Rokan slowly opened his eyes to the calming wooden tiled roof. Unlike last time, he fully remembered what had happened — though the circumstances were different.
He turned his head and saw Jinrai leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes fixed on him as if waiting for answers he hadn't even asked.
A hint of curiosity… and something close to concern… lingered on Jinrai's face.
"Why?" Jinrai asked, raising his shoulders slightly.
Rokan sat up slowly, resting his arms on his knees. He took a deep sigh.
"You, Rin, Sumi… you're all in this mess because of me. Because I'm the Avatar. And if I can't even learn how to use what I have to help you guys… what kind of Avatar am I?"
Jinrai pushed himself off the doorframe and walked toward him with slow, quiet steps. He sat calmly on the bed before speaking.
"How do you expect to learn how to be an Avatar in a month… it doesn't work like that."
Rokan stayed quiet.
Jinrai placed a hand on his back.
"Do you know Avatar Aang?"
Rokan looked up at Jinrai and nodded slowly.
"Yeah… He's considered the greatest Avatar of all time. He ended a war between nations."
"And… kept the spiritual balance intact," Jinrai added. "See… he did all that. And do you know why?"
Rokan remained silent, his eyes still locked on Jinrai.
"He had his own family. His wife, Katara— the greatest waterbender to ever live. A brave warrior in Sokka. And a blind little menace in Toph. They formed an unstoppable team that later defeated the evil Fire Lord Ozai. And that was just the beginning of his story…"
Jinrai removed his hand and stood up, walking toward the door.
"...What I'm saying is… nothing great ever comes easy. And neither does it come quickly. But it always gets there."
Jinrai left the room, leaving Rokan alone with his thoughts.
---
A soft knock echoed against the wooden door of a modest but well-kept home. The structure was small, yet welcoming — a neatly arranged porch framed the entrance, with carefully trimmed bushes and blooming flowers adding gentle bursts of color. The faint scent of fresh soil and petals lingered in the calm air, giving the home a quiet warmth.
Footsteps approached from inside.
The door opened slowly, revealing a man in his late forties. His posture was slightly slouched, as if weighed down by restless nights. His eyes scanned the two figures standing outside.
Jung Gyu stood calmly at the front, Yuta slightly behind him. Jung Gyu reached into his coat, pulled out his badge, briefly flashing it before returning it to its place.
"Good day, sir. May I have a word with you and your wife?"
The man exhaled slowly, the tension in his face visible. After a brief pause, he stepped aside.
"...Come in."
He walked back inside, his voice calling out through the house.
"Saiko! The cops are here."
The door shut softly behind them.
Inside, the house carried a peaceful charm. A wooden-themed living room blended seamlessly into a tiled kitchen. It wasn't luxurious, but everything was carefully arranged — clean surfaces, warm lighting, and subtle decorations that gave the place personality.
"You have a lovely home, sir," Jung Gyu remarked calmly.
Before the man could reply, footsteps sounded from upstairs.
Saiko descended slowly, wearing a robe. Heavy eye bags sagged beneath her eyes, her face pale and drained. Her expression felt distant — almost empty — like someone who hadn't truly rested in weeks.
"Good day, madam," Jung Gyu greeted gently.
"We'd like to ask a few questions about your son."
Suddenly—
"He's not a criminal!"
Saiko burst out, her voice trembling but loud. Her composure shattered instantly.
"He's not! You guys are the ones making a 13-year-old kid look like a weapon of mass destruction! He's—"
Her voice broke mid-sentence. Tears welled in her eyes as her breathing became uneven.
Omar quickly stepped beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He gently rubbed her hair, holding her close as she trembled.
"Honey… tell them…" she whispered, her voice shaky and restless.
"Please," Omar said softly, though he remained silent afterward, continuing to comfort her.
---
After a few quiet moments, the atmosphere gradually settled. The tension lingered, but the conversation resumed.
"We haven't seen or heard from our son for over a month now. No text… no call… nothing," Saiko said quietly.
"Are you sure of what you're telling us?" Yuta asked.
Saiko turned toward him, her eyes sharp with irritation. She held his gaze for a moment before answering.
"Yes."
Her voice was calm — subtle — but the frustration underneath was unmistakable.
"Did your son have any friends with heavy connections? Other than Sumi?" Jung Gyu asked.
Omar shook his head slightly.
