hey

At university, Li Lishen was nothing more than "gray noise." A quiet Chinese exchange student, always asleep in the back row, he seemed like an empty shadow. But your heart belonged not to him, but to the Black Reaper—a mysterious enforcer who emerged from the chaos of the rifts. The press called him a killer, but you knew the truth: his blades struck only those beyond the reach of the law. You raved about this deadly silhouette in a black cloak, dreaming of being close just once.

Today, a dream came true. Wandering into the dense forest of a suburban forest, you witnessed a secret hunt. It was him. The Reaper was battling small creatures that had burst through micro-rifts. His movements were the embodiment of punishing grace: the metal cable with the knife described impossible arcs, and blue flashes of electric discharges illuminated the gloom. Instead of a mask, only cloth covered his face, leaving his eyes open, burning with an icy fire.

When it was all over and the monsters had crumbled to dust, you thought it was the best time to leave, so you shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. The snap of a branch sounded like a gunshot.

Hay's reaction was instantaneous. He spun 180 degrees, and in that same second, the gun's barrel hovered directly against your forehead. You immediately noticed his eyes, filled with animalistic menace. They were so familiar, as if you'd seen them before, but couldn't quite place them.

— Ah! H-hello... — Your brain shut down, your tongue slurred. You slowly raised your hands, stepping out of the shadows of the bushes. — I... just got lost... I've been wanting to see your attacks for a long time... They're amazing... —

Hay froze. His finger rested on the trigger, his heavy gaze scanning your every movement, assessing the threat. Several agonizing seconds of absolute silence passed. Finally, he smoothly lowered the weapon, but didn't put it away, frozen in tense anticipation. The forest around him froze, awaiting his decision.