Chapter 4: Nina

Before the chaos of that day

The day when he escaped the bombing of the mall, the killer—wounded and limping from his injuries—emerged from the sewer into the chaos of a busy subway crowd. His mask had been removed, revealing his face for the first time to the world, though no one seemed to notice in the rush of the city.

He made his way to a nearby bike, snapping the lock off without hesitation. Mounting the bike, he pedaled as far as his battered body could carry him. After nearly an hour of riding, his strength gave out. He collapsed at the doorstep of a small, humble home in a quiet neighborhood and lost consciousness.

Moments later, a young girl opened the door, shocked to find the bleeding man lying on her doorstep. Without a second thought, she dragged him inside and laid him gently on a mattress on the floor. She worked quickly and carefully, treating his injuries with the limited supplies she had—completely unaware of who he really was.

After tending to his wounds, she went to the kitchen and prepared a simple soup, knowing that if he woke up, he'd be hungry. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the killer stirred. His eyes fluttered open, and he slowly sat up on the mattress, dazed.

"Why… am I here?" he muttered, glancing around in confusion. When he saw the girl, he added, "It's dangerous to help strangers… especially when you're alone."

She shrugged it off with a gentle smile. "You seem like a decent person to me, so it's okay. Helping people is my motto—I learned it from my grandparents."

She asked for his name.

"Iyashi," he answered after a moment.

"Are you Japanese?" she asked curiously.

"No," he replied. "My father just liked Japanese culture. That explains the name."

She smiled again. "I'm Nina. Nice to meet you, Iyashi."

He nodded and offered a faint smile as she handed him the bowl of soup. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"Can I stay here for a few days?" he asked. "Until I'm strong enough to leave. I promise I'll respect your space. I'll draw a line I won't cross."

Nina paused and thinked it thoroughly noticing his honest and sincere tone, she nodded letting him stay. "Okay. You're welcome here."

Over the next few days, Nina carried on with her life. She was a graduating senior high school student, known for her intelligence and consistently topping her class. But she often kept to herself. Her classmates would often pick on her or use her for schoolwork, and though she felt isolated, she tolerated their behavior. She knew that if she stood up for herself, they'd only turn against her more.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Iyashi sat quietly in a chair, watching the streets from the window. In the distance, he saw Nina walking home from school, her silhouette small against the dim light.

When she entered the house, a warm aroma greeted her.

"I made dinner," Iyashi said. "It's a thank-you—for letting me stay."

Nina was surprised. Her eyes softened. Without a word, she stepped forward and hugged him.

Iyashi stood still, frozen by the unexpected gesture—but didn't pull away.

That night, they sat together and shared a quiet meal under the dim glow of a kitchen light.

By dawn, Iyashi was gone.

When Nina awoke and found the empty mattress, she didn't panic. She just smiled softly, as if she already knew.

And then, she carried on with her day.