My breath feels heavy.
I don't know if it's the weight of the trap we just walked into or the realization that… we failed. The air in this fake chamber is cold, still, mocking. Everything looks real on the outside, but inside it's hollow—like our mission.
Arisu isn't here.
All that planning—it has slipped through our fingers like broken glass. I glance at Yora and Hayato. No one says anything, but I can feel it. The silence between us is louder than explosions.
Was it my fault?
Did we move too fast?
Were we too desperate?
The plan was supposed to be perfect.
...Then why does it feel like we were meant to lose?
We try to move. To escape the checkmate.
Maybe it's the instinct of not wanting to be caged. Maybe it's just panic. Yora whispers that there's a back conduit—maybe an access shaft. Hayato nods, already thinking steps ahead. I follow.
But before we can even get halfway to the door—
Thud.
Footsteps. Boots.
Voices.
We're surrounded.
Nexus guards—fully armed—block every exit with weapons drawn and barriers raised. One of them steps forward and taps his communicator to put the word out to the Cyberwatch.
"This is Unit 2. We've apprehended—"
But before he could finish—
"Guards... stand down!" a familiar voice interrupts, calm and cold.
Nexus Assisstant Manager, Kei Hidaka-san.
She walks into the room with that same sharp stare, her coat flowing like she owns the floor—and obviously she does.
"Don't bother the Cyberwatch. Let Nexus handle this."
The guards hesitate.
"But Vice Inspector—"
"I said restrain them. Cyberwatch will not interfere. Keep it an internal matter."
Chains click. Magic binds shimmer into place. I don't even resist.
Somehow, her words sound scarier than the guns pointed at us.
And in that one sentence...
Everything changes.
Her eyes sweep over us — sharp, unreadable, like she's already won a game we didn't know we were playing.
Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she points toward three guards.
"You three… tie up these little sewer rats," she says, her voice cool as ice. "And follow me."
The three guards step forward, cuffing us with the Seishin cuffs around our wrists — tight, glowing faint blue.
"And the rest of you," Hidaka turns to the other guards standing at ready,
"Back to your posts. Keep your eyes sharp. If those other Hyakurensha rats are crawling nearby… I want them caught alive."
"Yes, ma'am!" The guards salute and scatter like trained hounds.
She starts walking, calm and slow, expecting us to follow like obedient pets.
We walk in silence — well, silence if you count the sound of shackles clinking and guards stomping beside us.
I know this hallway. I know these walls.
The underground cell block.
Not again…
Of all places.
The damp air, the cracked floor, the faint hum of sealed Seishin — everything screams "back to square one."
Looks like life's got a thing for bad reruns.
But...
Just when I brace myself for another round inside those suffocating cells…
Hidaka-san stops.
She turns sharply on her heels—so fast the guards barely react—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
In a blink, all three guards are on the floor, knocked out cold.
What the—?!
What just happened?! Why did she—?
"Don't just stand there!" she hisses, her voice sharp but low. "Hurry up. Take their gear, grab their ID passes. Move!"
For a second… I'm convinced I'm dreaming.
Did Hidaka-san just—
Yora blinks. Hayato's eyes narrow.
Wait a minute–?
I can't understand what's happening here.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I blurt out, my voice cracking between a whisper and a yell.
Hidaka—turns to me with a smirk.
"Oh? You didn't guess?"
That voice.
A soft shimmer flickers over her face… and poof—
RUBY-SANN?!!
Hands on her hips, signature grin flashing like she just pulled off the best prank of the century.
"Yo. Took you long enough, genius."
Yora's jaw practically hits the floor. "W-What the heck—"
Hayato exhales like this is the tenth weirdest thing he's seen today.
I just stare. "So… you were Hidaka-san all along?"
Ruby shrugs, adjusting the coat. "Nah, she's sleeping tight somewhere. I just borrowed her face for a bit. You know… fashion's flexible."
"Flexible?!" I whisper-shout. "We nearly passed out thinking we're doomed!"
She smirks. "And yet… here you are. Free, stylish, and not in chains. You're welcome."
"But—!"
