The golden morning sun peeked through the curtains, painting warm stripes across the room.
Johnrey Spokey groaned, rolling lazily on his bed until his pillow fell to the floor. He blinked at the clock.
"...Nine already?"
He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms. "Oh yeah. It's Saturday."
A small smile tugged at his lips. For once, he wasn't late for school—or life.
He got up, opened his window, and let the cool morning breeze wash over him. The scent of baked bread and car exhaust from the nearby street blended into the air. "Ahh… peace and quiet," he sighed.
As he headed downstairs, he spotted Mrs. Kathryn—his landlady—locking her door with a small suitcase beside her.
"Morning, Mrs. Kathryn," Johnrey greeted, yawning.
She turned and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Johnrey. I'll be gone for the day. Can I trust you to watch over the house while I'm out?"
Johnrey nodded. "Of course. Don't worry, I got this."
"Thank you, dear. And tell the other boarders I'll be gone until tomorrow."
"Sure thing!"
Kathryn smiled again, patting his shoulder. "You're a good boy, Johnrey."
He scratched his cheek shyly. "I just try not to break anything."
"You mean again," she teased before heading off down the street.
Johnrey chuckled. "Yeah… again."
He waved until she disappeared from sight, then went back to his apartment.
---
Inside, Johnrey plopped onto his couch. The silence felt heavy but comforting. He was about to grab his notebook to review for an upcoming test when—thud!—his bag slipped off the table.
Books scattered everywhere.
"Ah, come on…" he muttered, kneeling to pick them up. That's when he noticed it.
A small box with a flaming symbol carved on top had rolled out from the bag.
Johnrey froze. "Wait… what's this doing here?"
He picked it up carefully. The wood was warm to the touch.
His mind raced. I've seen this before… but where?
Then the memory flashed back—the old man from yesterday, his trembling hands, the thugs, the strange box.
Johnrey's eyes widened. "That old man… he must've slipped this into my bag."
He sat down, turning the box over in his hands. "Why would he give this to me? What even is this thing?"
For a moment, he placed it on the table, deciding to ignore it. But something about it felt… alive.
Minutes passed. Then, suddenly—
Fwoooosh!
A burst of crimson light exploded from the box, filling the room with blazing energy.
"Wha—?! What the heck!?" Johnrey yelped, stumbling back. He panicked and threw the box against the wall.
When the light finally dimmed, he peeked through his fingers. The box lay open. Inside, resting on the floor, was a ring—a beautiful crimson band engraved with the symbol of fire.
It shimmered faintly, as if whispering to him.
Johnrey swallowed. "A ring…?"
He reached out, feeling the warmth radiating from it. It wasn't hot—just… alive.
"What kind of ring gives off heat?" he muttered.
Curiosity won over fear. Slowly, he slid the ring onto his finger.
Immediately, a rush of warmth coursed through his hand, spreading to his chest. His heartbeat quickened.
"Whoa… what is this feeling?"
He turned to the mirror and raised his hand. The red gemstone glinted under the morning light.
Johnrey grinned nervously. "Not gonna lie… it kinda looks good on me."
He laughed softly, trying to shake off the weirdness. "Okay, Johnrey, stop overthinking. It's just a fancy ring. Nothing weird. Probably."
---
Later that afternoon, Johnrey sat outside the apartment, under the shade of a tree, munching on the bread Mrs. Kathryn left him. He watched cars pass by and thought about how peaceful everything felt again.
Until a black car rolled to a stop in front of the gate.
Johnrey blinked. The windows were tinted. The car door opened, and two men in tuxedos stepped out, wearing black sunglasses.
"Whoa…" Johnrey muttered. "Maybe one of the boarders ordered rich food delivery?"
One of the men turned to him. "Excuse me, is this where a Mr. Johnrey Spokey resides?"
Johnrey's heart skipped a beat. "...Huh?"
"Are you Johnrey Spokey?"
His voice trembled. "N-No, sir. I think he lives next door."
The man tilted his head slightly, his tone calm but firm. "Sir, we know it's you. You're wearing bandages on your arm and face—just as described."
Johnrey's mind raced. Why are they looking for me? Did I forget to pay rent? No… maybe my parents had debt? Or maybe… they found out I failed math again?!
He gulped. "O-Okay… I'll come with you. Please don't shoot me or something."
The men exchanged looks, then one of them smiled faintly. "We don't intend to harm you, Mr. Spokey. Please step inside."
Against every instinct screaming run, Johnrey obeyed.
---
The car ride was silent, but his thoughts weren't.
What do they want? Did I do something wrong? Maybe they're loan sharks… oh no, maybe I got kidnapped?
After a few minutes, the car stopped.
Johnrey peeked outside—and his jaw dropped.
