[Inside Vanko's House – Late Morning]
The atmosphere had calmed a little after the earlier chaos. Vanko had gone back to the kitchen to wash dishes, and Akio slipped away to check his old room. In the living room, Ann and Koto sat with Murasaki, who was pulling old kimono from a chest.
Murasaki (excited):
"Ann-chan, you're slim and the height is perfect! Try this one… it's rare silk. I used to wear it for the traditional festivals."
Ann (laughing, holding up the fabric):
"Oh? This looks fancier than all my clothes combined!"
Koto (softly):
"The weave is authentic. A traditional Zetaran design."
Murasaki (waving her hand):
"Come on, I'll help you dress. It's a shame to wear it alone."
Ann stepped into one of the rooms, Murasaki assisting. Moments later, the door slid open slowly… and Ann emerged wearing a violet kimono embroidered with lotus flowers.
Ken entered the room at that moment, his expression as indifferent as ever. Steve, however—his eyes stopped. For a brief heartbeat, his cold gaze softened, and it felt as if his heart had silenced his mind. Koto noticed the flicker and raised a brow slightly, but said nothing.
Murasaki (beaming):
"See, Akio? I told you—a kimono makes any girl blossom like a flower."
Akio (grumbling under his breath):
"Yeah, yeah… don't spoil her with pride."
Steve (muttering low, almost to himself):
"Beautiful… simply."
He sat on the couch silently, though his eyes darted back toward Ann before he forced them away.
Koto (sitting close, smiling faintly as she rested her cheek on her hand):
"Hm… I've never seen you look at someone like that before, Steve. Was it the kimono that caught your eye… or Ann herself?"
Steve (staring straight ahead, adjusting his posture with deliberate calm):
"I was… only studying the weave. The embroidery is intricate—clearly handmade."
Koto (leaning in slightly):
"Oh really? So you were watching the stitching, not… the person wearing it?"
Steve (pushing his glasses up):
"I'm a rational man. I have better things to do than stare at girls wrapped in purple silk."
Koto (chuckling lightly):
"You know… if I didn't know you, I'd almost believe that."
Steve (muttering, eyes still forward):
"Of course you would…"
Koto (playful, smiling):
"But I do know you."
In the corner, Ken had overheard their exchange. He didn't react outwardly, but allowed himself one comment.
Ken (calmly):
"Observation is part of a spy's work… even if they deny the reason."
Ann (walking lightly toward Ken, holding the edges of the kimono):
"Ken-san…?"
He lifted his gaze slowly. She stood steady before him, violet hair spilling across her shoulders.
Ann (tilting her head, blushing as she smiled):
"What do you think? I know this isn't really my style… but Koto and Murasaki insisted."
Ken (quiet, voice steady):
"It suits you."
Ann's eyes widened, her face lighting up as if he had placed a crown upon her head.
Ann:
"I–it suits me?! Ken-san said the kimono suits me?!!"
She pressed her hands against her cheeks, spinning in place like a child showing off a new dress.
Ann (laughing breathlessly):
"Ah, my heart! I'll retire from being a ninja—I'll just live here in kimono forever!"
In the corner, Steve's expression hardened. His hands sank into his pockets as he stared at Ann. There was no jealousy written clearly on his face, but a faint crease formed at his brow. He looked away, shut his eyes briefly, as if trying to smother a thought before it grew.
Steve (thinking):
"I wasn't blind… I always knew. Ann has loved Ken from the beginning… There's no place for me in this story."
He opened his eyes, stood, and slipped quietly from the room. No one noticed—except that at the same moment, Akio strode in from upstairs, now wearing a traditional kimono himself.
Akio (loudly, arms spread):
"Listen up, you lazy lot! Since we're in Zetara, I propose a tour! Let's hit the marketplace, stroll through the old district! Maybe find a candy cart—or a girl for Akira!"
Ann (still twirling in her kimono):
"Yes! A walk while I'm dressed like this? Absolutely!"
Koto (closing her book and setting it aside):
"I could use some fresh air."
Akira (raising a finger):
"Just make sure food is involved."
Nyoro (calling from the kitchen with a stolen cake bite):
"I'm in—wherever you go."
Ken made no objection. He simply rose quietly, watching the group bustle around him.
⸻
[Outside – Behind the House]
Steve stood alone, leaning against the garden fence, eyes unfocused on the trees beyond. His mind was elsewhere. Akio strolled up, munching on a piece of cake, then stopped at his side.
Akio (cheerfully):
"We're heading out… and you're coming too."
Steve (flatly, not looking at him):
"I'm not in the mood for a stroll."
Akio (raising a brow):
"Oh… I see. Understood…"
Suddenly, he grabbed Steve's wrist and yanked hard, shouting:
Akio:
"And that's exactly why you are coming!"