Ruby claps her hands once, voice dropping into her usual 'leader mode.'
"Alright, cut the chatter, time to grind. Change into their uniforms—fast."
I exchange a look with Hayato, who's already moving.
"Takumi, Hayato," Ruby says, sharp gaze flicking to us, "you two spread out. Blend in. If you get the chance, casually ask the guards about the package's location."
I nod, heart thudding.
Ruby's eyes narrow, serious now. "And listen—avoid the Cyberwatch at all costs. Especially the vice inspectors. One wrong move… we're dead."
Hayato grunts, strapping on a guard's belt. "Got it."
Yora awkwardly adjusts the stolen helmet. "And me?"
Ruby hooks her arm around his shoulder. "You're with me. We're heading straight to Central Command."
"Aye aye, ma'am!" Yora salutes with a half-grin.
Ruby smirks. "Let's move."
---
We split up.
Hayato heads left; I drift right—keeping my pace slow, blending in like just another grunt on patrol. My heart's still hammering, but I try to keep my face deadpan.
And then—
"Takumi…? You reading me?"
Kaito-san's voice crackles softly in my earpiece. His usual calm tone carries a sharp edge this time.
"What's going on down there? Why the sudden radio silence? You three got caught?"
I whisper back, lips barely moving. "Yeah… almost. Hidaka caught us… or that's what we thought."
"…What?"
"It wasn't her. It was Ruby-san. Disguised herself… took down the guards and helped us slip inside with stolen IDs."
Silence. Then a low whistle.
"Heh… Ruby… she never plays safe, does she?"
I smirk a little, watching Hayato chat up a clueless Nexus guard. "Guess that's why she's the boss."
"Tch… remind me not to play poker with her," Kaito mutters. "Alright—stay sharp. I'll cover what I can from here. Just… don't die, idiot."
I grin. "Wasn't planning to."
===
I swear, the central command room looked cooler in my head.
Instead, here we are—
Four guards and the real Hidaka-san sprawled on the floor like overcooked noodles. Tied up. Out cold.
I shift my glance towards Ruby-san.
Hah. Classic. The woman doesn't kid around.
I blink, scratch my head, and before I can even open my mouth—
"Oi, genius. Less gawking, more working," Ruby says, deadpan.
"Eh? Yeah, yeah, I'm on it."
Alright, let's see what we've got here.
I slide into the main console chair, hands hovering over the glowing interface like I actually know what I'm doing. Well, I do know, obviously… most of the time.
First glance? The system looks pretty standard—guard patrol logs, movement feeds, routine reports. Nexus being Nexus. But… I ain't stupid.
Nothing this shiny ever comes without dirt beneath.
I start poking around the access logs, flipping through command layers, cross-routing storage maps—
And bingo.
Hidden data vault. Sealed tighter than a miser's wallet. Footage that ain't showing on the main feed.
"Hah… knew it," I mumble under my breath.
But the second I try cracking into it—
The system kicks back with a security wall thicker than Hayato's ego.
Alright, not funny anymore.
I try bypassing through the server loop—
Error.
Trying a backdoor through the access node—
Firewall breach alert.
Uh-oh.
Okay. Maybe it's time to call the big brother of digital crime.
I flick on the comms. "Kaito-san. You there?"
Static. Then, his usual calm voice, "Yeah. Situation?"
I exhale. "I found something… a data cache locked behind a ghost partition. Looks like hidden footages of restricted areas—possibly Arisu's holding. But the security layers are off the charts. I'm talking multiple dynamic encryptions synced with Nexus' core AI. If I hit it wrong again, the watchdog's gonna flag it."
A pause. "How many firewalls?"
"Four. And a ghost protocol that self-repairs."
"Cute." I can practically hear him smirking. "Alright. Listen. You can't brute force that. Check if the security loop is running on layered SIP protocols—try swapping your connection node to a dummy server."
I blink. "You mean the maintenance server on the west wing?"
"That's the one. Nexus uses that for internal updates—it mirrors the mainframe every hour. If you can mask your handshake packet as a maintenance ping, you'll slip under the AI radar."
