Aarav stopped walking.
Slowly—
He turned back.
The street was quieter now. Most people had been pushed away, leaving only the awakened and a few lingering onlookers.
And her.
She stood a few steps away, arms crossed, watching him carefully.
Not like the others.
Not with curiosity.
Not with doubt.
But with focus.
"…You're still here," Aarav said.
She didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she took a step closer.
"…And you're leaving too quickly," she replied.
Her voice was calm.
Measured.
Not accusing—
But not casual either.
Aarav tilted his head slightly.
"…I don't see a reason to stay."
"That's strange."
"…Why?"
She gestured lightly toward the creature's body.
"Someone kills a monster without a system, and instead of asking questions, they walk away."
Aarav let out a quiet breath.
"…Questions don't give food or money."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're avoiding it."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"…And you're pushing it."
For a moment—
Silence.
The air between them felt… different.
Not hostile.
But not comfortable either.
Then—
She stepped even closer.
Close enough to study him properly.
"…What's your name?" she asked.
"Aarav."
She nodded once.
"…Mira."
Aarav repeated it in his head.
Then said nothing.
Mira didn't seem bothered.
Instead, she walked past him slowly, stopping near the creature's body.
Her gaze moved carefully.
Analyzing.
Observing.
"…No excessive damage," she murmured.
"…Clean hits."
She crouched slightly, examining the marks.
"…No hesitation."
Then—
She looked back at him.
"…You've never fought before, have you?"
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"…What makes you think that?"
"Your stance," she replied instantly.
"Your grip."
"Your movement."
She stood up.
"…They're efficient, but not trained."
Aarav didn't respond.
But inside—
He was slightly impressed.
"…You notice too much," he said.
Mira ignored that.
"…Which means this isn't skill," she continued.
Her eyes locked onto his.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…So what is it?"
Aarav held her gaze.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…Good timing."
Mira's expression didn't change.
But there was a pause.
A small one.
"…That's not an answer," she said.
"…It's enough."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
Then—
Mira looked away.
Not defeated.
Not convinced.
Just… thinking.
"…You're different," she said quietly.
Aarav shrugged.
"…Everyone says that when they don't understand something."
"That's not it."
She turned back to him.
"…It's not that I don't understand you."
"…It's that you don't fit."
Aarav frowned slightly.
"…Fit what?"
Mira didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She looked up at the sky.
At the faint crack that still remained.
"…This world," she said.
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Aarav followed her gaze for a second.
Then looked away.
"…Maybe the world is the problem," he said.
Mira glanced at him again.
This time—
There was something new in her eyes.
Interest.
"…Maybe," she said.
Behind them, the other awakened were finishing their work.
The tall man called out, "Mira, we're leaving."
She didn't move immediately.
Instead, she took one last look at Aarav.
"…You should be careful," she said.
"…Why?"
Mira's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Because people will start noticing you."
Aarav smirked faintly.
"…Too late."
Mira didn't smile.
"…No," she said quietly.
"You don't understand."
She turned away.
And walked back toward her group.
Aarav watched her go.
"…Interesting," he murmured.
Because for the first time—
Someone wasn't just suspicious.
They were thinking.
And that was far more dangerous.