The sun was slowly on the rise, the morning glow shining across the field. The world outside still clung to its hush, the air cool and tinged with dew.
Itami kept to his routine.
A simple breakfast—eggs, plain rice, nothing more. The soft sizzle of the pan filled the kitchen, blending with the distant chirp of birds beyond the sliding doors.
After eating he Making his way out, walking down a stone path up a hill, where a Torii stood tall, a flag bearing the Wyvern crest hanged on the ends of it. Itami made it to the end of the path opening a door to where a shrine of his family, with two Wyvern statues guarding the shrine and a display of two Katanas.
He knelt. Lined neatly across the altar were the old photos—some faded, some still vivid. His father. His mother. A younger him. His younger brother.
He lit a couple of incense as he pressed his hands together and started a prayer. The words of the prayer came out automatic, not forced, but hollow from repetition. After finishing he lingered longer than usual as he looked at a picture of his father. Smiling wide with both his younger brother and him in frame.
Father. It's still hard…
Trying to figure out things on my own. I know I have more people around me now—not Just Akuma and the others—but... calling them friends? Maybe I'm still not ready for that. But I'll keep going. I'm learning, even if it's slow. I hope I'm making you proud. I'll get through these trials. And be the hero you always wanted to see me be.
A moment of silence passed until he got up and left the shrine, heading back to his house.
The hallway lights buzzed softly. The house, empty as always, felt colder today. Or maybe he was just noticing it more.
Itami moved on instinct.
He cleaned the kitchen—scraping the leftover rice into the compost, rinsing the pan, wiping down the counters like he was still following his father's old routines.
"If your tools are clean, your mind is clean," his father used to say.
It didn't help much now. But it was a habit. And habits were sometimes the only thing that kept the noise at bay. He then spent the rest of his day training in the open field, concentrating on his fire and electricity. Forcing them together, making both elements combine. He only stopped once it was time to head out to Black Scale HQ.
He cleaned himself up as a black SUV pulled up in front of his house. Once he got it, he noticed it wasn't Akuma, just a regular agent from another clan. Without of word they drove off, going from Wyvern part of the village to a building in front of a mountain.
Itami got off the car and proceeded to enter the building, going into its cold hallways, only fluorescent lights lining the walls. At the end of the hallway, he entered the elevator, going deeper into the mountain with a low hum as background noise.
Once he entered the room, he found the squad of Shadow Scale—all except one.
"Where's Lira?" Itami asked, grabbing a seat next to Sasuke.
"Oh, her? She's already been briefed on the mission," Sasuke replied, taking a slow sip of water from his matte black canteen. "She had to report to Geto about something."
Kael flicked a small piece of rock across the table, knocking over Sasuke's canteen with a loud clank.
"Use a regular water bottle medic. You look like some rookie recruit trying to show off."
Sasuke shot a bored glance at Kael, picking up his canteen without breaking stride.
"You act like it's fancy glass old man. This thing keeps the water cold for days. But sure, piss me off more. I'll heal your wounds last."
Kael ignored the comment, leaning back in his chair. The old metal creaked under his weight. His grin wasn't mocking—it was the kind a fighter gives when he smells weakness. Or potential.
"And you, rookie." Kael flicked another small rock at Itami's forehead. "Saw you on TV. Not bad showing your strength. But what the hell was that in the final round? You could've brought home the gold."
Itami rubbed the spot where the rock hit, deadpan.
"Didn't take you for the type to watch high schoolers fight. Big fan or something?"
Kael's grin widened just a bit.
"Doesn't matter if it's high school or the streets, rookie. A win's a win. You walked off the field like it was nothing. Don't waste what you've been given."
Before Itami could respond, a voice cut through the room.
"Enough."
The entire squad straightened as Drex stepped up into the terminal, turning on the display.
Riven appeared out of nowhere, dropping a thick folder into Drex's hand before silently taking a seat next to Kael.
"This is our next mission."
The holographic system shifted, the map glowing with highlighted routes, venues, and dense city grids.
"We will be escorting a performer, VIP treatment. We will be going from theater to theater making sure the performance goes smoothly. The mission will end at the last theater in Hosu. We make sure no harm of ill being comes to the client. Now for the client herself."
Drex handed out some papers from the folder as the screen changed once again, showing a young women with dark red hair and eyes to match.
"The clients name is Aika. She's a well known performer in Japan, she even performed on broadway."
Kael clicked his tongue, sparks briefly crackling out of hus mouth.
"So we're babysitting a celebrity?"
Drex didn't even look at him.
"Although she is a celebrity, that's not why we're involved. Multiple groups have targeted her—kidnapping, leverage, power plays. And the main reason, her quirk." He tapped the terminal, bringing up a profile image of a woman surrounded by flashing lights and blurred crowds. "It's been leaked that her quirk allows her to see the future."
