The air was thick. Too thick.
A single bead of sweat slid down Kirashi's temple. He held his breath, muscles coiled, as the tension pressed in from every corner of the quiet hallway.
Only a single door stood between him and an enemy who could tear him apart without hesitation.
He gripped his blade tighter. Ayro stood rigid beside him, senses stretched, waiting for the slightest movement. Every second felt like a lifetime.
Then, click.
The tension snapped—but only slightly. The door was locked.
The ronin on the other side let go of the knob. Silence followed.
Kirashi pressed his ear to the door, straining for any sound. Footsteps. Fading footsteps.
"Hoh! He's leavi—"
Before Kirashi could finish, Ayro's shout cut through the air.
"SHIT! GET OUT OF THE WAY!!"
Ayro's dendrils shot out, wrapping around Kirashi and yanking him aside in a heartbeat. They hit the floor hard, rolling just as—
BAAAM!
The door shattered in a storm of splinters, splintering outward with a force that rattled the walls. Beyond it, another door waited, perfectly intact. And there he stood. The ronin.
His palm was wide open, calm and deliberate. His gaze was cold, unflinching, like a blade waiting for the perfect strike.
~~~Fukuoka Tower~~~
Jayu jumped out of the vehicle, the summer sun blazing overhead as they arrived.
"LOOK! THAT TOWER IS HUGE!!"
She bounced on her heels, pointing straight up at the top.
Kara stepped out next, a dark orange cap from the mall shading her eyes.
"Hoh! It is!"
Her gaze softened as it fell on Jayu, who had already taken off running toward the tower.
"Jayu-chan! Wait!"
Jayu stopped, turned, and waved back with a bright smile.
Kara sighed, shaking her head.
Tomori appeared beside her, tipping a cowboy hat slightly to the side.
"She gets really excited about stuff like this, huh?"
Kara chuckled.
"Pfft! Indeed."
Tomori pulled her phone from her pocket and began snapping photos—Kara, the tower, the squad, and Jayu in mid-hop, caught in pure joy.
Next, Itoshi trudged out, already grumbling.
"What the fuck... it's hot..."
He muttered.
Aldrin followed behind, smirking.
"You wait until we're far enough to curse, huh?"
"Because it is hot!"
Itoshi shot back, voice rising with his complaint.
Then suddenly—
"EEP!"
Cold water splashed down his back.
"Feeling better?"
Ryujin grinned, the ice-cold water sending a shiver straight through Itoshi. He jumped, arms flailing.
"COLD! COLD! COLD!"
"You're complaining about the heat... when you're Gifted with Flame"
Miss Gigi whispered silently, shaking her head.
"TAKE THE WATER OUT!!!"
Itoshi pleaded, hopping on one foot.
Ryujin raised an eyebrow, then smirked as he pulled the water off Itoshi with a simple sweep of his gift, leaving him dripping but slightly relieved.
Itoshi glared at him, still grumbling, while the rest of the squad laughed, the bright summer day stretching out before them.
"Let's get on top of the tower!"
Jayu suggested, bouncing with excitement as Tomori and Kara stood beside her.
"Can we...?"
Kara asked, hesitant.
"I know a way,"
Tomori teased, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Kara froze, narrowing her eyes at her.
"...."
Then it hit her.
"That feels illegal!"
Tomori burst out laughing.
"BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHA... I'm just kidding!"
Ryujin soon joined them, arms crossed.
"Hoh? You guys seem to be enjoying yourselves..."
"Ah! Leader! Can we climb the tower?"
Tomori asked, eyes sparkling.
Ryujin's gaze swept over the three, noting their smiles, then he squinted at the top of the tower. "I think so..."
"Legally, right?"
Kara asked cautiously.
Ryujin raised a brow at her, silent.
Itoshi and Aldrin followed behind, expressions flat.
"Wow... that's a huge tower,"
They muttered, unimpressed.
"Can we go somewhere else...?"
Itoshi added.
"It's just... a tower..."
The group fell silent, eyes slowly drifting toward him.
Moments later, Itoshi's voice rang out from the observation deck.
"WOHOOOOHH!! LOOK AT THE VIEW!! THE WIND IS SO STRONG, BWAHAHAHAHA!"
Kara and Aldrin's faces stayed deadpan, watching him flail in the wind.
"And he said... it's boring as heck," they muttered in unison.
Tomori kept her attention on Jayu, who darted around like a firecracker. She raised her phone, snapping photo after photo.
"Jayu-chan! Look here!"
Snap. Snap. Snap.
"Shit! She's so cute.."