Steve (struggling free):
"Akio! Let me go!"
Akio (childishly):
"Nope—you're coming whether you like it or not!"
Steve (muttering through clenched teeth):
"I'm going to strangle you later."
Akio (laughing as he dragged him along):
"As long as you don't stage another tactical retreat, do whatever you want!"
Steve had no choice but to join. And so, the group left Vanko's home together, setting off to explore the streets of Zetara—unaware that what awaited them would be far from a simple outing.
⸻
[Zetara – Market Streets]
The sun climbed higher as they stepped into a broad stone-paved street. Old buildings with curved roofs flanked them, and cherry trees shed petals across their path. The air was lively yet calm—the nearby market buzzing with vendors shouting about their spices, teas, and sweets.
Akio (walking in front, hands clasped behind his head):
"Oooh, how I missed this smell—the spices, the tea, the dango! Ahh, Zetara never changes!"
Ann (laughing, twirling lightly in her kimono):
"And this kimono makes me feel like a princess out of a tale!"
But at the far corner of the street, a group of seven boys lounged outside an abandoned teahouse. They wore modified Zetaran street clothes—open shirts, colorful scarves, wooden swords strapped to their backs. Their leader, a boy with short black hair and a scar on his nose, leaned against the doorway with his hands in his pockets. When his eyes fell on Akio, he sneered.
???:
"Well, look who crawled back to Zetara… Sakamoto the arrogant."
Akio (stopping, eyes shut with exasperation):
"Oh no… not these idiots again."
The gang swaggered over, laughter brimming with confidence, until they blocked the group's path.
Leader (staring Akio down):
"Haven't seen you in a while, clown. Thought you'd run from Zetara for good."
Akio (grinning slyly):
"And I hoped you'd wasted your time at some cheap festival."
But the grins didn't last. One of the gang boys had already shifted his gaze toward the girls—especially Ann, standing just behind Ken. He leaned closer to whisper in his leader's ear.
Gang Member (whispering):
"I've seen this girl's face on TV… they say she was part of the group that assassinated and toppled Terakola. She's strong—but damn, she's gorgeous. That type… deserves to be tamed."
Gang Leader (grinning wickedly):
"Oooh… so Sakamoto's come back with a couple of girls, huh? How brave. But I don't think these ladies are in the right place. I'll make you a deal, Sakamoto… leave the girls, and I'll let you walk away."
Koto (calm, cutting tone):
"Was that… a threat?"
Gang Leader (ignoring her, eyes locked on Ann):
"And this one? She's like a flower… pretty. But flowers don't last long once they're picked."
Ken (stepping forward slowly, voice low):
"Say that again…"
Gang Leader (mocking):
"What? You guarding her? Is she yours?"
Ken (colder still):
"She's not mine… but she'll never be yours."
Gang Leader (laughing):
"Oh, she will be. I'll take her right in front of you if I have to."
Two of the thugs lunged toward Ann and Koto, reaching to grab them—but before either could touch them, Ken's foot lashed out, smashing into one thug's chest. The boy flew back a full meter, crashing to the ground with a groan. At the same moment, Steve stepped forward into a defensive stance in front of the girls.
Steve (icy calm):
"That wasn't a wise move."
Akira (rolling his shoulders, cracking his knuckles as he stepped into the fray):
"Oh, finally. Just what I needed to burn off some energy."
Steve (voice flat, deadly):
"Your next move… will be your last."
Across the street, Akira was already smiling as he advanced through the chaos.
Thug (mocking, laughing):
"What's this? A clown? What's with those ears? Did you just crawl out of a costume party?"
Another (clutching his stomach, howling with laughter):
"Look at him! Thinks he's some beast—hah! Lady-killer wolf-boy!"
Akira (smiling with predatory calm):
"Too bad… you'll die before you ever learn the truth."
In a blur, he vanished. A heartbeat later, he was in front of one thug—his fist slamming into the boy's stomach with brutal force, claws digging in deep. He hurled him aside like worthless trash.
Akira (grinning wider):
"A real wolf doesn't need to howl… just fangs and claws."
On the other side, the fight escalated fast. Four thugs moved on Ann, seeing she had drifted a little apart from the others.
Thug:
"Grab her! She's the prize!"
Ann (warning, stance sharp):
"Come closer… and I'll cut your legs out from under you!"
She struck with ninja speed, kicks and chops flashing—but four against one was overwhelming. Two slipped behind, seizing her arms, while the other two looped thin ropes around her legs.
Ann (struggling, furious):
"Damn it…!"
Thug (laughing):
"Strong and beautiful… you'll make tonight unforgettable!"
Their joy didn't last. Steve appeared behind them in an instant, unarmed—but radiating a rare, razor-edged fury.
