Silence before the Violence

"Wake up, sweetie."

The voice was a soft anchor, pulling Teto out of a dream filled with swirling teal mist and the smell of old parchment. She groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow, the twin drills of her hair tangling like springs against the fabric.

"Hmph… Momaaa, ato juugo bun… onegaishimasu," Teto mumbled, her Japanese slipping out in her half-awake state. fifteen more minutes. Please.

Her mother chuckled, the sound of a spatula hitting a pan echoing from downstairs. "No-huh, dear. If you don't want to skip the bright day ahead of you, you better wake up. I made you some fresh breakfast. Come on, sweetie."

Teto reluctantly sat up. The room was dim, lit only by the pale light of a May morning filtering through the curtains. She felt a heavy sense of stagnation. Every day was the same: school, the bakery, the quiet yearning for something—someone—attainable only in her head. She wanted to break the cycle, but she was a creature of habit, a chimera hiding in plain sight.

She shuffled into the bathroom to brush her teeth. In the mirror, her reflection looked back with tired eyes. Her "birdbrain" outfit—the white shirt and orange socks she favored for lounging—was rumpled. As she spat out the toothpaste, a sharp metallic tang hit her tongue. A drop of red fell into the white porcelain sink.

"Again?" she sighed, reaching for a cotton ball. Her nose had been bleeding frequently lately. She stuffed the cotton into her nostril, staring at her reflection. For a split second, she thought she saw the mirror-Teto move independently, a flicker of something sharp and silver reflecting in the glass behind her. She spun around. Nothing. Just the shower curtain and a towel.

Downstairs, the kitchen smelled of yeast and garlic. Her brother, Ted, was already halfway through a bowl of cereal, a cup of black coffee steaming beside him.

"Hey, sis," Ted said, yawning so wide his jaw clicked.

"Hey, Ted. How was your sleep?" Teto asked, sliding into her chair.

Ted leaned forward, a smug grin on his face. "You’re not gonna believe what I dreamt about. I had a dream where some weird people were fighting with you, until suddenly a cleaver hits one of them and they run away like cowards." He snickered, crunching on a flake.

Teto froze, her hand hovering over her garlic baguette. "Ah, well… what a weird dream, actually." She coughed into her fist, feeling a strange chill.

Their mother turned from the stove, her expression a mix of maternal warmth and sternness. "Honey, you know joking about those things isn't a great idea. You don't want to end up in trouble, do you?"

"Pfft, Mom, come on!" Ted pouted. "Have you ever even seen a hitman in this district? They aren't even the ones who caused Dad’s death."

The air in the room grew heavy. Teto reached out, placing a hand on the table. "Ted is right, Mom. We’ve never seen real thugs face-to-face. They’re never in the news here. Put the worry aside. We’re safe."

Her mother sighed, the tension leaving her shoulders. "I suppose you’re right, sweetie."

The walk to school was a blur of cherry blossoms and looming graduation anxiety. Teto split from Ted at the crossroads, her heart picking up speed as she approached the school gates. There was only one reason she tolerated the monotony of senior year: Hatsune Miku.

Miku was everything Teto wasn't—effortlessly bright, universally loved, and human. Teto had been head-over-heels since the sixth grade, but her tsundere nature acted like a fortress she couldn't dismantle.

"Teto!"

The voice was like a bell. Before Teto could brace herself, a whirlwind of teal pigtails and grey satin slammed into her. Miku hugged her with the strength of a professional wrestler.

"O-oh, Miku… he-hello there," Teto stuttered, her face turning a shade of red that rivaled her painted nails.

"Hey, Teto," another voice added. Standing behind Miku was Akita Neru, leaning against a locker with her yellow ponytail draped over one shoulder, her eyes glued to her cellphone.

"Oh… hi, Neru!" Teto waved as Miku finally released her.

"How are you, Teto?" Miku asked, her eyes sparkling. "Excited for the prom?"

"Pretty decent, Miku. Nothing new, though." Teto rubbed the back of her head, feeling the familiar itch of her drills.

"Aw, don't worry! You'll break through this routine in no time," Miku said with a supportive beam.

