Itsuki folded the scrap of paper until the inked address was a smooth, narrow wedge between his fingers. The house smelled of oil and old tea; Hayato's place never pretended to be cozy. It was a training den and a planning room, and tonight it felt like the throat before a dive.
"You sure you want to go now?" Miri asked, voice small. She was still raw from the earlier confession, the way Itsuki had unloaded years of dark miles into her ears. She wiped her face and squared her shoulders. "I can come with you. I know karate. I can help."
Itsuki's answer was a single look: steady, ruthless, the look of a man who knew what his presence at a scene would invite. He slid the paper into his pocket and rose. "I'll be fine," he said. The words were calm, stripped of bravado.
Hayato set his cup down with a quiet clack and watched the two of them. "You're not going to give him any tips?" Miri asked.
"No," Hayato said simply. He doesn't need tips for this job. I taught him everything he needs. If he does it my way, he does it clean. If he has to improvise, he will. Either way he can handle it." His calm confidence was like steel.
Miri's protest flared again. But that's dangerous. You should go with him you know... He shouldn't go by himself into an abandoned school full of kids who don't care about life or the law!
Hayato didn't even flinch. "Sumiyoshi," he said. "It's a high school gang. Nothing subtle about them, but they're sloppy. They like to claim territory, run small scams, and brag about connections to older groups. The kind of gang that talks too much when they think nobody is watching. You'll see patterns, names, habits and eventually, you'll find out about the glove markings if you pay attention."
Hayato leaned back, calm. "This boy is my Masterpiece. He's done the work. He knows the method. He'll blend in, observe, and extract everything. No one will touch him."
Itsuki nodded once. "It's okay, Miri. You don't have to worry."
Hayato added, "I want him to go alone. If he learns, if he observes, it will be clean. Nobody dies. We get the info. That's the skill."
Miri exhaled slowly, trying to contain her worry. Okay… I'll stay here then.
Itsuki walked alone toward the abandoned school on the outskirts. The rusted gates creaked as the evening sun stretched shadows across the cracked courtyard. He slipped inside without hesitation.
Miri's fingers drummed nervously on the table.
Miri (anxious): "He's been gone for a while… Hayato, what if they ganged up on him?"
Hayato closed his eyes, calm as ever, his voice steady.
Hayato: "Right about now, he's at the edge of the schoolyard. He won't rush in. First, he'll check the ground, the shadows. Then"
Just as Hayato described, Itsuki crouched low by the weeds and broken fence. Two lookouts smoked lazily near the entrance, laughing. They didn't even notice when Itsuki slipped behind them.
A swift arm around one neck, another strike to the other's solar plexus both collapsed silently into the dirt.
Hayato (smirking): "Two idiots at the gate. They're already out cold. He dragged them into the dark, didn't he?"
Miri's eyes widened.
Miri: "Wait you really know exactly what he's doing, don't you? It's like you're watching!"
Hayato: "No. I trained him to be predictable to me, at least. He'll do exactly what I taught him. Silent. Efficient."
Itsuki slipped into the abandoned hallway. Graffiti stained the cracked walls, glass crunched beneath his boots. A group of three boys played cards by candlelight. One looked up just in time to see a shadow loom.
Crack! Itsuki's elbow smashed his jaw. A chair leg splintered across another's ribs. The third reached for a knife, but Itsuki disarmed him and slammed his head into the wall. All three slumped to the floor.
Hayato (quietly, like narrating a play): "Three inside, unarmed except for a cheap blade. He won't hesitate. One strike each. Fast, before they scream."
Miri hugged her arms.
Miri: "You make it sound so… normal. He's fighting for his life!"
Hayato (serious): "No. He's proving he owns his life. There's a difference."
Itsuki moved like a shadow, one room at a time. Boys fell unconscious before they could even shout. A fist, a knee, a chokehold every motion precise, lethal without being fatal. By the time he reached the gymnasium, bodies littered the halls in silence.
In the center of the gym, the Sumiyoshi leader stood waiting.
Leader (mocking): "So you're the scar-faced freak that's been knocking out my boys no wonder they didn't respond, Do you know who the fuck i am? I'm the mighty Ken Yamazki You've got guts you fucking bastard, walking in here alone like you're immortal."
Itsuki cracked his knuckles. His eyes burned cold.
Itsuki: "I'm not here for your guts. I'm here for answers. Tell me about this glove."
The leader lunged, throwing a solid punch. Itsuki easily sidestepped, but the leader followed up with a spinning kick more aggressive than his other thugs. Itsuki blocked, feeling the force, and countered with a precise elbow to the shoulder, forcing the leader back a step.
