Flashback
The bar was quieter than usual.
A few customers sat at tables.
Harold was talking with some travelers near the counter.
Meanwhile—
young Saito sat on a stool.
Swinging his legs.
Looking incredibly bored.
He stared out the window.
Watching other children running through the streets.
Playing.
Laughing.
Having fun.
Finally—
he jumped down from the stool.
"Mom."
Kira looked up from cleaning a glass.
"Yes, sweetie?"
Saito pointed outside.
"Can I go play around?"
Kira immediately shook her head.
"No."
Saito groaned.
"But why?"
Kira put the glass down.
Then crouched beside him.
"It's safer here."
Saito crossed his arms.
"I don't want to stay in the bar forever."
He pointed outside again.
"I want to explore."
Kira smiled sadly.
"I know."
She gently ruffled his hair.
"But it's dangerous out there, okay?"
Saito frowned.
He had heard that answer before.
Many times.
Too many times.
"But Harold goes outside."
"Harold is an adult."
"You go outside too."
Kira sighed.
"That's different."
Saito immediately knew he was losing the argument.
His shoulders slumped.
Then he pouted.
"...Fine."
Kira smiled.
"Thank you."
Saito slowly climbed back onto his stool.
Still staring out the window.
Still watching the other children play.
And still wishing he could join them
Flashback
Kira returned to cleaning glasses behind the counter.
The customers continued talking.
The bar remained busy.
Meanwhile—
Saito slowly slid off his stool.
He glanced toward Kira.
She was distracted.
Then toward the door.
A grin appeared on his face.
One step.
Then another.
And another.
A few moments later—
he slipped out of the bar unnoticed.
Outside—
Saito happily walked down the street.
Finally free.
He headed toward a nearby playground.
Children were already running around.
Laughing.
Playing games.
Exactly what he wanted.
Then—
a shadow appeared behind him.
Before he could react—
a hand covered his mouth.
"Hmmp!"
Two men grabbed him.
One lifted him under the arms.
The other looked around nervously.
"Move."
They immediately ran.
Disappearing into the back streets.
Saito struggled.
But he was too small.
Too weak.
The men carried him away.
Back at the bar—
Kira finished cleaning.
Then looked around.
"...Saito?"
No answer.
She frowned.
"Saito?"
Still nothing.
Her eyes moved across the room.
No stool.
No child.
No Saito.
The glass in her hand nearly slipped.
"Saito?"
Her voice became sharper.
Customers looked over.
Kira rushed around the counter.
Checking under tables.
Looking outside.
Nothing.
Panic immediately set in.
"HAROLD!"
The large man looked up.
"What?"
"Saito is gone!"
Harold froze.
For a second—
he thought he misheard.
Then he saw Kira's face.
And realized she wasn't joking.
"What?!"
He immediately stood up.
"Hold on."
"I'll search for him."
Harold rushed outside.
Calling Saito's name.
Meanwhile—
Kira's breathing became uneven.
Fear tightened in her chest.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
She ran upstairs.
Straight into her room.
Then stopped in front of an old chest.
For a moment—
she hesitated.
Then opened it.
Inside rested a weapon.
Two crimson blades.
Connected by a chain.
The metal gleamed even in the dim room.
A weapon she hadn't touched in years.
Kira stared at it.
Then slowly picked it up.
The chain rattled softly.
Her expression changed.
The gentle bartender disappeared.
Replaced by something much colder.
Much more dangerous.
Without another word—
Kira turned around.
And walked out of the room.
Flashback
Inside an abandoned warehouse—
Young Saito was tied to a chair.
Ropes wrapped around his arms and chest.
He struggled.
But couldn't get free.
"Let me go!"
One of the kidnappers laughed.
"No, no."
The man crouched in front of him.
"I want your parents' names."
Saito frowned.
"What for?"
The kidnapper smirked.
"To take their money."
Saito blinked.
"...That's a terrible plan."
The man looked offended.
"It works more often than you'd think."
Another kidnapper slowly approached.
A knife spinning between his fingers.
"Tell us."
"Or else."
The blade stopped inches from Saito's face.
Saito swallowed.
Then—
A voice exploded from the warehouse entrance.
"HEY!!!"
Everyone froze.
The kidnappers turned.
So did Saito.
Standing in the doorway—
was Kira.
The evening light behind her cast a long shadow across the floor.
In her hands were twin crimson blades connected by a chain.
The metal gleamed ominously.
Saito's eyes widened.
"...Mom?"
Kira's gaze never left the kidnappers.
"Let."
"My."
"Son."
"Go."
The room became silent.
Then one of the kidnappers laughed.
"That's it?"
He looked around.
"One woman."
Another kidnapper cracked his knuckles.
"Easy."
The leader flicked his finger.
Immediately—
more gang members emerged from the shadows.
From behind crates.
From upper walkways.
From side rooms.
Dozens.
They surrounded her.
The leader smiled.
Then recognition appeared in his eyes.
"...Wait."
He pointed at her weapon.
His smile widened.
"Kira."
"The Mourning Blade."
Several of the gang members suddenly looked nervous.
Even Saito noticed the change.
The leader laughed.
"I didn't know the kid was yours."
His eyes gleamed greedily.
"Your bounty alone could feed us for years."
The chain between Kira's blades rattled softly.
She slowly stepped forward.
Not afraid.
Not intimidated.
Just angry.
Very angry.
Kira raised one blade.
And stared directly at the gang.
"Then come and get it."
The warehouse fell silent.
Nobody moved.
For the first time—
the kidnappers realized they might have made a terrible mistake.
Flashback
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
The gang leader pointed at Kira.
"SHOOT HER!"
Immediately—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire filled the warehouse.
Bullets rushed toward her from every direction.
But Kira didn't move back.
She moved forward.
The crimson chain spun.
WHIRRR!
Her twin blades rotated in a circle.
Sparks flew.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every bullet was knocked away.
The kidnappers stared in disbelief.
"What?!"
Then Kira lunged.
SHHK!
A crimson flash crossed the room.
One gang member fell.
Then another.
And another.
The chain danced through the air.
The blades struck with terrifying precision.
Every movement was clean.
Every attack deliberate.
The kidnappers who had seemed so confident moments ago were now desperately backing away.
The leader watched in horror.
One by one—
his men were falling.
"Impossible..."
Then—
he noticed something above.
A shadow on the warehouse roof.
The leader looked up.
And froze.
A rifle was pointed directly at him.
Harold.
The cheerful man from the bar.
The man who always laughed.
The man everyone underestimated.
The gang leader's eyes widened.
"No way..."
Recognition struck.
"You too?"
"The legendary Lieutenant?"
Harold smirked.
"Been a while."
The leader immediately tried to move.
Too late.
BANG!
One shot.
Clean.
Precise.
The gang leader collapsed.
The warehouse became silent.
The remaining gang members stared.
Then panic took over.
"RUN!"
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
The survivors scattered.
Running for the exits.
Nobody wanted to stay.
Not against Kira.
Not against Harold.
Within moments—
the warehouse was empty.
The battle was over.
Kira's blades lowered.
The chain went still.
Then she dropped the weapon entirely.
It clattered against the floor.
She immediately rushed toward Saito.
Hands shaking.
The ropes were cut away in seconds.
Then—
she pulled him into a tight hug.
So tight that Saito almost couldn't breathe.
"I thought I lost you."
Her voice cracked slightly.
The fear she'd been hiding finally surfacing.
Saito blinked.
Then hugged her back.
"Mom."
"I'm fine."
Kira closed her eyes.
Holding him even tighter.
While nearby—
Harold lowered his rifle and smiled.
Relieved that, this time, they hadn't been too late.