*Three years ago*
Akira's pov
Guilt. It lingers, suffocating me. No matter how much time passes, no matter what the doctors say, I can't shake it off. I still blame myself for what happened to my brother. The weight of it crushes me, making it impossible to move forward.
I couldn't face him. I didn't know how. So I ran. I left home, hoping that by distancing myself, I could escape the pain. The truth is, I didn't have a solution. Running was the only thing I could do.
I begged my father to let me go, and despite his reluctance, he eventually agreed. I couldn't bear to see my brother like that—not when I knew he was suffering from amnesia, not when I knew he didn't even remember me. The thought alone was unbearable.
Survival became my priority. I searched for a job, a place to stay—anything to keep me afloat. It wasn't easy, but I managed to find a small apartment. Just enough to live in. Just enough to hide away.
But while searching for a job, something caught my attention. A school. I don't know why, but something about it called to me. Sensō High. I couldn't explain it, but I felt like I needed to be there.
Maybe studying would be better than working. After all, I was still in high school, and without finishing, my options were limited.
I took out my phone and quickly dialed my father's number. After a few rings, he answered.
["Hello, son. How have you been?"]
"I'm doing well, Dad."
["Do you need anything, son? Name it, and I'll arrange it for you immediately."]
That was just like him. He always spoiled us, always provided. It made me wonder if I could really last on my own, away from his reach.
"To be honest, Dad, I need your help with something. I'll come to your office now."
["I'll pick you up. Stay where you are."]
"No need, Dad. I'm already on my way. See you later."
["Alright, son. See you soon."]
With that, I ended the call and hailed a cab.
A few minutes later, I arrived at my father's office. I didn't waste time. I had already made up my mind.
"I want to get straight to the point, Dad," I said, sitting across from him. "I want to go back to school and finish Senior high school."
A small smile formed on his lips, like he was relieved to hear that.
"That's great, son. I'll find a suitable school for you since you dropped out of your former one," he said as he reached for his phone, likely to call someone about it.
"There's no need for that, Dad. I already have a school in mind."
I pulled out my phone and showed him a picture of Sensō High. His eyes widened slightly before he chuckled.
"Sensō High, huh? That takes me back."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He leaned back in his chair, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "I was an alumnus of that school. I almost became the head of Sensō High."
Wait—what?
"Just what kind of school is Sensō High?" I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice.
He took a moment before answering. "It's a school where you aren't judged only by your intelligence, but also by your strength."
He opened a drawer and took something out—a ring. He placed it in front of me. It had an emblem of a wolf engraved on it.
"What's this?" I asked, picking it up.
"That ring symbolizes the once-glorious Black Fenrir—one of the strongest clans in Sensō High a long time ago. I was its leader. They used to call me 'Wolf.' But that was another lifetime."
I examined the ring closely. My father had once stood at the top of that school?
I glanced at him as he lit a cigarette, scrolling through his phone like this was just another ordinary conversation. It made me wonder—just how strong had my father been in his prime?
"Sensō High isn't for the weak-willed," he continued, his voice taking on a serious tone. "That school is harsher than you can imagine. But if there's one thing I can guarantee, it will make you stronger. It will prepare you for anything."
He stood up, walking toward the window. "I'll ask you one last time, son. Are you sure you want to enter Sensō High?"
I didn't hesitate. I stood up, my mind set. "Yes. That school is perfect for me."
A slow smile spread across his face. He walked up to me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"You are indeed my son. Conquer Sensō High in my place. That was the only dream I never managed to fulfill."
I clenched the ring in my palm and met his gaze.
"I'll make sure to become the head of Sensō High, Dad."
And with that, my fate was sealed...
After meeting with my father, I searched for an apartment near Sensō High, and luckily, I found one. I'll start attending school on Monday. Since today is Saturday, I used my time to clean up my new place and arrange my belongings. The thought of living alone for the first time was unsettling, but I had no choice. This was my decision, my fresh start.