Steve (voice sharp, commanding):
"Let. Her. Go."
Thug (mocking):
"Or what? You'll call the guards?"
Steve blurred forward, ignoring the words. He kicked off the ground, his right foot smashing into the chest of the nearest thug. Before the boy could even gasp, Steve's fist cracked across his jaw—sending him spinning through the air, out cold before he hit the ground.
Another rushed him from behind—but Steve pivoted, elbow driving into his ribs, then a spinning kick to the skull. The thug slammed into a stone wall and slid down, dazed. Meanwhile, Ann wriggled free of the ropes in the confusion, then straightened beside Steve, panting.
Ann (smirking, breathless):
"Since when are you the hero type?"
Steve (flat, not looking at her):
"Since you thought I was just a man who wrote reports."
Elsewhere, another thug crept closer, dagger gleaming. His eyes burned with the hunger of a backstabber. But before he could strike at Ken, a chill swept through him. Nyoro was suddenly there—dagger longer, eyes gleaming with an eerie mix of mischief and menace.
Nyoro (twirling the blade casually):
"Friend… don't play with knives near me."
He stepped closer, slowly, spinning the dagger in his hand as though it were a child's toy. The thug's eyes widened in panic as the air grew unnaturally cold—frosted breath spilling from his lips though the sun still shone.
Nyoro raised his left hand… and the moisture in the air crystallized, ice creeping up the boy's limbs. In seconds, he was frozen stiff, body locked in terror. His lips trembled, but no sound escaped.
Nyoro (whispering, a cruel smile):
"Don't worry… it won't hurt much."
With a single merciless thrust, Nyoro drove his blade into the boy's stomach. No scream—only one final frozen gaze before the body shattered and collapsed like brittle glass.
At that moment, the gang leader finally stepped forward, disbelief twisting into rage.
Gang Leader (roaring):
"Damn you all! I'll deal with this clown Sakamoto myself!"
He advanced confidently toward Akio, who had been watching the fight without moving.
Akio (sighing, stepping forward):
"And here I thought I came back for a peaceful stroll… but Zetara hasn't changed at all."
Gang Leader (mocking laugh):
"Still hiding behind that big mouth? Show me something real this time!"
Akio (a dangerous smile curling his lips):
"…Fine."
In one fluid motion, Akio drew Sanguinis from his hip. The blade flared crimson as always—but this time faint yellow arcs of lightning crawled across its steel, alive like veins.
Gang Leader (laughing cruelly):
"Oooh, your sword glows? Trying to impress me with fireworks?"
Akio (sideways grin, voice low):
"No… I'll show you how lightning tastes… when it mixes with blood."
Energy crackled. A bolt surged from his arm into the blade, turning the steel a shining silver, lightning spiraling along its edge.
Gang Member (stammering, trembling):
"T-that's not a normal sword…"
Akio (coldly):
"Sanguinis only drinks from fools… the ones begging for death."
In a flash, he lunged—closing the distance in a heartbeat. The gang leader barely raised his sword before the impact. Their blades clashed—and a violent shockwave of lightning blasted him back, hurling him to the ground. He writhed, screaming as his body convulsed.
Akio (walking toward him, blade still blazing):
"Don't worry… that wasn't the killing stroke. Sanguinis isn't satisfied yet."
The blade hummed—low, eerie. A faint red glow seeped across its surface, drinking the blood scattered on the ground.
Gang Leader (struggling, horrified):
"What… what is this…?"
Akio (lifting the blade again, eyes narrowing):
"My sword… my partner."
But then—something shifted. The glow in the blade faltered. The lightning died. The red light dulled. Akio's hand trembled as though the sword itself resisted.
Akio (whispering, face tightening):
"What… is this…?"
A red glimmer flickered in his right eye. Strange vibrations pulsed from the sword, whispers—or commands. His body jerked, then slowly lowered the weapon, the blade shivering in his grip.
Ann (calling out, alarmed):
"Akio? What's happening?!"
But Akio didn't answer. His head dipped, then rose slowly. His face had changed. A cold, eerie smile curled across his lips. His eyes were hollow—empty for a moment.
Murasaki (nervous, voice shaking):
"Akio…?"
Akira (raising a brow, tension sharp in his voice):
"…I don't like where this is going."
Then, without warning, Akio suddenly spun and leveled his sword at Ken!
Ken's eyes widened for a heartbeat—but his body moved before his mind could catch up.
Ken (firm, commanding):
"Akio! Stop!"
In a single motion, he reached behind him, drew his own blade from its sheath, and a faint spark of fire flickered along its edge. Akio charged at him like a storm, Sanguinis gleaming with a strange, living light—as if the sword itself was the one attacking.
