A young girl stepped out of the bar.
She had long hair, sharp eyes, and a presence that turned heads. Her black t-shirt, tucked loosely into black pants, clung to her figure, hinting at the strength beneath her relaxed posture. One hand rested on her hip; the other pushed her bangs out of her eyes.
As she walked out, her eyes met Arashi's-and she didn't look away. For a moment, time seemed to Freeze.
And then-THUNK! – she walked straight into a wooden post outside the bar.
She flinched, rubbed her forehead, and tried to play it cool.
Her serious eyes locked back onto Arashi. "I never see you around here. Are you new?"
She stared so intensely that both Arashi and Bento stiff like statues.
" She's scary…'' they both thought at once.
From inside the bar, a voice called out sharply,
" Emi!"
A woman stepped out of the bar's creaky door, she looked young – no older than twenty – two- with calm, gentle eyes that didn't match the storm that had just happened. Her name was Hana Izumi. She was modestly dressed, her sleeve rolled up as if she'd been cleaning or pouring drinks just moments ago.
She sighed, brushing her hair behind her ears as she looked toward the street. Where the two thugs had just fled, yelping like kicked dogs.
"Why'd you have to go hard on them," She asked crossing her arms.
The girl name Emi, still fuming, replied with a huff, "They were bothering you. They asked for money – and when you didn't give the money to them, they started acting like pigs.''
Izumi looked down, her expression a bit ashamed.
"They didn't hurt me…''
" But they tried to!'' Emi snapped, "I couldn't let that slide."
Izumi smiled faintly, "Next time, maybe don't throw them through the door?"
Izumi stepped closer, her eyes look to Arashi.
"What's your name?'' she asked, her voice cool but direct.
Arashi glanced at her, he hesitant but honest.
" I'm Arashi."
Before anything else, a loud growl echoed from his stomach.
Bento blinked, "Was that your name or your belly talking?"
Arashi scratched his head, clearly embarrassed.
" I ate a little…just not enough."
Izumi sighed, "I don't have much food here. But our older sister runs a restaurant nearby.
She turned slightly, glancing at Emi.
"Emi, take them to Onee-san's place."
Emi shifted. Her expression cooled just a bit
Emi narrowed her eyes. "Why me? We don't even know them."
Izumi gave a small smile-not soft, but understanding.
" They might look like trouble, but I think they're just hungry and lost. Just show them the way-not your trust."
Emi huffed but turned around and started walking, arm crossed.
Bento lit up instantly, "Yes, queen of Kindness! Lead the way, Arashi! My soul needs noodles!"
Then tripped over his own foot and vanished behind a crate.
Emi didn't even look back. "Clown."
Izumi sighed, "…Is he always like this?" Arashi nodded with a smile. "Always."
Emi walked ahead, fast and quit, arms folded and head high like she was leading an army instead of two strangers.
While walking Bento leaned closer, whispering with exaggerated fear, "Do you think she'll sell us if we can't pay?''
" Probably you first," Arashi said dryly.
Up ahead, Emi didn't look back, but she definitely heard.
"…Tch."
Her footsteps didn't slow.
The three of them finally reached the restaurant- a modest, two-story wooden place tucked between a flower shop and bakery. A sign above the door swayed gently in the breeze, painted with the words "Hana's Kitchen."
Standing outside, wiping her hands with a towel, was a tall woman, not more than twenty-three with a curvy figure, sun-kissed skin, and long blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail. Her name was Hana Yuri. She looked like she had just finished a workout or maybe a fight.
Her confident smirk widened when she saw Emi approach with two strangers.
" Well, well," she said, resting her hand on her hip." You finally made friends, Emi?"
" They're not my friends," Emi replied coldly. Crossing her arms.
" Sure they're not," Yuri chuckled, tossing the towel over her shoulder. "Come in boys, you look like you haven't eaten in days."
The smell of grilled fish and warm soup wrapped around them as they stepped inside.
Moments later, Arashi and Bento were seated at a small wooden table, bowls of noodles, steamed buns, and fruit slices spread out before them.
Bento immediately started with a dramatic slurp, "This is the food of the gods!"
But Arashi… Arashi didn't speak. He was too busy inhaling noodles like a man possessed.
"Whoa…" Emi blinked from across the table, genuinely alarmed. "Is he… okay?"
"He's fine," the older sister — Yuri — laughed, leaning against the counter, arms folded. "That one's got a storm inside him. I like that."
Emi narrowed her eyes. "I don't."
"He's cute though," Yuri added, smirking.
"Stop."
"Can't help it."
Arashi looked up mid-bite, noodles still hanging from his mouth. "Hmm?"
Emi glared. "Chew. First."
Outside the peaceful town, on the far edge of the horizon, a black-sailed ship sliced through the calm waves like a blade.
Its tattered flag flapped in the sea breeze — a grinning skull wrapped in thorny vines. The moment the watch boy atop the bakery roof spotted it, his eyes widened.
"P-PIRATES!" he shouted.
He started to run through the streets, arms flailing. "Pirates! Pirates are coming!"
The cheerful buzz of the town snapped into silence.
Mothers clutched their children. Merchants quickly packed up their stalls. Doors slammed shut. Fear crawled over the stone-paved roads like a storm cloud.
At the docks, the pirate crew stepped off their ship with confident. And at the front were the same two thugs Emi had thrown out earlier — bruised, bandaged… and furious. Those two were pirates.
"That's the town," one of them sneered. "Let's make 'em pay."
