Chapter Text
"In my restless dreams, I see that place. Not Beacon. Not Patch. But a world covered in Fog."
Chapter 1
Kamurocho, December
The Christmas holiday hadn't officially begun, but you couldn't tell that to the streets of Kamurocho. They were already alive, a chaotic, glowing organism of neon and festive lights. From my window, I could see salarymen rushing to finish year-end quotas before the break, weaving between couples strolling toward Theater Square for the Christmas markets.
Down in the main hall of the Millennium Tower, the Grand Tree was finally up. It’s a tradition here with residents decorating it together. The kids look forward to it all year, and the adults use it as an excuse to gossip and drink mulled wine.
Usually, I enjoy it. Even the "fame tax" makes the kids asking endless questions about streaming, their parents joking about me being their oshi—doesn't bother me. They’re good if not the best neighbors I can have since they welcomed Yukio and me when we were just two strangers with too much baggage.
But tonight... Tonight was different.
I felt a subtle heaviness in my chest, a fog in my head that had nothing to do with the winter cold or the exhaustion of decorating. I excused myself early, leaving Yukio behind to chat with the neighbors. She gave me a worried look, but I waved it off saying “just want some early nap”.
I opened the door to the streaming room. It was my sanctuary. We’d added some festive touches-a small, glowing tree behind my chair, some tinsel on the shelves and a large red sock filled with some presents hanging on the left shelf of my streaming spot. It was 9 PM. Too early for bed, too late to start a stream.
I sat down, spinning idly in my chair. Social media was a wash, just an endless stream of holiday ads and "Happy Holidays" posts. Boring. I decided to switch gears. I reached for my current obsession, Umamusume: Cinderella Grey, aiming for the spot on the bookshelf where I always kept it.
My hand grasped the empty air.
Weird. I scanned the shelf. Nothing. I checked the turntable, the speaker stacks, even the stand for my guitar. No manga. I’m not the most organized person in the Multiverse, but I don't misplace things that frequently. It was a small thing, but in the quiet of the room, it felt... wrong.
I sighed, ready to give up and just go to sleep, but an impulse made me check the desk drawer. I pulled it open.
There it was.
But it wasn't alone. Resting on top of the glossy cover of the manga was a plain white envelope and a single, physical photograph.
My breath hitched. I swapped the manga for the photo, my fingers trembling slightly.
At first glance, you might think it was from my father, or maybe a relic from Yae-sensei. But as I looked at the image, the fog in my head cleared, replaced by a sharp, bittersweet clarity.
Right. Today is the day.
How could I have forgotten? It was about three years ago.
Three years since the "Red Death" truly died. Three years since I walked into hell and dragged myself back out. My life could have gone down a very different path that day—a path of silence and fog. I made it out, yes. But not by my will alone.
I ran a thumb over the edge of the photo. I thought of Yukio, downstairs, laughing with our neighbors. She had been my radio in the static. My beacon.
I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes, hands holding the photo. The neon lights of Kamurocho faded away. The sounds of the city were replaced by the low, mournful hum of a different place.
It was time to remember. About the old wounds. About the fog. And about how I finally overcame the demon wearing my face.
Three Years Ago
Little Asia.
Sandwiched between the looming shadow of the Millennium Tower and the neon chaos of Senryo Avenue, it was the crown jewel of Kamurocho’s Chinese community. To an outsider, it might look like a maze of narrow alleys and hanging lanterns, but to me, it was a sanctuary. Even if it is a temporary one.
It hadn't always been this way. History books, and the older residents would tell you it started as a slum, a gambling den, and a battleground where the Triads lost their war against the Yakuza. But chaos, if managed correctly, breeds opportunity.
That opportunity came in the form of the Tri-Pillars.
First was Elder Chen. An ex-mafia boss with blood on his hands but a vision in his head. He took the rubble and turned it into a cultural hub, proving that soft power, cuisine and culture could be just as effective as a gun.
Then there was Sifu Hua of the School of Taixuan. She opened her dojo right in the heart of the district. It didn't take long for students from all over Kamurocho to flock there. My older sister was one of the first in-line and she even became one of the strongest and trustworthy seniors. Watching Sifu Hua train was like watching a master painter at work, only her canvas was the air and her brush was a fist.
