded so violently it felt as though it would tear out of his chest. He refused to let this man win. Grinding his teeth, he pulled himself out from under the bed, body aching, but determination burning in his eyes.

With a sudden growl of effort, Kavei lunged forward and leaped onto the man’s back, locking his arms tightly around his neck like a desperate, unshakable grip.

"You're not taking anyone!" Kavei spat, holding on as the man thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off.

"Get off me, you little pest!" the man roared, spinning and stumbling as he tried to pry Kavei off.

Suddenly, a sharp thud cut through the chaos. Kavei peered over the man's shoulder, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Benio lying motionless on the floor, knocked out cold.

"What—?" Kavei started, but before he could finish, his eyes caught a glimpse of a second man standing ominously at the doorway — another intruder.

"No..." Miyasi gasped, clutching Himeko closer as she backed up toward the wall.

Kai, noticing the newcomer, spun around quickly and, without a second's hesitation, kicked the man straight in the stomach. The intruder stumbled back slightly from the force, but recovered quickly, his face darkening with anger.

"You shouldn't have done that," the second man growled, then lunged forward, grabbing Kai by the arm and slamming him hard to the floor.

"Argh!" Kai screamed in agony, writhing on the ground.

"Kai! No!" Kavei shouted, desperation lacing his voice. But his distraction cost him. The first man reached over his shoulder and violently threw Kavei off his back, sending him crashing to the floor with a dull, painful thud.

"Annoying brats," the man spat bitterly, glaring down at Kavei’s crumpled form.

The second man stepped forward with cold, dead eyes, pushing Saira aside with enough force to make her stumble. "Get the girl, and let's leave," he said flatly, as if this were nothing more than a chore.

Kavei struggled to get up, vision blurred, body aching all over. His breaths were ragged, but he couldn't let them win. He had to protect her.

As Miyasi stood trembling in front of Himeko, her arms wide as though her small figure could shield her friend, the second man took a threatening step closer.

In that moment, something inside Kavei snapped. Ignoring the pain searing through his hand and body, he crawled toward the bedside drawer, yanked it open with trembling fingers, and pulled out the object hidden deep inside — a gun.

With a swift motion, Kavei cocked the gun, his heart pounding in his ears, and pointed it upward.

BANG!

The deafening gunshot exploded through the apartment, reverberating off the walls. Everyone instinctively ducked, covering their ears, a wave of shock freezing them in place.

"Step away from Himeko!" Kavei bellowed, his voice thick with raw fury and fear. He rose from his kneeling position, both hands gripping the gun tightly, eyes blazing with determination. "I said get away from her! Leave! NOW!"

The two men stared at him, their hands hesitantly raising in the air as they began to back away, step by slow step, their expressions morphing from anger to something like caution.

Kavei stood firm, chest heaving, refusing to lower the gun even an inch. His body trembled, but his aim was steady.

But then —

CRACK!

A sharp pain exploded at the back of Kavei’s head, so sudden and intense that the world around him spun. His grip loosened, and he staggered forward, nearly dropping the gun.

Blood began to trickle down the back of his neck, warm and thick. His vision swam in and out of focus as he forced himself to remain standing, barely able to keep the gun pointed.

Through the haze, Kavei turned his head slightly, just enough to glimpse a third man standing behind him, holding a bloodied object — the weapon that had struck him.

Panic surged in his chest. How many of them were there?

The third man shoved Miyasi away like a rag doll, sending her crashing to the floor near Saira, who, despite her fear, tried to help her up.

Benio and Kai both lay unconscious now, unmoving.

"Don't touch her!" Saira cried, trying to hold her ground, though her voice trembled. She lunged forward to protect Himeko, but the third man backhanded her effortlessly, sending her sprawling.

Miyasi scrambled to get up again, standing between Himeko and the men, but it was clear she was shaking from head to toe.

Kavei, still dizzy and swaying on his feet, kept his gun aimed, blood dripping down his temple, eyes burning with determination despite the blur.

"I said stay away from her..." Kavei whispered, though his voice was hoarse, wavering. His fingers tightened on the trigger.

The girls — Miyasi and Saira — fought to stand, again and again, their bodies bruised and trembling, but their spirits still trying to resist.

Once. They pushed themselves off the floor, swaying as they rose.
Twice. They staggered to their feet, breathing heavily, clutching each other for balance.
Thrice. They forced themselves up with shaky arms, refusing to let Himeko be taken without a fight.
A fourth time — with sheer will — they rose again, even as their legs buckled beneath them.

