Some hours Early -morning.
The soft orange glow of sunrise seeped through the glass dome of the central mall, casting long shadows over empty corridors and quiet storefronts. The usual buzz of shoppers was absent—replaced by an eerie stillness.
Ryker Tensai stood near the escalators, his black coat rustling slightly in the morning breeze drifting through the shattered entrance. Beside him, Jasmine Katsuragi adjusted her gloves, eyes scanning every corner.
"So… finally," Ryker muttered, his gaze narrowing. "The criminals are here."
From the far end of the mall, heavy footsteps echoed—then a figure emerged.
A tall man in torn prison garb. Dirty. Wild-eyed. Smirking.
And behind him, more shadows moved.
Suddenly—boom!
Ryker vanished in a blur of lightning, reappearing in front of the lead criminal, hand crackling with electricity.
But just as he raised it to strike—
The criminal yanked a child forward from behind a pillar. A hostage.
Ryker's eyes widened. He halted an inch from impact, sparks fizzling out in his palm.
The man laughed darkly.
"Go on… kill me. You can't, can you?"
The child whimpered, trembling in his grip.
"Coward," Jasmine growled, stepping forward.
Ryker's jaw tightened.
"…Don't challenge me," he said coldly, voice like a blade. "Don't ever think mercy is my weakness."
The criminal chuckled, hiding his nerves.
"You heroes always hesitate. That's why you lose."
"I'm not a hero," Ryker said. His eyes glowed for a brief second, just enough to make the man step back.
Jasmine placed a hand on Ryker's shoulder. "He's trying to break your control."
"Control?" Ryker whispered.
He smiled slightly.
"You should pray I don't lose it."
The child trembled, his small frame hidden beneath the man's larger body. The criminal kept a knife close to the boy's throat, his hand shaking now—because Ryker hadn't moved, and yet the air felt heavier. Charged. Like a storm waiting to burst.
"You make one wrong move," the man barked, "and the kid dies."
Ryker didn't blink.
In the next second—flash—he was gone.
A thunderclap echoed through the mall. Time seemed to freeze.
Jasmine's eyes followed the blur, and in that heartbeat, she smirked.
"You're done," she whispered.
The criminal felt something behind him.
He turned—
Too late.
Ryker was already there.
One arm shielded the child. The other?
Crack!
A lightning-coated punch struck the man's gut with devastating force. The air exploded around them. The man flew backward, crashing into a vending machine with a scream before slumping to the ground, unconscious.
The child blinked, dazed but unharmed, held gently in Ryker's arms.
"You okay?" Ryker asked, his tone soft now.
The boy nodded, too stunned to speak.
Jasmine walked over, impressed.
"You held back just enough," she said. "Could've killed him."
"I don't kill when kids are watching," Ryker replied, setting the boy down.
A pause.
Then Jasmine whispered, "But if they weren't watching?"
Ryker didn't answer. He just turned, walking deeper into the mall where the rest of the criminals were hiding.
Jasmine followed, her voice quiet.
"So… no more holding back?"
Ryker cracked his knuckles. His eyes gleamed with purpose.
"Not today."
In Fukuoka
The smell of grilled fish, fresh miso soup, and steamed rice filled the tatami room. Lantern lights cast a soft glow over the table, where warm dishes were laid out neatly like an old memory carefully preserved.
Yumi sat down slowly, legs tucked beneath her, the way she used to. Across from her, her mother poured tea with calm precision, every movement graceful. Her father, stoic as ever, gave her a silent nod—a thousand unsaid emotions behind that simple gesture.
Ren sat next to her, already reaching for a side dish. "See? We never changed the menu."
Yumi looked at the food, a quiet smile spreading across her lips. "It's exactly how I remember."
Her mother set the teapot down and finally spoke. "We weren't sure if we'd ever hear your voice again."
"I wasn't sure either," Yumi whispered.
Her father finally broke the silence. "Is it over? Whatever chased you out of Tokyo?"
Yumi glanced down at her bowl. Her fingers tightened slightly around the chopsticks. "Not yet."
The table fell quiet for a moment.
Ren looked at her, concerned. "You're not just visiting, are you?"
Yumi gave a small shake of her head. "No. I'm hiding something. Or… someone."
Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it the organization?"
Yumi hesitated, then nodded. "I left them. I had to."
Her father leaned forward, voice low. "Are they watching you?"
"Always," she replied. "But they won't come here. Not yet. I made sure of it."
Silence again.
Then her mother calmly picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and said, "Then eat. You'll need strength."
Yumi blinked. "That's it?"
"We're your family, not the law," Ren said between mouthfuls. "If anyone comes after you, they'll have to go through the Ayanami clan."
Her heart squeezed. She stared at each of them—her mother, silent and strong; her father, watchful as always; her brother, reckless and ready.
The world outside was dangerous, full of enemies and hidden eyes.
But here… she was home.
The night had grown still. The Ayanami house, nestled behind Sawaradai East Park, was wrapped in silence. Crickets chirped gently outside, and a faint moonlight filtered through the old wooden window frames.
Everyone was asleep.
Everyone… except Yumi.
She lay on the futon in her old room, staring up at the wooden ceiling. Her phone was beside her, screen dark. Her heart wouldn't calm down. She was waiting—for him.
For Sol.
But suddenly—
Knock knock.
A soft but sharp tapping came from the window.
Her breath caught. Her body froze.
"…What?"
She slowly turned her head toward the sound, heart pounding.
At the window, just beyond the thin glass pane—
A figure.
No.
A face.
Haru.
He slid the window open slightly, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Hey, Yumi."
Her eyes widened.
"H-Haru? What are you—"
He raised a finger. "Thanks… for bringing Sol here."
"…What?"
Her body trembled. "Wait—what are you talking about? How do you know he's coming here?"
Haru smiled faintly, his eyes cold. "We didn't say a place, did we? But you did it anyway. That was all we needed."
Yumi sat up, fear tightening around her chest.
"No… No, please don't..I tell—"
"If you tell anyone," Haru said softly, "your entire family will die."
She gasped, hand over her mouth.
"You wouldn't—!"
"One more thing," he added, stepping back into the shadow of the night. "As of tonight, you're officially part of the organization."
"I never joined!" she cried. "I never agreed to this!"
"You don't have another option," he replied without emotion. "Still… thank you."
And then—
He was gone.
Vanished into the darkness like a bad dream.
Yumi sat there, frozen, staring at the empty window.
Tears welled in her eyes.
Her voice cracked as she whispered:
"Sol…"
She gripped the edge of the futon, body shaking as sobs overtook her.
"…Who am I supposed to protect now? My family… or the one I love…?"
The moonlight fell across her trembling figure, and the night, once peaceful, now pressed in like a cage.