Before him stood a massive mansion, surrounded by towering black gates. Guards with rifles patrolled the perimeter. Some even stood on rooftops, scanning with sniper scopes.
"...What is this place?" he whispered.
The men led him through the gates and into a vast hall lined with golden chandeliers. Paintings of unfamiliar men—each wearing rings—hung along the walls.
Johnrey's nervous footsteps echoed as he followed the two guards toward a giant door. When it opened, his breath caught.
A single figure sat at the end of the room on a grand throne, draped in a black cloak.
"Please, Mr. Spokey," the figure's voice was calm and deep, "take a seat."
Johnrey hesitated, then sat on the chair across from him.
"How are you today, Johnrey?" the man asked.
"I—I'm fine, sir…" he replied, voice trembling.
"Good." The figure leaned forward slightly. "Do you know why you were brought here?"
Johnrey shook his head quickly. "No, sir. I swear, if it's about debt, I'll pay it—eventually."
A soft chuckle echoed through the hall. "No. This isn't about debt."
"Then… why?"
"It's about the ring you're wearing."
Johnrey's eyes darted to his hand. "This? You can have it! Here, take it!"
He quickly tried to remove it, but the figure raised his hand. "No. That ring belongs to you now."
Johnrey blinked. "...Huh?"
"That ring," the man continued, "is known as the Fire Ring—Ignis. And I want you to become the next Boss."
Johnrey's brain stopped working. "...What!?"
The figure smiled faintly beneath the shadows. "I saw something in you. A fire waiting to be released."
"You've got the wrong guy!" Johnrey waved his hands frantically. "I'm just a clumsy, scared kid who trips on air and fails exams!"
The man laughed softly. "I am not mistaken. When you saved me from those delinquents yesterday, I felt it—the courage buried deep inside you."
Johnrey blinked. "Wait… saved you? The only person I helped yesterday was an old—"
The man lifted his hood, revealing a familiar, wrinkled face and kind eyes.
"—old man," Johnrey finished in shock. "Y-you!?"
The old man smiled. "Yes. It's me."
Johnrey nearly fell out of his chair. "You've got to be kidding! You're rich! And… and you're the one who gave me this ring!?"
"I am," the old man said, standing proudly. "My name is Kaito, leader of the Spiral Virtue Mafia Family."
Johnrey's jaw dropped. "M-Mafia!?"
"Yes. And I am offering you the chance to join us."
"No, no, no!" Johnrey waved his hands again. "I just want a normal, peaceful life! I don't want to be dragged into gangster stuff!"
Kaito's smile faded slightly. "Johnrey… do you want to protect the people you love?"
Johnrey froze. "...Of course. Why?"
"Because we know about you—and about the girl you care for at school."
Johnrey's eyes widened. "H-how do you know about her!?"
Kaito's tone turned cold. "We know everything. And more importantly, we know the truth about your parents' death."
Johnrey's world stopped. "What did you just say?"
"It wasn't an accident," Kaito said softly. "You'll learn the truth, if you stay with us."
Johnrey's fists trembled. "You're lying…"
"Am I?" Kaito stepped closer, placing a hand on Johnrey's shoulder. "If you refuse… the people you love will be in danger. Other Mafia families already know I gave you that ring. You're being watched."
Johnrey bit his lip. "Why? What makes this ring so special?"
Kaito looked at the glowing symbol on the ring. "Because it's one of the Six Rings of Power—the keys to summoning the Sky Ring, the symbol of ultimate authority. Each ring controls an element. Yours controls fire."
Johnrey forced a laugh. "Control fire? Yeah right—what am I, an anime character?"
Suddenly, the guards behind Kaito raised their rifles, glaring.
"Woah, okay, chill! I believe you!" Johnrey raised his hands.
Kaito raised his hand. "Lower your weapons."
The guards obeyed. Kaito smiled faintly. "Then, allow me to show you."
He took the ring from Johnrey and slipped it onto his own finger.
At once, flames erupted from his palms, swirling like living serpents. The air shimmered with heat.
Johnrey's eyes widened in disbelief. "T-That's… real…"
Kaito extinguished the fire and handed the ring back. "You see? You can do it too—if you accept it."
Johnrey stared at the ring, his reflection glowing in the red gem. "...No thanks. You keep it."
Kaito's gaze hardened. "Do you wish to protect the people you love, or watch them burn?"
Johnrey clenched his fists. The warmth of the ring pulsed, like it was alive—waiting for his answer.
Finally, he sighed. "Fine. I'll hold it. But I'm not becoming your boss or whatever."
Kaito smiled knowingly. "That's enough… for now."
As Johnrey left the mansion, the old man turned toward the window, watching the fading light.
"Someday," he murmured to himself, "that boy will rise… as the twenty-first boss of Spiral Virtue."