Ken (grunting, trying to recover): "Hmph… not bad. You've got skills, I'll give you that… but I'm not going down that easily asshole!."
Itsuki circled him, analyzing every twitch, every move, anticipating his attacks.
Itsuki (calm, measured): "You're just a high school thug. You're strong for your age, but your moves are predictable. Tell me about this glove before things gets worse for you."
Ken smirked but launched another attack, swinging a metal pipe. Itsuki caught it mid-air, twisting it out of his hand, and used the momentum to sweep his legs, bringing him down.
Ken (panting, furious): "Okay… okay… you win I'll talk… but don't think I'm scared of you bastard!"
Itsuki's expression didn't change. He crouched slightly, keeping Ken under control without hurting him seriously.
Itsuki (steady, commanding): "Tell me everything about this glove markings what does the markings means where are they from.
Ken realized he couldn't overpower Itsuki. His strength only bought him a few seconds, but Itsuki's skill and calm precision were overwhelming. He swallowed, nodding reluctantly, knowing resistance was useless.
Ken (panting, frustrated): "I don't… I don't fucking know anything! I've seen these markings everywhere when i meet the upper bosses c'mon you bastard we're just a highschool gang you just caught a fish there are sharks out there you'll get your answers from them!!!! So stop messing with me and my boys you fucking asshole!!!"
Itsuki's eyes narrowed. He stepped back slightly, giving ken some room but keeping his dominance clear.
Itsuki (quietly, dangerously): "Then you'll tell me everything you do know. Every gang under those sharks. Every operation. Every pattern. I'll find him with them and kill them."
Ken gulped, realizing he could offer only scraps.
Ken (hesitant, defeated): "Okay… okay… i think it's just a name that fucking cunt probably don't exist his name is KURO every gang is afraid of that name for some reason that bastard probably has alot of power that's why everyone is scared of his name!" Man i really don't fuckin know what are you after but if this KURO exist you don't want to mess with him even the other sharks are scared of him.
Itsuki (quietly, dangerously): "Then tell me about this symbol."
He pointed to the markings on the glove the attacker had dropped years ago.
Ken (hesitant, confused): "Black Fang… yeah, like i said I've seen that before. Some gangs mark their territory with it… but it doesn't belong to one fucker. It's like a calling card they all use. I don't know who the fuck leads it, though. No one knows who the fucking boss is rumors are KURO is the boss but if he's why's no one has ever seen that fucker?
Itsuki's jaw tightened. The hunt wasn't over. Kuro a ghost, untouchable but this was the first piece of the puzzle. Even scraps mattered.
He released ken, letting him scramble to his feet.
Itsuki (low, steady): "This isn't over. If you lied, I'll find out."
As Itsuki moved toward the exit, his eyes caught a faint marking on a locker corner a small black fang symbol, barely visible.
Itsuki (muttering): "Black Fang..."
He stored this observation in his mind. It didn't reveal Kuro's location, but it gave him a breadcrumb to follow in the sprawling web of gangs across the city.
He vanished into the shadows, every step measured, every sense alert, already plotting his next move.
Itsuki returned to Hayato's house, stepping through the door with his usual calm but alert demeanor. Miri, sitting near the couch, immediately noticed his expression and stood up, worry etched across her face.
Miri (softly, anxious): "Itsuki… are you okay? You look tense. Did anything happen? You're not hurt are you?"
Itsuki didn't answer her directly, only gave a small nod and moved to wake Hayato.
Itsuki (calm, concise): "Hayato, I got something."
Hayato stirred, rubbing his eyes. "Go on. What did you find?"
Itsuki pulled out a small notebook and pointed to the entry.
Itsuki: "The leader of Sumiyoshi Ken Yamazaki knew about the markings on the glove. Black Fang… multiple gangs use it, but no one knows who leads them he mentioned this KURO he thinks he's the leader. All The other big gangs are scared of his name. No information on Kuro's exact identity yet, but it's a thread we can pull. Could connect to other gangs across the city."
Hayato nodded, listening intently. He didn't need to hear about the fight itself he knew how handled it with precision. Every movement, every strike, every tactical choice was already embedded in his mind.
Hayato (calmly): "Good. That's the direction we need. Keep watching for patterns, and any gang that marks with Black Fang could be linked. We're not looking for direct confrontation yet just information."
Miri, still anxious, watched Itsuki carefully, noting how he had remained composed despite the danger.
Miri (whispering, almost to herself): "I can't believe he does all this… alone…"
Itsuki glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable, but a flicker of relief passed over his features. Knowing someone cared someone trusted him made the weight slightly easier to bear.
Itsuki: "We follow the trail carefully. We'll find him."
