Dead Man's Tales: HSOTD

Miku's feet pounded against the pavement as she ran, her breaths coming in short, panicked bursts. Her mind whirled with a thousand questions, none of which she could answer. Who was that masked figure? Why were there bodies on the ground? And if Kozen was truly alright, he could get seriously hurt while telling her to run?

Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency number, clutching it so tightly she could feel her pulse in her hand. The operator's calm voice felt surreal against the frantic beat of her heart.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"There's—there's been an attack," Miku gasped, barely able to force the words out. "There are… people hurt, in an alley near Maple Street. I don't know if they're alive. You have to send someone. Please, hurry."

The operator asked for details, but Miku's mind was spinning, focused on one thing: Kozen. He was still back there, standing between her and that masked stranger. What if he was hurt? What if he—

A siren wailed in the distance, and Miku's heart surged with a mix of relief and fear as flashing lights turned the corner. She waved them down, breathless, stumbling as an officer approached her.

"Miss, are you alright?" 

"Yes, I'm fine, but my friend… I don't know if he's…" She struggled for words, glancing back down the street. "You have to find him. He stayed behind to… to protect me."

The officer's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise and caution as he motioned for her to follow him to the alley. More officers appeared, stepping into the shadows as they surveyed the scene. Ambulances were called in, paramedics arriving within moments to tend to the men strewn across the ground, some groaning softly, others silent.

"Who called this in?" another officer asked, glancing around.

"That was me," Miku whispered, stepping forward. "But… but my friend, he's… I don't know where he is. He was with me, and then… he stayed behind."

"Alright, stay calm," the officer replied, his tone soothing. "We'll find him."

As if on cue, hurried footsteps echoed down the alley, and Miku's head whipped around. Kozen appeared, breathless but completely unharmed, his expression calm despite the chaos around him.

"Miku!" he called, jogging over with a faint, reassuring smile. "I'm alright."

She let out a shaky breath, a mixture of relief and disbelief flooding her as he approached. He looked… fine. Not a scratch on him. His usual calm, almost indifferent expression was firmly in place as he walked up to the officers.

"What happened here?" an officer asked, his eyes narrowing.

Kozen took a deep breath, adopting an air of composed explanation. "There was an attacker. They ambushed us, and I tried to hold them off to protect Miku. They were fast, though—got away before I could stop them." His voice was smooth, unwavering, and Miku had to marvel at how composed he sounded.

The officers exchanged glances, skepticism flickering across their faces, but Kozen's cool demeanor seemed to quell any suspicion. After a few more questions and a once-over by the paramedics, they were finally let go, walking away from the chaotic scene side by side.

They walked in silence for a while, the sounds of sirens fading into the distance as they left the alley and turned onto a quiet street. The night air was cool, and Miku couldn't shake the shiver that crawled up her spine as she replayed everything in her mind.

Finally, Kozen broke the silence. "So… not exactly how I expected our arcade night to end," he remarked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Miku glanced at him, her mind still racing. "Is this… normal for you?"

He chuckled softly, shrugging. "Hey, I told you I was good under pressure. Just didn't mention the specific type of pressure."

She shook her head, lips pressing into a tight line as she studied him, searching his face. He looked perfectly at ease, as if they hadn't just left a scene that looked like something out of a crime drama. "You were—" Her words faltered as her mind grappled with the absurdity. "You weren't scared at all, were you?"

"Scared?" He raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, his voice low and teasing. "Why, are you worried about me?"

Her cheeks flushed, but she crossed her arms defensively. "I mean, you went after some kind of… masked figure. In the dark. Alone. Are you sure you're okay? You don't have any… injuries or anything?"

He tilted his head, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Why, Miku—are you just trying to get me to take my shirt off?"

Her cheeks flared crimson. "What? No! I was just… you know, checking."

Kozen laughed, a rich sound that made her heart skip a beat. With a shrug, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and, with a slight smirk, pulled it over his head, revealing toned, lean muscles beneath. Miku's gaze drifted over his shoulders, his chest, the faint scars that traced a line down his side. Her mouth went dry.

"See? Nothing new." He flexed an arm playfully, chuckling at her wide-eyed stare. "Just the old ones. Guess I really am tougher than I look, huh?"

