Rin walked out of her final class for the day, slinging her bag over her shoulder. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the campus pathways as she pressed her phone to her ear.
"So, made any friends yet?" came Ari's voice, teasing and light.
Rin rolled her eyes. "Nope."
"Why not?"
"She's a superhero enthusiast." Rin's voice was flat.
There was a pause on the line. Then Ari let out a short laugh. "Oh, that explains it. Your roommate probably wants to debate who's better—Janus or Lady Fox—and you're too polite to tell her you don't care."
"Exactly." Rin smirked slightly.
The conversation turned to lighter things—family updates, campus anecdotes—but as Ari started to joke about Rin's reluctance to join any clubs, her tone abruptly shifted.
"Hey, Rin, I'll call you back later, okay?"
"What? Why? Ari—"
"Gotta go. Love you!"
The line went dead.
Rin frowned, staring at her phone. Something about Ari's tone didn't sit right with her, but before she could dwell on it, a gust of wind carried the sound of chatter from a nearby group of students. Shaking off the unease, she turned and headed back to her dorm.
---
Inside the hostel room, Rin found her roommate glued to the laptop screen, the flickering light casting strange shadows across the walls.
"Breaking news!" the roommate exclaimed as Rin walked in. "You have to see this!"
Rin sighed. "I really don't—"
"It's Lady Arachne! She's fighting a supervillain right now!"
That caught Rin's attention. She didn't sit down, but her steps slowed as her roommate gestured wildly to the screen.
The news broadcast showed a high-rise district engulfed in chaos. Smoke poured from shattered windows, and debris rained down as Lady Arachne swung gracefully through the battlefield. Her sleek, black-and-silver suit shimmered with web-like designs, and she moved with the precision of a dancer, dodging strikes from her opponent—a hulking figure with crocodilian features and glowing red eyes.
"Ammit," the news anchor said grimly, "a known supervillain suspected of connections to several underground organizations, is wreaking havoc in the district. Lady Arachne has stepped in to neutralize the threat. Casualties are currently unknown."
Rin's stomach dropped as the name of the location was announced.
Her heart pounded. She knew that place—it was where Ari worked.
Her breath hitched. "No..."
Her roommate looked up. "What's wrong?"
"I… nothing." Rin quickly turned away, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She muttered, "I just—hope Lady Arachne can stop that thing."
Inside, she was spiraling. Ari works there. Ari's there. She said she had to go... was this why?
---
Back in her corner of the room, Rin closed her eyes tightly, hands shaking. She wasn't religious, but in that moment, she whispered a quiet prayer for her cousin's safety.
What Rin didn't know was that her cousin didn't need her prayers.
Ari wasn't running from danger.
She was the one swinging into battle, her face hidden behind Lady Arachne's mask.