Neru looked up from her phone, her expression unreadable. "Yeah, Teto. One day you’re going to have someone who’ll make you happy. By the way, are you still single?"

Teto blinked, caught off guard. "Ah… well, yeah. Why are you asking?"

Miku gasped. "What? Really?"

"I just haven't found my type," Teto lied, looking at her boots. "And I don't want a repeat of what happened with Piko."

"You still have us, you know?" Miku said softly, stepping closer. "We’re not letting you down."

Neru checked her watch. "Ehh, girls, hate to ruin the moment, but lessons start in five minutes."

"Oh shoot! My teacher will kill me!" Miku laughed. She instinctively grabbed Neru’s hand, pulling her along. "See you at break, Teto!"

Teto stood in the hallway, watching them go. The way Miku’s fingers laced through Neru’s sent a sharp, cold pang through her chest. It was an intimate gesture, one she hadn't noticed before. She shook it off. It was just Miku being Miku. Right?

***

The night of the prom arrived with the weight of an ending.

Teto stood before her mirror, dressed in her finest idol-military attire. The light gray high-waisted skirt flared perfectly, and the gold buttons on her breast shined. Her mother stood behind her, carefully applying mascara.

"You look beautiful, Teto. A true beauty," her mother whispered.

Ted poked his head into the room. "Looking nice and spicy, sis."

"Shut up, Ted," Teto snapped, though a small smile played on her lips.

"So," Ted leaned against the doorframe. "You still haven't asked the blue-haired girl out? You’d better do it tonight. Or someone else will."

"He’s right, Teto," her mother added gently. "Just a dance. Show her you aren't indifferent."

The school gymnasium was transformed into a sea of streamers and fairy lights. Teto found Miku and Neru near the stage. Miku looked radiant in her teal-trimmed dress, her pigtails swaying as she laughed.

When the music slowed to a romantic, rhythmic pulse, Teto felt her heart hammer against her ribs. This was it. Now or never.

"Hey… Miku…"

Miku turned, her large teal eyes blinking. "Huh?"

"Wanna… uh… dance with me?" Teto extended a gloved hand, her face burning.

Miku smiled, a wide, genuine expression. "Oh, sure, Teto! Why not?"

As they moved to the center of the floor, Teto felt like she was floating. The world narrowed down to the warmth of Miku’s hand in hers. For a moment, the stagnation of her life vanished.

"I’ve been wanting to dance with you like this for a while," Teto whispered.

"Oh, really?" Miku’s voice was sweet, but there was a distance in it Teto couldn't quite place.

The song ended, the lights flashed, and the moment was gone. They took a group photo, everyone shouting "Cheese!" into the flash of a camera. As they left the gym, Miku hugged Teto goodbye, but she left with Neru.

That night, back in her room, Teto didn't feel like a graduate. She felt like a ghost. She looked at the nightstand. There, resting on the wood, was a black ticket. An invitation to the "Red Serpents."

She had found it a week ago—a way out. A way to use the chimera strength she usually kept hidden. If she couldn't have love, she would have power. She picked up her phone and dialed the number on the back.

***

June 10th.

The transition from schoolgirl to hitman had been jarringly easy. Teto spent her days helping at the bakery and her nights in the shadows. She had money now, an apartment of her own, and a reputation for being efficient. But the hole in her heart remained.

Her phone vibrated. It was Miku. Teto’s heart leaped despite herself.

"Hello? Miku?"

"Hi, Teto! How are you?" Miku’s voice was bubbly as ever. "I’m throwing a sleepover in three days! You have to come. And bring Ted! I want to introduce him to Neru properly."

"Neru? Why?"

"Oh, I hope you can keep a secret!" Miku giggled. "Neru asked me out! We’re dating now, Teto! Can you imagine? Me and Neru are together!"

The world stopped. Teto felt the blood drain from her extremities. The phone felt like a block of ice against her ear.

"Teto? Teto! Can you hear me?"

"I… yeah. I’m here," Teto managed, her voice sounding like it belonged to someone else. "I’m… I’m proud of you, Miku. Really."