Miku swallowed, her eyes fixed on a particularly long scar on his side, the lines pale against his skin. She hadn't expected to see scars, hadn't even considered what might lie beneath his usual cool exterior. Tentatively, almost unconsciously, she reached out, her fingertips grazing his side. The roughness of the scar under her touch made her shiver.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "What… happened?"

Kozen's smirk softened, his expression shifting to something quieter, almost reflective. "Life happened," he murmured, then straightened, pulling his shirt back on as if closing the conversation.

They continued walking, the silence between them thicker now, layered with questions she wasn't sure she wanted answers to. The city streets were quiet, streetlights casting a soft glow over their path, the sounds of distant traffic and night birds filling the air.

After a few moments, Kozen cleared his throat, glancing at her with a faint smile. "So… I know this wasn't exactly a normal night. But… would you want to do this again sometime? You know, minus the whole masked attacker part?"

Miku blinked, taken off guard. "You mean… like a date?"

He shrugged, that smirk of his back in place. "Call it whatever you want. Just thought it'd be nice to hang out again, just the two of us."

She felt her heart skip, a warmth spreading through her chest that she quickly tried to suppress. She didn't want him to see her flustered. "I… yeah. Sure. I mean, if you're not too busy, you know, fighting off masked villains or something."

Kozen laughed, the sound low and genuine, as he nudged her playfully. "Trust me, Miku, I'll make time. So… tomorrow?"

She managed a small nod, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Yeah. Tomorrow."

And as they walked through the quiet city, the tension of the night fading, Miku couldn't help but feel a strange thrill—a sense that life with Kozen was exactly the kind of excitement she'd been craving.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The following week was a whirlwind of laughter, late-night texts, and stolen moments between classes. Miku found herself swept up in a series of dates with Kozen, each one making her heart race a little faster than the last. She knew she was young, that it was all happening so fast, but that only seemed to add to the thrill. Every time they were together, her mind quieted, all the stresses of school, of life, fading away until it was just the two of them, wrapped in a world of their own making.

Their first official date was at the boardwalk. Kozen had texted her with a simple, "Meet me by the arcade at noon?" and Miku had practically floated on air all morning waiting for the time to pass.

The boardwalk was bustling with people, the smell of salty sea air mixing with the sweet scent of cotton candy and fried dough. Miku spotted Kozen leaning against the arcade entrance, looking effortlessly cool in his black jacket, his hair tousled by the breeze. He waved when he saw her, his face lighting up with a warm, genuine smile.

"Didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" Miku asked, slightly out of breath from hurrying over.

"Only my entire life," Kozen replied with a smirk, then offered her a soda he'd just bought. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up."

Miku rolled her eyes, laughing as she took the drink. "Yeah, right. Like I'd pass up free games."

They spent the next hour in the arcade, challenging each other to every game they could find. Miku was determined to reclaim her "queen of Mario Party" title, but Kozen was surprisingly skilled. She managed to win a stuffed bear from a claw machine, which she proudly handed to Kozen as a "trophy." He grinned, tucking it under his arm.

Later, they walked along the boardwalk, munching on fries and sharing laughs as they talked about anything and everything. Miku was surprised at how easy it was to be around him, how comfortable. 

"Alright, important question," Kozen said, pausing to look at her, a mock-serious expression on his face. "What's your favorite movie?"

"Easy—'Spirited Away.'"

He raised an eyebrow, looking impressed. "A Studio Ghibli fan, huh? Good choice. I think mine's 'Akira.'"

"Of course, it is," Miku teased, nudging him with her shoulder. "Every mysterious guy loves 'Akira.'"

They both laughed, the sound carrying into the night air, and for a moment, Miku forgot about everyone else on the boardwalk. It was just them, and it felt… perfect.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The next day, Kozen surprised Miku with a trip to a cozy little cat café tucked away on a quiet side street. It was the kind of place Miku had always wanted to visit, but somehow never had the time or the courage to walk into alone. As they stepped inside, a soft warmth settled over them, mixed with the gentle scent of tea and the comforting, almost earthy smell of fresh fur.