A pause.
"We don't know how. We don't know the range. But the data checks out—she's predicted things she shouldn't be able to."
Drex continued without missing a beat.
"Itami. You'll be assigned as her personal security detail. You do not leave her side—before, during, or after performances. You'll operate as personal Secuirty gaurd. the rest of the unit stays in the shadows."
He stepped to the table and dropped a matte black case onto it. Inside were small, square devices—sleek, minimalist.
"These are face scramblers," Drex said. "They mask your identity. On camera? Just a blur. In person? Just another forgettable face."
Itami picked one up. The surface felt cold in his hand—smooth, dense, like there was more to it than met the eye.
Drex turned his attention fully to him now.
"I know U.A. is preparing internship placements," he said. "You've already been registered under the Wyrm-Crest Hero Agency. They'll submit paperwork and reports on your behalf. From the school's perspective, you're doing everything required for you to pass."
Itami stared at the scrambler for a second longer, then slipped it into his pocket.
Man couldn't even give me a choice.
Drex powered down the terminal.
"You all will report back here in forty-eight hours for the start of our mission. This mission will end once her last performance in Hosu is completed and she's secured to her private jet…Now"
He paused, then looked Itami dead in the eye.
"Today you'll be sparring with Riven and Kael. You're strong, yes. But not on our level. And nowhere near Lucien's."
The comment dug into Itami, but hei kept his face neutral. He nodded once.
"Good," Drex said.
"Dismissed."
The air thinned a little after Drex's dismissal, the weight in the room shifting as the holograms faded and footsteps echoed across the steel floor.
Sasuke was the first to stand, adjusting his gear as he let out a soft exhale. "Guess we're doing this now."
Kael leaned back in his chair with a creak. "Don't look so annoyed. You'll be busy once we're done with the rookie." Kael said pointing at Itami.
Itami only side eyed as a response.
Sasuke gave a dry look as he slung his canteen over his shoulder. He turned to Itami, motioning with a tilt of his head. "Come on, rookie. I'll show you the fun room."
They walked in silence, the corridor cool and dim with only the soft flick of overhead lights. At the end stood a heavy blast door set into the mountain wall, steel thick enough to stop a tank round.
Sasuke stepped up to the panel, keyed in a short code, and the doors rumbled open with a deep mechanical groan.
"This is where we train," he said. "Reinforced concrete, full shock-dampeners, pressure-sensor floors. You could set off a building-leveling explosion in here and barely rattle the hallway."
Itami stepped inside. The room was massive—scored with old scorch marks and chipped walls from past sessions. It smelled faintly of ozone, sweat, and something burned too many times to name.
Kael strolled in, already rotating his neck.
Riven followed quietly, eyes scanning the space like he was already measuring how the fight would go.
Sasuke leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Itami.
"Drex is right, You're strong," he said, tone even. "We've seen that. But strength in the field isn't just output. It's control. Adaptation. How you react when you're not the strongest in the room."
His voice dropped slightly.
"You'll learn that here."
Kael cracked his knuckles. "We keeping it clean or full contact?"
"Full contact," Sasuke replied without hesitation.
"Good." Kael grinned as he stepped onto the mat. "Been waiting to knock him down, and for getting second place."
Riven rolled his shoulders and followed.
Sasuke looked at Itami one last time.
"No shame in getting hit. Just don't forget where you're standing when you do."
Itami stepped onto the mat, rolling his shoulders out. The room was still. Even the air felt heavier inside this space.
Kael cracked his neck and flexed both hands, the faint shimmer of hardened skin growing out of his hands, forming into gauntlets. A low pulse of heat built around him. Coiled, controlled.
"You better keep up rookie." Kael said, stepping into position. "But Ill give you a hint about yourself. You overthink your setups. Let's see if you can move without calling your next play."
"We'll see, who knows I might just beat you. " Itami replied flatly.
Kael grinned.
Sasuke gave a light whistle from the side wall signialing the start of the match.
Kael moved first—no warning, just a forward blur, closing the space in a heartbeat.
Itami barely had time to move before a heavy blow from a Kaels gaunlet hit his side. He barley managed too blocked, scales he made on his forearms already broken. Itami tried to throw a retaliatory knee to the guy—but Kael twisted, slipped under, and caught Itami's leg mid-swing. Dispite his huge statue, he's nimble.
"Too slow."
He slammed him down hard into the mat.
The shock rippled through the floor. Itami's breath hitched, pain spiking through his back. He rolled fast, dodging the next stomp and launching a fireball at close range.
Kael tanked it—brushing the flames off his arm with a laugh.
"You call that a hit?"
Itami gritted his teeth and swept his leg under, forcing Kael to leap back. He sprang up, launching a bolt of electricity—crackling wild but sharp.