And finally, Big Lo. The muscle. He and his people acted as the de facto security force. In Little Asia, you wouldn't call the police; you called Lo. Businesses grew, families settled, and blackmailers learned very quickly to stay away.
It was a place defined by flexibility and strength. A place where outcasts built their own order. Looking back, maybe that’s why she loved it so much.
As for why I was here? Let's just say retirement didn't come with a golden parachute like I first thought.
Leaving the position of Overseer was a hard choice, made for the sake of chasing a new dream: breaking into the VTuber industry as an independent with the consequences of leaving me starting from scratch. The money I’d earned over the years was good, sure. But it was nothing compared to my bad habit of splurge-spending during missions. Add in the massive upfront investment for my rig and tech because VTubing is hella expensive, you know, and my savings had basically evaporated before i realized it.
It was either crash here while also saving for a stable place in the future, or crawl back to my old man on Patch, which I wasn't ready for that conversation yet, not after I hadn't seen his face for almost eight years. So, I found myself in a creaky, two-story walk-up in the heart of the district. From outside it was shoddy compared to the cosmic palaces I used to visit, but it had a roof, it had my sister, and for a girl trying to outrun her past, it was not a terrible place to start over.
The first floor was reserved for the garage. This was where my sister kept Bumblebee, a sleek cruiser with a distinct black-and-yellow paint job and a large, stylized dragon decal running along the chassis. It was also where she ran her side job of bike repair and maintenance. It was quite a surprise for me; I remembered her breaking things more than fixing them, but here, she ran a successful business.
In contrast to the organized chaos of the garage, the second floor was our home, a cozy, two-bedroom flat. Ever since becoming a disciple of Taixuan, my sister had moved to a simpler lifestyle. Less clutter, more focus.
My room, however, did not get that memo.
It was... messy, to say the least. An unorganized single bed sat in the left corner, while the right was dominated by my streaming setup, the altar of my new career. Shelves overflowed with manga and action figures, with even more spilling out of the stack of unopened boxes on the floor. A small workbench sat against the wall where I did weapon maintenance; even in retirement, cleaning my gun and blade was a weekly ritual I couldn't shake.
And finally, the lifeline: a small fridge wedged between my bed and the desk. It contained my three essential food groups: soft drinks, chocolate, and blood bags.
I wasn't about to go out hunting every night, seducing unfortunate girls just for a snack (yes, I’m a girl kisser, but I have standards). So, I worked out a quid pro quo with a friend at the local hospital. They gave me the near-expired bags that would otherwise be wasted, and I didn't eat the locals. It was a stable supply, though I admit... fresh would have been much appreciated.
I woke up late, the sun already high in the sky. Not the most vampire-like behavior, but who cares? I'm special.
The flat was quiet. The familiar rumble of engines from the garage was missing. I quickly pulled an oversized hoodie over my underwear and padded into the kitchen. A note was pinned to the fridge:
“Going out for special training with Sifu Hua. Not coming back til next week. Remember to water the plants & check for any packages. Love, Sis”
"Well, well, well," I muttered, grinning. "Looks like someone got the whole house for the week."
But before I could plan any secret parties, my stomach growled. I tied on an apron and set to work. A simple meal: omurice, seaweed miso soup, natto, and finally, a chilled Type-O blood bag for dessert.
I ate alone, the news on the TV filling the silence. It wasn't the most ideal start to the day, but it didn't matter. Later, I had a date with Yukio.
My relationship with her was... complicated. Obviously I had known her back when she was Weiss Schnee, but I was also a massive fan of the underground artist "Ratatoskr," whose music had been the soundtrack to my days as an Overseer.
It happened the first week I was back in town. I literally crashed into her on the street, knocking a stack of papers from her hands. As I scrambled to help her pick them up, I saw the sheet music. Songs I knew by heart.
I was getting yelled at for my carelessness, but then I looked up and saw her face.
"Ruby?" she’d asked, stunned.
I looked down at the sheet music, then back at her. "Ratatoskr?"
She had dragged me into a nearby café before I could shout it to the whole street, where we talked for hours while her face was redder than a tomato. Since then, we’d been going out. But progress was slow. She was busy, I was broke, and honestly? I was still relearning how to be a person after years of being a weapon.
But today... Today felt like a good day.
Until Granny Zhang showed up at my door.