I grin. Now that's why this guy's a genius. "Got it. Give me a link path?"
He rattles off a sequence. I input it, my fingers flying, masking my identity under the dummy protocol.
Connection established. The encryptions start peeling like old wallpaper.
Ruby glances over. "You done flirting with the computer yet?"
I smirk. "Oh, we're just getting started."
Within seconds, the hidden footage loads in. Corridor feeds. Guard movements. And… there.
I freeze.
"Uh… Kaito-san."
His voice sharpens. "What?"
"I think we've got something. You might wanna see this."
Ruby leans in beside me as I pull up the footage on a larger screen.
There's the footage, in glorious high resolution—
A Nexus janitor, absolutely killing it with mop dance moves. Spinning, dipping, moonwalking.
The dude's got style.
For a second, there's silence on the comms.
Then Ruby whistles low. "Cool. Bro's got some moves."
I nod sagely. "For realll."
"YORAA." Kaito's voice goes dangerously flat. "Are you trying to kill yourself?"
"C'mon, I had to show you!" I grin, half-proud, half-apologetic. "You know… for morale and all."
Ruby chuckles under her breath. "Morale's up. Now find something useful before your Kaito-san finds a way to strangle you through the network."
I groan, wiping my face. "Roger that."
I dig deeper, sifting through more encrypted files, system logs… Nada. Nothing but boring corridor feeds, empty rooms, and archived security loops.
"Man…" I mutter. "This place hides its secrets like my mom hides snacks."
Kaito sighs. "Focus, Yora."
"I'm trying, okay?" My fingers dance over the keys again. "…But this is tight. Like tight tight."
No sign of Arisu. No suspicious activity. Just layers of firewalls and dead ends.
I glance at Ruby. "Guess they really didn't want us to find anything."
She doesn't say anything—just folds her arms, eyes sharp.
Something tells me… this game's just started.
===
I thought walking around like a guard would be easier. Blend in, they said. Stay casual, they said.
Yeah… sure.
Except every passing officer feels like they can see right through me. Like they know I don't belong here.
Hayato is walking beside me — cool as ever. Doesn't speak much, doesn't even flinch. Sometimes I wonder if this guy's actually human or some kind of robot.
We walk in silence for a while. The only sound—our boots against the cold floor.
I glance around. Same steel walls, same security gates. Same gut feeling twisting inside me.
"This place…" I mutter. "Feels empty."
Hayato hums. "It's night."
I blink. That's all he says. Figures.
I shake my head, half a smile escaping. "Man… even the air feels heavy. Like the walls are watching us."
Hayato doesn't reply. Just walks. Calm. Focused.
"So… we're seriously walking around like this," I whisper, adjusting the helmet on my head. "Dressed as guards. In the heart of the enemy base."
Hayato glances sideways. "Yeah."
"Great. Love the confidence," I mutter. "Because I'm totally not sweating buckets under this suit."
"No one asked you to sweat."
I huff. "You know, normal people usually say stuff like 'we'll be fine' or 'stay sharp' in situations like this."
He shrugs lightly. "We're not normal people."
"Wow. Thanks. Really helping with the nerves."
We turn a corner. Another empty hall stretches ahead.
"You ever notice how dead this place feels?" I ask again, voice low. "I thought there'd be patrols everywhere."
"It's late."
I sigh. "Yeah, yeah, 'it's night,' Mr. Wordsworth. But still… this place creeps me out."
Hayato gives a small nod. "That's good."
I blink. "Good?"
He finally looks at me, deadpan. "Means you'll be careful."
I stare at him for a second before chuckling under my breath. "Man… sometimes I forget you're human."
"Sometimes I do too," he replies dryly.
I smirk, shaking my head. "Classic Hayato."
We walk on.
"Just saying…" I add, glancing around, "I wouldn't want anyone else here with me… except maybe you."
He raises an eyebrow slightly. "That supposed to make me feel special?"
"Don't push your luck."
A rare flicker of a smirk crosses his face. Just for a second.
I glance at him as we walk, pretending to look casual. "Hey… Hayato."
