A bystander leaned against a piece of salvaged debris, sighing as he watched the cleanup crews.
"They've been living together for years now."
"Never with parents or relatives?"
Ryujin asked, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he surveyed the wreckage.
"We've wondered the same thing,"
The resident replied, shaking his head.
"Itoshi works part-time as a truck driver, but that wouldn't be enough to cover school or daily expenses. No one ever really knew where their income came from."
A second resident joined them, her voice heavy with pity.
"Those poor siblings... They've seen how cruel the world can be at such a young age. Losing their mother so early... it's heartbreaking."
"What exactly happened?"
Ryujin's gaze sharpened, sensing a gap in the official records.
"We're not really sure. We were all shocked when Mrs. Kiyagari died, especially so soon after Mr. Kiyagari had that business accident,"
The first man explained.
Ryujin tilted his head.
"Accident? Where did he work?"
"From what we heard, W.E.S.C.U.? They never talked much about jobs—mostly just about better times. Look at that once colorful house... now it's just ruins."
"Yeah... I wonder what will happen to those two now,"
The man whispered, looking toward the shoreline.
Ryujin stepped away from the conversation and approached the remains of the Kiyagari household. The structure was gone, replaced by a graveyard of splintered wood and soaked insulation.
Among the rubble, his eyes caught a flash of color—a few buried family photos, edges curled by the seawater. He knelt, carefully picked them up, and pocketed them before walking away into the gray afternoon.
Two days after the storm, Itoshi had spent his hours in the clinic staring at the ceiling, his mind trapped in the wreckage of their home. He had considered asking Kara to check on it, but she had refused, insisting that they face the aftermath together.
After two weeks of grueling recovery, the uncertainty became a weight Itoshi could no longer carry. He checked himself out of the clinic, his body still stiff, and made his way back to Kin Beach with Kara at his side.
When he arrived, the air left his lungs. Only the concrete foundation and a few jagged, fallen wooden posts remained. There was no furniture, no mementos, no trace of the life they had built—nothing was left.
Itoshi gripped his jeans, his knuckles white and trembling. His eyes stung with the heat of tears he refused to shed, his chest heaving as he stared at the empty space where his world used to be.
"Now what?.. What do I do?... I failed to protect the only thing I have... I should've made the house stronger!.. Shit!"
The sight left her legs weak and he crumbled to the pavement.
"Itoshi.. Where do we go?.."
Itoshi turned to Kara, one eye covered by his palm, while the other locked onto Kara's form sitting in desperation.
"Sorry. Kara, I failed you. I failed the promise I gave to mom.."
An then..
"No!"
Itoshi was startled by Kara's response.
Kara stood up and he held Itoshi by his cheeks.
"You didn't!.. I'm still alive and well because of you! Get yourself together. I know you know you can still fight!"
The words got through Itoshi, but the doubt in his heart was way stronger.
"Fight with what?"
He replied as he looked down to the ground tears falling from his eyes.
Kara kneeled down to Itoshi's level, trying to catch his eyes.
"Wake up!.. Koya!.. We made a promise to Mrs. Kiyagari. Remember?! Let's take everything we can get.. and move on!"
She paused as Itoshi slowly raised his head.
"As long as we're together.. We're gonna be alright!"
Itoshi's eyes got to Kara's level as he responded, voice cracking, but still resisting.
"O-Ok...."
Itoshi and Kara took what they can get from the remaining things left from their house. As they saved what they could, the pair heard a distant footstep.
Kara tugged the back of Itoshi's jacket. Getting his attention as he moved a fallen wood.
Itoshi looked back, And Kara was pointing to the road.
"Koya.."
He looked at where Kara was pointing. And there she stood, Their neighbor Mr. Rosales, waving at them with a smile and wrapped food on hand.
"Sorry, this is all we can give right now.."
Mr. Rosales handed out foods, Foods that the siblings could eat.
Kara took it bowing as she did, while Itoshi continued his work.
