Luna felt like her soul was trying to escape her body.
Why did the first stranger she met today have to be this terrifying?
She had only stepped outside for five minutes. Five. And somehow she ended up face-to-face with this tall man who looked like he had walked straight out of a detective drama about morally questionable suspects. Dark jacket. Sharp eyes. A smile that was definitely not comforting.
She could barely breathe.
AJ tilted his head, studying her with the kind of interest a predator might give a startled Rattata. "Relax. If I wanted to eat you, I would have done it already."
Luna immediately shook her head, violently. "I. I believe you. Please don't eat me."
AJ blinked. "That was a joke."
She stared at him with wide, watery eyes.
"Oh," he muttered. "You're the type who doesn't understand deadpan humor. Got it."
Luna clasped her hands together, fingers trembling. "Um… sir… is something wrong? Did I do something? I didn't mean to get in your way." Her voice got smaller and smaller until it was barely a whisper. "Please don't hurt me."
AJ exhaled slowly. "Why does everyone I talk to assume I'm here to commit violent crime? I haven't even done anything yet."
"Yet?" Luna squeaked.
AJ paused. "…I meant that differently."
But it was too late. She looked like she was about to faint on the spot.
He rubbed his temple. "Look. I just need to ask you a question."
"Please don't make me disappear."
"I'm not going to make you disappear."
"Please don't break my knees."
"I'm not breaking your knees."
"Please don't kidnap me."
"I'm not kidnapping you."
"Please don't sell my organs."
AJ stared at her, offended. "Do I look like someone who harvests organs?"
Luna didn't answer. She just stared at his cold expression and sinister aura.
"Okay," he muttered. "I understand why you're scared now."
AJ cleared his throat, trying to look less threatening. It did not help. Not even a little.
He lowered his voice. "I'm actually looking for someone."
Her fear only doubled. "Please don't make me help you commit a crime."
"I am not committing a crime."
"Please don't make me bury a body."
AJ pinched the bridge of his nose. "There is no body."
"Not yet…"
"There will never be a body."
Luna nodded quickly. "Of course. Of course. No bodies. None at all. Zero percent bodies."
AJ sighed. "Look, I'm just looking for a young man named Lin Feng."
Luna froze.
Her mind flashed back to the gentle figure who helped her earlier. Lin Feng. His warm smile. His calm voice. The oddly reassuring presence that somehow always made her feel safe.
And now this man was searching for him.
Luna's fear skyrocketed.
She took a step back. "W-why are you looking for him?"
AJ smiled.
It was the kind of smile that belonged under ominous thunder.
"He owes me a debt."
Luna almost fainted. "A debt? What kind of debt?"
"A battle debt."
Her eyes went wide. "You're here… to settle a fight?"
AJ's smile widened. "Exactly."
"No!" Luna shouted so loudly that several Pidgey flew from a nearby tree. "You can't! Lin Feng is kind and brave and helpful and gentle and wonderful. You can't attack him. He's a good person!"
AJ stared at her blankly. "…Why do you sound like someone giving a speech at his funeral?"
Luna burst into tears. "Please don't kill him!"
AJ raised both hands. "I'm not killing him."
"You said he owes you!"
"He owes me a rematch."
"Oh…"
AJ crossed his arms. "He beat me. Fair and square. But I refuse to believe I lost because I was weaker. I demand redemption."
Luna blinked through her tears. "…So… you just want to battle him?"
"Yes."
"…Not kill him?"
"No."
"…Not maim him?"
"For the last time, no."
Luna wiped her face, embarrassed. "I see… That's… a lot less terrifying."
AJ looked at her quietly.
Then he said, "You have a very dramatic imagination."
She flushed. "I-I'm sorry…"
He sighed again. "Forget it. Look, do you know where he is?"
Luna hesitated.
She couldn't bring herself to lie. But she also didn't want to put Lin Feng in danger, even if the danger was apparently not murder, but a battle challenge delivered by a man whose aura screamed 'probably dangerous.'
After several seconds, she whispered, "He went north. Toward the river."
AJ nodded. "Good. Thank you."
He turned to leave.
Luna, gathering all her courage, called out softly, "Um… sir?"
AJ paused.
She bowed quickly. "I'm sorry I… misunderstood you. You're not a criminal. I shouldn't have assumed."
AJ shrugged. "I get that a lot."
"…You do?"
"All the time."
"Oh."
"Ever since I was ten."
"…Oh."
AJ gave her a small nod. "Thanks for the information. I'll go find him now."
He took a few steps.
Luna whispered, "Please don't scare him…"
He looked back. "No promises."
And with that, AJ walked off, leaving Luna frozen in place, clutching her chest, still trembling but somehow relieved.