[Scene opens – rooftop, 1:37 a.m., pouring rain over the city of Hyoujin.]
The world felt dead at night—quiet, heavy, and cold like it was holding its breath.
Jin Kuroya sat on the edge of the rooftop, hoodie soaked, headphones blaring, one foot dangling four stories above the empty street.
He wasn't afraid of heights. He wasn't afraid of much.
But he was afraid of silence.
"You ever think maybe the world's already ended?" he muttered aloud. No one answered, of course.
Except someone did.
"The world ends every night, Jin Kuroya. Most people are just too asleep to notice."
Jin shot up, eyes locking onto a figure standing behind him—girl, pale skin, black-and-white cloak, sword on her back, eyes glowing faint silver under the moonlight.
"…The hell?" Jin muttered, pulling out his earbuds.
"You can see me," the girl whispered, a hint of panic in her voice.
"You're not supposed to see me."
"Guess you should've worn something less dramatic if you wanted to stay hidden," Jin smirked. He had jokes, even when confused. Especially then.
She stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "You're not awakened. You're not part of the Order. Then how—"
A blood-curdling screech tore through the night. Jin froze.
It came from across the street—an impossible thing, crawling out of the shadows. A twisted, eyeless beast with a cracked mask and a hole in its chest, dragging claws across concrete as if it were glass.
Jin's throat dried instantly.
"What the hell is that?"
"A Yomurei," the girl said.
"A corrupted soul. And it's here for you."
---
[Flashback – 12 hours earlier.]
He'd gotten into a fight. Again.
Three seniors cornered a first-year in the alley near the ramen shop. Jin stepped in. Broke one guy's nose, caught a punch to the jaw, and laughed the whole time.
Principal called it "delinquency."
His therapist called it "aggression issues."
His dad called it "a damn shame."
Jin just called it being human.
---
[Back to rooftop.]
The creature lunged.
The girl dashed in, blade drawn—she moved faster than anything Jin had ever seen. The clang of her soul-forged blade meeting the beast's claws echoed like thunder.
But she wasn't fast enough.
The Yomurei broke past her defense and struck—straight for Jin's heart.
Time stopped.
A single breath.
A single heartbeat.
And then—fire.
Jin's chest ignited in soul-light.
Everything around him blurred. The girl screamed something. The world flashed white—and a voice echoed in his skull like a war drum:
"This soul has been claimed."
From within the light… a weapon emerged. A blade. Ancient. Radiating crimson smoke.
Jin caught it midair like it belonged to him all along.
The Yomurei hesitated.
So Jin smiled.
"Bad idea picking me, freak."
He lunged forward—and slashed.
---
[Scene fades – rooftop covered in ash and rain.]
The girl stood wide-eyed, staring at Jin.
His hoodie burned off. His eyes glowing faint crimson.
The blade pulsing in his hand.
"Who… what are you?" she whispered.
Jin dropped the sword, breathing heavily.
"I was just a guy trying to skip tomorrow's math test…"
He looked at her, rain dripping from his brow.
"…but I guess I'm something else now, huh?"