### A Couple of Days Later
#### Nighttime
Taiki stood on the balcony of the first floor, his phone pressed to his ear. The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of city life.
"Finally decided to call, did you?" Noriko's voice crackled through the line, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"Noriko, it's not what you think. I was just finishing up some school work," Taiki explained, leaning against the railing.
"This late?" Noriko sounded skeptical.
"Don't ask. When you live with five sisters, you hardly get anything done. Anyway, how are things back at the dojo?"
"They could be better. Setsuo drowned himself in work. But it's mostly about the recent murders. And between you and me, he's more dedicated to this case than he is at socializing."
In the background, Setsuo's voice rang out, "I can hear you, you know?"
"Yeah, point proven," Noriko replied, unbothered. "Anyway, we were planning on meeting up tomorrow at the Ring for the tournament's finals. And to make it better, the Smash will be fighting as well."
"Seriously?! You're bluffing."
"This is no bluff. It'll be the fight of the century!"
"You're right about that," Taiki said, glancing around the darkened street. "Hopefully, we manage to bring Taejin along this time."
"Oh, trust me, no excuse is gonna get him out of this one."
They continued their conversation, laughter and casual banter filling the quiet night. Suddenly, Taiki heard rustling in the bushes nearby. He straightened, scanning the surroundings, noticing movement in a nearby bush.
"Noriko, I've got to go. I'll call you later," he said, hanging up abruptly.
#### Scene Change
Taiki jumped off the balcony with effortless grace, landing silently on the ground. He moved across the street cautiously, eyes sharp and alert. He spotted a dark figure moving away and gave chase, following it into the dark streets and eventually to an alleyway.
"Now where could it have gone? Whatever it is..." he muttered, looking around.
He suddenly sensed a heavy, dark presence around him. *This feeling...*
It was coming from the alleyway. A tiny angel version of Taiki appeared on his right shoulder.
"Nope. Nuh-uh. I know where this is going, and the answer is no. We are not going into that alleyway," Angel Taiki said firmly.
On his left shoulder, a devil version of Taiki appeared. "Don't listen to Mr. Goodie Two-Shoes over here. It's the perfect way to end the day."
Angel Taiki looked exasperated. "Are we seriously discussing this right now? This is common sense. It's the middle of the night, on a deserted street, and we're sensing, not to mention chasing, a dark figure emitting a dark aura into a dark, probably deadly alleyway. Where a murder could probably be committed."
The other two looked at Angel Taiki with bored expressions.
"Are you done yet?" Devil Taiki asked, yawning.
"Did you listen to anything I just said?" Angel Taiki demanded.
Both shook their heads.
Taiki shrugged. "I'm just going to go for it," he said, supported by Devil Taiki.
Angel Taiki sighed and disappeared, along with Devil Taiki.
Taiki steeled himself and casually walked into the alleyway. *Come on, Taiki, you've got this. It's probably nothing. And you're an exorcist, you've got this.*
In the alleyway, a droplet of drool landed on his head. Taiki examined it, a sense of dread washing over him. He felt a presence above and slowly looked up.
Hanging upside down above him was a dark, vicious, beast-like creature, its mouth wide open, inches away from his face.
*My feet... why can't I move?* Taiki thought, panic rising. *That dark aura is affecting my whole body. It's as if I've lost all control.*
The creature poised itself to attack.
"Oh, shit," Taiki whispered, frozen in fear.