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.
He looks the other way, then looks down.
Sain:"…It felt as if 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 bag.
The solo hunter reacts instantly.
Solo Hunter:"Hey— these 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 monster 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 him and trying to 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 ruffians were trying to steal this man's kill."
He points.
Sain:"But now the police is here."
The officers exchange glances.
Reluctantly—
They grab the bullies.
Drag them away.
The solo hunter thanks repeatedly.
Solo Hunter:"Thank you…"
Sain shakes his head.
Sain:"Next time— fight back."
The guy looks defeated.
Solo Hunter:"But I wouldn't win.""They'll frame me."
Sain looks him straight in the eye.
Sain:"Still fight back"
A pause.
Sain:"Even if it means doing what you don't like."
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:"And I joined them."
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 wonder why nature turned against us…"
He clenches his fist.