The heavy air of the strategy room still lingered deep in my chest. The words Saya had started to say. The continuation of that trembling voice, cut off by the knock at the door — *I just, you…* The top floor of Kagerou Tower. Above the sixty-fourth floor, a small glass-walled space that commanded a panoramic view of New Tokyo's nightscape. Moonlight fell pale and blue across the black, inorganic floor. Ren stood by the window. Below, countless lights glittered. The high-rise cluster of the New City Center, the white Hunter Central in the Government District, the distant coastal defense wall. The city was quiet. It was already past midnight. Tomorrow. The Corridor of Lamentation. The fifteenth layer. A humanoid monster. An emergency summons to all S-rank Hunters. He traced the operation's procedures over and over in his head. The formation diagrams. The equipment list. The moments to deploy Absolute Obedience — Ren raised his right hand. From his fingertips to the back of his hand, the color of blood was thin. Beneath the pale, translucent skin, black tattoo-like patterns faintly surfaced. Proof that he had been overusing his skill. *(The limit range of mental strain, huh.)* Saya's words came back to him. She wasn't wrong. Memory turbidity had occurred twice. The sensation of old Monolith memories flooding into his head — that was a terror that felt like ceasing to be himself. But. Ren stared at the shadow at his feet. Darker than his own outline, a darkness like spilled ink spread across the floor. Within it, roughly thirty Monoliths lay hidden. Shadow Hounds, Armor Knights, Sirens — *(This power is all I have left.)* He inhaled slowly. The shadow wavered. Black mist rose in swirling eddies, taking a shape about the size of a dog. Three red eyes glinted sharply. A Shadow Hound. Ren lightly clenched his right hand. The Hound materialized for just an instant, then immediately sank back into the shadow. Only the original black stain remained on the floor. Mental strain check — no problem. He could still control it. He could still fight with this in tomorrow's operation. Gazing at the nightscape beyond the window, Ren let out a small breath. That day when he was six, sitting alone in the rubble. For three days, no one came. His mother, his father — they were already gone. On the morning of the fourth day, he watched a fallen Monolith turn into black mist and get sucked into his own shadow. He wasn't scared. He felt nothing. Ever since, he had lived alongside this power. Power drives people away. Awe breeds isolation. Even with two hundred Hunters in Kagerou Tower, no one came near the forty-fourth floor lounge. Just being S-rank made everyone keep their distance. He had thought that was fine. But — Saya's face surfaced in his mind. Cold blue eyes. Long silver hair. A spine held perfectly straight. An inspector who lived by the rules. And yet, at that moment, her voice had trembled. "I just, you — " He still hadn't heard what came after. *Chime.* An electronic tone broke the silence. The elevator arrival sound. It was past two in the morning. The people who could come to this floor at this hour were limited. Aside from Ren, who filled the Master's vacant seat — there should have been practically no one. Ren turned around. The elevator doors opened. Standing there was a woman, her long, straight silver hair swaying. She wore a light coat — casual clothes. Not the usual Hunter Association uniform. No terminal, no documents in her hands. Saya. She had taken one step out of the elevator when she saw Ren's face and stopped dead in her tracks. Her cold blue eyes wavered in the moonlight. "…What brings you here at this hour?" Ren's voice was low and calm. But deep in his chest, something stirred restlessly. For several seconds, Saya stood frozen, unable to say anything. She turned her eyes toward the nightscape outside the window, then brought her gaze back to Ren. Both hands clutched the collar of her coat tightly. "[whispers]I know… it's a violation of regulations." Her voice trembled. It was completely different from her usual rigid inspector's tone. Saya took one step closer to Ren. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her silver hair in pale blue. "[whispers]For an inspector to visit the guild she is auditing late at night, in casual clothes… it is something that must never happen." Again, her words cut off. Her lips parted slightly, then closed. She was trying to say something and couldn't. Ren could tell the words were caught in her throat. "[whispers]Even so… I wanted to see you." In that instant, something burst deep inside Ren's chest. A rational part of him faintly sounded a warning. *This is wrong. She is an inspector, and you are the S-rank Hunter she is auditing. If you cross this line, her position will be endangered.* But — *(None of that matters anymore.)* Ren took one step closer to Saya. The distance between them shrank to an arm's length. Tears glistened in Saya's eyes. "In the strategy room… there was something I started to say." She lifted her face. Her cold blue eyes gazed straight at Ren. Deep within them burned a heat she couldn't hide. "[whispers]I just… I was worried about you. I was afraid because your mental strain is approaching its limit. Afraid that you might destroy yourself." A single tear traced down her cheek. "[crying]The regulations… truthfully, they didn't matter to me at all. What I was watching wasn't the command records or the risk factors. I was watching… you." Without a word, Ren reached out his right hand. He placed it gently on Saya's shoulder. Her body gave a small shiver. And then — as if everything she had been holding back was crumbling — Saya pressed her forehead against Ren's chest. "[crying]Ren…" That voice was utterly unlike her usual rigid inspector's tone. Low, soft, slightly hoarse. The unguarded voice of a single human being. Ren wrapped both arms around her back and held her tightly. Her slender body fit perfectly within his embrace. From her silver hair came a faint, flower-like scent. "Saya." When he spoke her name, her shoulders trembled again. With one hand, Ren lifted her chin. Her blue eyes, wet with tears, looked up at him. The moonlight cast their two shadows onto the window glass. Slowly, he brought his face closer. Their lips touched. At first, it was a quiet, hesitant kiss. Saya's lips were cold, but soft. Both her hands clutched tightly at the chest of Ren's shirt. Her entire body conveyed a single will — *I don't want to let go.