Kael deflected it with his gaulents, sparks bouncing harmlessly off. Then he blurred forward again.
A clean left hook caught Itami square in the jaw, sending him skidding. He caught himself just before the wall, steam curling off his skin. His jaw feeling like its broken.
Sasuke shook his head. "Yup. There it is. Rookie, lesson number one: don't trade hits with Kael unless you've got a death wish."
Kael stepped back, letting Itami catch his breath.
"Come on rookie, is that all you got?."
Itami's fist clenched. His flames surged up, swirling tighter with lighting sparking wildling. The next few exchanges were sharper—fire arcing in compact bursts, movement cleaner. He landed a few solid hits—one fire palm to Kael's ribs, a grazing flame-kick to the chin.
Kael didn't flinch. He cracked a smile and surged in with a brutal spinning backfist that clipped Itami hard across the head.
Darkness rang in briefly—but Itami stayed on his feet. Just barely.
Kael stepped back and exhaled. "Won't you look at that, still standing even after that hit"
Itami staggered slightly, sweat on his brow, breath tight.
Sasuke walked over, already digging into his pouch. "Alright alright, match is over, sit down Itami, your concussed."
"I'm fine," Itami muttered but still wobbled.
"Yeah you can cut the tough act, your seeing stars right now." Sasuke deadpanned. He pressed two fingers to Itami's temple, a low glow emitting from his hand. "Her n that should do it."
Itami palmed his forehead screaming in pain. " OWOWOW! No light magic!"
Kael folded his arms his gaulents still emitting heat like glowing rocks. " weird how light magic hurts you "
"Yeah and it burns me," Itami muttered, his vision clearing, he then layer sprawled on the matt.
Sauske then quickly laid a cover of light magic "Yeah never met someone that gets hurt by my light."
Itami cried out in pain again wriggling on the ground "Come on that really hurts!"
Sasuke clapped while getting up . "Alrighty now your ready for the next round."
Itami then sat up, seeing Riven now on the matt.
Riven stood at the edge—silent, focused, he hadn't blinked the entire time.
Sauske then whispered to Itami "He does that from time to time but don't let your guard down with him."
Kael grinned as he passed him. "Try not to get folded too quickly."
Itami exhaled and got back up, standing on the opposite side of the mat. The bruises were already fading away from his side and the buzzing from his head slowly fading. He got into his stance.
Riven was already standing across from him. Still. Quiet. Barefoot.
His eyes locked on like a hawk staring down prey. Not cold—just unreadable. Efficient.
Sasuke gave the same Whistle signaling the start of the match.
Itami shifted into stance, flames curling lightly around his fists, ready.
"Let's see what you—"
CRACK.
A trail of sparks burst from where Riven had been standing.
Gone.
Itami's eyes widened—too late.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder from behind, followed by a sudden, brutal pull down and a twisting sweep that knocked his legs out from under him.
WHUMP.
Itami hit the floor hard. His ribs flared with pain as he flipped backwards to recover—but Riven was already there, moving like shadow laced in lightning.
Another hit. Then another.
A palm strike to the chest. A sharp elbow to the thigh to disrupt his balance. Every move precise, meant to stagger—not kill—but fast enough to be terrifying. Each blow releasing electricity.
Itami flared both hands, bursting out a wave of fire and lighting,wildly everywhere. It scorched the air—but Riven blurred again, appearing behind Itami and grabbing him in a neck lock before spinning him over and slamming him into the mat.
"Ghhk—!"
The impact was hard, rough. Riven didn't speak. He just stood over him as if waiting to see if Itami would rise again.
He tried. Elbow pressed to the floor. Flame in his palm. But his limbs felt disconnected—out of sync.
Riven finally spoke, voice like ice water. "You lost, just give up."
Then a beat.
"N-No."
In a last ditch effort he released everything he had him in, wrapping the area in flame and electricity. Riven was caught in the blast as he leaped back, dodging random lighting bolts. Once Itami died down, Sauske began his way to him.
Sasuke sighed and kneeled down to him. "Alright, nap time's over."
He crouched beside Itami, rolling up his sleeves and placing one glowing hand on his back.
A jolt of light surged into his body.
Itami laid on his side with a grunt of pain escaping his lips.
"Why does it burn…"
"Yeah," Sasuke muttered, not apologizing. "Light healing doesn't mix well with you. But it works!"
The glow faded, and Itami lay still for a second, chest rising with effort.
Riven stood near the far wall again, arms crossed. "Not bad. For your age."
Kael smirked. "He's got spirit. Shame it's still outmatched by his lack of training."
Itami didn't respond right away. Then, quietly—
"I'm not done learning."
Sasuke helped him sit up. "Good. Because we're not even close to being done"
Itami only let out a deep sigh as he got up and watched as Kael walked on the opposite side of the mat again.
What the hell…