[Scene: A narrow alleyway a few blocks from the park. The streetlights barely reach inside, leaving long, stretching shadows. Hana and Takumi press themselves against the rough brick wall, listening. The footsteps behind them have stopped—but they know they're not alone.]
HANA: (whispering, her breath uneven) "Still think I was imagining it?"
TAKUMI: (quiet, scanning the alleyway's exits) "I'll give you this one. But I'd rather be wrong."
HANA: (swallowing, voice tense) "What do we do?"
TAKUMI: (thinking, then tilting his head slightly, a ghost of his usual smirk returning) "We test a theory."
HANA: (narrowing her eyes) "Takumi. No."
TAKUMI: (grinning slightly, stepping away from the wall) "We need to know if they're actually following us, right? Let's find out."
HANA: (grabbing his wrist, her grip tight) "This isn't funny."
TAKUMI: (pauses, his expression softening, lowering his voice) "I know. But if we just stand here waiting, that's worse."
[She hesitates, then lets go. Takumi takes a step forward, hands in his pockets, posture casual—but his eyes flicker with something sharp.]
TAKUMI: (raising his voice slightly, as if speaking to the night itself) "Alright, I'm done pretending. You gonna come out, or are we gonna keep playing this game?"
[Silence. The alley is still. Too still.]
HANA: (low voice, tense) "Takumi—"
[Then, a sound. A slow, deliberate step. From the darkness beyond the alley, a figure shifts just slightly into the faint light. Not enough to see their face—just an outline, tall and unmoving. Watching.]
HANA: (heart hammering, voice barely above a whisper) "I really hate being right."
TAKUMI: (equally quiet, but his smirk has vanished) "For once, same."
[The figure doesn't move closer. Doesn't speak. Just stands there. Waiting.]
HANA: (forcing herself to breathe evenly, gripping the edge of her sleeve tightly) "What do they want?"
TAKUMI: (low voice, unreadable) "I don't know. But I don't think we should stick around to ask."
[The figure shifts again, just slightly. As if they heard him. As if they're deciding something.]
TAKUMI: (quiet, urgent) "Hana. On three, we move. Got it?"
HANA: (nods, barely breathing) "Got it."
TAKUMI: "One."
[The figure tilts its head.]
TAKUMI: "Two."
[A sharp inhale, a flicker of motion from the darkness.]
TAKUMI: "Three!"
[They run. Not looking back. Not stopping. The city blurs around them, neon lights and endless shadows. The sound of footsteps echoes behind them—too close, too fast.]
HANA: (panting, voice sharp with fear) "Takumi—!"
TAKUMI: (gritted teeth, pulling her forward) "Just keep going!"
[The night swallows their footsteps, their ragged breaths. Somewhere behind them, the figure follows—silent, relentless, unknown.]
[End of Chapter 9]