The city stretched out beneath him, its lights glittering like scattered stars against the dark canvas of the night. Kenji crouched on the edge of a high-rise building, his hood pulled low as the cool breeze tugged at his jacket. From this vantage point, he could see most of Nagazora's bustling streets, alive even at this late hour. Yet, despite the familiar hum of life below, an unmistakable hollowness gnawed at him.
It had been weeks since Mei and Kiana left for Saint Freya's Academy, but their absence still felt raw. The dojo was quieter, emptier, without their lively banter and relentless sparring sessions. Though he kept in touch with them, the messages and pictures they sent weren't enough to fill the void.
Kenji smirked faintly, remembering Kiana's most recent photo—a selfie of her grinning widely with an exasperated-looking Mei in the background. She'd captioned it: "Mei-Senpai's still trying to keep up with me, lol."
And Mei had her own updates. Her texts were always a little more composed, sprinkled with dry humor that Kenji had come to appreciate. She'd told him about Kiana already managing to get into trouble with one of their teachers, a fiery red-haired woman named Himeko. Apparently, Kiana had challenged Himeko to a sparring match to "prove her worth"—and promptly got her butt handed to her.
Kenji chuckled under his breath, shaking his head at the thought. He was pleasantly surprised to hear something about Himeko again. He didn't get a chance to have a picture with her last time.
They'd also mentioned meeting a new friend, someone named Bronya. Mei described her as a stone-faced girl with a sharp mind and a knack for machines. "She reminds me of you," Mei had added in her message, "quiet, serious, and stubborn when it counts."
Kenji had snorted at that comparison. I'm not that serious, am I?
The thought of their new lives brought a bittersweet pang to his chest. He was glad they were thriving, but it only highlighted how much he missed them. The city felt colder without their warmth, the nights quieter without Kiana's loud energy or Mei's steadying presence.
Kenji stood, stretching out his limbs as his gaze drifted across the streets below. Being Night Runner had always come with a certain solitude, but now it felt heavier than ever. He pulled his hood lower, trying to shake the feeling. The city still needed him, and he wasn't about to let his personal feelings get in the way of his patrols.
He leapt to the next rooftop with practiced ease, his boots landing silently on the concrete. Below him, the streets were mostly empty save for the occasional couple heading home or a stray delivery driver zipping through the intersections. Everything seemed peaceful, at least on the surface.
But peace in Nagazora never lasted long.
Kenji's danger sense flared suddenly, a sharp jolt at the base of his skull that made him freeze mid-step. His eyes scanned the streets below, his body tense and ready for action.
"What is it now?" he muttered under his breath, his hand brushing against the reinforced material of his suit.
The sensation was faint but insistent, pulling his focus to a shadowy alleyway across the street. He jumped to a lower rooftop for a better view, his eyes narrowing as he searched for movement. For a moment, there was nothing. just the quiet hum of the city and the distant sound of a car horn.
Then he saw it: a figure darting through the alley, clutching a bag to their chest. Behind them, two others followed, their movements quick and predatory.
Kenji didn't hesitate. He leapt from the rooftop, landing silently on the fire escape below before dropping into the alley. His boots hit the ground with a soft thud, and he straightened, his silhouette looming in the faint glow of a flickering streetlamp.
The figure in the lead. a teenage boy. whirled around, his eyes wide with fear. He stumbled backward, almost tripping over himself as he glanced between Kenji and the two pursuers.
"Go," Kenji said firmly, his voice low but commanding. "Get out of here."
The boy didn't need to be told twice. He bolted past Kenji, disappearing into the safety of the main street.
The two pursuers stopped in their tracks, their eyes narrowing as they took in Kenji's presence. One of them—a tall man with a scar running down his cheek—stepped forward, pulling a switchblade from his pocket.
"You don't wanna get involved in this, pal," he said, his voice rough and threatening.
Kenji tilted his head, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. "Oh that's surprising" he said quietly, his muscles coiling as he prepared to move. "Thought you were gonna run away."
The scarred man lunged, his blade flashing in the dim light. But Kenji was faster. He sidestepped the attack with ease, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it sharply. The switchblade clattered to the ground, and before the second pursuer could react, Kenji delivered a swift kick to the first man's chest, making him double over in pain.
The second man cursed, reaching for something in his jacket, a weapon maybe, but Kenji closed the distance in an instant. A sharp jab to the ribs sent the man crumpling to his knees, gasping for air.
Kenji straightened, his breath steady as he looked down at the two incapacitated men. "Go home," he said flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And if I see either of you pulling this crap again, you will find yourself tied to a lamp post."
The two men scrambled to their feet, stumbling over each other in their haste to flee. Within seconds, the alley was empty again, the quiet settling like a blanket over the scene.
Kenji exhaled slowly, But he didn't let his guard down yet. Danger sense was acting weird, like it activated twice. Once to warn him about something and the other was to this robbery. What the heck was the previous one?
