As Tomori and Aldrin spoke, Kara, Itoshi, and Jayu moved forward, unaware that Aldrin and Tomori had fallen behind.
Jayu walked in between Kara and Itoshi, holding their hands as she hopped with joy.
"Let's take photos in the pavilion? Jayu-chan?"
Kara asked.
Jayu turned her head toward Kara and nodded.
"Sure!"
Next, Kara turned to Itoshi.
"You'll be joining too! Koya!"
Her brows furrowed, commanding.
Itoshi turned to Kara, clearly unfavored.
"What?! Hell nah!"
Kara pouted.
"Come on!!!"
Just as the two argued, a small child tripped in front of them—a young girl, no older than Jayu herself.
She fell heavily to the ground, scraping her knee, and immediately began to cry, her wails cutting through the park air. The argument froze, both Kara and Itoshi stopping mid-step, unsure of what to do.
Jayu let go of their hands and rushed toward the child. She knelt beside her, her small frame tense with concern.
"It's ok! It's ok!"
She whispered urgently.
The little girl whimpered, her tiny hands pressing against the scrape. Jayu studied the wound, crimson against pale skin.
"Oh no!.." she murmured. Slowly, her palms began to glow a soft, warm green light.
Her eyes closed as she focused, the warmth spreading outward like sunlight brushing over cold stone.
The little girl's sobs slowed, then stopped entirely. She blinked, her gaze widening in awe as the comforting energy flowed from Jayu, gentle and unyielding, wrapping her in a sense of calm she hadn't known moments before.
The world seemed to pause, a quiet bubble around them. Even the distant chatter of the park faded, leaving only the child's steadying breaths and Jayu's soft hum of concentration.
Then—heavy, fast footsteps shattered the fragile calm. The man came barreling toward them, rage radiating from every step.
"GET AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER! DEMON!"
Before Jayu could react, a strong hand shoved her to the ground.
"Don't touch her, monster!"
Time slowed. Jayu's body pressed against the hard pathway, her small hands scraping against the stone as she tried to rise.
She reached out instinctively, yearning to touch the child and reassure her, but the father's grip was iron, clutching the girl tightly to his chest.
"Mama?... did I do something wrong?.."
Jayu thought, confusion and fear twisting in her chest. Her vision swam, the world tilting as she tried to comprehend the intensity of the man's fury.
Every detail hit her sharply—the tightening of his jaw, the wild flare of his eyes, the trembling of his hands, the way his muscles coiled like a spring ready to snap.
Fury, hatred, distrust, and fear poured off him in waves, and Jayu felt herself crushed beneath it, powerless to explain that she meant no harm.
Her small body stayed pinned to the pathway, heart hammering, the echoes of the child's earlier laughter now replaced with tense silence. The moment stretched unbearably long, a fragile thread between innocence and the uncontrollable force barreling toward her.
Kara froze, eyes wide.
Itoshi, on the other hand, snapped. Without thinking, he lunged forward toward the man.
His fist connected sharply with the man's cheek, sending him sprawling onto the pavement, still clutching his child tightly.
Filled with fury, Itoshi barked.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"
His fists clenched tight, knuckles white, his breathing heavy and sharp. Kara immediately knelt beside Jayu, concern etched across her face.
The man lay knocked out cold on the ground, while his child screamed in panic.
"Papa! Papa!!! Wake up!! Papa!"
Itoshi froze as the child's cries pierced the air. Around them, the crowd fell into stunned silence, eyes darting between the small group and the fallen man.
The tension thickened, pressing down on everyone present. Itoshi's panic was silent but heavy, his gaze locked to the pavement, muscles rigid, teeth gritted.
Murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.
"Demon...?"
"Pink-haired..."
Until one voice broke through, loud and trembling:
"THE DEMON CHILD OF KABA!"
Tomori and Aldrin hurried forward, rushing to check on Jayu, their expressions worried. Itoshi stayed frozen, rigid, fists still clenched, teeth gritted, eyes unmoving from the ground.
Then, the man stirred, groaning as he lifted a hand to his reddened cheek. His child clung to him, tears streaking her face.