"No.. thank you so much! We both thank your kindness deep in our heart.."
She raised her head and smiled at Mr. Rosales and he smiled back.
"Oh well.. I'll return back home now.. There are some errands back home too, I just thought you guys needed the help of an adult."
Mr. Rosales mentions scratching the back of his head.
He walked away from the wreck, waving with his back turned to Kara. Meanwhile... With Itoshi's "experience", he managed to make a small hut that can shelter.
Kara ran towards Itoshi, With a smile.
"Koya!!"
Itoshi looked back, face neutral. As Kara handed out the food that was given to them.
"This should last us for a week.."
Itoshi said "week" but the food given to them was not much at all. Careful rations will be put into action.
As they both walked towards the small hut, But both of them know it's not enough to sustain and support them anymore. There will be a time where they have to completely give everything up.
Meanwhile Ayro watched them from far away.
~~~March 29 2169~~~
Three weeks had passed since the storm.
Itoshi had recovered from his wounds — physically, at least. But his weight had dropped significantly.
He prioritized Kara's needs, always giving her the better share of their limited food. He'd smile and claim he ate the same portions, but Kara wasn't fooled.
They sat inside their shelter, once again sharing a meal. But their peace didn't last long. The sirens blared — the dreaded Seele warning.
Itoshi jolted up from his seat.
"Shit! Not again!"
This time, the attack was unlike anything before. A massive horde of Menschlich-class Seele emerged from the sea. The once-blue water turned pitch black, rippling with their glowing forms.
"Those fuckers... I'll kill them all!"
Hatred once again flooded his mind.
Without hesitation, Itoshi sprinted toward the shoreline, blue flame surging from his hands. He threw everything he had at the oncoming horde.
"Koya! Wait!!"
But to his horror, his flames didn't even scorch them.
"What?! Why aren't they burning?! He scared them off with my power before!"
A Seele struck him hard — sending him flying across the sand.
"S-So strong... What am I doing wrong? No... I can't let them get near our home!"
He sat on the hot sand, hand clutched on his hand, mind filled with confusion.
He pushed himself up, teeth gritted, and launched more flame. Again. And again. But nothing worked — they kept advancing.
Up in a nearby tree, Ayro watched silently beside Ryujin.
"Huh... He's alone, outnumbered, and still charging headfirst. Yeah... do something already, Ryujin."
Ayro spoke just loud enough for Ryujin to hear.
Ryujin stood. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"This might be the perfect time. Stay here, Ayro."
In a hush, Ryujin vanished.
Ayro then lazily leaned his back on a branch. Hands behind his neck, eyes close and a smirk on his lips.
"Heh. Guess you're finally getting closer to your dream."
Ryujin leapt from the branch and landed beside Itoshi on the beach.
Itoshi was unmistakably startled by the sudden appearance of a tall man with purple eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?! Ryoojeen?!"
"Push harder. You've got this."
Itoshi argued.
"Are you blind?! I'm already at my limit!"
Ryujin didn't reply. He simply smirked and unleashed a sudden, crushing torrent of water at the Seele—but the result was the same as before.
Nothing. The water passed through or broke against them without leaving a mark.
"Even you're not doing damage?!"
Itoshi shouted, his disbelief turning into genuine panic.
"Thought I'd be useful, didn't you?"
Ryujin remarked, his tone infuriatingly casual despite the circumstances.
One of the Seele lunged, its movements a blur of jagged violence. Ryujin didn't even attempt to move.
"Watch out!!"
Itoshi screamed.
The blow landed with a sickening thud. Ryujin hit the sand hard, but as he rolled, he began laughing through the pain.
"Why didn't you dodge?! You could've avoided that easily!"
Itoshi barked. He lunged forward, his hands igniting as he used his flame to create a desperate perimeter, covering both himself and the fallen Ryujin from the Seele closing in on them.
"Not against these ones..."