"Hm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
He gives me a short look. "You're already asking."
I snort. "Yeah… true." I rub the back of my neck under the helmet. "It's about… you know. Me. The prison… all that."
He doesn't stop walking, but I feel his attention shift.
I breathe in. "Did you… I mean, did you start seeing me differently after all that? After I got arrested?"
There's a pause. Long enough to make me think he'll dodge it.
Then—
"No." His voice is steady. "But I was worried."
I blink. "Huh?"
Hayato keeps his eyes ahead. "Worried… because you're probably the first person I ever called a friend."
I stop for a second—then catch up to him.
He goes on. "I didn't know how to trust people. I didn't believe in teamwork. Then you came along… stupid, loud, reckless you… and made me feel like I wasn't alone in this mess."
I swallow, my throat dry.
"So yeah… I was worried you'd change. That this would break you."
"Hayato…"
"But you're still standing." He glances at me briefly. "You're still you. And that's all I care about."
I can't stop a smile. "Man… you're really bad at this emotional stuff."
"Yeah."
We both chuckle lightly.
I exhale. "Thanks… seriously."
He nods. "Just… don't forget. You can believe in me, too."
I nod back, feeling a strange warmth in my chest.
Then Hayato asks, almost in a murmur, "We'll save her… right?"
"Yeah," I whisper. "We will."
The silence that follows feels different this time.
Like… we're not just two rogue warriors sneaking around a hostile base.
We're friends.
And that means something.
But that silence gets shattered.
"Hey! You two."
A sharp voice slices through the corridor.
I freeze. My heart launches straight into my throat.
We turn around—slowly, carefully—and there he is.
A Cyberwatch Vice Inspector.
For a second, it feels like the entire Nexus facility holds its breath with us. The man stands tall, gloves crisp, his coat carrying that unmistakable insignia. Eyes sharp enough to peel the truth right off your skin.
And he's staring straight at us.
Panic creeps in, slow but deadly. Every protocol flashing in my head screams Don't make eye contact. Don't move. Don't breathe wrong.
My mind scrambles—Do we run? Do we fight? Pretend? Smile? Cry?
I glance sideways at Hayato. He's dead calm, face unreadable, but I can tell—his shoulders are a little too straight. His stance a little too prepared.
The vice inspector gestures. "Come here."
I gulp. My legs feel like stone but somehow I walk forward. Hayato's quiet steps match mine.
This is it. This is how we blow our cover.
The man tilts his head, a small frown forming. "You boys stationed here?"
I nod, trying my best to keep my voice steady. "Uh… yes, sir."
A pause. He looks at us for a moment longer than I'd like. Then—
He smirks. "Good. You know if there's a restroom nearby? I swear, nature's been banging on the door since my shift started."
…Huh?
Did he just…?
I blink. "Uh… yeah. Left from here. Two turns past the hall."
He throws a casual salute. "Appreciate it. Don't slack off."
And walks away like this is just another Thursday night.
For a moment, neither of us moves. Then—
Hayato clicks his tongue. "That guy… looks like a slacker."
I glance sideways. "Vice Inspector… slacker?"
"Maybe we can use him," Hayato suggests, folding his arms. "He talks a little too easy, lets his guard down a little too fast. Could be useful. At least better than walking blind in this maze."
I hesitate for a second. My gut knots up. "You sure? He is a Vice Inspector… they're trained for this."
Hayato smirks faintly. "Yeah. And we're the rogues they're after. So what's life without a little risk?"
I sigh. Well… not like we have many cards on the table.
"Let's follow him."
We move quietly, steps soft on the cold floor as we tail him through the next corridor. His pace is casual—almost lazy—like a man more interested in his bladder than his job.
He rounds a corner, heading for the restroom Hayato had pointed out.
When we're just close enough, Hayato calls out, his voice casual but firm. "Vice Inspector!"
The man turns, a little startled. "Yeah?"
Hayato keeps a straight face. "We thought you might lose your way. So… figured we'd escort you there."
The inspector blinks… and then lets out a small laugh. "Pfft… You kids're alright. Thanks a lot. Guess the next-gen cadets still got manners."
