The evening had drawn to a close, the last customer leaving the shop with a grateful smile as Hana locked the door behind them. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head. It had been a long day, and she was ready to head home and rest. The quiet, peaceful night outside contrasted with the hustle and bustle of her day, and she welcomed the thought of finally getting some sleep.
She grabbed her bag from behind the counter and turned off the lights, locking up the shop. The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside, the sounds of the city lingering in the background. It wasn't too far to her apartment, just a short walk down the street, but it was late, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Hana shrugged it off, telling herself it was just the fatigue setting in. The street was quiet, save for the occasional car passing by. She walked briskly, her thoughts drifting to tomorrow's preparations for the ramen shop, but she didn't notice the figures emerging from the alley ahead.
Three men, dressed in dark clothing, loitered at the corner, their eyes scanning the street. They saw Hana before she saw them.
"Hey, girl," one of them called out, stepping into her path. His voice was rough, laced with a threat she couldn't ignore. "Got a minute?"
Hana stopped, her heart racing. She forced a smile, trying to stay calm. "I'm just heading home, thank you."
The man smirked, taking a step closer. "Not so fast. We need something from you."
Hana's grip on her bag tightened. "I'm sorry, I don't have anything to give."
The second man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "That's not how this works."
Panic rose in Hana's chest, her instincts screaming at her to run, but she couldn't. She was alone, and these men were much bigger and stronger than she was. The third man, the quietest of the group, reached into his jacket, pulling out a knife and holding it up, the blade catching the dim light of the streetlamps.
Hana froze, her mind racing. She tried to think of what to do, but nothing came to her. Her heart pounded in her ears, and her breath came in quick, shallow gasps.
Just as one of the men lunged toward her, a blur of motion caught her eye. The next moment, the man who had been advancing toward her was sent stumbling back, a hand wrapped around his wrist, twisting it with ease.
"Move," Ryo's voice rang out, calm and commanding, as he appeared seemingly from nowhere, his body blocking Hana from the men. His eyes were cold, his demeanor utterly different from the quiet, kind man who visited the ramen shop.
The two other men hesitated, sizing Ryo up. They hadn't expected this—an outsider, someone who looked like he belonged in the shadows. But the one with the knife sneered, stepping forward. "You want a fight? Fine."
With a swift movement, he lunged, slashing the knife toward Ryo. But Ryo was faster. In a blur of motion, he dodged, his foot connecting with the man's chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.
The remaining two men turned and bolted, realizing they were outmatched. Ryo didn't move immediately, his eyes on the retreating figures until they disappeared into the night.
When he finally turned to Hana, his expression was unreadable. He didn't say a word as he reached out to gently place his hand on her shoulder, guiding her a few steps back to the safety of the shop's light.
Hana stood there in shock, her breath coming in quick gasps as the adrenaline of the situation slowly ebbed away. She had never been in a situation like this before, and she couldn't quite process what had just happened.
Ryo, still standing tall, looked at her with a calmness that only made her feel more unsettled. "Are you okay?" His voice was soft, almost gentle, but his eyes still held that coldness, like he was already somewhere else, somewhere far from this moment.
Hana nodded slowly, still trying to catch her breath. "I—I think so. But... what was that?"
Ryo's gaze flickered briefly toward the alley where the men had disappeared before returning to her. "They were going to rob you."
"I... I didn't know what to do." Hana's voice wavered as she took a small step back, still processing the near-miss. "Thank you for helping me."
Ryo didn't respond at first. His face remained unreadable, but his jaw tightened slightly. "It's nothing," he muttered, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Go home. It's not safe out here."
Hana hesitated, unsure of how to react. She could still feel her heart racing in her chest, her body still trembling from the fear that had taken hold of her only moments ago. "But... what about you? You should be careful too."
Ryo didn't answer her right away, his eyes darkening as if something about the situation unsettled him. After a moment, he gave a short nod. "I'll be fine."
Before she could say anything else, he turned, his coat trailing behind him as he disappeared into the night, blending into the shadows as though he had never been there at all.
Hana stood there for a long moment, her mind spinning. She didn't know what to make of what had just happened—how Ryo had appeared out of nowhere, how effortlessly he had dealt with the men. There was so much she didn't understand about him, so many questions she didn't know how to ask.
But one thing was certain: Ryo had saved her tonight. And somehow, that knowledge felt both comforting and unsettling at the same time.