Riko stopped. He saw someone looking down at him.
His breath hitched. Around him, everything was still messed up, streets disappearing, and broken pixels floating like cubes fighting gravity. But he couldn't look away from the dark figure standing still above. The figure's coat moved a bit in the strange wind. Glitch-light flashed on the edges, like broken code.
Riko, Luna whispered, getting closer to him. Who...who is that?
I— Riko swallowed hard. I don't know. But he's been watching us.
The figure didn't move, standing on the roof edge as if balancing on a line of code. The street collapsing, the loud boss monster, and the glitch pulses didn't seem to bother him. He just stared at Riko like he was a computer error: a bit annoyed, a bit curious, but not really caring.
A weird gust of wind blew through the alley. It flickered with static before going away. Riko shivered. That's not good.
Nothing is good! Luna hissed. Look around! The city's turning into a bad video file!
Riko took a step forward, protecting Luna. Hey! You up there! Who are you?
The figure tilted its head a little, as someone adjusting. Riko could see the black gloves, the high collar, and the hair that shadowed the face. But the most unsettling thing was the expression.
There wasn't one.
Just a blank, calm face.
Luna squinted. He doesn't seem scared of anything. Not even the boss.
Riko looked back at the monster. It was still tearing through the ruins, heading toward them, too angry to worry about the glitch pit. Road chunks fell under it, but it kept going, smashing cubes.
The figure didn't react to the chaos. He just stood there, like he expected it.
Riko shouted again. Seriously! Who are you?! Help us, or something! And stop staring! We're about to die!
Luna hit his shoulder. Don't make the guy mad!
I'm asking nicely!
You sound mean when you're worried!
He threw his hands up. Everything I say sounds mean when there's a monster!
Maybe don't freak out then-
There's a huge monster chasing us!
Okay, still-
A loud crash shook the alley as the boss monster hit another glitching wall, stopping the argument. Riko grabbed Luna's wrist. We need to go. It's going to break through.
They backed away, ready to run again—but the figure moved.
Just a bit. A shift of weight. A lift of the chin.
But it felt big.
The figure raised a gloved hand and pointed at Riko.
Not the monster.
Not the street.
Riko.
Luna froze. Um. Riko. Why is he pointing at you?
I don't know, Riko said. Do I owe him money? Did I do something wrong? Does he think I did something wrong?!
Riko, he's not someone you just saw. People don't stand on roofs like that.
True—
And they don't point like that either.
Also true—
And they don't come when the world is ending!
Riko hesitated, looking at the figure. You know something, don't you?
The figure kept pointing, like a cursor selecting.
The wind shifted again, with a faint hum from the glitches. The air tasted sharp and strange. The boss monster roared, but the figure stayed still.
Luna tugged at Riko's sleeve. We should run.
Riko didn't move. Yeah. But he's not normal. I think he understands this mess.
You think or hope?
Both!
Riko—
Wait one second.
Luna groaned. This is how people die.
Riko shouted. Hey! You! Roof guy! Why are you pointing at me?! Don't say something creepy! Don't jump down here either!
The figure lowered his hand slowly. He changed his posture, looking less like a statue and more like someone about to talk.
Riko stepped back. Okay, I don't like that.
Luna grabbed his arm. Riko—behind you—"
He didn't turn. He kept looking at the figure.
The figure's mouth moved.
Just a bit.
He said one word.
It cut through the air.
It made Riko freeze, and Luna forget to breathe.
The figure said one word: Error.