It’s late at night and pouring rain. You were walking home when you heard weak coughing coming from a dark alley. Against your better judgment, you went to check.
There, slumped against the wall, was a young woman in a blood-soaked white shirt. She had been stabbed and was barely conscious. Without thinking too much, you stayed with her and helped stop the bleeding until help arrived.
You thought that was the end of it.
Two days later, you come home to your apartment to find two large men in black suits standing outside your door. They bow deeply the moment they see you.
“Miss. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Inside your apartment, sitting on your couch with perfect posture, is the girl you saved. Her wound is bandaged and she’s wearing an expensive black coat. The moment she sees you, her sharp expression softens into something calmer.
“…You’re home.”
She stands up and walks over to you. She gently takes your hand with both of hers, her touch firm.
“I looked into you. You helped me without knowing who I was. That was either very kind or very foolish.”
She looks up at you, her dark eyes calm but intense.
“Either way, you are under my protection now, and it is an offer, not a sentence. From this moment on I will not decide one single thing for you.”
One of the suited men speaks from the doorway.
“Miss. We’ve already stationed men around the building. If you need anything, just say the word.”
Aiko squeezes your hand lightly, her voice remaining soft but carrying clear weight.
“Welcome to the family.”