"GET AWAY FROM HERE! MONSTERS! YOU'RE THAT FLAME GIFTED FROM NAGASAKI?! AREN'T YOU?!"
Itoshi didn't respond. The murmurs of the crowd continued to wash over him, but his focus remained inward, a storm of anger, fear, and confusion coiling tightly within him.
With Kirashi stunned, it was Ayro's turn to take the defensive. He planted himself firmly, forming a dark sword in his hand, all the while keeping the room intact, ready for whatever the ronin threw at him.
The match-up was unfair. Absolutely unfair.
Ayro's brow furrowed as he gripped his blade, waiting.
A sinister laugh cut through the air, echoing across the shattered apartment.
"Hehe... HAHHHAAHA!"
Ayro flinched.
"Y-you guys call those your best fighters?! AHHAHAHHAA!"
The ronin mocked, his voice bouncing off the walls.
"This was the rumored squad that started this whole Japan cleansing bullshit?!"
Through the dust, his form etched itself into view, sickles gleaming in each hand.
He pointed at Kirashi.
"That man... barely has any experience as a fighter!"
He paused to sneer.
"His form! Sloppy as a fresh turd from a dog! HAHAHHAHHH! Barely a good performance..."
Then his gaze shifted to Ayro, darkening.
"And you... what's your deal with your powers? That cannot be a gift... nor any magic... could it really be... a new technology?"
Ayro's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Heh... seems like an advanced cyborg like you still has holes in his system."
The ronin laughed again, a chilling, mechanical sound.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Interesting, right?!"
In a blink, his right palm shot forward, aiming directly at Kirashi.
A blinding light erupted, consuming them both. Dust and debris scattered across the room as the force of the attack tore through the shattered apartment.
The dust slowly settled. The ronin's chuckle pierced the heavy air.
"Hehehe... nice reaction, Ayro-kun..."
Ayro had just managed to shield Kirashi from the brunt of the attack—just barely.
"I found it quite strange... how you'd throw your life for another,"
The ronin muttered.
"I mean... it's just not you."
He shook his head.
"I thought the OGs of 663 were cold... I guess... that's rather disappointing..."
Ayro's eyes darted around the room. In his mind, a thought screamed at him.
"There's no way Kirashi and I can win this... should I call for backup?"
Then, the reason they had been left in charge flashed through his mind.
"Nah... I... we can hold him off..."
He crouched beside Kirashi, lightly tugging at his shoulder.
"Kirashi! Kirashi! Wake up!"
"This ronin is too fast... I cannot allow them to fight inside... he has the advantage."
Ayro's thoughts raced.
"We'll have a better chance if we lure him outside... I have to keep my squad's belongings safe and this place intact!"
"Kirashi!"
Ayro called again, urgency tightening his voice, heart hammering against his chest.
The room remained tense, the dust lingering like a suffocating fog, as the ronin's eyes gleamed in the dim light, watching every movement, waiting for the slightest misstep.
"DEMON!"
Itoshi's head snapped toward the voice, his gaze slicing through the chaos that had erupted in Ohori Park.
"Get out of here! Monster!"
Another shouted, pointing a finger at Jayu, trembling with fear and anger.
"You don't deserve to be with the squad!"
The shouts multiplied, overlapping into a harsh chorus of distrust. Kara instinctively wrapped her arms around Jayu, shielding her as she whimpered, wide-eyed and trembling.
Confusion and fear painted her face; she didn't understand why the people around her were so hostile.
"You! Blue-haired boy! You're that flame user, right?!"
"We've seen your long hair! It's all over the news!"
"That's definitely him! The scarecrow from before!"
"Are you really on their side?! Why are you protecting that demon?!"
Itoshi's jaw clenched. His body tensed, ready to act—but a hand on his shoulder froze him.
Tomori's eyes bore into the crowd, steady and unflinching.
"Tch... WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!"
She shouted, her voice cutting like steel. Slowly, the crowd went quiet, the murmurs fading under the weight of her authority.
"SHE'S JUST A CHILD! AND YOU CLAIM THAT SHE'S A MONSTER THAT SHE'S NOWHERE NEAR BEING!"
She took a step forward, chest rising and falling heavily, eyes sharp as daggers.
