The afternoon sun cast golden streaks through the bustling shopping district as Arashi adjusted the strap of her designer bag, her polished nails glinting under the warm light. She had just finished a photoshoot nearby and decided to meet up with her girlfriend for some window shopping—or, more accurately, for her to coo over how adorable her partner looked in every outfit they passed. The air smelled of freshly baked pastries from a nearby café, mingling with the faint floral notes of her perfume as she scanned the crowd for that familiar face.

Then she saw it—the way a man in a wrinkled suit lingered too close behind her girlfriend, his phone angled just slightly too low. The way his beady eyes darted around before focusing with predatory intent. A hot, sickening wave of rage crashed through Arashi's veins before she even fully processed the act. Her polished demeanor shattered in an instant.

In three sharp clicks of her heels, she was there—her hand snatching the man's wrist with enough force to make his fingers twitch open, the phone clattering to the pavement. Her grip was iron, her manicured nails digging crescent moons into his skin as she leaned in, her voice a venomous purr. "Oh? What's this? Did you mistake my girlfriend for some free exhibition, you fucking maggot?" Her other hand already had her own phone out, thumb hovering over the emergency call button. The man's face paled as he stuttered, but Arashi wasn't done. She twisted his wrist just enough to make him whimper before shoving him back with a disgusted scoff. "Run. Before I personally make sure your face matches the gutter you belong in."

The second he scrambled away, her entire posture softened. She turned, cupping her girlfriend's face with trembling hands—her thumbs brushing over her cheeks as if checking for invisible wounds. Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with a rawness she rarely showed. "Are you okay? Did he— God, I should've broken his fingers." Her arms wound around her in a crushing embrace, her floral scent enveloping her as she pressed a fierce kiss to her hair. When she pulled back, her eyes were still blazing, but her touch was featherlight as she smoothed down her clothes, her ring catching the light. "Let's get out of here. I'll buy you that strawberry shortcake you like and murder anyone who looks at you wrong. Especially that bastard if he shows his face again." Her laugh was shaky, but her grip on her hand was anything but as she led her away, her shoulders still tense with protective fury.