He stepped back onto the main street, his eyes scanning the buildings around him. The danger sense had subsided, though he couldn't help but think about how unnatural it was. But as he climbed back to the rooftops, the familiar weight of loneliness crept in again.
Standing on the ledge of a building, Kenji looked out over the city, his shadow stretching long in the glow of the streetlights. For all his strength, all his resolve, the emptiness in his chest felt like a wound he couldn't quite heal.
He thought of Mei and Kiana again, of the life they were building at Saint Freya's, and a small smile tugged at his lips despite the ache in his heart.
"I'll manage," he murmured to himself, pulling his hood tighter against the breeze.
But before the thought could settle, his danger sense flared again, a sharp jolt that made his body snap to attention. Kenji's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening.
"Guess I'm not done yet," he muttered, leaping to the next rooftop as the city below called him back into action.
---
The morning sun cast long shadows across the streets of Nagazora as Kenji maneuvered his delivery cart through the narrow alleys.
The familiar weight of packages rested on his shoulders, but his mind was elsewhere, still lingering on the events of the previous night. The way Danger Sense was acting, he couldn't keep his mind off it.
His routine was the same as always, minus the dojo now since Mei and Kiana were gone. 'Damn, I need more friends..' Daylight hours were for work, running deliveries across the city to keep himself afloat. Nights were for patrolling, stepping into the shadows as the Night Runner to keep the streets safe.
Kenji pulled to a stop outside a bustling café, parking his cart by the curb. He double-checked the address scribbled on the package in his hand before stepping inside, the warm aroma of coffee and baked goods wafting over him.
"Delivery for Sato," he called out, his voice muffled slightly by the hum of conversations and the hiss of the espresso machine.
A cheerful barista waved him over, and he quickly handed off the package. With a polite nod, he turned back to the door, ready to tackle his next stop. But as he stepped outside, something caught his attention.
The glow of televisions in a nearby electronics store drew his eye. A small crowd had gathered in front of the display window, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Kenji hesitated, adjusting the straps of his cart before wandering closer.
On the screens, a familiar topic dominated the news broadcast: the Night Runner.
Kenji's brow furrowed as he joined the edge of the crowd, his eyes scanning the subtitles scrolling at the bottom of the screen. The segment wasn't just another general report. It was a debate, with two figures seated across from each other in a brightly lit studio.
The first was a retired military veteran, his posture straight and his expression calm yet firm. The other was a local police officer, her uniform pristine and her tone sharp as she spoke. The text overlay identified them: Lt. Ryo Takeda (Ret.) and Officer Ayako Mori.
"…a 40% decrease in crime rate," the reporter was saying as Kenji focused in, "largely attributed to the actions of the mysterious vigilante known as the Night Runner. But opinions remain divided on whether his methods are helping or hurting the city."
The screen cut to Officer Mori, her brows furrowed as she gestured emphatically. "While a decrease in crime sounds great on paper, we need to ask ourselves at what cost this is happening. The Night Runner's actions are illegal, plain and simple. Vigilantism creates a dangerous precedent—one where anyone can decide to take the law into their own hands. What happens when someone less skilled tries to imitate him and gets injured? Or worse, killed?"
Kenji winced, shifting his weight as her words hit a little too close to home. He had thought about that before. The idea of someone else trying to follow his example, without the power or experience to back it up. If someone were to get hurt trying to imitate him, he doesn't know what he would do.
The screen switched to Takeda, who leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. "While I understand your concerns, Officer Mori, I think you're overlooking the bigger picture here. The Night Runner isn't just some reckless vigilante. He's saving lives. He's making people feel safer in their own city. Isn't that what law enforcement is supposed to do?"
Mori's frown deepened. "Making people feel safe is one thing. But what about the collateral damage? There's documented evidence of two cars being destroyed during one of his so-called rescues. Who's going to pay for that? Who's taking responsibility for his actions?"
Kenji's stomach twisted. 'That was one time!' He remembered that night vividly, a gang fight that had spiraled out of control, forcing him to use more force than he was comfortable with. He had stopped the fight, but not without unintended consequences.
The veteran shook his head. "Collateral damage is unfortunate, yes. But let's not forget the bigger picture. That same night, he stopped a gang war from escalating into a full-scale shootout that could have cost countless lives. The Night Runner dealt with it in under an hour, something that would have taken standard units much longer to handle. I'd call that a net positive."
Takeda gestured toward a small monitor in front of him. "And let's not ignore the fact that his methods are remarkably controlled. There's no evidence of unnecessary force or lethal action in any of his interventions. He's doing what he can to minimize harm, both to civilians and even the criminals he apprehends."
The screen cut to surveillance footage of a previous incident, Kenji remembered it too. The grainy video showed him darting between gang members, his movements a blur as he disarmed and incapacitated them one by one. It wasn't the first time he'd seen himself on the news, but seeing so many people interested in him made him feel funny.