He pats Hayato's shoulder lightly.
I nod along, forcing a small smile.
Okay. This could work.
Hayato glances my way, just enough for me to catch that silent look in his eyes.
Let's see how far this act can go.
Sure! Here's the continuation with that casual awkward vibe:
The three of us head toward the restroom—well, him in front, us trailing just behind like good little cadets.
He pushes open the door, waves a hand lazily. "Back in a sec, boys."
Hayato leans casually against the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. I just… stand there, pretending to look around while my brain is anything but calm.
A moment later, the Vice Inspector steps out, rolling his neck and cracking his knuckles.
"Ahhh… that felt way better," he says, like we're old friends on a road trip. "Man, the coffee in this place? Hits like a truck."
He chuckles at his own joke.
Hayato gives a small nod. "Guess they serve it strong here."
"Oh, you've got no idea," the guy laughs, hands on his hips. "I swear, sometimes I wonder if Nexus makes better bio-weapons or cafeteria blends."
…We stand there.
"By the way," he adds, glancing between us, "you two fresh transfer units? I don't recognize the faces."
Hayato jumps right in. "Yeah. From the North Sector."
"North, huh? Must be boring there. Nothing but patrols and dead ends."
The guy just keeps talking—about cafeteria food, patrol routines, and even some dumb story about how his colleague once fell asleep in a mission briefing.
I nod, smile, fake a laugh here and there. But inside?
Bro, what the hell…
We don't have time for this!
I glance at Hayato, hoping he's got a magic word ready to steer this clown toward something useful.
But nope. Hayato's playing it cool.
Great.
If this guy keeps rambling about office gossip, how the heck are we supposed to get any real info out of him?
---
It had been… what? Ten minutes? Fifteen? I lost count somewhere between his theory about coffee beans and the story of some officer tripping over a mop.
And Hayato—yeah, even his statue-like patience has its limits.
I notice it. The way his eyes narrow. His fingers twitch slightly. His jaw sets in that signature way… the way that usually means someone's about to get decked.
I try to keep it together, keep the conversation alive. Maybe steer it back, maybe buy us some time. But this so-called Vice Inspector… man, he's a full-on chatterbox with a badge.
We follow him—step after step—through a maze of Nexus corridors.
It feels casual. Too casual.
Until…
We cross into a side passage. Less crowded. No patrols. The walls start turning darker, industrial… colder.
I glance around. Where the hell are we?
And before I can piece it together—
The Vice Inspector stops. Dead.
He stands there, back turned, hands resting lazily in his pockets like he's just admiring the quiet night.
Then he speaks.
"This place seems right… don't you think?"
I blink. "Huh?"
Hayato's already got that sharp look.
The Vice inspector turns around slowly, flashing a grin that's way too relaxed.
"Right spot for a good ol' brawl, I'd say."
…
My gut drops.
"What…?"
"Oh come on," he tilts his head, giving a casual shrug. "You thought I didn't know?"
Hayato's eyes darken. His hand slowly moves toward his sword's hilt.
"I'm a Vice Inspector for a reason," the man says with a lazy smirk. "You think I couldn't smell rogue Seishinsu the moment you two stepped near me?"
He taps his temple, that grin never leaving. "Not bad though. Your disguises? Good. Your act? Decent. But that little tension in your aura—hah—rookie mistake."
I freeze.
We're busted…
He chuckles. "I could've arrested you back there… y'know, made it all neat and formal." His eyes gleam slightly—dangerously. "But that's boring. You see, paperwork's a pain. Fighting though?"
He cracks his knuckles.
"That's fun."
...
I raise my hand slightly. "Look, we don't want to do this—"
But before I can even finish, Hayato steps forward, tightening his grip on the sword handle.
"It's no use, Takumi," Hayato says, voice flat.
His eyes narrow under that calm facade of his.
He then shifts his gaze towards the vice inspector. "Vice Inspector Kazuo, was it?… I'm already sick of your nonstop yapping."
He smirks a little. "And I'm dying to shut it up."