"He was a rather known kid at school, but he was never the type to hang around outside his circle. And his circle… was just Sumi."
Jung Gyu jotted down notes before looking up again.
"Do you have any clue where he would go and hide all by himself?"
Omar's expression hardened. His eyes sharpened, the air around him subtly tightening.
"With all honesty, detective… even if we knew, I can't say we would tell you."
Silence.
Jung Gyu's gaze met Omar's. Both men stared at each other, neither backing down. The tension between them lingered for a few seconds before Jung Gyu finally broke the stare.
"We're leaving."
---
Outside, Jung Gyu and Yuta stepped onto the porch. Saiko and Omar followed behind them, standing at the doorway.
"I know he's your son, and you think you're doing him a favor," Jung Gyu said calmly. "But if you get any intel we could use to locate him… please alert us."
Saiko and Omar remained quiet.
Jung Gyu and Yuta began walking away, their footsteps fading as they moved further from the house.
After some distance, Yuta spoke.
"Think they're lying to us?"
Jung Gyu's expression remained unchanged. His eyes stayed sharp, focused ahead.
"No."
A brief pause.
"They were being one hundred percent honest…"
His gaze narrowed slightly.
"...Which means we're not getting anything out of them."
---
Furama sat at his usual restaurant. The service had already begun, yet not a single soul occupied the place. The quiet felt deliberate — almost as if the entire space had been cleared just for him.
He stared out the window, his fingers lightly tapping against the table. The reflection of the empty restaurant stared back at him.
Footsteps approached.
"You're late…" he said, still facing the window.
He slowly turned his head, the faintest smile resting on his lips.
"...I hate waiting."
Kenra stood across from Furama's table, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but alert.
"Yeah, well, traffic was tough," Kenra replied casually. "I have to be a law-abiding citizen, don't I?"
Furama remained silent, his smile unchanged.
He gestured lightly toward the chair.
"Please… sit."
Kenra pulled the chair back and sat down, leaning forward slightly.
"So? You're the one that emailed me. What exactly do you want from me?"
Furama remained silent for a moment, studying him.
"I… am the head of the Anti-Bending Council," he finally said. "And we, as a team, have been working on a… project."
Kenra's expression remained flat. His lip pushed slightly to the side, clearly unimpressed — expecting more.
"Fuck it…" Furama muttered under his breath. "You want a piece of Rokan, right?"
Kenra's attention snapped instantly. His eyes sharpened, his relaxed posture gone in an instant.
He leaned forward.
"I'm listening."
---
Outside, Rokan stepped out into the open air. A cool breeze brushed gently across his face, swaying his hair slightly as he walked forward.
He stopped.
Sumi was training.
Her movements were sharp yet graceful, each motion flowing into the next. Short puffs of breath escaped her lips with every extension of her arms. She shifted her footing, pivoting smoothly as if engaged in an invisible battle.
Then—
She planted her feet firmly.
A sudden surge of heat built around her.
With a swift forward motion, she unleashed an enormous flame blast.
The fire tore across the already damaged training ground, stretching far into the distance — nearly 10,000 feet — like a blazing river cutting through the earth.
The air warped from the heat. Dust and debris scattered violently as the flames roared forward.
Rokan stood frozen, stunned.
Seeing someone like Sumi — calm, quiet, gentle — unleash something so massive caught him completely off guard.
But one thing was certain…
She was strong.
Sumi exhaled slowly, lowering her arms. She turned — and noticed Rokan standing there.
Rokan raised his hand, revealing four chocolate bars, a soft smile spreading across his face.
---
The two now sat on a tree stump, quietly eating.
Silence settled comfortably around them. The soft sound of chewing filled the air, broken only by a gentle breeze rustling the leaves overhead.
"I saw that attack you launched… that was incredible," Rokan said, taking another bite.
Sumi glanced at him and smiled softly.
"Sumi… thank you," Rokan said, turning toward her. "I'm… really grateful you came into my life. If it weren't for you… I probably wouldn't even be here right now."
Sumi's smile slowly faded, her eyes softening as she looked at him more intensely.
Her lips parted slightly, as if trying to say something… but hesitation held her back.
Before she could speak, Rokan continued.
"Let's promise to get stronger… and protect each other. Okay?"
He stretched out his pinky toward her.
Sumi stared at his finger… then back at him. A small smile returned to her face as she nodded gently.