Hayato leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the progress. "Exactly. Now, get some rest if you can, Itsuki. Even people like need a few hours to think clearly."
Itsuki simply nodded, but he didn't sit. He stayed near the window, eyes scanning the city beyond, already plotting the next move.
Miri (teasingly, worried): "You never stop, do you? And seriously… wash your hands! There's blood on them!"
Itsuki looked at her impassively for a moment, then nodded slightly, acknowledging her concern without a word.
Miri (sighing, exasperated): "Come on, dumbass. Let's go. I'll drop you at your apartment so you can finally rest."
Itsuki followed her silently, letting her guide him toward the door. Even though he was exhausted, he appreciated her insistence it was rare to have someone care so openly.
Miri (half-smiling, half-annoyed): "Don't think I'm letting you go without scolding you first. Rest, idiot. You're not invincible, you know."
Itsuki allowed a small, almost imperceptible nod, knowing that tonight, he could rest if only for a little while.
The night air was quiet when Itsuki and Miri stepped out of Hayato's house. The streetlights flickered against the cooling pavement.
Itsuki: "I'll drop you first. It's getting late."
Miri: "Yeah, no way we're walking to the city again."
Itsuki: "I'll carry you."
Miri (glaring): "There's a thing called public transportation, you know. Ever heard of it?"
Itsuki gave her that faint, calm smile the kind that looked almost out of place on his scarred face.
Itsuki: "Were you always this smart?"
Miri (smirking): "Smarter than you'll ever be."
They both took the last bus into the city. The dim lights inside flickered as the vehicle hummed through empty streets. Miri leaned against the window, watching Itsuki from the corner of her eye. For once, he looked at peace maybe even human again.
Scene Shift Unknown Location
A dark, concrete room. The only light came from a single hanging bulb swaying slightly above three men.
Two of them knelt, trembling before a man sitting back in a metal chair his face hidden by the shadows. Cigarette smoke curled upward, masking his features even more.
Kneeling man 1: "Boss… Sumiyoshi was attacked. Completely wiped out."
Boss (coldly): "By who?"
Kneeling man 2: "We're not sure, sir. But Ken… he ran away."
The boss exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his tone sharpened with irritation.
Boss: "Ken was a fool. I told him to not fuck around. How many attacked?"
Kneeling man 1: "Just one, sir."
The boss went still for a second. Then suddenly grabbed the man by the throat, slamming him to the floor.
Boss (furious): "One man? Are you telling me one man destroyed Sumiyoshi by himself you fucking bastard?!"
The second man stammered, "Ken said he was looking for black fang and KURO, He had scars on his face, long hair, and and he fought like a beast."
The boss's grip tightened until the man's breathing stopped. He dropped him, unconscious, then growled through clenched teeth:
Boss: "Find him. I want that scarred-face bastard brought to me alive."
The sound of shattering echoed as he threw the glass into the wall.
Scene Shift Back in AOBARA CITY
The bus came to a stop near Miri's neighborhood.
Miri: "Wait here."
She dashed into her house, leaving Itsuki under the streetlight. Moments later, she ran back out, holding a small box.
Miri: "Here. A phone. I have put my number in it already and a SIM card. You better call me, got it?"
Itsuki blinked, then smiled faintly.
Itsuki: "Thanks."
Miri: "By the way you changed your apartment right? Text me your address?"
Itsuki: "It's the same crappy building i just moved to a different floor it's the 2nd floor now room no 24."
Miri: "Seriously duhh nobody told me that. I visited your old apartment for like a thousand times, Anyways Go straight home, dumbass. Rest for once."
Itsuki nodded, watching her disappear into the house.
Scene Shift Itsuki's Apartment
The room was quiet, walls bare except for an old calendar and a single photo of Miyu on the nightstand. Itsuki sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his reflection in the dark window. His body ached not from the fight, but from everything else. The faint hum of the city filtered through Itsuki's cracked window as the night deepened. His body finally gave in to exhaustion, and his eyes slowly closed.
Ring… Ring…
Itsuki's phone buzzed on the nightstand.
He groaned and reached for it.
Miri's name flashed on the screen.
He answered instantly.
"Miri?"
Her voice trembled.
"Itsuki come to the hospital. It's Miyu, Hurry!!"
Itsuki's chest tightened. His heart felt like it was about to tear through his ribs.
He ran. Down the stairs, through the streets, not even feeling his legs. The sound of his heartbeat drowned out everything else.
He burst into the hospital, shoving the doors open, and sprinted toward Miyu's room. Nurses shouted after him, but he didn't stop.
He grabbed the door handle with shaking hands and pushed it open.
Miyu was sitting up on the bed.
Alive. Smiling.