Their blades collided with a deafening crash—metal fused with raw energy, yellow sparks clashing against blazing red fire. Ken's expression tightened under the force, but he planted his feet and held the line.
Ken (forcing the blade upward with strength):
"I won't let you hurt me… or yourself! This isn't you! Will you let a piece of steel tell you who you are?!"
Akio (distorted voice, almost not his own):
"I… I'm stronger this way… No one laughs at me anymore… No one!"
Ken's eyes narrowed.
Ken (grimly):
"Damn it… he can't hear me."
The sword quivered violently, and a weak surge of lightning leapt from Sanguinis into Ken's hand, making him grit his teeth in pain.
Ken (furious):
"Then I'll make you hate that sword if I have to!"
In a sudden move, Ken released Akio's wrist and unleashed a concentrated burst of fire straight at his right hand—the one clutching Sanguinis. It wasn't an attack to wound, but a precise, calculated strike.
Flame crashed against lightning—the sword jolted violently, then slipped from Akio's grasp and clattered to the ground, still faintly glowing.
Akio staggered back, his breathing ragged, as though something had been ripped out of him. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
Akio (hoarse, broken):
"I was… going to kill you… I couldn't stop… What is this sword…?"
Ken (steady, quiet):
"Anything you can't control… you don't deserve to carry."
Ken's gaze shifted to the sword on the ground, its edges slowly returning to normal, though its thirst was far from quenched.
Ann (from afar, worried):
"Ken-san… is he alright?"
Ken (cold, without turning):
"Not yet."
He looked back at Akio and barked:
Ken:
"Pick up the sword, sheath it—and don't ever let it out again unless you decide… not it."
Akio rose shakily, breath uneven, his eyes still trembling from the grip the blade had on him. He looked at Sanguinis lying on the ground—but didn't touch it. Instead, he drew his ordinary sword from his side. The blade he had trained with, fought with—his, not cursed.
Ahead, the gang leader staggered backward, shock etched into his face. Some of the other boys were already retreating.
Gang Leader (stammering):
"Wh-what was that? What are you people…? You're just wanderers—you're not supposed to be this strong…"
Akio (stepping toward him, voice steady):
"We're not strong because we like fighting. We're strong because we've survived things that left no room for weakness."
Akira (from behind, grinning):
"…And some of us just do like fighting. Hah!"
Akio (leveling his blade at the leader):
"This fight is over. Take what's left of your gang… and leave. Before I let these streets remember your humiliation."
The leader took another step back, glancing at his scattered comrades.
Gang Leader:
"We'll remember this… but we won't make the same mistake twice."
He withdrew, dragging his surviving men with him, disappearing into the alleys beneath the pale sunlight.
In the silence that followed, Ann kept her eyes fixed on Akio. Ken slid his sword back into its sheath without a word. Steve rejoined the girls, his eyes studying Akio closely.
Steve (thinking, cold):
"That boy… he almost turned into something else. From now on… that sword needs to be watched."
Murasaki (forced smile):
"Our first little outing since my brother came back… and it ends with a fight and a mental breakdown!"
Ann (trying to grin despite her nerves):
"At least none of my bones got broken… this time."
Akio still stood where he was, staring at the ordinary sword in his hand—then slowly turned his gaze to Sanguinis on the ground. He stepped forward, crouched, and lifted it cautiously, sheathing it without meeting its glow.
Akio (whispering to himself):
"I won't let you control me again… You won't be stronger than me."
Ken (approaching, calm but firm):
"You chose to carry it. That means your real battle hasn't even begun."
Akio (meeting his eyes, weary but resolute):
"I know. That's why… next time, I'll be ready."
He turned to the group gathering in the street.
Akio (raising his voice):
"Alright, that's enough. Round one in Zetara was chaos… but I promise, round two will be better."
Ann (smirking at Steve):
"Honestly… I never thought someone as boring as you could actually be useful one day."
Steve (deadpan, brow arched):
"And I never thought purple flowers were so good at delivering insults with grace."
Ann (laughing lightly):
"That wasn't an insult… it was a compliment. My style."
She stopped in front of him, studied him for a long second—then, in a quick motion, leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his cheek before skipping away.
Ann (winking):
"Thanks for saving me, four-eyed spy."
She rejoined the others, leaving Steve frozen in place. A faint blush crept across his face, his jaw tightening instinctively. He crossed his arms quickly and turned his head aside, eyes shut, as if to say: Nothing happened.
Steve (under his breath, forcing composure):
"Just a random act… meaningless… nothing new."
From the corner, Ken had watched the entire scene. One eyebrow arched slowly, and for the first time that day, his stern face cracked. Covering half his face with his hand, he almost burst out laughing—but settled for a muffled smile.
Ken (murmuring to himself):
"Steve… you're finished."
To be continued…