Mira Kurasaki—the deadliest assassin and top fighter in Edenfall HQ, Japan. Swift, precise, and brutally efficient, she was a name feared in the underworld.
As she and Takumi stepped into the underground training facility, the sheer scale of it left him momentarily speechless.
"I still can't believe we're underground," Takumi muttered, glancing around in awe.
Mira turned to him, arms crossed. Before she could speak, he lowered his head slightly. "Kurasaki-san... Thank you for saving me."
She blinked, eyes look somewhere, a hint of pink dusting her cheeks. "Mira. J-Just Mira is fine."
"Ah, okay then… Thank you, Mira-san."
Mira huffed lightly. "And… sorry about Ayato. He says a lot of weird things. He's always like that—a bit annoying."
Takumi chuckled faintly. "It's fine, Mira-san."
What he didn't know was that Ayato had already noticed—Mira was starting to warm up to him. Ever since she had been assigned to keep an eye on him, she had watched him from the shadows, learning everything about him.
Takumi a 175 cm tall, cool-looking guy, but his reserved nature made him invisible to others. He spent his time alone, buried in studies, his gaze always lowered as if avoiding the world. To most, he was just another odd genius—a quiet, boring guy no one bothered to approach.
But now, someone seems had.
The training ground buzzed with activity—warriors locked in hand-to-hand combat, trainees honing their skills with melee weapons, and marksmen perfecting their aim. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and steel, the rhythmic clash of blades and sharp gunfire echoing throughout the area.
Mira led Takumi through the organized chaos, her voice steady and authoritative.
"We'll start with hand-to-hand combat—just the basics. After that, you can choose a weapon that suits you."
She gestured toward a long rack lined with various weapons—katanas, short swords, steel wires, bows, handguns, hammers, staffs, and more.
"But first, change into training gear."
She turned to a nearby trainee. "Get him a training set."
"Yes, Kurasaki-san!" the trainee responded promptly.
Once Takumi changed, he took a seat among the other trainees while Mira stood at the front, scanning the area.
Before she could begin, a tall, muscular man approached them with a smirk, his demeanor both confident and familiar.
"Ah, Kurasaki-chan, long time no see. You came back with Ayato?"
Mira exhaled. "Yes. I have a direct mission from Takamura-dono. Him…" She nodded toward Takumi. "He's mine."
The man raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? He's yours? You actually brought your boyfriend here?"
Mira's face instantly turned red. "What?! No! Don't be ridiculous, Utsushi-san! Ugh… Why are all the men here acting like Ayato? I—I mean, Takamura-dono ordered me to train him personally!"
Takumi watched the exchange in silence, sensing her frustration.
Mira took a deep breath and recomposed herself. "Takumi-kun, come here."
Takumi stood and approached.
"This is Utsushi-sensei. He's a master of melee weaponry, especially katana."
Utsushi extended a hand with a grin. "I'm Utsushi Kogarashi. Just call me Utsushi."
Takumi shook his hand. "Takumi Asahiro. Nice to meet you."
Leaning in slightly, Utsushi whispered with a teasing smirk, "So, you're Kurasaki-chan's boyfriend? No wonder she calls you by your first name, ahaha."
Takumi tensed. "Ah, no, that's not—"
"Hah?! Whatever, Utsushi-san!" Mira cut in, crossing her arms, clearly irritated. "He's under my training. Once I finish hand-to-hand combat with him, you'll handle his melee weapon training."
Utsushi chuckled. "Alright, alright, Kurasaki-chan. Just let me know when you're done—enjoy your date."
Mira's eye twitched as her face burned crimson. Without hesitation, she lashed out with a sharp right kick aimed at Utsushi's head. He barely dodged in time, laughing as he stepped back.
"Ahaha! Sorry, sorry, Kurasaki-chan!" He playfully bowed in apology.
Mira cracked her knuckles. "Keep that up, and we're dueling right here."
Utsushi raised his hands in surrender. "No, no, I'd rather not. I know my limits—I'd be facing Edenfall's best fighter, after all."
Mira exhaled sharply, shaking off her frustration before turning back to Takumi.
"Alright. Enough distractions. Let's begin."
Day after day, week after week, Takumi trained relentlessly at Edenfall HQ.
Every move, every technique—Mira drilled them into him with precision, and he absorbed it all at an astonishing pace. His adaptability was unmatched, mastering hand-to-hand combat faster than anyone expected.
Beyond unarmed combat, he delved into katana techniques, melee weaponry, and even the intricacies of throwing weapons. His movements became sharper, his instincts keener.
In just two and a half months, his progress was undeniable. Whispers spread throughout Edenfall.
"A prodigy."
"A natural talent."
"The wonder child of Edenfall."
"It's almost three months… I never expected you to learn so fast," Mira said, a small smile forming as she appraised Takumi.
"Thanks to you and Utsushi-san for being great mentors," Takumi replied with a nod of gratitude.
Mira crossed her arms, watching him closely. He had come a long way—far beyond what she initially expected.
Takumi's expression grew serious. "What's going on up there? I left my phone at my apartment that night… I haven't seen any updates."
Mira's smile faded. She hesitated for a moment before answering. "You'll find out soon enough, but… it's worse than you think."
She exhaled, her tone heavy. "Crime rates have skyrocketed. The global economy is collapsing. Inflation is out of control—money is practically worthless now."
She met his gaze. "People are turning on the rich. Desperation is taking over."
Takumi's fists clenched slightly. "That bad, huh…"
"Yeah… it's that bad," Mira continued. "Even the police can't cover all the cases happening now. There are just too many crimes, too much chaos."