Two days have passed, and now, here I am, standing at the entrance of Sensō High for the first time. A cold shiver runs down my spine as I take in my surroundings. The atmosphere here feels different, heavier—almost suffocating. It's nothing like the prestigious schools my father wanted me to attend. The students here move with an unspoken tension, their eyes sharp, their postures alert. It feels more like a battlefield than an academic institution.
As I step onto the school grounds, an eerie sensation washes over me—I'm being watched. My instincts scream at me to move, and before I can fully process it, a fist is already flying toward my face.
I duck just in time, dodging the attack with barely an inch to spare. Without hesitation, I grab the attacker by the neck and tighten my grip. My eyes lock onto his—he's grinning.
"What do you want?" I ask coldly, my grip firm, ready to snap if necessary. But the guy doesn't seem the least bit concerned. Instead, he raises both hands in surrender, his cocky smirk never fading.
"Relax, man! Damn, you're fast," he chuckles. "I'm impressed you caught on to my sneak attack. You've got some sharp instincts. Wanna team up with me?"
I narrow my eyes, studying him. Who the hell is this guy? And what does he mean by 'team up'? Is he an idiot?
I release him and step back, not bothering to respond. Whatever his intentions are, I'm not interested. But before I can walk away, he quickly moves to block my path.
"Hey, hold up, man! At least hear me out. I think we'd make a good team. I'm strong, you're strong—imagine what we could accomplish together!" His enthusiasm is almost laughable.
I look at him with complete disinterest. Yeah, he's an idiot.
"Move," I warn, my patience thinning. "Or this will be the last time you take a breath."
His grin falters for a second, but to my annoyance, he still doesn't budge.
"Okay, okay, hear me out first! I'll buy you some food. Come on, man, you can't fight on an empty stomach."
That makes me pause. Now that he mentions it, I did skip breakfast. And if this guy is stupid enough to treat me, who am I to refuse?
"Fine," I sigh. "But I'm ordering whatever I want."
He laughs like I just said the funniest thing in the world. "Dude, go wild! My treat."
He leads me to a small eatery near the school, and I make sure to take full advantage of his generosity, ordering enough food to feed three people. He watches with amusement, completely unbothered by how much I'm eating.
"So, what's your deal? What do you mean by 'teaming up'?" I ask in between bites.
He leans back in his seat, arms crossed, looking satisfied that I finally gave him a chance to explain.
"It's like I said, I need a strong partner. I'm a solo fighter, and while I'm pretty damn strong, even I have my limits when fighting alone. Sensō High isn't a place where you can survive without allies, especially if you aim to reach the top."
I raise an eyebrow. "So you're telling me you can't handle yourself?"
His grin widens. "Oh, I can handle myself just fine. But imagine how much easier it would be if I had someone like you watching my back."
I take another bite, mulling over his words. So not everyone in this school is part of a clan. There are still lone fighters like him, though they must be rare.
"What do I get out of this?" I ask bluntly. If I'm going to team up with someone, I need to know what's in it for me.
He leans forward, his eyes gleaming. "Dude, together, we could be the strongest duo in Sensō High! We could take down anyone in our way."
I remain unimpressed. "Not interested."
He blinks, as if he didn't expect me to reject him so quickly. "Wait, hold on—how about this? I'll let you beat up whoever you want."
"No thanks."
"You'll be under my protection."
"I don't need protection."
"I'll make sure everyone respects you."
"Still not interested."
I can feel his frustration growing, but I don't care. If he can't offer me something worthwhile, then he's not worth my time.
He suddenly stands up, looking serious for the first time since we met. "Alright, you leave me no choice..."
I glance at him, waiting for whatever ridiculous attempt he's about to make. If he tries to fight me, I'll put him down in seconds.
"...I'll buy you lunch. Every. Single. Day."
I stop chewing. Now that's an offer worth considering.
"You son of a bitch," I smirk. "I'm in."
His face lights up in triumph, and he extends a hand toward me. "Glad to have you on board, man! Name's Kuro Ryota."