I blink.
Well, alright then. Guess the peaceful way's off the table.
I roll my shoulders, exhaling. "Yeah… You're right, Hayato. We're rogues now."
The word feels weird on my tongue—heavy, but weirdly freeing.
"We're already enemies of Cyberwatch."
I tighten my gloves, feeling the faint warmth of the Fire Spirit crackle along my palm.
"Fighting him is unavoidable."
I give a half-grin, nudging Hayato slightly. "Let's beat his ass up and squeeze Arisu's location right outta his big fat mouth."
Hayato lets out a soft, dangerous chuckle. "Now you're talking."
The vice inspector chuckles low, stretching his arms.
"Oh? I gotta say… I appreciate the confidence."
He rolls his neck, a faint crack echoing in the silent yard.
"Most rogues start begging or screaming. You guys?"
He slides a foot back—stance dropping loose but firm.
"You wanna dance?"
He grins.
"C'mon then… Show me what you've really got."
That grin—
Yeah, it's not playful anymore.
It's a challenge.
And hell… we're not backing down.
"But before we start…" Kazuo raises a hand, flashing a smug grin.
"Let me tell you my powers."
Huh?
I blink.
What kind of villain gives out a user manual before the fight?
He taps his chest.
"No magic. No enchanted tools. No flashy illusions."
His arms flex just slightly as he rolls his shoulders.
"I'm just built different."
He smirks, eyes narrowing with a glint of challenge.
"Beware of my direct hit… You won't even have time to regret it."
For a moment, silence.
Then—
"Thanks for the heads-up," Hayato says flatly, stepping forward.
He points a thumb to himself. "I use lightning."
Then at me. "He uses fire."
Simple.
And just like that…
The stage is set.
Kazuo cracks his neck, his grin widening.
"Fufu... this should be fun."
And that's it.
I blink—
He's gone.
"Behind you!" Hayato's voice snaps through the air.
But my reflexes are sharper.
I twist—just in time to see his fist slice past where my head was a second ago.
The sheer wind pressure slams into my cheek.
Damn… that was close.
Before I can process, Hayato's already in motion.
Sword drawn—
A straight stab aimed at Kazuo's chest.
But Kazuo?
He doesn't even flinch.
With a smooth twist of his body, he brings up his forearm—
Clang!
Hayato's blade meets solid muscle.
Like steel wrapped in skin.
Kazuo grins.
"Not bad…"
This guy—
Isn't bluffing.
Hayato steps back, narrowing his eyes.
"We'll have to avoid going head-on."
I nod, gritting my teeth.
"In that case—"
I raise my palm forward. The heat surges instantly.
"En no Seishin… Enzaiiii!"
The Spirit of Fire... Blazing Flame Flash
A roaring stream of flames bursts out, lighting up the night in a flash of red.
The searing fire surges straight at Kazuo.
But the bastard's fast.
He snatches a chunk of broken rubble from the ground—
Slams it right into the flames—
The rock chars, cracking, but holds.
Smoke explodes in a thick, dark cloud.
I stop the flames—
The field turns into a hazy fog.
Right then—
Hayato blurs inside the fog.
He slices through and aims his sword right at Kazuo's ribs.
Kazuo smirks.
"Nice teamwork."
Just when Hayato was about to hit, Kazuo leans sideways—
Turns out Hayato's blade cuts empty air.
And before I can even blink—
WHAM!
Kazuo's foot slams straight into Hayato's gut.
"Guh—!"
Hayato's body flies back—
Crashes onto the concrete with a hard thud.
Kazuo cracks his knuckles, a sly smirk on his face.
"Don't underestimate me… kids."
I grit my teeth.
This bastard…
If I can't get close—
I need a way to hit him from a distance.
Without him dodging with that ridiculous speed.
I clench my fist.
Alright—let's see you handle this.
"En no Seishin… Kaen Fubukiiii!"
The Spirit of Fire... Flame Blizzard
A swirling storm of fiery embers explodes around me—
Flickering sparks twisting in a chaotic spiral—
A blazing, crackling storm aimed right at him.