Takumi frowned. "So, it's complete anarchy?"
"Not yet," Mira said, shaking her head. "But it's close. The government is struggling to maintain order, and Edenfall has been stepping in where we can. Even then, it's barely enough."
Takumi exhaled, his mind racing. The world he once knew was crumbling, and he had been training underground, unaware of how dire things had become.
"So… what I need to do?" he asked.
Mira met his gaze. "That depends on you."
A flood of memories rushed through Takumi's mind.
He recalled that day in the campus cafeteria when Arisuke had approached him, his voice laced with arrogance.
"I know you love her, but she's mine now. You can't do anything about it. I'm rich, and she's happy with me."
Takumi had clenched his fists back then, swallowing the bitterness in his throat.
Another memory surfaced—Yuki standing before him, smiling as she waved.
"Takumi-chan!"
He hesitated. "Yuki-chan… we shouldn't meet."
"Why? What happened?"
"Arisuke told me to stay away from you. You're happy with him, so just do as he says. Seeing you happy is enough for me. I don't want to cause trouble between you two."
Her expression shifted, the light in her eyes dimming. "Takumi-chan, are you happy living in this world?"
"Huh?"
"Ari-chan… I loved him from the start. But ever since we got together, he's been too overprotective. With all his wealth and power, I feel… caged. But my parents told me to stay with him."
Takumi hesitated before answering. "Your parents are right, Yuki-chan. He can provide you with everything you need and live happily."
Yuki's gaze lowered, disappointment flashing across her face. "So that's your opinion too…"
Now, back in the present, Takumi clenched his fists. He had been blind. He thought he was doing the right thing, but all he did was push her into the same cycle, just like everyone else around her. She had come to him searching for understanding, for someone who could see her pain—and he had failed her.
He exhaled sharply and turned to Mira.
"Mira-san, I need to go back to my college. There's something I have to check."
"You can defend yourself now," Mira said, crossing her arms. "I'll talk to Takamura-dono."
Takumi nodded, determination in his eyes. "Thanks, Mira-san."
Mira studied him for a moment before sighing. "Just don't do anything reckless."
A small smile formed on Takumi's lips. "I won't."
Seated behind his grand desk, Raizen Takamura steepled his fingers as he regarded Takumi. Mira stood beside him, her posture straight, awaiting orders.
"But you still need to keep an eye on him, Mira Kurasaki," Takamura stated firmly.
"I understand, sir," Mira responded without hesitation.
Takumi bowing his head respectfully. "Thank you for everything, Takamura-dono. Your hospitality, the training—everything."
Raizen gave a silent nod, his approval unspoken but understood.
Stepping out of Raizen's office, Takumi took a deep breath, his mind already set on his next move.
Mira turned to him, holding out a bag. "Take this. A gift from Takamura-dono—for your needs. When the time comes, Edenfall will reach out to you."
Takumi accepted the bag and peeked inside—bundles of cash, enough to last him for months, and a short katana resting at the bottom. His fingers tightened around the strap.
It was time to return.
"See you later, Mira-san," he said with a small smile.
Without warning, Mira stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a brief but firm embrace.
Takumi froze, momentarily caught off guard. Before he could react, she quickly pulled away, realizing what she had done.
Her face turned crimson. "S-Sorry, Takumi… See you later!, I will keep an eye on you" she stammered before turning away abruptly.
Takumi chuckled softly, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. "Yeah. See you later."
And with that, he walked away.
The Wonder Child of Edenfall begins his move.
Raizen Takamura sat at his desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk as his phone buzzed. He picked it up, bringing it to his ear
"All the setup is complete," Ayato's voice came through the receiver. "Also, we've made him vanish from their radar for quite a long time."
Raizen leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. He knew exactly who Ayato was referring to—the last surviving member of the Antarctica research team. The one Edenfall had secured before the government could silence him.
"Good work," Raizen acknowledged. "With him out of the picture, it's time to move forward with the next plan."
"Understood," Ayato replied, then hesitated for a brief moment before adding, "And… as you promised, you kept Mira attached to Takumi even after his training ended."
A smirk crossed Raizen's lips. "Yes, as your request"
"Thank you Master!," Ayato chuckled. "From the moment you assigned her to Takumi Asahiro, I saw it in her eyes. Affection? Perhaps. But my suspicions were confirmed the first day I saw them together at Edenfall."
Raizen exhaled. "It's nothing. Just focus on the plan."
"I will. But still… thank you, Master."
The call ended, leaving Raizen alone in the silence of his office.
Ayato had always known how empty Mira's life had been. As her older brother, he had seen her grow distant, detached. But something had changed when she was assigned to shadow Takumi.
For the first time in years, she seemed… alive.
That was why Ayato had made his request to Raizen—to give her a mission that would keep her close to Takumi.
And now, with everything set in motion, it seemed his wish had been granted.
After his call with Raizen, Ayato switched to English, addressing another Edenfall member.
She was Serena White, an officer of Edenfall's American HQ.
"I just got confirmation from Japan HQ," Ayato said. "I'll escort him from Japan in a week. The plan is to do the broadcast here in America."
"Thank you again, Kurasaki," Serena replied.
"See you in a week, Serena," Ayato said before ending the call.
Their conversation referred to the last key member of the Antarctica research team—Dr. Kenji Sakamoto, a geophysicist.
Having successfully secured Dr. Sakamoto and kept him hidden from the government's radar for three months, Edenfall was ready to take the next step.
The worldwide broadcast.
Edenfall's next move begins