I worked my magical fingers over the tension-filled muscles of my friend. "Relax, will you?"


    Aiko, the longhaired blonde from the international school, fidgeted under my hands. "I can''t help it. I don’t know why she doesn’t like me," she muttered, her brown eyes darting toward the door where my dog, Korone, was lying in a relaxed stance, but with that familiar low growl.


    "Korone’s always like this with new people," I said, scratching the back of my head. "She’ll come around. Don’t worry about it."


    "She better. I''m not about to spend all day here and have her growl every time I walk by," Aiko mumbled, flicking a glance at the dog who remained perfectly still.


    Korone''s brown eyes glinted with intelligence, but there was no denying she was more than just a pet. In a world like this, where monsters and dungeons were lurking around every corner, Korone wasn’t just a dog — she was a protector, a vigilant guardian. I didn’t trust many people, but I trusted her. And the way she looked at Aiko… I wasn’t sure the dog liked her much either.


    I sighed, rubbing Aiko’s shoulder as I continued to work out the knots. "She knows when people are nervous. That’s probably why she’s giving you the cold shoulder."


    "Yeah, well, I’m not used to being stared at like that," Aiko said, crossing her arms.


    I didn’t answer right away. Korone wasn’t the only one watching Aiko. The whole world was different now. Dungeons had opened up in the city for years, and with them came monsters — creatures that even the Hunters, those specialized humans with powers, sometimes couldn’t handle. And if you weren’t one of the chosen elite warriors, like those mech AI security forces patrolling the streets, you had to be cautious. Monsters lurked in the shadows, and the night felt... different.


    We had classes at school that occasionally turned into dungeon raids. It wasn’t the same as it used to be, but nothing ever was. Even Tokyo had to adapt. And while we went on with our daily lives — with school, homework, and the occasional karaoke night — there was always that underlying tension that we were constantly on alert. The Hunters, the Mechs, and all the dangers they dealt with made sure we didn’t forget.


    "So," I asked casually, breaking the silence, "any big plans for the weekend?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Aiko shot me a glance. "Mika’s throwing a party. Karaoke at Big Sound tonight, if you’re interested." She raised her eyebrows. "Might even make a date out of it for you. You know, if you’d actually talk to a girl for once."


    I grimaced, pulling my hands away and sitting down on my bed. "I’m good. I’ll pass on karaoke. Not really in the mood for that."


    "I swear, you’re impossible," she grumbled. "Why do you think you never get any girls? Maybe it’s your attitude."


    I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my chair. "I’m fine. No need for a date."


    "You’re going to be a hermit forever, huh?" she teased. "That’s cool, but I swear, we need a group of people to go out. It’ll be fun."


    I just shrugged, not interested. I’d never been into the whole scene — not with everything going on in the world. It was always hard to ignore the fact that dungeons were showing up in the most random places, and it could be anyone’s turn to face off with a monster.


    Aiko sighed. "Okay, okay. I know how you are." Her voice softened a bit. "I just… I need a break, you know? From all of this. The stress. My dad’s expectations. Everything. You know how it is."


    I didn’t respond right away. The pressure was high. Everyone around us — especially the Hunters — were constantly under the microscope. But that wasn’t my problem. Not tonight, at least.


    I glanced over at Korone, who was still curled up by the kitchen door, waiting patiently.


    "You know," I said, breaking the silence, "sometimes you need to just step back and let it all go for a bit. Things don’t always work out right away."


    Aiko sighed and looked at the floor. "You’re probably right. I just… I’m tired of waiting."


    She hesitated before standing up. "Okay, I’m heading out. Gotta go meet Mika. I’ll let you know what’s up."


    "Wait," I said quickly, standing up as well. "Before you go… just, take care of yourself, alright? You know I don’t like all this dungeon stuff and those... mech things, but I don’t want you in danger."


    Her smile was tired but thankful. "Thanks. You should really come with us. At least for a bit."


    I paused. "Maybe. But only if you leave Korone alone."


    She chuckled, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "I’ll try. See you later."


    As Aiko left, I turned my attention back to my homework, but my mind wasn’t really on the math problems in front of me. I couldn’t ignore the growing feeling in the air. Something was brewing. And with all the monsters and dangers in the world, I didn’t know if a karaoke bar would help anyone forget what was coming.


    The sky outside had darkened, heavy clouds forming. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The rain started to fall, a steady, cold drizzle. I glanced at Korone, who was watching me with that keen, almost human gaze, as if she, too, could sense what was about to happen.


    In a world like this, where monsters roamed and the Hunters fought to protect the people, it was hard to get a moment of peace. The streets were filled with whispers about upcoming raids, dungeon dives, and the Mech units that kept the worst threats at bay. I was used to the tension — but tonight, something felt different.


    I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and made my way to the door. If nothing else, a night out with Aiko might distract me for a while. And maybe, just maybe, I could avoid thinking about the threats that lingered beyond our quiet city for a few hours.


    But deep down, I knew better. The monsters, the dungeons, the AI Mechs… it was all part of the new normal. And I was in the middle of it, whether I liked it or not.


    I grabbed my phone, texting Aiko. Okay, fine. I’ll go. But no karaoke for me.


    As I heard the rumble of thunder again, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The night was just beginning.