The prison yard was quiet that morning. Unnaturally so.
Even the wind held its breath as a tall man with long white hair—Aria-sensei—stepped into the yard. He walked past the staring prisoners and sat across from the boy who had turned the entire prison into his kingdom.
Ryker Tensai was seated on the bench, legs crossed, picking at his nails like none of it mattered.
"So, Ryker... what do you feel today?" Aria-sensei asked, voice calm, thoughtful.
Ryker didn't look up. "I'm good," he said, his tone lazy, as if this was just another morning.
Aria-sensei watched him for a moment, then leaned forward. "It's your last day in this prison."
Ryker finally glanced up, eyes unreadable. "Yeah. I know."
Aria's gaze sharpened. "They're all waiting. Everyone is angry, and they want to ask you something before you leave."
Ryker leaned back, stretching slightly. His voice came out soft, careless—yet with a strange weight beneath.
"Yeah… I figured they would."
He stood, brushing imaginary dust off his pants. The prisoners, the guards—even the officers on the roof—all turned to look.
"I made a lot of enemies," Ryker said, smirking. "But I also made everyone remember something."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
Ryker turned, his shadow falling across the cracked concrete as the morning sun glinted in his eyes.
"That peace doesn't come from kindness…" he said. "It comes from control."
The moment Aria-sensei stepped away, the yard didn't stay quiet for long.
Whispers turned to voices. Voices turned to shouts.
"He's leaving today."
"That bastard…"
"After what he did to Higashi… to Ryu… to all of us…"
One by one, prisoners began stepping forward—some with clenched fists, others with eyes filled not just with hatred, but confusion… shame… and fear.
Ryker, standing at the center of the yard, didn't move. He looked out at the growing crowd as if they were ants gathering around a flame.
One tall man stepped forward first—Daigo, the former top dog before Ryker arrived.
"You think you can just walk out after everything you've done?" Daigo snarled.
Ryker's eyes met his, calm and almost bored.
"I don't think," Ryker said quietly. "I know."
The crowd tensed. Even the guards didn't step in. They wanted to see what would happen.
Another prisoner—a young woman with burn scars on her arms—spoke, her voice cracking.
"You made us fight each other. You ruined friendships. You made us monsters."
Ryker tilted his head. "No. I showed you who you already were."
That silence hit harder than any punch.
More voices rose.
"You're not a hero—"
"You're not even human!"
"Was this all a game to you?!"
Ryker's voice cut through them like a knife.
"Don't act like I'm worse than you. I didn't put you in here. You did. You all just needed someone to blame."
There was a strange honesty in his voice. Cold. Raw. Unfiltered.
Then Ryu, bruised and limping, pushed his way through the crowd. His face was tight with pain, but his eyes burned.
"You're right," Ryu said. "We are criminals. But that never gave you the right to play god."
Ryker turned to him slowly.
"I never wanted to be god," he said. "But someone had to take control. And since none of you could—"
He raised his arms slightly.
"—I did."
The prisoners stood frozen. None stepped forward. None moved to strike.
And in that silence, Ryker stepped past them… one step at a time. No chains. No guards. Just presence.
Some turned away.
Some glared.
But none… none stopped him.
From behind the women's prison wire net, Mayumi stood breathless, her fingers gripping the cold metal like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
She had heard the voices. Felt the tension from across the yard. But what she saw now—
Ryker… walking alone. Untouched. Unchained. Unbothered.
Every prisoner had moved aside.
He ruled them, and now he was leaving them.
Her heart was beating faster than she wanted it to.
"He's really leaving…" Hana whispered beside her, but Mayumi barely heard.
Was this sadness? Was it relief?
Or was it something else?
"He caused chaos," Hana said again. "He hurt people. He broke Ryu. He broke Higashi. He even scared the officers."
Mayumi didn't answer.
She remembered what Ryker once said with that twisted smirk:
"If I'm the villain… then so be it. But at least I'm free."
That line echoed in her mind now as she stared at the boy walking into sunlight like he owned it.
Why… why do I feel this way?
She looked down. Her cheeks burned.
Why is my heart… aching?
"I… I hate him," she whispered.
But even as she said it, her lips trembled. Her fingers clenched the wire tighter.
Then why am I hoping he looks back… just once?
Ryker didn't.
He kept walking.
And for some reason… that hurt the most.
"Wait!"
Her voice cracked the silence.
Mayumi didn't realize she had shouted until Hana turned to her in shock.
"What are you doing?!" Hana grabbed her arm. "Mayumi, stop—"
But it was too late.
Her legs were already moving.
She ran—past the confused guards, past the shouting officers, her prison sandals slapping against the concrete as she reached the end of the wire fence separating the women's yard from the exit path.
Ryker was still walking. Not fast. Not slow. Just… walking. Like he didn't care.
Like he didn't think anyone would follow him.
"RYKER!!"
That made him stop.
The guards raised their weapons. Officers yelled for her to back away.
But Mayumi didn't stop.
She gripped the metal bars of the gate as if her soul were trying to escape through them.
"…Why?" she asked, breathing hard. "Why didn't you say anything before leaving?"
Ryker turned his head slightly.
His eyes met hers.
Cold. Calm. But… not empty.
"Because I don't belong here anymore," he said simply.
"You never belonged here," Mayumi replied, her voice shaking. "You… you were different. From the start."
Ryker's gaze held hers.
Then he took a step closer to the gate.
"You think I'm a hero?" he asked. "I'm not. You saw what I did. I'm the reason Ryu broke. I'm the reason Higashi burned."
Mayumi's hands tightened on the fence.
"…I know."
"Then why chase me?"
She was trembling. Angry at herself. Embarrassed. But she said it anyway.
Mayumi bit her lip, her heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the noise of the guards shouting, the sirens wailing, even the footsteps of other prisoners rushing to see what was happening.
"…Because even monsters can feel lonely."
Ryker blinked.
For a moment—just a second—something flickered in his eyes. Surprise? Sadness? No, deeper than that. Pain.
"You're wrong," he finally said, his voice quieter. "Monsters like me… we don't feel loneliness. We create it."
He turned away, the long coat he wore—tattered and stained with the chaos he'd survived—fluttering slightly with the wind.
But Mayumi didn't move.
"You said you don't belong here," she said softly. "Then take me with you."
The silence that followed was heavier than steel.
Behind her, Hana gasped. The guards froze. Even the prisoners, watching from the shadows, didn't dare to breathe.
Ryker's steps halted again.
He didn't turn. Not this time.
"…You don't know what you're asking."
"I do."
"You don't," he said, and this time there was something raw in his voice. "I'm not your savior, Mayumi. I'm your curse. I ruin everything I touch."
"I'm already broken, Ryker."
Finally… finally he turned around.
And for the first time in a long time, Ryker Tensai looked like he wasn't sure what to do.
"…Then follow me," he whispered. "But don't ever ask for a happy ending."
Mayumi smiled faintly, tears gathering at the edges of her eyes.
"I stopped believing in happy endings the day I met you."
—The Girl Who Chased a Monster