"Mm."
She hooked her pinky with his.
A quiet promise formed between them.
…Five Years Later…
Still hidden deep within the vast forest, a simple wooden house stood quietly among towering trees. Morning sunlight filtered gently through the leaves, casting soft patterns across the wooden floors inside.
Rin stepped out of a room, his growth unmistakable. He now stood tall at 180 cm, his frame lean with defined muscle forming naturally over the years. A faint six-pack lined his abdomen as he stretched, scratching lazily while walking into the main area.
"Good morning, Mr. Jinrai. Where's Rokan and Sumi?"
Jinrai, looking almost unchanged, maintained his built physique and calm, handsome features. He stood at the sink, washing dishes with steady, practiced movements.
"I sent them to pick up a few things in town."
"When did they leave?" Rin asked, lowering himself onto the floor beside a short wooden table.
"A few minutes ago. They should've arrived by now."
---
Rokan and Sumi walked along a relatively crowded sidewalk. Both had grown noticeably taller — Rokan now stood at 181 cm, while Sumi reached 177 cm.
Rokan wore a hoodie with a mask covering the lower half of his face. Sumi wore a cap pulled low, her own mask hiding her expression. They moved quietly through the crowd before stepping into a nearby supermarket.
After gathering a few items, Sumi suddenly stopped.
Her eyes landed on a mask with a striking red design.
Meanwhile, Rokan stood nearby, carefully weighing a bottle of olive oil when Sumi hurried toward him, holding the mask.
"You want the mask?"
She nodded.
Rokan glanced at the cash in his hand. It was enough… but Jinrai wouldn't be thrilled about spending money on something unnecessary.
He hesitated.
Then he sighed quietly.
…Fuck it.
He took the mask and dropped it into the cart.
They made their way toward the checkout counter, where a young girl stood waiting.
Rokan's attention caught instantly.
She had short black hair, slim eyes, and soft brown irises. Her figure was modest, her presence calm yet quietly captivating.
He stared.
A little too long.
"Sir!"
Rokan snapped out of it.
"Sorry."
He quickly unpacked the items from the cart, stacking them neatly on the counter. Still, his eyes kept drifting back to her as she scanned the items.
He wanted to say something.
But the words refused to form.
"That'll be a thousand yen, sir."
Rokan handed over the cash, his eyes still locked with hers. She met his gaze, slightly confused, yet offered a polite smile.
She handed him the receipt.
"Thank you for coming. Have a nice day."
"T-Thank you…"
"I will."
Their eyes lingered for a moment longer.
Beside him, Sumi watched silently, confusion written across her face. She glanced between Rokan and the girl, then sighed and slapped her palm against her forehead.
She grabbed the purchases and shoved Rokan forward.
As she pushed him away, Rokan quickly glanced at the girl's name tag.
"I'll come again, Rika!"
Sumi pushed him harder, forcing him out of the store.
---
A tall, dark figure stepped out of a bank not far from the supermarket Rokan and Sumi had just left.
He walked calmly toward a black van and stepped inside.
Another man sat in the driver's seat, holding a remote-like device in one hand and a phone in the other. A long scar ran across the left side of his face.
He glanced at the newcomer.
"I hope you did it right, Dier."
Dier smirked.
"Don't you trust me, Rage?"
Rage looked at him briefly, then forward again. He lifted a walkie-talkie to his mouth.
"Are y'all ready?"
Across the street, another tinted vehicle waited. Inside, four masked men sat silently. One lifted his walkie-talkie.
"Ready."
Each of them held pistols, fingers resting near the triggers.
Back in the van, Rage spoke again.
"One…"
The air grew tense.
"Two…"
Fingers tightened. Breaths slowed.
"...Three."
His finger hovered above the remote.
"Boom," he whispered.
He pressed the button.
A massive explosion tore through the bank.
Panic erupted instantly. Civilians scattered in every direction. Concrete shattered, debris flying across the street as thick smoke rose into the sky.
Rokan heard the explosion just as they neared the road leading back toward the forest.
Sumi turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
Rokan stared toward the rising smoke.
He handed her the bags.
"Get back home. I'll check it out."
As he turned to run, Sumi grabbed his wrist, concern clear in her grip.
"It's okay…" he said softly, easing her hand away.
"It's my job."
He ran toward the smoke.
…To be continued…