Tomori thought, smiling at the images.
"Tomo-nee!"
Jayu called, waving.
Tomori looked up, locking eyes with her as she gestured.
"Come here!"
Jayu pointed toward the sea.
"Look!"
Tomori followed her gaze and froze.
~~~Hiikawa Apartment~~~
Cough. Cough. Cough.
"Wh-what the fuck?!"
Kirashi muttered, voice cracking as debris rained around him.
Pieces of the ruined apartment splintered from the ceiling, jagged shards of wood embedding themselves into the living room door across from the blast.
Ayro and Kirashi pressed themselves against the wall, hidden from the worst of the explosion. The metal beams groaned, twisting under the shockwave, as if the building itself were in pain.
The ronin stepped forward, reconstructing himself, the air shimmering around him as he returned to his normal form before entering the apartment.
"Knock knock..."
Kirashi couldn't contain himself. He lunged forward, leaning out.
"DAMN YOU!! HOW DARE YOU—ABBDSUA!"
Before he could finish, Ayro's dendrils shot out, yanking him back. His brows furrowed, teeth clenched. "Stay back!" he shouted under the whip-like restraints, eyes fixed on the ronin.
The shadow the man cast against the light stretched across the floor, moving unnaturally as he stepped. Panic and shouting drifted in from outside, muffled by the crumbling walls.
The shadow twisted. A head formed, and on it rested a straw hat. The silhouette shifted its gaze, and Ayro flinched.
"Horns...? A demon...?"
He muttered, barely audible, his grip tightening around Kirashi.
Ayro turned to Kirashi, his eyes narrowing.
"Seems like a battle is inevitable... get your cool back, Kirashi!"
Kirashi drew his katana, the familiar weight grounding him. His breathing evened, his tension coiling into focus.
Ayro gave a slow nod, then released his hold.
The room was quiet for a heartbeat, the dust hanging heavy in the air. Broken wood, twisted metal, and the faint echo of distant panic surrounded them.
It was time. Head to head. No hesitation. No distractions.
The ronin stepped forward, his straw hat casting a shadow over his face. The battle had begun.
~~~Fukuoka Tower~~~
"Ah..."
Tomori sighed.
Jayu had been pointing at the ship—still stuck in the shallow part of the bay, half-tilted, half-forgotten.
Tomori's mind drifted. The girls. Her decision. The man she was chasing.
The weight of that ship wasn't metal or wood—it was everything she left unresolved.
She closed her eyes, steadying herself, reminding herself why she was still moving. Why she couldn't stop.
Jayu blinked up at her.
"Tomo-nee?.."
Tomori opened her eyes and forced a small smile.
"Yes?"
Jayu shook her head with a bright grin.
"Nothing!"
Before Tomori could say anything else—
"OII! IT'S MY TURN!"
"No way! I gotta see!"
They both looked toward the commotion.
Itoshi and Kara were fighting over a pair of binoculars Ryujin had handed them.
"Kara!! Let me take a look!"
Itoshi shoved.
"I couldn't see yet! Wait!"
Kara shoved back.
Eventually, Kara lowered the binoculars with a long, defeated exhale.
Itoshi snatched them instantly.
"My turn."
Tomori and Jayu walked over to Kara.
"Hoh? What was that, Kara-san?"
Tomori asked.
Kara sighed, disappointment slipping through her voice.
"We really thought we could see the U.K.F. from here... guess it's too far."
"U.K.F..."
Tomori's mind drifted again, just for a beat.
"Ugh! It's just blue!"
Itoshi complained, lowering the binoculars with a dead stare.
Not long after, Aldrin joined them with a casual,
"Oi."
Itoshi turned.
"Where the hell did you go?.."
"To the toilets. Ran into Ryujin—he said we're heading back."
The group exchanged glances—silent, tired, but all on the same page—before they nodded.
They eventually made their way back down the tower, dragging their tired feet toward the SUV where Miss Gigi and Ryujin waited patiently.
Everyone boarded, settling into the exact same seats they started with—like muscle memory kicking in after a long day. Doors shut. Seatbelts clicked. The air felt heavier now, all the excitement burned out of them.
Ryujin glanced at the rearview mirror, voice low and steady.
"Alright... last stop. Ohori Park."
The squad nodded in unison—no cheering, no comments, just the quiet, collective exhaustion of people who'd walked under the sun a bit too long.
The engine rumbled to life.
Another stop. Another stretch of the day.
And they let the road take them there.
[16:24H]
It was late afternoon when they arrived at Ohori Park, the final stop of their Fukuoka tour.