Ryujin grinned, looking up from the ground.
"But you—you might be able to hold them off. Protect Kara."
"My flames don't work! I'm throwing everything I have at them!"
Itoshi countered, his voice cracking with frustration.
Ryujin's grin faded instantly. His tone cut low and sharp, slicing through the noise of the crashing waves.
"Itoshi... is your life worth living?"
The words pierced him like a physical blade. Itoshi froze, his blue fire wavering and dimming as the weight of the question hit his gut.
"Whoa, look at that!"
Ryujin mocked, his sarcasm returning with a vengeance.
"Holding off a horde while having a midlife crisis—impressive!"
"What the hell is with that sarcasm?!"
Itoshi roared, his anger flaring back up.
"Dummy. Aim your flame lower,"
Ryujin laughed.
"Huh?!"
Ryujin's laughter rose as Itoshi hesitated for a split second... then obeyed.
He dropped his stance, sweeping his arms downward. The blue flame struck low, catching the Seele at their base.
The creatures shrieked, their glowing forms recoiling violently as they stumbled back, unable to maintain their footing against the shifting heat on the sand.
"Wha—what the hell?! It's working?!"
Ryujin remained lying on the sunlit beach, his arms folded behind his head as if he were on vacation, laughing at Itoshi the entire time.
Itoshi gritted his teeth, the insult fueling a new wave of power. He intensified his flame, spreading it wide across the shoreline.
He wasn't just fighting a skirmish anymore—he was defending the entire coastline, a wall of blue fire holding back the approaching horde until the U.W.D.S. reinforcements could arrive.
Finally, the sirens were drowned out by the roar of engines and thunderous footsteps.
The authorities had arrived.
Elite operatives from W.E.S.C.U. emerged and immediately joined the fray. Using their powers, they manipulated the sand — hurling massive waves of it toward the Seele, burying some, scattering others.
With practiced precision, they neutralized the threat in a matter of minutes.
Itoshi dropped to one knee, panting, drenched in sweat.
Ryujin raised his head slightly and turned toward Itoshi, voice casual.
"Itoshi... ever wanted to explore the world? See things you've never imagined? Chase the dream you've been hiding all this time?"
Itoshi was out of breath, but he was still able to speak. He sat at the sand, along with Ryujin as he replied.
"Dreams huh? That's a luxury I don't have."
Ryujin chuckled.
"Yes, you do!"
"With my current life no.. Besides.. If I do get one, it's impossible for me to reach."
Itoshi shot.
Ryujin turned his head to the sea as he replied.
"Nope."
He smiled wider, eyes closed, as if completely relaxed despite the chaos.
Itoshi clenched his fists. The flames around him began to sputter and shrink. Then, without warning, he took a deep breath—
And roared at the sea as he stood up.
"I WANT THE SEELES TO DISAPPEAR! ALL OF THEM! JUST SEEING THEM MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!!"
Ryujin burst out laughing, loud and free.
"Bruh!!... you're insane! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
With his breath absolutely ragged, Itoshi turned his head to Ryujin.
"It's impossible, right?!"
Ryujin then calmed down and he stopped laughing.
"What a beautiful dream..."
Out of curiosity, The words slipped out of Itoshi's mouth.
"What about yours, Ryujin? What's your dream?"
"Mine? It's to be—"
Before Ryujin could finish, a WESCU agent approached, still in partial battle gear, sand clinging to his boots.
"Sir. That was... remarkable. You held the line alone against water-class Seele. Not only that, you adapted your flame to the terrain and used sand to amplify its reach."
He held out a slip of paper — official-looking, stamped, marked in red ink.
"According to our field logistics team, you meet the combat experience threshold for Seele-type engagement. More importantly..."
He paused, glancing at the beach, then back at Itoshi.
"We've never seen a flame burn that shade of blue. Not like yours."
Itoshi stared at the paper.
"Tsk.. After you guys attacked my house.."
He thought to himself.
