Mira.
She was his girlfriend, an S-rank superhero, DarkShadow whose name carried weight in Argon City's chaotic hero circuit. They'd only been dating three months—barely enough time to call it serious, though the spark had ignited fast.
Their dates were few, stolen moments between missions: a late-night coffee run after a patrol, her laughter cutting through the diner's hum; a quiet walk along the city's edge, her shadow playfully nudging him as they dodged streetlights; a single rainy evening on her apartment roof, sharing cheap wine and trading war stories under a tarp.
But those moments were rare.
Ryn had been relentless, grinding through A-rank missions, chasing that elusive S-rank status with a hunger that left little room for anything else.
Mira understood—hell, she'd been there for him, motivating him.
And now she was here.
Real.
Alive.
Looking at him like she thought he might vanish.
_____
"No" Mira said, her tone flat, cutting through the breeze.