She was one of the original dwellers of Little Asia, a sweet old woman who also happened to be the previous owner of the house I lived in. While she was lovely, her presence usually meant trouble that required me or my sister.
"Zǎo shàng hǎo (Good morning), Granny Zhang," I said, opening the door. "What's the problem today?"
"Zǎo shàng hǎo, Sayuri," she greeted me back, her voice trembling slightly. "It was that damn cat again. He just stole the dry fish I left on the counter! Can you help me get it back?"
The cat in question was "Oyabun," a male calico notorious on the streets of Kamurocho. He was a master thief of household food. I’d never been a victim, but plenty of others had tried to catch him, only to fail spectacularly. I knew this would be a hard fight against a phantom cat thief, but the poor granny needed her fish, and I checked my watch—still plenty of time before the date.
I flashed her a confident smile. "Don't worry, Granny. I’ll catch him and come back with the stolen goods."
"Thank you, dear," she said. "I think he went into the southern part, near the restaurant rows."
With the intel secured, I headed to the area where you'll find the best street food Little Asia has to offer. It didn't take long to spot the target. The mischievous calico was perched on top of an apartment awning, guarding his prize, about to enjoy a free meal.
My instincts told me a direct approach wouldn't work. Taking the stairs would be a waste of time. That left only one option: parkour. Even after retirement, my skills were honed. This should be a piece of cake.
Selecting a sturdy A/C unit as my starting point, I jumped with ninja-like precision onto window ridges, grabbed a water pipe, and climbed to the roof without making a sound. Oyabun was only a few meters in front of me. A docile cat. The perfect "meal" for a supreme vampire.
That was when things started to go haywire.
I rushed the cat like a predator, only for him to dodge at the last possible second, fish still in his mouth. I landed hard on the roof surface. Even worse, the cat looked back at me with a smug expression that clearly said, 'Is that it? Do better.'
That touched a nerve.
The chase was on. We jumped across rooftops, scrambled down fire escapes, and dashed through the crowded streets of Little Asia. He was a tough opponent, leading me on a wild goose chase that nearly ended with me crashing into a dumpling stall, earning me a frantic yelling from the vendor.
We burst out of Little Asia and into the maze-like Champion District, where I lost him for a moment before spotting a flash of calico fur heading for Taihei Boulevard East. The chase continued through Nakamichi Alley, where I tragically crashed into a pile of trash bags. Thank god it was mostly plastic and paper, or even a ten-hour shower wouldn't have washed away the smell.
Finally, we stopped at Tenkaichi Alley. The cat was gone, but he had left the half-eaten fish behind as a taunt. Defeated, I bought a fresh fish from a nearby market and brought it back to Granny Zhang.
After the fuss was over, I looked at my watch.
1:37 PM.
Wait. My date with Yukio was at 1:00 PM.
"Curse you, Oyabun the calico cat!!" I yelled at the sky like a certain pharmacist whose evil inventions just got destroyed by a platypus agent. "You made me late!"
I frantically adjusted my clothing, trying to look presentable, and sprinted like the wind toward the meeting place.
On the lower-left corner of Theater Square lies one of the most famous cafés in Kamurocho: Café LycoReco. It has a traditional wooden exterior with stained glass windows, combined with a rare bit of green space around the building, making it the perfect spot for your typical social posts.
Their coffee and desserts? Eleven out of ten. They serve my favorite parfait at a reasonable price for a broke vampire like me—seriously, I'm not being paid to say this. Still not enough? Then how about the staff uniform? Not your ordinary maid outfit with a "Moe Moe Kyun!" pose, but a unique combination of a samue and a kimono skirt that I find quite stylish. They even host game nights after closing time for both staff and patrons, ranging from simple Uno or Monopoly to more hardcore stuff like Koi-koi, Texas Hold 'em, or Mahjong. Everyone finds something to play.
I gently pushed the door open. There were a few guests inside, along with my favorite waitress duo, Takina and Chisato, who were serving people with their usual boundless energy.
Takina
Chisato
"Konnichiwa, Takina, Chisato," I greeted them, scanning the room. "Is my girlfriend already here?" I asked jokingly, knowing full well she was.
"Yo, Sayuri-san!" Chisato chirped. "Looks like I won the bet again on whether you'd come late for a date. She is on the second floor."
