Outside Central City Guild
Hunters disperse in small groups.
Sain walks alone.
Hands in his pockets.Head slightly down.
Footsteps approach from behind.
Maya:"…Sain."
He stops.
Turns.
Sain:"Oh.Hey."
She falls into step beside him.
"You walk very fast."
Sain lets out a nervous chuckle.
"It's just… my normal speed."
They walk side by side.
Quiet.
Comfortably awkward.
After a moment—
Maya:"Your house is this way too, right?"
Sain stiffens, just a little.
"…Yeah."
She glances at him.
Maya:"Then why did you take the long route the last few days?"
Sain looks away.
Sain:"Uh .....I....i had some business."
She stops walking.
Looks at him.
Maya:"Really?"
Silence.
Sain exhales.
Sain:"…I didn't want you to feel like I was following you."
Maya blinks.
Then—
She laughs.
Not mocking.Genuine.
Maya:"You're serious?"
Sain scratches the back of his neck.
She shakes her head, smiling.
Maya:"You're really awkward, aren't you?"
Sain exhales.
Some tension finally leaves his shoulders.
They start walking again.
Maya:"Let's go together from now on."
Sain freezes for half a second.
"…Sure."
She shrugs.
Maya:"It's boring going alone."
Simple.
Honest.
Sain nods.
They turn into a side street.
Voices ahead.
Raised.Aggressive.
Maya slows.
A solo hunter stands cornered.
Injured.
Three hunters surround him.
One steps forward.
Hunter 1:"You were lucky we showed up."
He reaches for the registration terminal.
The solo hunter reacts instantly.
Solo Hunter:"Hey— those are my kills!"
A shove.
The solo hunter stumbles back.
Weapons are raised.
Maya steps forward.
Maya:"Hey—!"
Sain gently grips her wrist.
Stops her.
She turns, shocked.
Maya (low):"Why are you stopping me?"
Sain doesn't look at her.
Eyes fixed ahead.
Sain:"People need to stand up for themselves"
She frowns.
But she watches.
Sirens.
A police patrol pulls up.
The bullies straighten instantly.
Officer:"What's going on here?"
Before anyone answers—
Officer:"We handled the bug infestation here."
The solo hunter opens his mouth.
The officer's glare shuts it.
One of the bullies scoffs.
Hunter 1:"That's our kill."
The officer steps closer.
Hand hovering near his weapon.
Officer:"You want trouble?"
The bullies back off.
The solo hunter is left standing.
Alone.
Maya clenches her fists.
Maya:"…This is wrong."
Sain steps forward.
Calm.
Loud enough to draw attention.
Sain:"Officer— thank god you arrived!"
The officer turns.
Confused.
Sain:"These hunters were threatening to kill him and steal his kill."
He raises his voice further.
Sain:"You saw it yourself."
Sain signals subtly.
Maya steps forward.
Maya:"What happened?"
Sain (loud):"These hunters tried to steal this man's kill."
He points.
Sain:"Now he can register the kills safely. The police is here to protect him."
The officers exchange glances.
Reluctantly—
They grab the bullies.
Drag them away.
The solo hunter bows repeatedly.
Solo Hunter:"Thank you…"
Sain shakes his head.
Sain:"Next time— fight back."
The man looks defeated.
Solo Hunter:"But I wouldn't win.""They'll frame me."
Sain looks him straight in the eye.
Sain:"Then become stronger."
A pause.
Sain:"Even if it means becoming what you hate."
The man swallows.
Nods.
Leaves.
They walk again.
Silence.
Then—
Maya:"That was wrong."
Her voice trembles.
Maya:"This shouldn't happen."
Sain:"It does."
A beat.
Sain:"I don't know if it's the same for female hunters…"
He looks ahead.
Sain:"But this is common with male hunters."
Maya stops.
Turns to him.
Maya:"It's not better for us."
Sain stops too.
Maya:"Female hunter groups did this to me."
His eyes widen slightly.
Maya:"Stealing credit. Undermining. Threatening."
She exhales.
Maya:"And male groups…""They'd invite me to join."
Her jaw tightens.
Maya:"In the name of help."
She looks away.
Maya:"They had bad intentions."
Sain listens.
Doesn't interrupt.
Maya:"Grim and Anya saw my sword skills."
A faint smile.
Maya:"I was saved."
Sain nods.
Sain:"well , monsters aren't the only monsters."
No pity.No shock.
Just understanding.
Sain : "btw that reminds me , your skills with the ... Katana"
"They're impressive.""It feels like you've been practicing for a long time."
She blinks.
Then smiles.
Maya:"…I'm an anime fan."
Sain pauses.
Maya:"the way Katana was used ....it was really cool""So I started practicing."
She gestures vaguely.
Maya:"Trying to replicate them in real life."
She shrugs.
Maya:"That was long before monsters appeared."
Sain stops walking.
Completely speechless.
Maya notices.
Maya:"…What?"
Sain exhales slowly.
Sain:"…Nothing."
A rare, genuine smile appears.
They reach a junction.
Paths split.
Maya turns.
Maya:"…See you tomorrow.""And no detours."
Sain laughs, embarrassed.
Sain:"Walk safe."
She smiles.
Walks away.
Sain continues home.
(thinking):"tch... now people will wonder why nature turned dogs into human killing monsters…"
He clenches his fist.