Mori jabbed a finger at the footage. "And what happens when he makes a mistake? When his 'controlled methods' fail, and someone ends up dead? What do we tell their families then? That we allowed this because it was convenient?"
Takeda didn't flinch, his calm demeanor unshaken. "I'd argue that his presence has done more good than harm. People feel safer at night. Criminals are afraid to operate because they know he's out there. And frankly, if the Night Runner hadn't stepped in during that gang fight, we'd be dealing with a much bigger tragedy right now."
The two began to argue, their voices overlapping as the debate grew more heated. Kenji tuned them out, his gaze dropping to the pavement. The words echoed in his mind, each argument resonating in different ways. He couldn't deny that both of them had valid points.
He adjusted the straps on his cart and turned away from the crowd. There was still work to do, and standing around listening to strangers debate his existence wasn't going to get packages delivered.
Still, as he walked down the street, weaving through the lunchtime crowd, the conversation lingered in his thoughts. Officer Mori's words stung the most, not because they were wrong, but because they weren't. He wasn't perfect. No matter how careful he tried to be, there were always risks.
But Takeda's words struck a different chord. Even if his methods weren't conventional, even if they weren't always clean, he was making a difference. People were safer. And that had to count for something.
Didn't it?
He decided not to think too much about it.
---
He landed softly on the edge of an apartment building, crouching low as he surveyed the block below. A few late-night stragglers hurried along the sidewalks, clutching bags of groceries or tapping distractedly on their phones. Neon lights bathed the streets in a muted glow, their reflections shimmering faintly in puddles from an earlier rain.
Just another ordinary night, Kenji thought, adjusting his hood. He didn't mind the quiet. If anything, it was a sign that things were finally calming down. No fights. No robberies. Just peace.
And yet… something felt off again.
His danger sense buzzed faintly at first, a low hum at the edge of his awareness. He paused, straightening slightly as his gaze swept over the area. Nothing seemed out of place. The streets below were calm, and the usual hum of the city carried on uninterrupted. But the feeling didn't fade. If anything, it grew stronger and louder. It was starting to make him feel anxious.
Kenji frowned, his muscles tensing. "What's going on?" he muttered under his breath.
He leapt to the next rooftop, moving with precision as he followed the pull of his danger sense. It wasn't like the sharp, pinpointed warnings he was used to.
This was different, broader, more pervasive, like a warning coming from every direction at once. It set his nerves on edge, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as the sensation grew stronger with each passing second.
He reached the edge of a quiet district, the streets below lined with small shops and closed storefronts. The faint glow of a streetlamp flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows across the pavement.
Kenji's boots landed lightly on the rooftop of an old convenience store, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of trouble.
The hum of his danger sense surged suddenly, sharper now, almost painful. His breath hitched as he spun around, his eyes darting to the darkened alleyways and abandoned cars below.
Still… nothing.
Kenji crouched, his fingers brushing against the ledge as he focused, straining to pinpoint the source of the warning. The air felt heavy, charged with something he couldn't quite place.
It wasn't like any threat he'd faced before, no muggers, no gang fights, no petty criminals. This was something else entirely.
'Is it the Honkai?'
He dropped down into the alley, his boots landing softly on the cracked pavement. The buzz of his danger sense didn't fade, pressing against his mind like a constant static.
The shadows seemed to shift around him, the faintest flicker of movement catching his eye before disappearing into the dark.
Kenji turned a corner, his senses on high alert as he stepped into a wider street. His gaze swept over the area, taking in every detail, the shattered window of an old storefront, the faint scent of damp concrete, the distant hum of a streetlamp struggling to stay lit.
And then he felt it.
A faint pulse of energy, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. It sent a shiver down his spine, the air around him suddenly feeling heavier, thicker.
Kenji froze, his fingers twitching instinctively as his eyes narrowed. He'd felt something like this before, back when he'd first encountered Honkai Beasts at the mall.
He knelt down, pressing his hand to the pavement. The faint hum of the energy seemed to linger here, saturating the area with an invisible presence. It wasn't strong, but it was radiating. Like it was left there, slowly dissipating.
Kenji's jaw tightened as he stood, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Honkai…" he muttered under his breath.
His danger sense buzzed again, the intensity wavering as if whatever had left this energy behind was long gone. But the feeling of unease remained, clawing at the edges of his mind. He couldn't shake the thought that something was watching him, lurking just beyond his reach.
He stepped back into the shadows, his breathing steady as he tried to make sense of the situation. The city had been quiet lately, too quiet. He hoped this was just a one off thing, not a sign for a disaster waiting to come.
Kenji's fingers tightened into fists as he turned back toward the rooftops, his danger sense finally beginning to fade. Whatever had been here, it was gone now. But it left behind more questions than answers.