The rain started just before sunset.
By the time Saint Asakura reached the Sato residence…
It was pouring.
He didn't knock.
Didn't hesitate.
The door opened before he even touched it.
"Saint."
Selene Sato stood there.
Barefoot. Hair slightly disheveled. Eyes tired
But sharp.
Waiting.
She had been standing there for a while.
"I heard what happened at school."
Saint walked past her without a word, water dripping from his clothes onto the polished floor.
"…You shouldn't have come," he said flatly.
The door shut behind them.
Hard.
"Don't."
Her voice cracked—just slightly.
"Don't talk to me like that."
Saint stopped walking.
But didn't turn around.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"You're avoiding me," Selene said.
No response.
"You left without a word two years ago."
"I call—you don't answer."
"I text—you ignore me."
Her voice grew tighter with every word.
"And now I hear you're setting off fire alarms? Smoking in school?"
A step closer.
"Getting called into the principal's office like some delinquent?"
Saint let out a quiet breath.
Still not facing her.
"…Is that what this is about?"
Selene's hands clenched.
"No."
Another step.
"This is about you."
That made him turn.
Finally.
Their eyes met.
And for a second—
Everything else faded.
"You think I don't recognize this?" she said softly.
"This isn't you."
Saint's gaze didn't waver.
"You don't know me."
Selene shook her head immediately.
"I do."
"You knew a kid," he replied coldly.
"He's gone."
The words hit harder than anything else.
She flinched.
Actually flinched.
"…No."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"No, he's not."
She stepped closer again, standing right in front of him now.
Close enough to see every detail.
"You're still that boy."
Her hand lifted—
Hesitated—
Then gently touched his cheek.
"You just… won't let anyone see him."
For a moment—
Saint didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even breathe.
And Selene saw it—
That crack.
That tiny fracture in the armor.
"Saint…"
Her voice softened even more.
"Whatever happened—whatever you're carrying—"
His hand caught her wrist.
Not rough.
But firm.
Stopping her.
"Don't."
The word came out low.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Selene froze.
Not because he hurt her—
But because of how he said it.
Like there was something underneath…
Something he was holding back.
"You don't want to know," he said quietly.
"I do."
"No," he replied, eyes darkening,
"…you really don't."
Silence again.
But this time—
It wasn't just tension.
It was fear.
Not of him.
But for him.
Selene slowly pulled her hand back.
"…You're scaring me."
Saint's expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes flickered again.
Just for a second.
"…Good."
The word barely left his lips.
Selene's breath caught.
"That means you'll stop trying."
That broke something.
"You think I'll just give up on you?!"
Her voice echoed through the house.
Sharp.
Emotional.
Real.
"I crossed an ocean for you!"
"I brought you into my home—my family—"
"I—"
Her voice cracked.
"…I love you."
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Saint went still.
Completely still.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just—
Still.
Selene stepped closer again, eyes searching his face.
"So don't stand there and tell me you're gone."
"…Because you're not."
A long silence followed.
Then——
Saint exhaled slowly.
And when he spoke…
His voice was quieter than before.
"…You should've left me where I was."
Selene's heart dropped.
"What…?"
"At the hospital," he continued.
"Foster care. Anywhere."
His gaze shifted away.
"I don't belong here."
"That's not true."
"It is."
He looked back at her.
And this time—
There was no softness left.
Only distance.
"You built a life," he said.
"A perfect one."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the stairs—
Where Lyra and Yue were silently listening.
"You don't need me ruining it."
Selene shook her head immediately.
"You're not ruining anything—"
"I already did."
That stopped her.
"…What do you mean?"
Saint didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped back.
Creating distance.
Physical.
Emotional.
Final.
"I'm leaving."
Her eyes widened. "No."
"I wasn't planning on staying."
"Saint—"
"Stop."
This time—
His voice wasn't just cold.
It carried authority.
The kind that made people listen.
Even her.
"I came back because you called."
A pause.
"…Now I know I shouldn't have."
Selene's chest tightened.
"You don't mean that."
Saint turned toward the door.
Hand on the handle.
"…I do."
"Saint."
He didn't look back.
"…If you walk out that door again—"
A pause.
Her voice trembling.
"…I don't know if I can handle it."
For the first time—
His hand hesitated.
Just slightly.
But it was enough.
Enough to show—
He heard her.
Enough to show—
It mattered.
But still—
The door opened.
Rain poured outside.
And without another word—
Saint stepped into it.
The door closed behind him.
Inside the House
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Selene stood there…
Staring at the door.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Upstairs—
Lyra clenched the railing.
Yue bit her lip.
Neither of them went after him.
Because they knew—
Right now…
He wouldn't let anyone close.
Outside
Rain soaked through Saint's clothes instantly.
But he didn't care.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
His phone buzzed.
Mira.
He answered.
"Yeah."
"You're late," she said.
Saint glanced up at the dark sky.
"…Got held up."
Riven's voice came through in the background. "You alive at least?"
A faint smirk touched Saint's lips.
"Yeah."
Then his expression went cold again.
"I'm coming."
The call ended.
And as he disappeared into the night—
The distance between him and the life he once had…
Grew even wider.
—————-
In the darkness—
Over 200 members stood silently.
Waiting.
Saint stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
This was where he belonged.
Not school.
Not the Sato house.
Not the past.
Here—
He was king.
"From today," he said calmly,
"No one touches what's mine."
The entire room bowed.
"YES, BOSS."
Mira smirked.
Riven laughed.
And somewhere far away—
The life Saint once had…
Continued to fall apart.
————
The underground base was alive.
Over two hundred members stood in organized chaos—voices low, tension high.
At the center—
A throne-like chair.
And on it…
Saint Asakura.
One leg crossed over the other, chin resting lazily on his hand.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Awake.
Dangerous.
"They crossed the line," Mira Kurose said calmly, tossing a file onto the table.
"Three territories hit in one night."
Riven Takahashi scoffed. "They've got guts. I'll give them that."
Saint didn't move.
"Name."
Mira's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…The Obsidian Fang."
A ripple went through the room.
Even the veterans shifted.
That name—
Carried weight.
"They've been quiet for years," Riven muttered. "Why now?"
Mira's gaze flicked toward Saint.
"…Because of him."
Silence fell instantly.
Saint's expression didn't change.
But the air did.
"He's grown too big," she continued.
"Too fast. Too powerful."
Riven smirked. "So they wanna test the king?"
Saint finally moved.
Slowly sitting forward.
"Eliminate them."
The words were quiet.
But final.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"Tonight."
The entire room straightened.
"YES, BOSS."