Chapter: After the Waves
The beach no longer sounded violent.
Only waves.
Slow. Repeating. Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Death Blower's body lay half-buried in the sand, neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
Shadow stood still beside it.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
His hand was still slightly raised from the motion.
Yoi lowered his gun.
Kaito was sitting in the sand, breathing heavily, staring at Ayu's unconscious body.
Miko rushed to Ayu and placed her golden hands on his chest and arm. Her hands trembled.
"Please… please wake up…"
Milosevic walked toward Death Blower, observing the body silently.
Then he looked at Shadow.
"You killed him instantly."
Shadow didn't respond.
His eyes were fixed on nothing.
Yoi came and knelt beside Ayu.
He checked his pulse.
"He's alive."
Everyone froze for a second.
Relief hit like a wave.
Kaito fell back into the sand.
Miko almost cried but held it in.
Shadow finally looked at Ayu.
For the first time since the fight ended.
Sirens were heard in the distance.
Government vehicles approaching.
Milosevic spoke calmly, "They're coming."
Yoi stood up. "Good. Let them take care of the rest."
Shadow walked slowly toward Ayu and stood over him.
Looking down.
As if memorizing this moment.
As if something inside him changed quietly.
Ayu coughed.
A small cough.
Sand stuck to his face.
His eyes opened slightly.
"…did we win?"
Yoi smiled faintly. "Yeah. We did."
Ayu tried to sit up but pain stopped him.
Miko helped him gently.
Ayu looked around.
At everyone.
At their torn clothes.
At the blood.
At the silence in Shadow's eyes.
Then at Death Blower's body.
"…who finished him?"
No one answered immediately.
Shadow spoke.
"I did."
Ayu looked at him.
Long.
Then nodded once.
No praise.
No scolding.
Just understanding.
Vehicles arrived.
Men rushed in.
Stretchers. Questions. Cameras.
But the team didn't speak much.
They carried Ayu toward the vehicle.
Shadow walked last.
He looked once more at the sea.
The waves had already erased most of the marks of the fight.
As if the world wanted to forget.
But Shadow knew…
He wouldn't.