But their strength was gone. The relentless beatings, the fear, and the chaos had drained them beyond measure. Their bodies finally gave out, collapsing limply to the floor with a heavy thud, unconscious and unmoving.

Himeko’s eyes filled with tears as she saw her friends fall, her heart pounding furiously in her chest.

The third man, who had struck Kavei earlier, lunged forward and grabbed Himeko’s arm in a tight grip.

“No! Let me go!” she screamed, panic rising as she struggled against him.

With a sudden burst of defiance, Himeko twisted her head and bit down hard on the man’s hand.

“Argh!” he hissed, jerking his arm back from her sharp teeth. His glare darkened, but before he could react further, Himeko shouted, her voice cracking but determined,

“I’m not coming with you! Leave me alone! Leave my friends alone!”

Her chest heaved as she scrambled onto the bed, trying to escape by crawling to the other side. Her breath was ragged, tears blurring her vision as her hands desperately reached for any way out.

But before she could get away, the man lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her back violently.

"Ahh! Let go of me!" Himeko cried, her hands clawing at his, trying to pry him off.

He pulled her off the bed with brutal force, her body hitting the floor with a painful thud, and began dragging her out of the room.

Kavei, still struggling to stay upright despite the blood dripping down his neck, turned sharply at the sound, his gun raised shakily. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Himeko being dragged past him — her hands reaching out toward him in silent desperation.

But he was too slow.

BANG!

A sudden gunshot rang out, deafening and sharp, the sound echoing against the walls.

The third man had fired — and Kavei's body jerked violently as the bullet tore through his shoulder.

"Ahhh!" Kavei cried out in pain, nearly dropping the gun as his hand instinctively flew to his bleeding shoulder. His legs gave way, but he forced himself to stand, panting, swaying on his feet.

"KAVEI!!!"

Kai’s desperate scream tore through the room. The moment he heard the shot, Kai had forced himself up from where he had fallen, the adrenaline surging through his veins. Without a thought, he rushed toward the man holding Himeko, fury and fear contorting his face.

"You BASTARD!" Kai yelled, grabbing the third man by the shoulders and trying to wrestle him away from Himeko.

The third man snarled and turned, lifting his gun and firing a shot into the air.

BANG!

The blast was enough to make Kai flinch and stumble back for a second.

Taking advantage of Kai's brief falter, the man slammed the butt of his gun down hard on Kai’s head.

"Ugh!" Kai grunted, falling to his knees, clutching his head as pain exploded through his skull.

As the three men began dragging a struggling Himeko toward the open door, Benio stirred on the floor. His head was pounding, and his body felt like lead, but as soon as he saw what was happening, a surge of strength burst through him.

“No… NO!” Benio shouted hoarsely, pushing himself up, stumbling at first but then forcing his legs to move.

With a sudden burst of speed, Benio charged across the room, running past Kavei and Kai as if nothing else mattered. His eyes locked on Himeko.

Just as the third man tried to pull Himeko out the door, Benio reached them and grabbed the man’s arm — the arm that held Himeko captive.

"Let her GO!" Benio roared, yanking at the man with all the strength he could muster.

The struggle lasted only a second before the first man sighed, clearly annoyed by Benio's interference. He approached with deliberate steps, eyes cold, and without a word, he reached out, seized Benio by the back of his shirt, and —

SLAM!

— smashed Benio’s head brutally against the wall.

Benio gasped, his body shuddering from the impact. His eyes rolled back, and he slid down to the floor, motionless, his hand still half-stretched toward Himeko.

"BENIO!!" Himeko cried, her voice breaking in anguish.

The first man grabbed her other arm to help the third man restrain her, and together with the second man, they dragged her struggling form out through the open door.

"No..."

Kavei's broken whisper escaped his lips as he slumped sideways against the wall, his hand weakly reaching out toward the door.

"No... no... I can't... I can't lose her..." he breathed, his vision swimming as his blood continued to pool beneath him.

The last thing Kavei saw before darkness overtook him was Himeko’s terrified face looking back at them — at her fallen friends — as she was taken away.

“No…” he whispered one last time, before his body finally gave out, collapsing fully to the ground.

And then there was only silence.

*Advancement Arc - fin
Season 1 - The End*