"CUT THE BULLSHIT!"
Kara's gaze stayed locked on Tomori, stunned by the intensity, almost forgetting the crowd for a moment.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ALL ARE GETTING THIS, DEMON THIS DEMON THAT CRAP! YA'LL CHILDISH ASSES!"
"She's a demon! She's dangerous! She's one with the Seele!"
Someone yelled, their voice breaking with conviction.
"HAH?!"
Tomori snapped back, a growl threading her words.
Another voice rang out, sharp and accusatory:
"WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING SUCH AN EVIL BEING?! HAS SHE GOTTEN INTO YOUR HEAD?!"
Tomori's eyes narrowed, pupils sharp. She inhaled deeply, letting the pause stretch just long enough to weigh on every soul in the park, then spoke, voice booming:
"WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO PROTECT HER! YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL SHE'S HERE! THANKFUL THAT OUR SQUAD IS OUT HERE TO DEFEND YOUR DAMNED CITY!"
She paused again, scanning the faces before her, letting the gravity of her words sink in.
"THIS SQUAD HAS FACED MORE SHIT THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE! IN ONE DAY—JUST ONE DAY—THEY HANDLE MORE THAN YOUR ENTIRE LIFETIME!"
Her fists tightened until the skin split, crimson streaking her knuckles. The raw display of emotion made a few in the crowd flinch.
"SHE HELPED US GET THROUGH IT! SHE REALLY DID! WITHOUT HER STRENGTH, THIS CITY WOULD BE ERASED—BY THE SEELE, BY THE 'DEMONS' YOU CLAIM SHE IS!"
Silence fell over the park like a heavy curtain. Her words echoed across the pond, bouncing off the pavements and trees, but still, no one moved. Fear and distrust weren't erased by a speech, no matter how commanding.
At that moment, Ryujin and Miss Gigi arrived, stepping onto the bridge and drawing the eyes of everyone around. Miss Gigi approached Tomori with a soft, controlled smile.
"Okay... that's enough, Tomori..."
She whispered.
Ryujin didn't waste a second. He moved directly toward Jayu, kneeling to assess her, his calm presence like an anchor in the storm.
"Is she alright?"
He asked Kara.
Kara shook her head, eyes filled with worry. Ryujin's gaze hardened briefly, then shifted to the rest of the squad.
"Tomori, Aldrin, Itoshi, Kara... go back to the vehicle. Miss Gigi and I will handle this."
They all nodded, though Itoshi remained rooted, fists clenched like iron, jaw tight, eyes locked on the ground.
The squad moved through the crowd toward the bridge, the murmurs following them like shadows:
"HE'S THE FLAME USER, ISN'T HE?!"
Then another voice cut sharply through the murmurs, louder and more accusatory than the rest:
"Since when did the Defense allow flame users into the corporation?! Have they lost their mind?!"
Itoshi's fists clenched at his sides, knuckles whitening. His jaw tightened, every muscle in his body coiling like a spring ready to snap. The words were unreasonable, unjust, a clear attack on everything he and the squad had done to protect the city.
He felt the heat rising in his chest, his vision narrowing as if the world itself had shrunk to that single voice.
Just when he was about to turn his back on the crowd, a small, fragile voice reached his ears.
"Tomo-nee..."
It froze him mid-step. The world seemed to blur at the edges as his gaze fell on Jayu, cradled carefully in Aldrin's arms.
She looked at her with wide, unblinking eyes—so innocent, so pure, yet brimming with quiet confusion.
Her tiny fingers curled around Aldrin's sleeve, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke again.
"You... you've hurt yourself... Tomo-nee..."
Itoshi's chest tightened, a sharp pang of frustration cutting through him. He wanted to lash out, to let the fury and the weight of the crowd's accusations erupt. But looking at Jayu—her trust, her concern, her sheer helplessness—he swallowed it all down.
"Not now..."
he thought, clenching his jaw so tightly his teeth ached.
"I can't... I won't..."
A part of him burned with helpless anger, yet he forced himself to maintain the calm mask. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to act, to defend, to strike, but he stood still, letting the moment stretch out, letting Jayu's innocence remind him what he was fighting for.
~~~To be Continued~~~