仮面の裏へ - (Kamen no Ura e - To The Hidden Side of The Mask)

Sweet Dreams

"...Yeah, and then when he started killing everybody? It was insane!"

"Did you watch it, Kawara-san?"

Chie flinched. She'd managed to find a few coworkers she could socialize with about anime, but their enjoyment was always... different than hers. "Oh, uh, yeah. It might be one of my favorites, actually."

"Really?! I never would've guessed."

"What's your favorite part? The dark twist? The setting?"

"The umm...characters." Or more specifically, the monsters.

There was something about the sentient horrors that the dark wizard summoned that drew her in. Especially the one that had the most lines in episode 12. ...but she wasn't going to talk about that.

Being a monster simp was a thankless interest. She'd tried to get her friends to relate in middle school, but by college she only shared her interests in niche forums.

There was beauty outside societal standards – many could agree with this, but most usually required the statement to apply to creatures with all of their skin, or something with human facial features.

Chie let out a sigh as she walked home from work, then jerked backward as a hand grabbed her arm.

"Alright, lady, let's make this easy. All your cash, and your cell phone."

Chie froze. Multiple men stood in the alley beside her, the closest wielding a good-sized knife. "I... but my phone..."

"What?! You think I'm gonna ask again?!"

Chie's mind was fuzzy. The panic made her lose all sense.

Yes, if she had her reason, she'd hand her phone over immediately – but stupidly enough, in that moment, it seemed a much harder decision.

She heard a loud buzzing noise. "I..."

The man with the knife took a step toward her, and the buzzing became deafening.

Chie was pulled roughly backward by the waist.

"What?!"

The buzzing was a motorcycle. Some guy in full motorcycle gear rode up behind her, pulled her to safety, and was now facing down the thugs that had threatened her.

The man with the knife scowled, lunging at the motorcyclist, but he weaved out of the way of the blows, then drove the knife-wielding man's head into the pavement in one smooth motion.

Two men rushed forward next, and the motorcyclist ducked an dodged each blow artfully, ending the conflict by ramming the two men's heads together.

He then looked at Chie. Her heart was pounding. "Thank–"

"Look out!"

The motorcyclist grabbed Chie as a man she hadn't noticed swung a baseball bat at her. It caught the motorcyclist on the helmet, sending it flying off his head.

Chie gasped – And so did her attacker.

"What – what are you?!" The man dropped his bat and fled.

The motorcyclist's tongue clicked against his exposed, lipless teeth. His sunken yellow eyes grew thin with irritation. "Guess one of 'em got away." He pulled out his phone calmly and began to dial. "Yes, I'd like to report an attempted mugging? ...Yeah, this group of guys attacked some lady, but this cool guy on a motorcycle showed up..."

Chie stared at her savior – his hand, likely forgotten, still resting on her arm.

It all made sense now. This outlandishly terrifying experience, her reluctance to give up her phone – and then being saved by a man who was undoubtedly out of this world, and yet still somehow mind-blowingly attractive.