The sun was slipping toward the horizon—slow, warm, and steady—just like the end of their little adventure.
One by one, everyone stepped out of the SUV, stretching their tired limbs.
When it was Ryujin's turn, a hand caught his shoulder.
Miss Gigi.
Her gaze locked onto his, steady and cold.
Ryujin quietly closed the door, the two of them speaking aside.
"The apartment is under attack. What shall we do, Leader?"
Her tone was respectful—despite her rank being higher.
This wasn't protocol. This was a test. A test of trust, of judgment.
Ryujin's jaw tightened. He thought for a moment, eyes shifting to the window.
Outside, the five stood there, tired, waiting, completely unaware of the storm brewing elsewhere.
He turned back to her.
"How many?"
"Just one. And it's the Ronin," she answered without hesitation.
"I see... Did Ayro call for backup?"
Miss Gigi shook her head.
"Negative."
Ryujin closed his eyes for a moment, weighing everything.
Then he spoke.
"If that's the case... we continue Jayu's tour."
Miss Gigi blinked.
"What?... but this is in your line of work," she reminded him.
Ryujin didn't answer. He stepped out of the vehicle, leaving her there with his decision hanging in the air.
Miss Gigi stayed in the SUV for a moment, puzzled.
"Ryujin... What are you thinking?" she muttered to herself.
Doubts lingered in her chest, but she didn't override him.
This was his call to make.
This was his test to pass.
She followed him out.
Whatever happened next—his choice would decide everything.
"Let's go! Onto the bridge!"
Kara, Jayu, and Tomori blurted out together, buzzing with energy.
But before they could take a single step, a certain aroma drifted through the air—warm, sweet, unmistakably inviting.
Sniff. Sniff.
"Ouh... what is that..."
Tomori and Kara muttered at the same time.
They slowly turned to their left.
"A CAFE!!!"
Itoshi scoffed without even turning his head, eyes sliding to the side like he already regretted being here.
"We should go there!"
Kara said, leaning onto him.
"Why the hell are you asking me?"
Itoshi shot back, refusing eye contact like looking at her would trap him into agreeing.
Kara pouted.
"Come on!!"
And before he could argue again, she grabbed his hand and dragged him straight into the café.
Tomori, Jayu, and Aldrin laughed under their breath.
"Let's go with them?... Jayu-chan?"
Tomori asked.
Jayu nodded immediately and grabbed Tomori's hand.
"Mhm!"
They followed inside.
The group ordered simple snacks, some cold drinks, and warm coffee. They settled by the window, overlooking the calm pond.
"Let's eat!"
They shared their late-afternoon meal, quiet, relaxed. The sun was lower now, reflecting off the water in soft orange sheets.
Itoshi stared out the window, bored out of his mind—until something clicked.
"HOH! WE CAN RIDE THE BOATS!"
He shot up from his seat, voice way too loud for the café's calm atmosphere.
Everything froze.
Customers stared. Staff paused mid-step.
Itoshi stood there like a tourist who just discovered the concept of boats.
Then everyone slowly went back to what they were doing.
Itoshi turned to the others, eyes burning with newfound purpose.
"We def' gotta get a ride!"
Jayu immediately raised both hands.
"Boating!"
The group exchanged glances—tired, amused, resigned.
And then they all nodded.
Boating it was.
Not long after their stomachs settled, they drifted toward the docks by the pond. The workers stepped in right away.
"Welcome! Enjoy!"
Warm smiles. Easy hospitality.
Aldrin climbed into Tomori's boat first, the two of them pushing off with a light shove from the staff.
Kara's boat rolled in second.
Itoshi stepped in after her, grinning like he'd just found a new toy. The worker helping them froze for a second, eyes locked on the odd blue streaks in Itoshi's hair.
"...Wait... What the hell?.."
He muttered under his breath, a little too interested.
Then came Jayu.
That same staff member stiffened again, eyes narrowing. Something about the kid, something about the color, the aura—familiar in a way he couldn't quite place.
By the time her boat pushed off, he leaned toward another worker.
"Do they look familiar to you?..?"
"The who what now?"
"That blue-haired boy. And the pink-haired child."
A low whisper. Uneasy curiosity.
Before the second worker could say anything, their manager stormed in and bonked them both on the head.
"No gossiping on shift."
"But ma'am! Seriously—don't they look familiar?"
The manager squinted, studying the pond as the three boats drifted out across the water.
"...Hold on."
A slow exhale.
"The Scarecrow... and the Demon child...?"
Her face tightened. Not panic—just recognition. The kind that makes the air shift.
~~~To be Continued~~~