The wail of sirens echoed in the distance as Kaizo climbed back up to the rooftop. Yumi hadn’t moved an inch—still frozen, still wide-eyed from everything that had just happened.

  Kaizo (calmly): “Hey.”

  She flinched slightly. Before she could even respond, he scooped her up in his arms and leapt off the rooftop.

  Yumi (stammering): “W–Wait—!”

  Kaizo didn’t answer. He was already moving—jumping from ledge to ledge until they landed in front of a quiet, two-story home on the edge of the district.

  Inside, the air felt calm again. He gently set her down on the couch.

  Yumi’s cheeks flushed red. She couldn’t help but glance at him—black hair slightly messy from the fight, red eyes still glowing faintly with that confident, untouchable energy. He looked like someone straight out of a drama novel.

  What did Kaizo notice about Yumi? Violet hair tied loosely behind her neck, soft skin still speckled with dust, glasses hanging slightly crooked from all the chaos. Her eyes were a deep, nervous violet that almost seemed to reflect his.

  Kaizo returned moments later with a medical kit.

  Kaizo (quietly): “You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”

  He knelt beside her, inspecting her arms for cuts. His hands were steady, careful. It was a side of him no one would expect from someone who’d just fought a monster.

  Kaizo (to himself): “Guess it’s a good thing I kept all this from Mom’s old stash…”

  Truth was, his older sister’s “death” years ago—caused by an unknown illness—had made him obsessed with medicine. That drive never really left him.

  As the silence stretched, Yumi finally gathered the courage to speak.

  Yumi (kindly): "What was your name again?"

  Kaizo (focused): "Oh right, I never told you. I'm Kaizo."

  Yumi (softly): “Alright, Kaizo. (slight pause) What was that black stuff by your neck earlier?”

  Kaizo (blinking): “What?”

  Right on cue, a tiny, shadowy cat popped out from inside his shirt with a dramatic meow.

  Yumi (tilting her head): “Oh… it was your cat.”

  Kaizo (grinning): “Yeah. He likes to… stay inside my clothes a lot.”

  Yumi (muttering): “I could’ve sworn it looked like it was coming out of your body though…”

  Kaizo froze. His expression twitched slightly.

  Before he could come up with a normal-sounding excuse, a voice echoed in his head.

  Infinity Realm – Telepathic Link

  Infinity (curious): “Kaizo?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Kaizo (mentally): “Hmm?”

  Infinity: “Should we tell her?”

  Kaizo: “I don’t think so… but knowing this stupid plotline, I’ll probably end up doing it anyway.”

  Infinity: “...What?”

  Kaizo: “Nothing. You sure you’re fine if I tell her about you?”

  Infinity: “Yeah. She doesn’t seem bad. I don’t mind.”

  Kaizo sighed and turned back toward Yumi.

  Kaizo (gently): “Okay, this might sound weird, but… that’s Infinity. He’s not exactly a normal cat.”

  And so, he told her the story—how he’d met Infinity, how the strange symbiotic bond worked, how they could communicate telepathically.Of course, he left out a few things: the truth behind Infinity’s creation, and what his real purpose was.

  Yumi (in disbelief): “That’s… wow. That’s a lot to take in.”

  Kaizo (shrugging): “Yeah. Trust me, I didn’t plan any of this.”

  She looked at him again. The calmness in his voice didn’t match the chaos she’d seen earlier. But somehow, it made her feel safe.

  As Kaizo was close to finishing treating her, Infinity started bouncing around the house—literally. He leapt from the couch, smacked into Kaizo’s head, and sent him tumbling forward—

  —Right into Yumi.

  Their lips met. Completely accidental but totally real. Kaizo, in particular, didn’t really mind.

  To make things worse… Infinity still hadn’t fully adjusted to his physical form. And his assimilation with Kaizo as host and symbiotite was still stabilizing. The bump may have slightly loosened Kaizo’s DNA…

  …and when Kaizo collided with Yumi, that DNA may have been transferred into her body.

  Kaizo (death glare): “...”

  Infinity (nervously, backing away): “Okay… maybe I should… go hide for a bit.”

  Yumi rubbed her head, dazed, still trying to process everything.

  Infinity (thinking): “Yeah, definitely not telling him what might’ve just happened.”

  Kaizo wrapped up her treatment, bandaging a slight scrape on her wrist.

  Yumi stood still, blushing, gathering her things.

  Yumi (quietly): “Okay… I’ll keep your secret, Kaizo.”

  Kaizo (smiling faintly): “Thanks.”

  Yumi (turning to leave): “And, um… thanks for saving me. Also—” she glances at Infinity “—your cat might need some house training.”

  Kaizo (awkward laugh): “Oh yeah. Totally. Don’t even worry about that.”

  She gave a small laugh and walked out the door, cheeks still burning.

  Infinity peeked through the blinds as she left.

  Infinity (grinning): “So you guys weren’t gonna do some freaky stuff? I even set the mood and everyth—”

  Kaizo (death stare): “...”

  Infinity (shrinking): “...Am I still in trouble?”

  Kaizo (flat): “Yeah.”

  Later that night, Kaizo heard the sound of the door unlocking.

  Kaizo (grinning): “Here we go, folks.”

  He headed into the kitchen just as his mother walked in, tired but smiling.

  Kaizo: “How was work?”

  Mirei (setting her bag down): “Good. Pays well, close to home, not too stressful—”

  She froze mid-sentence. Her gaze fell on the little black cat lounging casually on the table.

  Mirei (curious): “Who’s this?”

  Kaizo (shrugging): “My cat.”

  Mirei (raising a brow): “Your cat, huh? I thought you said you didn’t want pets.”

  Kaizo (grinning slightly): “I changed my mind. Can I keep him, Mom?”

  She walked closer, studying the little creature. Infinity purred softly, tail curling like he’d been practicing for this exact moment.

  Mirei (soft smile): “How could I say no to that face?”

  She picked him up, and Infinity practically melted into her arms.

  In perfect sync, Kaizo and Infinity both thought: "We're in.”

  Mirei (smiling): “What’s his name?”

  Kaizo paused for a moment.

  Infinity (telepathically): “Infinity is fine.”

  Kaizo (thinking): “You sure?”

  Infinity: “Yeah. It’s growing on me.”

  Kaizo (aloud, gently): “It’s Infinity.”

  Mirei (raising an eyebrow): “Why call him that?”

  Kaizo (honest): “Because... he changed my perception of us moving. Instead of a setback, he helped me see it as a new possibility. Now, I feel like I can do anything with him.”

  For a moment, she just looked at him—surprised by the sincerity. The boy who once resented moving here… now sounded hopeful.

  She smiled quietly, proud of her son for changing his mentality.

  That night after dinner, Kaizo lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Infinity curled up beside him, tail twitching lazily.

  Kaizo (quietly): “…Shinkami City, huh?”

  Infinity (softly): “Yeah. Weird first day, but… not bad.”

  Kaizo (smiling): “Not bad at all.”

  He closed his eyes, and for the first time in a long while—sleep felt peaceful.

  Tomorrow would be another day. But for once, Kaizo Nekodaira was actually looking forward to it.