It blazes forward—
I smirk.
If this doesn't land, at least it'll blind him for a second—
Just enough for me to land a real direct hit—
But—
Kazuo's silhouette flashes through the firestorm.
Untouched.
Like a shadow weaving through the gaps—
Before I even blink—
He lunges—
A straight charge.
"—!"
I barely have time to raise my arms—
CRACK!
His fist slams into my guard—
And even though I block—
The force sends me skidding back, boots scraping against the ground—
My arms screaming from the impact.
Damn it…
"Oi, Kazuo!" Hayato's voice from behind cuts sharp through the air.
Kazuo glances back.
"Oh? You're still standing? Appreciable."
Hayato's eyes narrow.
"You're proud of that speed of yours… huh?"
A faint hum of electricity cracks around him—
"Then let me show you… what speed really is."
He raises his sword.
"Raiden no Seishin… Raigekiiii!"
The Spirit of Lightning... Thunder Vortex
—And vanishes.
A vortex of lightning swirls around the battlefield—
Blinding arcs flash past me—
I can't even tell where Hayato is—
It's just blurs—slashes—
Thunder cracking in the wind.
I try to follow—
But my eyes can't keep up.
But atleast I can tell—
Hayato's got the upper hand.
Kazuo grunts—
Sliced from this side—
Then that—
He twists, guarding, fists raised—
But Hayato's like a storm—
Here—then gone—
There—then gone—
Slash after slash—
But then—
Kazuo stops.
His feet planted—
Hands crossed in front of him—
Shoulders steady.
What the—
Is he seriously…
Standing still…
In the middle of this storm?!
Seeing that, Hayato growls, lightning cracking in his voice—
"Tank it all you want… I'm not stopping—
Not until you hit the ground!"
Kazuo chuckles, eyes darting around—
Trying to spot him in the storm of slashes.
"Hmph…" his smirk deepens,
"This little party trick?
It's nothing for this body.
I've tanked worse."
Hayato's eyes flare—
His storm whips harder—
And with a roar—
He goes for the final strike.
A straight, brutal slash.
A blinding streak cuts the air—
And—
Bam!
Kazuo's guard finally shatters—
He's blown back—
Crashing hard against the concrete.
A low thud.
Silence.
I rush beside Hayato—
He's down on one knee, breathing hard, sparks dying around him.
I pat his shoulder, smirking—
"Did we get him?"
Hayato exhales, half a smirk, half a glare.
But before either of us can answer—
A cough.
We both snap around—
Kazuo pushes himself up—
Wiping the blood off his lip,
He grins wide.
"Heh…
I knew I wouldn't regret…
Choosing to fight you."
Hayato clenches his jaw, staggering a little.
"Damn it… I put everything into that… How the hell are you still standing?"
Kazuo chuckles, coughing slightly, brushing dust off his coat.
"I told you… I've tanked worse. This?" —he smirks— "This is nothing."
Hayato tightens his grip on the sword, frustration flashing in his eyes. He straightens up, ready to charge again—
—but coughs hard. His knees wobble.
I place my hand on Hayato's shoulder, flashing a calm smile.
"Hey… how about you leave the rest to your comrade here?" I say pointing towards myself.
Hayato glances at me.
"You sure?"
I nod, eyes narrowing at Kazuo.
"We've got a long night ahead. Save your strength bro."
A slow grin creeps on Hayato's face.
"Heh… I guess I'll let you handle the hard part this time."
"Thanks," I say, rolling my shoulders.
Then, locking eyes with Kazuo—
"Don't think I'm sitting this fight out."
Kazuo exhales sharply, his grin widening.
"Good. I was hoping you'd say that."
I step ahead, cracking my knuckles, my heart oddly calm.
Hayato's sharp breaths echo behind me—he's still catching his wind. Figures… even a guy like him has limits.
But me?
I ain't exactly fresh either.
Still…
I look straight at Kazuo—the man's still smirking like this is all a warm-up.
"You know…" I mutter under my breath, just loud enough, "I really don't like guys like you."
Kazuo cocks his head.
"Oh? And why's that?"
