They had all dressed up. It was a black jean jacket under a black leather material that was tight to their skin but expandable for movement. It was like a yoga tight that hugged their skin. from neck to calf. After that, they wore the black jeans and a jean jacket. There was also a walkie-talkie fixed at the shoulder and a watch.
"From afar, looking at this dressing, you'd think they'd bring heat, but no, they're quite comfy and warm."Kaito complemented.
"If we are done, we should go down to meet Arakawa,"Kin said. He really wanted to see what Arakawa wanted them to do.
"Wait! I sense a test coming! We should prepare for that! First, our weapons!"Riku said.
Kaito's arrow and bow rested behind him, and Kin's sword,still in its sheath, hung on Kin's belt. Riku's first rod was fixed on his belt. But he hadn't touched the other pack of metal rods
Kin and Kaito noticed that" What will you do to those?"Kaito asked.
"The astral space ritual."
"The astral what!!"
"Astral space ritual!"Riku said." Let me explain. Every satsujin hunter has an astral space. a place where you can store items, and then, with a summoning ritual, you would be able to access them from anywhere at any time. However, the larger ones kannen energy is determine how large an object to be stored in the astral space."
"Anytime you hear someone shout 'blah blah blah: summon!' it means that they're retrieving something from their astral space. Do you get it?"
Kin had heard grandpa Shujin shout something like this during their rituals, but never understood why he did! Until now, that is.
Riku brought down the box. Bring out the rods and place them on the floor. " Step back, please."
Kin and Kaito stood behind Riku, who raised his hand up performing the kanen activation sign.
"Kannen astral space!"Riku said loudly, then the room began to go dark, and a blue glowing circle formed around the metal rod heap.
"Consume!"
Immediately, the metal rods glowed and soon disappeared into thin air.
"Okay, I'm ready, let's go now."
***
In the hall, the students waited for a while. for Arakawa. Riku and Kaito argued about something,but Kin didn't pay attention. He respected how Arakawa sensei had advised them and had so much respect for him.
[Respect:100]
But he didn't know that the respect meter would fall to ash in an instant!
"Baka!!"They all heard a shout from Arakawa sensei's room.
And soon they saw him walk out, and he hadn't even changed his attire.
"Oh, you all are a respectful bunch. I thought that you'd fall asleep or ignore my command, but you are here ,how respectful." Arakawa said his voice sounded like a drunk man. NO! kin could smell it. Alcohol was all over him.he was drunk at this time of the day.
[Respect:-20]
"Tell me I'm hallucinating or that Arakawa sensei, the motivational and strict teacher earlier, is drunk at 10:00AM in the morning,"Kaito said, his voice filled with shock.
"AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!" Arakawa yelled all of a sudden."10,000 yen gone! I gambled it all away!!"He was definitely drunk.
They all gasped.
[Respect:-20]
"I even gambled this house....".
Immediately, Mr.Kurokawa appeared behind drunk Arakawa and struck his neck, causing him to lose. consciousness. and fall dead to the ground.
"I am sorry that you had to see him like this. Although the day would've come sooner or later. Arakawa is not the disciplined or strict motivational teacher you see him as. "
"What?!"Kaito said," He was so cool when giving the speech...."
"Which he rehearsed the whole of last night. Just to give a 'Good Impression' on you guys. Truth is, he is an alcoholic and an addicted gambler."
[Respect:-30]
"But ignoring that he is still powerful and was, in fact, supposed to be a diamond rank about last year. He is also caring and has had his fair share of life. So bear with him, Mr.Kurokawa said." So first, help me carry his body to his room. Then we will know what to do from there."
The boys went to their room. They felt hurt and truly angry by what Arakawa did.
After some time, Arakawa had woken up.The evening was heavy with tension inside Team Arakawa's base. The boys sat around the wooden dining table, plates half-filled with Mr. Kurokawa's meticulous cooking.
Kin sat in silence, arms folded, his golden eyes sharp and unreadable. He was so annoyed about the way Arakawa fooled him that another part of him had awakened. Riku tapped his rod lightly against the floor, his single visible eye narrowing in suspicion. Kaito, on the other hand, stuffed his mouth with rice balls, happily oblivious—until Arakawa cleared his throat.
"Boys," Arakawa said, leaning back in his chair. His usual cocky smirk was gone. His red eyes flicked from face to face before dropping to the floor. "I need your help."Kin raised an eyebrow.
"With what?" His tone was flat, already laced with annoyance.Kaito and Riku's pupil dilated; their head turned in a flash to kin; they had never heard that kind of voice from kin. Arakawa didn't know Kin's speech too much, so he didn't notice.Arakawa exhaled slowly, running a hand through his messy red hair.
"An escort. To the Iron Fang Syndicate. To… negotiate forgiveness for my debt." Kaito was puzzled, mid-bite, stopped chewing. Rice dropped from his lips."You're joking." Riku's voice was sharp, his eye narrowing to a blade's edge. "You want us—your students—to cover for your mistakes? after you fooled us into thinking that you were a great sensei"Arakawa chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "When you put it like that, it sounds bad. But listen, those goons don't care about fair fights. If I show up alone, they'll carve me into a deck of fifty-two before I can blink. I just need you three to… stand by me. Make me look less easy to kill."
Kin's fists tightened under the table. "You were dishonest with your behavior and our perception of you. And now you're asking us to walk straight into the den of goons?".
Kaito groaned dramatically, throwing himself across the table. "We're teenagers! We're supposed to be worried about exams and girlfriends, not gangsters with knives! I can't believe this. Night's going to hate me for this. Right, Night?" The little fox perked her ears and yawned, curling back into his lap.
Riku's tone cut the air like steel. "You're supposed to be our teacher. Our protector. Instead, you want us to protect you. It's pathetic."The words stung, but Arakawa didn't snap back. Instead, for the first time, he bowed his head. His forehead nearly touched the table as he muttered, "I know. I know it's pathetic. But I'm not asking as your teacher—I'm asking as a man who's in over his head. You're the only ones I can trust to have my back."
The boys stared at him, stunned. Seeing Arakawa—proud, smug, untouchable Arakawa and deciever—humble himself was something none of them had ever expected.Kin clicked his tongue, looking away. "Tch. Idiot." But there was a faint glimmer of something softer in his eyes.Kaito groaned again, pulling at his hair.
"I hate this, I really hate this… but… we can't just let our teacher get diced into sushi. Right, guys?"Riku's jaw tightened.
"Fine. But only because leaving you to die would stain the honor of this team. Don't mistake this for forgiveness."Arakawa raised his head, a crooked grin spreading across his face.
"That's all I needed to hear."Kurokawa, who had been cleaning dishes in silence, finally turned and snapped, "You reckless fool. You're supposed to guide them, not drag them into your filth. If you survive this, Arakawa, you owe them more than just your life."
"You are a snitch, Kurokawa!"