They moved fast — cornering townspeople, demanding coins and valuables.
When someone couldn't pay, they didn't ask twice.
Crack!
A man was knocked to the ground. A woman screamed. One thug laughed.
"Boss said take what we want. So, we are."
The door to the restaurant burst open with a bang.
Everyone inside turned.
A boy — no older than twelve — stood panting in the doorway, eyes wide with panic.
"Th-the pirates! They're on the town! They're hurting people… and… and…"
He looked straight at Emi and Yuri.
"Izumi-san … she's in trouble!"
The room froze.
Emi shot up from her seat, chair scraping harshly behind her. "Where?!"
"At the bar! She was trying to stop them… They— they grabbed her!"
Without another word, Emi bolted past the door, fists clenched, her long hair whipping behind her.
Yuri was already tossing her apron aside. "Watch the place," she said to no one in particular as she followed.
Arashi stood, heart pounding.
Izumi…?
He still remembered her kindness. Her calm voice. Her smile.
He looked down at his hands.
He didn't want to hurt anyone again… but—
He clenched his fists.
"I'm going."
Bento blinked; mouth still full of noodles. "Wait, what?! Arashi—!"
But Arashi was already running toward the door.
The streets were chaos.
Shouts rang from every corner as frightened townsfolk scattered, dragging their children, clutching bags of coins and bread. Wooden stalls were overturned, fruit rolling under wagons, baskets crushed beneath boots.
Emi sprinted past it all — her eyes sharp, breathing steady despite the fear twisting in her chest.
"Izumi…"
She leapt over a crate, turning down a narrow street that led to the bar. The bar where they grew up together. Where Izumi always stood behind the counter — kind, quiet, and stubborn as ever.
Yuri wasn't far behind. Her long legs carried her fast, and her toned arms tensed like they were already preparing for a fight.
"Don't rush in alone," she said calmly, catching up. "We don't know how many there are."
"I don't care."
"Don't be stupid."
"I'm not leaving her!"
The two rounded the corner—and there it was.
Their bar.
Its windows shattered.
The door was cracked open, swinging in the wind.
And inside—shouts. Laughter. And then a sharp cry.
"Izumi!"
Emi pushed the door open with her shoulder, stepping into the broken mess of their family bar.
Chairs were toppled. Bottles shattered. One of the tables had a boot-sized dent in the middle.
Three pirates stood near the counter, rough and scarred, grinning like wolves.
The bar was a wreck.
Broken chairs. Shattered glass. The smell of spilled beer and blood.
Izumi was on the ground, her wrist gripped tightly in a thug's hand. A red mark bloomed across her cheek — fresh, angry, and burning.
Emi's breath caught.
Yuri's eyes narrowed into slits, her jaw tight.
The thug turned, sneering lazily. "Well, look who showed up. More little lambs to—"
He didn't finish.
Emi was already moving.
A barstool flew — not thrown, launched — straight into his spine. It shattered with a crack, the thug collapsing face-first into the floor with a groan.
The other two spun in shock.
Too slow.
Yuri closed the distance in a heartbeat. One pirate raised a hand—
Too late.
Her fist slammed into his ribs. He staggered, and before he could fall, she brought a knee up into his chin.
Snap.
He dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.
The third tried to draw a dagger—but Emi was there, raw fury behind her speed.
She ducked low, swept his legs, and as he fell, she drove an elbow into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs.
They weren't fighting.
They were punishing.
Yuri moved to check Izumi
"Izumi, are you ok?
But before Izumi could reply.
A slow creak behind them.
The bar's half-broken doors groaned open… and the room went still.
Boots. Heavy. Deliberate.
A man stepped inside.
He wore a long coat, soaked from the sea. Broad shoulders. A pistol at his hip. His eyes were hidden beneath a black wide-brimmed hat, and the lower half of his face was covered by a dark cloth. Also there was a coldness in his presence.
The air grew heavier with each step.
Yuri's eyes flicked to Emi.
Emi stepped in front of her sister.
The captain looked down at the three groaning pirates on the floor.
Then, without a word—he raised the pistol.
Crack.
He shot one of his own men in the leg. The pirate screamed, clutching his thigh.
"You failed," the captain said, voice calm but dripping with menace. "Failures deserve reminders."
He looked down at Emi and tilted his head, a cold smile creeping across his face.
"spirited one," he said, his voice like gravel dragged through fire."
Emi didn't answer. She was already moving.
Her heel tore across the ground as she launched forward, spinning into a flying side kick aimed straight for the captain's chest.
But he didn't flinch.
With casual precision, he raised one hand—and caught her leg mid-air.
The force of her momentum slammed to a stop in his palm. Emi's eyes widened.
His grip tightened.
Then, with a gruntless twist, he flung her over his shoulder like a rag doll.
"Emi!" Yuri shouted.
Emi hit the ground hard, rolling across the floorboards with a choked gasp. She coughed and pushed herself up to her knees, teeth gritted.
But before she could even rise to her feet—
Click.
The cold muzzle of the captain's pistol pressed against her forehead.
Izumi let out a sharp breath, frozen by the scene. Her fingers dug into Yuri's sleeve.
Yuri didn't move—but her entire body tensed like a coiled spring, jaw clenched, fists trembling.
"Let her go," Yuri said through her teeth, stepping forward.
The captain didn't even look away from Emi. "The brave ones always break first."
He thumbed back the hammer of the gun.
The air was thick—no words, no movement.
Just the faint sound of waves outside…
And the soft click of the trigger.