The café was like a little oasis. Soft armchairs and low tables were arranged in warm, ambient lighting, giving everything a soft glow. Cats of every size and color lounged around the room, some curled up in baskets, others stretching out across cushions, and a few batting lazily at strings hung from the ceiling. Miku's eyes went wide as she took it all in, a delighted smile spreading across her face.

"This is… incredible," she whispered, her gaze darting from one sleepy cat to the next. She had barely sat down when a fluffy white cat with bright green eyes jumped gracefully into her lap, making itself comfortable and purring as it nudged her hand with its head.

Kozen took a seat beside her, grinning as he watched her pet the cat. "Knew you'd like it," he said, an amused glint in his eye.

Miku looked up at him, eyes still wide with excitement. "I can't believe you're a cat café type of person, though. I totally pegged you as a dog guy."

Kozen chuckled, reaching out as a gray tabby cat wound around his ankles, brushing its tail against him. "What can I say? Cats are… calm, self-assured. They don't need you to do anything for them. Just… let them be."

Miku tilted her head, intrigued. "So, you're saying you and cats have something in common?"

"Guess you could say that," he replied, his eyes twinkling as he reached down to scratch the gray tabby behind the ears. The cat arched its back, pushing into his hand with a deep, rumbling purr, and Miku raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised at how gentle Kozen looked in that moment.

"I don't know… I didn't take you for the type to be into the whole 'cute and cuddly' thing," she teased, grinning. "Maybe I had you wrong all along."

Kozen rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Oh, so just because I act tough, I'm not allowed to like cute things?"

Miku laughed, scooping the white cat off her lap and holding it up to his face, grinning mischievously. "Alright then, Mr. Tough Guy—how about this?" She nudged the cat toward him, its nose barely an inch from his.

He blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but then he grinned and took the cat gently from her hands, cradling it like a pro. The cat squirmed, pawing lightly at his fingers before settling down and gazing up at him with half-closed eyes, perfectly content. Miku couldn't help but smile at the unexpected sight.

"There's a soft side to you after all," she murmured, her voice teasing but warm.

He shrugged, not breaking his gaze from the cat. "Cats are just… different. They're not like dogs, always trying to please you. With cats, you earn their respect."

A tiny gray kitten darted out from under the table just then, all big eyes and clumsy paws, scrambling onto the chair between them. It let out a squeaky little meow before attempting a rather uncoordinated pounce at a loose string hanging from Kozen's hoodie. Kozen chuckled, extending the string a bit, and the kitten's entire body tensed in concentration as it swiped at it, its tiny claws coming up just short each time.

Miku couldn't stop giggling. "Look at it! It's so determined."

Kozen smirked, letting the kitten bat at the string, missing every time but only trying harder. "Just needs practice," he murmured. "Kind of like someone else I know."

Miku gasped, feigning outrage as she nudged him with her shoulder. "Are you calling me clumsy?"

"I'm just saying, I've seen you trip over your own feet enough times to say you could take notes from this little guy."

She laughed, rolling her eyes as she reached over to pet the kitten, her fingers brushing his as they both stroked its soft fur. Her heart skipped a beat, and she wondered if he felt the same thrill of electricity between them.

One of the larger cats—a chubby orange tabby—sauntered over, eyeing Kozen's lap as if sizing up the perfect spot to claim as its throne. Before he could react, the cat jumped up, settling onto his legs with a dramatic plop, its fluffy tail swishing as it got comfortable. Kozen glanced down, looking almost bewildered.

For the rest of the afternoon, they played with the cats, breaking into fits of laughter as they watched the kittens stumble and chase their own tails. Miku found herself sitting on the floor, surrounded by a few of the more adventurous kittens, one of which had decided her shoelaces were the ultimate plaything. She caught Kozen watching her, a soft smile on his face, and she felt her cheeks flush under his gaze.

"You know," he said quietly, "you're really cute when you're not overthinking everything."

Miku raised an eyebrow, laughing softly. "Oh, so I'm not cute the rest of the time?"

Kozen leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Did I say that?"

She rolled her eyes, throwing a crumpled napkin at him, which he dodged with an exaggerated laugh. For the next few minutes, they were like kids again, goofing around, making the kittens chase after bits of paper and giggling over the cats' antics. 

Author Note: More chapters on [email protected]/LordCampione.