Ryujin sat up, smiling teasingly, brushing sand from his coat.
"Looks like the world's opening a door for you, Itoshi."
"Well they jus-"
Suddenly, Ryujin slung an arm around Itoshi's shoulder, pulling him in with a firm grip that caught both Itoshi and the agent off guard.
"Sorry—he's already part of your nemesis. The United World Defense Society."
Those words came out of Ryujin's mouth with pride and confidence.
He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper just for Itoshi:
"Last chance. Tomorrow. Yomitan High. 0300."
"Wha—?"
Ryujin released him just as quickly and casually walked off, both hands resting behind his head as if nothing had happened.
Itoshi and the W.E.S.C.U. agent stared at each other in stunned silence.
The agent narrowed his eyes, then shrugged and turned back to assist his team. The beach was being cleared—one Seele at a time—while Kara and Itoshi sat outside their makeshift hut, watching the orange glow of sunset cast long shadows over the sand.
The breeze was light, but the moment felt heavy.
"...Hey, Kara?"
"Yeah.. Koya?"
"What do you have right now?"
Kara's heart skipped a beat with the sudden question that came out of her brother's mouth, She raised a single brow.
"That's a weird question."
Itoshi then chuckled as he replied.
"I know, right?"
"What are you thinking about now?"
Kara asked.
"Not sure. Just... wondering. Say, if I decided to leave—would you come after me?"
Kara looked at him, a little surprised at first. Then she smiled gently.
"Let me answer the first question first. What do I have?.."
She held up a small stuffed bear.
"This teddy bear... a few old clothes... and us!"
She looked him in the eye.
"For the second question—we made a promise to Mrs. Kiyagari, remember?"
Itoshi looked down, the emotion in her words grounding him.
"...I see."
He looked up again, resolve building in his voice.
"I'm going with Ryujin. Wanna come with me?"
Kara smiled brightly, as if the decision had already been made long ago.
"Yes! Let's go!"
~~~March 30 2169 - 2:53 PM~~~
"Let's go, Kara! We're almost there!"
Itoshi shouted, urging her forward.
"Right behind you!"
Kara replied, her voice filled with a mix of nerves and determination.
They sprinted down the quiet streets, their footsteps echoing sharply in the early morning silence.
As they reached the gates of Yomitan High—a structure still half-finished and cluttered with construction equipment—Itoshi slowed his pace.
He scanned the area, surprised to find the guards didn't even move to intercept them.
"That's... strange,"
Itoshi noted, still panting from the run.
"No one's stopping us."
"Maybe they were told to let us in?"
Kara suggested, looking around at the empty guard posts.
Suddenly, the heavy, rhythmic thrum of helicopter blades roared to life in the distance, vibrating through the pavement beneath their feet.
"That must be them!"
Itoshi barked.
Without hesitation, they bolted across the unfinished campus, weaving through scaffolding and dodging piles of gravel.
The sound grew louder, a mechanical heartbeat that seemed to pulse with the urgency of their departure. They finally burst onto the open-air basketball court—and there it was.
A sleek, matte-black helicopter was already lifting just inches off the ground, kicking up a storm of dust and grit. Inside the open bay, Ryujin and Ayro were already settled.
"RYUJIN!! We're here!!!"
Itoshi yelled over the deafening roar of the rotors.
Ryujin paused, looking back over his shoulder. He caught Itoshi's gaze and let out a familiar, knowing smirk.
"Took you long enough."
He extended a hand toward them as the helicopter hovered, waiting for the final pieces of the squad to fall into place.
"You sure you're ready for this, blue flame?"
Ayro teased, leaning against the frame of the craft.
Itoshi didn't hesitate. He flashed a grin and tightened his grip on Kara's hand.
"Let's find out."
Together, they dashed toward the helicopter—leaving the ruins of their old life behind and heading toward the unknown waiting just beyond the edge of the court.
~~~To be Continued~~~