"Great! I'll text you the snack list. Keep yourself safe, Teto. Bye!"

The line went dead. Teto sat on her bed, staring at the floor. The bitter realization washed over her like acid. She had waited too long. She had been too shy, too guarded. And now, the light of her life belonged to someone else.

Her phone buzzed again. A text from the Serpents. A job.

"Target: Hakiro John. Location: Okasaan Street alley. Reward: Triple."

Teto didn't think. She needed to feel something other than this hollow ache. She grabbed her sweater, tucked a dagger into her belt, and vanished into the night.

The alley was a throat of bricks and shadows. Teto walked with a cold, deliberate pace, but she was distracted. Her mind kept replaying Miku’s laugh.

*BONK.*

A heavy wooden bat slammed into the back of her head. Teto crumpled, the world spinning.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Teto rolled onto her back, blinking through the pain. Four men stood over her, wearing cracked porcelain masks.

"Little fixer, sneaking on our turf," the leader sneered.

Teto scrambled up, reaching for her dagger. "Stay back!"

"Why bother?" the leader laughed, swinging his bat again. Teto blocked it with her forearm, the bone groaning under the impact. "The Red Serpents sold you out, Teto. You’re just a loose end now."

Teto fought like a cornered animal. She landed a punch that shattered a mask, kicked a knee, and lunged with her blade. But there were too many of them. A bat caught her in the ribs, sending her sprawling. The leader stepped on her stomach, pinning her down.

"Just surrender," he said, raising his bat for the killing blow. "You're no use to anyone."

Teto looked up, her vision blurring. She raised a hand, trying to summon the fire of her chimera blood, but she was too weak. *Is this it?* she thought. *Rejected by Miku, killed by thugs?*

Suddenly, a high-pitched *whistle* sliced through the air.

*THWACK.*

The leader’s head snapped back. A heavy, rusted cleaver was buried deep in his neck. He didn't even scream; he simply toppled over like a felled tree, blood spraying across Teto’s face.

The other thugs froze. "What the—"

*WHISTLE.*

Another cleaver flew from the darkness, burying itself in the skull of the second man. The remaining two didn't wait. They dropped their weapons and bolted into the night, screaming about demons.

Teto lay there, gasping for air. Blood oozed from a cut on her shoulder. Her ears were ringing, her limbs shaking with the aftershock of adrenaline. She forced herself up, stumbling deeper into the maze of the alley. She needed to hide.

She ducked around a corner, pressing her back against a cold brick wall. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her ragged breathing.

The silence was absolute, heavy as a shroud.

Then, the whistling returned.

*SHIIING.*

A blood-stained cleaver streaked past her face, missing her ear by a centimeter. It bit into the brick with such force that the wall seemed to groan. The blade vibrated, emitting a low, rhythmic hum—the exact same metallic frequency she had heard in her bathroom mirror, the same hum that had haunted the prom.

Teto froze, her heart stopping in her chest. Slowly, with trembling movements, she turned her head toward the source.

Standing at the mouth of the alley was a girl.

She wore a white jumpsuit unzipped to the waist, revealing a black tube top with red stripes that looked like a slit throat. A red cap sat sideways on her head, and a white mask covered the lower half of her face—a mask printed with a drooling, hungry mouth.

The girl didn't look like a hitman. She looked like a butcher. In her gloved hand, she balanced another cleaver, her eyes—dark and unhinged—locked onto Teto’s.

"You look like a MASTERPIECE," the girl said, her voice a cheerful, tomboyish chirp that didn't match the carnage behind her. She stepped into the light, her movements fluid and predatory. "It would be such a sacrilege to let you rot."

She tilted her head, a stray lock of hair falling over her mask.

"I'm Yi Xi," the girl chatted, as if they were meeting at a cafe. "And you... you have a very beautiful heart. I can hear it beating. It sounds... erotic."

Teto couldn't move. The air felt thick, smelling of copper and old grease. This wasn't a rescue. It was a harvest.

Yi Xi stepped closer, the cleaver in her hand gleaming under the distant streetlamp. "Don't be scared, little bird. I do everything with love. And I'm very, very hungry."