I shake his hand, feeling something shift in the air between us.
"Akira Yuiji."
He grins. "Welcome to Sensō High. Let's make this place ours."
Unbeknownst to me at the time, that was the beginning of something much bigger than just a simple partnership. It was the start of an alliance that would shake Sensō High to its core.
***
Since that day, Kuro and I fought together, crushing anyone who dared challenge us. Just as he had predicted, our partnership turned us into the most unstoppable duo in Sensō High. Some whispered that we weren't just the strongest in the school, but perhaps the strongest pair this school had ever seen.
Kuro ruled as the head of Sensō High, while I stood by his side as his right-hand man. In pure physical strength, I surpassed him, but Kuro had a sharp mind that made him a smarter fighter. His tactics and calculated decisions were what cemented his place as the leader. He was strategic, always thinking five steps ahead, making sure we never fought a battle we couldn't win. I didn't mind letting him take the throne—it suited him better, and I preferred to let my fists do the talking.
As we fought side by side, we learned more about each other. He told me about his younger brother, Shiro Ryota, who also attended Sensō High. The students nicknamed him "Black," probably as a play on Kuro's name, which meant the same thing in Japanese.
Despite being brothers, Kuro and Shiro were vastly different. Shiro had a reputation for being ruthless, unpredictable, and, most importantly, uncontrollable. Kuro had authority over the entire school, but if there was one person he couldn't completely keep in check, it was his own brother.
One afternoon, Kuro and I were sitting in our usual spot on the rooftop when he brought up a pressing matter.
"What do you think we should do about this Akami guy, Ace?" Kuro asked, leaning back against the railing, a cigarette lazily dangling between his fingers.
I exhaled, watching the sky darken as evening approached. "Why not let Shiro handle it?" I suggested casually.
Kuro let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, no. If I let Shiro handle this, he'll just escalate the problem. He doesn't know how to keep things clean. The last time he got involved in a dispute, it turned into a bloodbath. I'd rather we take care of this ourselves."
I shrugged. "Fine by me. You make the call, I break the bones. Simple system."
Kuro grinned. "That's why I keep you around, Ace. You make my job easier."
That night, we went straight to Akami's hideout. It was a small warehouse near the school, where Akami and his gang operated. They had been stirring up trouble, challenging Kuro's authority, and causing fights in areas we controlled. We gave them a warning first, but they didn't listen. That left us with one option—wipe them out.
The fight was over in minutes. They never stood a chance.
Days passed, and the school returned to its usual state. We handled small problems here and there, but nothing major. We genuinely thought things would continue like this for a long time—as long as Kuro and I held control. We were wrong.
One evening, Kuro barged into my apartment without warning. His face was tense, his usual calm demeanor replaced with urgency.
"Ace, the Housen bastards are making a move. We have to do something now."
Housen High. A rival school with the same system known for their brutality. If they were stirring, it meant real trouble.
I leaned back on my couch, unfazed. "Relax, Kuro. We'll handle them. No need to rush in without a plan."
Kuro ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "We don't have much time. They've already started challenging our guys. If we don't act soon, they'll think we're weak."
I sighed. "We can deal with Housen later. Right now, there's another problem we need to focus on."
Kuro narrowed his eyes. "What problem?"
"Jermaine Lee," I said. "Also known as King."
The moment I mentioned that name, Kuro went silent. He knew who I was talking about. Everyone did. Jermaine Lee wasn't just some punk causing minor trouble. He was different.
A transfer student from overseas, King quickly made a name for himself as one of the strongest fighters in Sensō High. Unlike other challengers, he wasn't picking fights for territory or status. He had only one goal—to take down the strongest. And right now, that meant us.
Kuro took a deep drag from his cigarette before exhaling. "King, huh?" he muttered. "I was hoping to deal with him later, but I guess he couldn't wait."
"He's already called you out twice. If we ignore him any longer, we'll look weak," I pointed out.
Kuro nodded. "Then we deal with him first."