The rooftop stretched wide under the fading sunlight, its rough concrete surface marked with years of weather and wear. Tiny cracks ran along the edges, filled with specks of dirt and the occasional tuft of weeds, defiant against the elements. The golden light of dusk bathed everything in a warm glow, yet the growing shadows hinted at the encroaching night.
The air carried a crisp chill, the kind that stings slightly against the skin, and it ruffled Aiko's long black hair, making it dance like dark silk in the breeze. Her figure, standing tall and poised despite the tension, radiated a quiet strength. Her pink eyes, usually gentle and warm, shimmered with an intensity that made them seem almost luminous in the dwindling light.
