"Inky Pen, huh."

[What’s up, Faust?]

"Have you ever done something… utterly insane, something you never thought you’d be capable of?"

[…Maybe I have.]

"Like what?"

[Can’t say.]

"What did it feel like? Were you scared?"

[Like a dream within a dream? Fear didn’t even enter the picture.]

"A dream within a dream…?"

Yumo muttered to himself, curiosity piqued about the Inky Pen’s true nature. But they’d agreed not to pry into each other’s private lives, so he let it drop.

Days had passed since then.

Tonight.

*This* was the night he’d settle things with Ah-Jin once and for all.

"Get a cool rebellious girlfriend, play the hero, crush some thugs, race bikes… Win, and I get all four wishes in one go."

He murmured his checklist aloud, psyching himself up. He’d scouted the track, prepped the essentials, and even roped Linqinglan into helping craft some family-friendly trinkets at Peppa Pig’s playhouse. Only the final touches remained.

"You’re fired up, Inky," Yusuozaai said between bites of roujiamo. She *really* loved roujiamo.

"But you could just vanish. Pretend none of this happened."

"Why say that?"

"If you fail your wishes, your whole family dies."

"Yeah. So I’ll fight like hell."

"But are they worth fighting for?"

"…Huh?"

He glanced at her. The Demon’s eyes narrowed, piercing straight through him.

"This home never gave you warmth, did it? Maybe it was just distance, but to outsiders? It’s textbook emotional abuse."

"Oh? So?"

"Your dad’s never truly cared. Your stepmom only dotes on your sister. And your sister deliberately keeps you at arm’s length… Honestly? Plenty would say the world wouldn’t miss those three."

"Shut your demon mouth. Don’t spout nonsense."

Yumo didn’t flinch.

"My father gave me life. He never laid a hand on me in anger. When Mom died, he held me together while drowning in his own grief. I live in the home he mortgaged, spend the money he sweated for, hold the Haiking residency he earned through seven years of social insurance—and you think I’d wish him dead over a couple years of cold shoulders? Do you take me for a monster?"

"But your stepmom and sister—"

"I don’t *like* them. I treat them like strangers. But if two strangers were about to die because of *my* wish, and I did nothing? That’s not about liking or disliking. It’s about being human. My mess. My fix."

"…Your mental resistance is unreal."

"No idea what you’re babbling about."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…That day, I fought with Mom."

"Hm?"

"I knew I was wrong, but I threw a tantrum anyway. Nothing she did could calm me down."

"Then?"

"I demanded she buy me a toy. The shop was across the street. She went. I waited."

"Easy to guess the ending."

"As she crossed back with the toy… a speeding car shot out. *Thud*. She vanished right before my eyes."

"Damn. That’s brutal."

"Mom’s accident. This contract with you. Choices that feel satisfying *now* can unleash irreversible hell *later*. Regret comes too late."

"…"

"So I won’t watch them die. Not ever."

"Never acting on impulse until you know the outcome… So your first instinct was always to *endure*? Swallow insults, be called a coward, just to avoid rash moves? Guess I really unchained a beast tonight."

"Hmph. Maybe."

Yumo packed his bag without another glance at the Demon and left.

Downstairs, he stared at his old bike—rattling, rusted, faithful. His steed through years of school runs. Its frame held every scar of his youth.

Motorcycles? Nah. He’d always prefer this two-wheeled relic.

————————

————————

Sea Capital City, Qingjiang District, West Outskirts. A remote stretch of road.

A steep mountainside carved into four sharp, exposed switchbacks.

Ah-Jin’s biker gang gathered here, summoned to witness him claim his prize: Tanglingxue.

"Hey, sweetheart," Ah-Jin sneered at Ling Xue, who’d arrived on time. "Where’s your so-called boyfriend? Scared off?"

"…………"

Ling Xue leaned against her motorcycle, face unreadable. Inside, panic tightened its grip.

*She wanted him to come*—to see the boy she admired conquer the track.

*She didn’t want him to come*—couldn’t bear seeing him lose, or worse, broken on the asphalt.

*If only I’d refused his offer to race…* The danger felt terrifyingly real now, hours from the start.

*(Please, Yumo… just stay away…)*

"Oh?"

Ah-Jin’s head snapped up.

Every eye followed his gaze.

A lone figure stood beneath a streetlight.

Windbreaker flapping in the cold night air!

Cargo pants stuffed with pockets!

A massive satchel slung over one shoulder!

And the showstopper—a *gas mask*?!

"Sorry I’m late."

Yumo pulled off the mask and waved.

"““““““““…………?””””””””

Ah-Jin had mocked Yumo’s "outdated" style before. But *this*? This was next-level bizarre. Like an elite enemy spawn from some tactical shooter.

"!?"

Only Ling Xue’s heart lurched. She remembered the day Yumo crushed Zhangyuanzhou.

"Enough chatter. Let’s ride."

He snatched the helmet from Ling Xue’s hand and swung onto the bike. His getup screamed *not* a racer.

"…Heh. Got guts!"

Ah-Jin revved his engine, lining up at the start.

The route was simple: a straight sprint for the first third, pure speed. Then the real test—the four switchbacks plunging downhill. Clear the last curve, a short straightaway, and the finish line.

Dafei stayed behind as starter. The rest scattered toward the finish.

"Yumo, be careful. If it gets too dangerous, just quit…" Ling Xue tried to warn him before leaving. He cut her off.

"Stop. A man who kissed your foot and swore an oath is about to duel a scumbag drooling over you—and you’re giving me *safety tips*? Don’t kill the vibe."

"………… Fine. Yumo… you *have* to win. Or I’ll never forgive you!"

"That’s the spirit. Win bonus? A kiss, maybe?"

"…………"

Ling Xue fell silent. Then, steeling herself:

"If you win… and come back safe… tonight, I’ll give you anything. *Anything*."

"Pfft. I appreciate the offer, but don’t hand out treasures so easily."

"It’s not easy…"

"HOW LONG ARE YOU TWO WHISPERING?!" Ah-Jin snapped. "RACE STARTS NOW!!"

Ling Xue reluctantly joined the others at the finish line. Only Ah-Jin and Yumo remained.

"After tonight, I’ll ruin everything she is."

Ah-Jin’s taunt hung in the air. Yumo said nothing. He simply pulled the gas mask back on.

"Hey! What’s with that thing? Trying to scare me? Can’t even see the road!"

"…………"

Yumo stayed silent. One hand slipped inside his windbreaker.

"Tch. Boring."

Ah-Jin dropped the childish trash talk, focusing on the starter’s signal.

…*Wait. Why does the wind smell weird? Sharp. Sweet? Just my imagination?*

"Riders ready…" Dafei raised the starter pistol in the distance. Engines roared to life, growling like caged beasts straining at their leashes—

"…GO!"

*BANG!!!!*

*VROOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!*

The night shattered under the scream of engines. Dust swallowed the road as they vanished into the dark.