* The kiss deepened. When Ren's tongue parted Saya's lips, she let out a small breath. Their tongues touched, intertwined. The strength drained from Saya's body, and Ren held her firmly, supporting her. How long did they stay like that? When their lips parted, Saya's face was faintly flushed. Traces of tears remained. But what floated in her eyes now was no longer sorrow. "[whispers]We can't… go back now, can we?" "Yeah." Ren answered shortly. He felt the same. There was no going back now. He had no intention of going back. Saya took Ren's hand herself. Her slender, pale fingers traced the black tattoo-like patterns on the back of his hand. "[gentle]I'm not… afraid. Far more than breaking the rules, the thought that I might lose you tomorrow terrifies me." She pulled Ren's hand and led him away from the window. She stopped before the door leading to Ren's private room in the corner of the top floor. When Saya turned back, there was no mask on her face. Neither fear nor duty — only the desire and affection of a single human being overflowed. Ren placed his hand against her cheek. It was warm. The tear trails were still slightly damp. "Are you sure?" It was a final confirmation. Saya gave a small but clear nod. "[gentle]I want you. Ren… only you." The door opened, and the two of them vanished into the room. Their two shadows, framed against the nightscape, overlapped on the window glass. — The room was dark. Only the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the bed and floor in pale blue. Still holding Ren's hand, Saya sat down on the edge of the bed. Her fingers trembled with nervousness. Ren sat beside her and kissed her again, slowly. This time longer and deeper than before. "[whispers]Nn…" A small sigh escaped Saya's lips. Ren reached for the buttons of her coat. One by one, he undid them slowly. The coat slipped from her shoulders, revealing a thin blouse beneath. The moonlight shone through it, faintly outlining the lines of her body. "[gentle]You're beautiful." The words slipped out before he could stop them. Saya averted her gaze, embarrassed. "[whispers]Please… don't stare at me like that." "No." Ren took her hand and guided it to the buttons of his own shirt. Saya's trembling fingers undid them one by one. Ren's chest was exposed, and on his skin too, black tattoo-like patterns surfaced. The proof of Absolute Obedience. Saya gently traced her fingers over the patterns. "[whispers]Does it… hurt?" "I'm used to it." Ren answered shortly and took her hand. Then he kissed her deeply once more. This time, Saya entwined her tongue with his. Their body heat mingled. He unbuttoned her blouse. He removed her skirt from below. Saya squirmed shyly but offered no resistance. Her white skin was illuminated by the moonlight. Slender shoulders, the hollow of her collarbone, and her breasts — Ren laid her down on the bed. Saya hid her face with both hands. Even the tips of her ears had turned red. Ren gently moved her hands aside and gazed into her eyes. "Saya." When he spoke her name, her blue eyes grew moist. "[whispers]Ren… please. Let me say your name more." Those words melted the last of his reason. Ren removed her underwear and shed his own clothes. The moment their bare skin touched, Saya's body jolted. "[whispers]Ah…" Her skin was astonishingly smooth and warm. When he ran his hand over the swell of her breasts, Saya caught her breath. When his fingertips touched her nipple, her back arched like a bow. "[whispers]No… that place is…" "Does it feel good?" Saya couldn't answer; she only shook her head. But her body was honest. As Ren's hand descended to her lower abdomen, she was already sufficiently wet. Warm, thick nectar clung to his fingers. When he touched Saya's clitoris, she let out a small cry. "[crying]Aaah…!" While gently rubbing her clitoris with the pad of his finger, Ren caressed her breasts with his other hand. Under the stimulation from two places, Saya gripped the sheets tightly, desperately trying to suppress her voice. "You can let your voice out." "[whispers]But… someone might…" "No one's coming. This is my place." At those words, Saya finally relaxed. Yearning sighs began to escape her lips. "[whispers]Ah… Ren… Ren…" She called Ren's name over and over. That voice was sweet, aching, more sensual than any word he had ever heard. Ren pressed his penis against the entrance of Saya's vagina. It was already hard and erect, precum seeping from the tip. When he pressed the glans against Saya's secret place, she held her breath. "[whispers]I'm putting it in." Saya gave a small nod. He slowly pushed his hips forward. With a slick sensation, his penis sank into Saya. Hot, tight, a sensation of being squeezed firmly. "[crying]Aaaah…!" Saya's back arched deeply. The inner walls of her vagina squeezed Ren's cock tightly. Inside her was astonishingly hot and wet. He slowly inserted all the way to the deepest part. "[whispers]It's all… inside…" Tears spilled from her eyes. It wasn't pain. Her emotions were overflowing and wouldn't stop. Ren began to move his hips. Slowly at first, gauging Saya's reactions. Each time his cock moved in and out of her, wet, squelching sounds echoed through the room. "[excited]Ah… ah… Ren…" Saya wrapped both arms around Ren's back and clung to him tightly. With enough f