"You better prepare a sincere apology and a good reason," Takina added, her tone deadpan but warning. "Yukio’s passive anger is making the temperature drop here."
"I know, I know," I sighed. "It's kind of my fault for coming late, but it was unavoidable. I'll have the regular."
"Ok! One special strawberry parfait coming right up!" Chisato replied with her trademark cheer.
I headed to the second floor, where Yukio was already waiting. Today she wore a simple high-school sailor uniform blouse, a black leather jacket, a short skirt, and high boots. The cherry on top was the scarf I’d given her as a present. On the table sat a plate of tri-color dango with only three balls left and a cup of hot cocoa that had long since stopped steaming.
I approached gently, only to be stopped by her cold, sarcastic voice.
"So tell me," she said, pulling down her headphones without looking at me. "What in the world is more important than our date that made you exactly forty-four minutes and twenty-seven seconds late?"
"Gomen'nasai, Yukio-chan!" I said, adopting my most apologetic tone. "Granny Zhang got into trouble again, and Oyabun was in the mix. And how did you even know it was me with your headphones on full blast?"
"Hmph! I know when I need to know," she retorted, finally turning to face me. "You, the great Overseer and the Vampire Princess, losing to a cat. I find it hard to believe."
"C'mon," I protested, taking the seat to her right. "You know I'm not a genie who can do everything, everywhere, all at once. Besides, what's with the 'Vampire Princess' thing? I know Sensei Yae happens to be the current Vampire Queen, but it's just a title, not a literal thing."
"That still makes you a princess," she countered, poking my cheek. "An always-come-late-to-our-date princess. Baka Sayuri!"
I recoiled, feigning shock. "How could you! This is only the third... I mean, the fourth time I came late. Your words wound my fragile heart!"
"Bleh!" Yukio stuck her tongue out, pulling down her lower eyelid in a classic akanbe. "Look at the latecomer trying to defend herself. And what's with the smell? Did you turn into a trash raccoon again to find some treasures?"
"Geez! My vampire senses cannot detect any smell here, you must be mistaken," I sniffed indignantly. "Oh, just in time!"
Takina arrived with my parfait and some chocolate chip cookies as a bonus, setting it down with a side-eye that clearly said 'You're lucky she hasn't frozen you yet.'
We moved on to small talk—current fashion trends (a total defeat for me; how can anyone remember twenty different styles for one season?), and then manga, where I regained momentum with a streak of knowing the latest trending works. Eventually, the talk shifted to our professional lives.
"A little question if you don't mind, Yukio-chan," I asked, resting my head on my hand boringly. "But when will the new album come out? I've been waiting for ages, and you're just like 'I need more time' whenever I ask. Are you having a block?"
"Having a block is completely unbearable for me, you know?" she replied, uncertainty creeping into her voice. "The album is finished and ready to be served, but I actually held it back at the last minute. My instincts told me it's not a good idea to release it yet."
"Definitely neither the melodies nor the lyrics are the problem, based on the previews you sent me," I mused. "Have you tried to, like, I don't know, change the Vocaloid? Switch from Miku to Kagamine Rin or KAITO? I know you're a diehard Miku fan, but sometimes a change is needed."
"That's why you're not a musician, Sayuri," she sighed. "Miku has the most mature voice out of all Vocaloids, and I find KAITO to be a pain in my side when I try to tune him. Recently, there's Kasane Teto by SynthV... I have to admit, she is a real threat to Miku. Maybe I'll use her for my next song."
I grinned brightly. "Or... how about using your real voice, Yukio-chan? Don't lie to me. I saw you practicing in secret last week."
Wham.
A sucker punch connected with my face, sending me to the floor with a yelp of "Itai!!"
"BAKA!!" she yelled, her face once again redder than a tomato. "Are you out of your mind?! There is no way I can sing with my real voice! It's not good enough to keep up with others! Instead of telling me which voice I should use, maybe you start caring for your VTuber channel instead! Three months and only a few thousand subs? Very impressive indeed."
I rubbed my cheek, grinning despite the pain. She wasn't ready to show the world her vocal range yet, but let me tell you, her voice makes angels jealous.