I shrug.
"Too cocky. Too punch-happy. And you talk like this is a damn playground."
His grin sharpens.
"And yet, here you are… stepping up to play."
…Tch. He's got a point.
But that's fine.
I raise my hand forward, sparks of flame flickering at my fingertips. The heat pulses like my heartbeat—steady, angry, alive.
"Let's dance."
For a second, I hear Hayato chuckle behind me.
"Give him hell, partner."
Oh, I will.
This fight's mine now.
I pull in a slow breath and raise my hands—palms open.
Flames flicker along my knuckles, crawling up my wrists like restless serpents.
"Y'know…" I mutter, a faint smirk playing on my lips, "I've been training hand-to-hand a lot these days."
Kazuo lifts an eyebrow, arms folding.
"Oh? Trying to fix your lack of talent?"
I let out a small laugh, stepping closer.
"You'll see for yourself… if I fixed it or not."
Without warning—
I lunge.
Our fists collide midair—his sheer strength against my flame-reinforced strike. The impact crackles, sending a sharp shockwave around us.
Kazuo shifts his stance instantly, aiming a low jab for my gut.
I twist my body, letting it graze past, and retaliate with a sharp elbow strike aimed at his neck.
He ducks—fast—slipping under with a fluid dodge before throwing an uppercut.
I cross my arms in front, blocking just in time—
but damn, the force shoots through my guard, pushing me a step back.
Not even a second to breathe—
I swing a right hook, channeling fire along the arc.
He parries with his forearm, the flames licking harmlessly off his skin, and counters with a sweeping kick.
I leap up, twisting midair to avoid it, and land on my toes, my fist already cocked back for another blow.
Kazuo meets me head-on.
We trade a flurry of punches—one after another, rapid, brutal, sharp.
His fists are like iron hammers.
Mine are burning meteors.
Neither of us gives an inch.
A grin tugs at the corner of my lips.
Hell yeah…
This is exactly the kind of fight I wanted.
Thanks, Hayato.
If it wasn't for your Raigeki, I wouldn't be keeping up like this.
Kazuo's still fast—no doubt about that.
But his movements…
They're just a little slower now.
His swings a bit sloppier.
And me?
I can feel it with every punch I throw—
I'm hitting harder.
Way harder.
He ducks under my hook, comes in with a sharp jab—
but I weave right, stepping into his blind spot, and land a clean body blow.
A grunt escapes him.
Gotcha.
We both back off at the same time, circling.
Kazuo wipes a bead of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
"Not bad… for a rookie."
I smirk, rolling my shoulders.
"Not bad… for a half-dead vice inspector."
His eyes narrow.
Heh. That hit a nerve.
We charge again—
Fists meet—
Palms block—
Elbows clash—
Our footwork like a deadly dance on thin glass.
Kazuo tries a fake-out punch to my left—
I don't fall for it.
I step inside his guard, fist drawn back—
Now!
"En no Seishin… Honoo Ken!"
The Spirit of Fire... The Flaming Fist
I slam my fire-cloaked fist straight toward his ribs—
Kazuo shifts—way too quick—
and sidesteps my Honoo Ken like it's nothing.
His fist coils back, low and tight—
and slams straight into my ribs.
I barely manage to brace—
CRACK.
It feels like a steel rod's driven right into my side.
The air blasts out of my lungs.
I fly back—
literally thrown.
I smash against the wall—
and through it, making a hole.
Brick, dust, concrete—
I slam deep into the rubble, my back snapping against solid stone.
I hear Hayato's voice cut through the ringing—
"Takumi!"
"Hmph..." Kazuo exhales sharply, hands on his waist.
"Worthless."
I grit my teeth.
For a moment… it feels like everything's crashing down.
Like this fight… this mission… it's slipping right out of our hands.
But—
I'm not done.
Not yet.
Maybe Kazuo's stronger.
Maybe this mission's turning into a nightmare.
But I swear—
This isn't over.
I clench my fist.
"I won't let you down, Hayato."
Because I still have it…
I still have my Seishin.
And I guess it's the right time…
To use that.