"Whoa, I just started my new career and there are tons of things to learn," I bragged, pulling myself back into the chair with an arrogant smile. "No need to rush because I'll soon become the best VTuber ever, with tons of fans and enough money to swim in. Literally."
"Then at least start by having a regular streaming schedule," she huffed. "That's the easiest thing you can do for your audience. Also, will you do a stream this week or not? I need to arrange my work."
When she mentioned the no-stream situation, my heart suddenly sank. My cheerful mood darkened.
"The day that my mother died... is also this week."
I looked down at my half-eaten parfait. "Being honest with you, I do resent her for leaving me and my sister behind when she went on her last mission. Growing up without a mother and your old man basically abandoning you for a few months after she passed away... it leaves scars. It pushed me to become a Huntress, and Dad did get better after those rough times. But now... I'm the one who would make her feel disappointed. I'm not that happy-go-lucky girl anymore. After the things I've done... heck, even that name no longer has any meaning for me."
I sighed. "That's why I haven't gone back home to see my dad or visit her grave. It would take at least a few more years before I finally have enough courage to face them."
Yukio reached out, covering my hand with hers. "Hey. I'm sorry for bringing that up. I forgot this is your important week. My family is still alive and well, but I can understand the feeling of being considered a disappointment. Back when I left home to chase my own dream here, away from the coldness of Atlas and the chains of my father, I had the same thought of never seeing them again."
She smiled softly. "However, the bankruptcy of the SDC did open my parents' eyes. My own experience struggling in a new environment eventually led to us talking again. Right now we aren't fully reconciled, but we're on the right track. We also have our older sisters who have always supported us and act as our bridge. I'm sure that your parents still love you unconditionally, even after everything that's happened."
"It’s alright," I said, squeezing her hand back. "I'm just a bit sad for not being able to face them right now, but giving up isn't an option. I want to focus on building a stable life first. The rest can be reserved for later."
I then checked the clock. 4 PM. Perfect. Club SEGA was running a 20% discount from 4 to 6 PM this month.
"I think we have enough dessert and depressing stories for today," I said, lightening the mood. "How about hitting the arcade on the opposite side of the square for some games before we have some sushi? Whoever loses has to pay for dinner."
Yukio kissed me on the cheek before pulling back with a playful smirk. "Seriously? When did the great Sayuri get an instant noodle addiction so bad that she has to find a way to go broke just so she can survive on them for a month? You know they aren't healthy and make you gain weight, right?"
"With my superior metabolism, I'm fine," I shot back, making a pistol pose with my hand. "However, the stars have aligned and today is my lucky day. Prepare to treat me to a nice course of premium nigiri-zushi!"
"Alright," Yukio said, her competitive fire igniting. "If you're ready, then... Game on!"
Kamurocho after 9 PM is like a whole different world, with people pouring out for the nightlife. But for me, the day had already ended.
The gaming session was a blast. I had the advantage in Ace Pilot thanks to my flying skills, but I made a blunder in Virtua Fighter and she knocked me out with two perfect combos. I really hate when she flashes that arrogant laugh at me. We battled through Metal Slug, Sonic Dash, and Undead Nightmare before the final showdown at the dancing machine ended in a tie, with the crowd cheering like we were celebrities.
In the end, Yukio decided we should split the sushi bill equally, but I had a surprise prepared. Dinner at Sushi Gin on West Showa Street was completely free. I’d discovered the small, high-quality spot by coincidence, and saved a favor from the young chef, Kenta Uozomi, for helping him against a foul-playing competitor. The meal was fantastic, chatting with Kenta while he showcased professional skills beyond his years.
Sushi Gin
We shared a goodbye kiss, and I retreated back to Little Asia. I showered, watered the plants like Sis told me, and read some manga before laying my head down.
Hopefully, the rest of the week would be uneventful. Sorry, Mom, but our reunion will have to wait. I'm not ready yet. But one day, I will be.
As sleep finally took me, the world faded. But it didn't fade to black. It faded to Fog.
I was standing in a twisted, rusted version of Patch. The air was thick, suffocating. And in the distance, dragging a massive, corrupted battleaxe across the metal grating of the floor, was a figure. It wore a rusted, pyramid-shaped helmet that obscured its face, but the white cloak it wore was unmistakable.
The Executioner was waiting.
Author's note: Here is the map of Kamurocho for better visualize where are the locations in the town
