"Yo, Kaito."
The visor lifts just enough to reveal a confident smirk.
"Name's Itsuki Hanabira. You heading to HQ? I can give you a lift."
Kaito's expression turns ice cold, eyes sharp like daggers. "No."
"Whoa—relax," Itsuki chuckles, removing his gloves. "Not a threat. I'm your age. Heard you took down Ryuu Tori."
Kaito deadpans. "I don't do autographs."
"Vokay… that's some high confidence," Itsuki grins. "Y'know, I could kill you in an instant."
Kaito instantly feels a spike in pressure. His blood pulses, his instincts scream. His veins begin to surge green.
Just as he prepares to call his bloodline—
"Woah woah—bluffing! Chill!" Itsuki waves both hands, laughing. "Just messing with you, bro."
Kaito scowls.
"C'mon, hop on. If you're really that strong, you can snap my neck mid-ride if I get funny. Deal?"
Kaito narrows his eyes…
"...You talk too much."
And throws a leg over the bike.
The engine roars beneath them, sleek tires tearing the asphalt. Kaito stays dead silent, arms folded, staring straight ahead.
Itsuki glances at the mirror—mildly surprised. "Thought this kid would be all 'who are you', 'what's this bike', or 'do you work out'—guess not."
Minutes pass. Then finally—
"How are you guys so rich… affording something like this?"
Itsuki chuckles, downshifting.
"Rich? Nah. We've just got unlimited money in Akamichi."
Kaito raises a brow.
"If you wanna get funded too, climb the colour ladder."
Kaito: "…Colour ladder?"
Itsuki nods, picking up speed.
"Your aura's colour shows your rank in Akamichi. Power, experience, respect. All bundled."
Green = Newbie. Just joined.
Yellow = Fresh recruit, a bit more stable.
Blue = Veteran. You've seen real fights.
Purple = Pro veteran. Strategic killers.
Red = Peak warriors. Walking calamities.
Black = Higher than red. Legends. Most are… gone.
Kaito listens.
"Once you hit purple, Akamichi starts funding you. Gear, weapons, vehicles, training—everything."
He pauses, then drops the real bomb.
"But that's not all. There are six elite ranks—True Bloods. The top of the food chain, excluding elders."
"On the flip side… six others. The worst of the worst. Traitors, murderers, monsters. The Severed Bloods. If your name's on that list, Akamichi wants you wiped."
Kaito processes it all, jaw tight.
"…Huh."
Itsuki smirks.
"Welcome to the real game, Kaito. Your green glow ain't gonna cut it for long."
The bike roars again as the Akamichi HQ looms into view—steel, stone, and old blood.
Itsuki parks the sleek black bike near the steps of the HQ. Kaito steps off, still a little tense but hiding it well. Itsuki casually tosses him a brand-new phone.
"Here. Your contact list just got an upgrade."
kaito catching it, stunned)"...Is this really happening?"
Itsuki grinning"Yep. Character development unlocked. You're now officially interesting."
Kaito smirks"I owe you one. You're my friend now. Someone messes with you? I'll punch their teeth in."
"Noted. Welcome to the 'friends arc' of Akamichi, Kaito."
They both laugh briefly. Itsuki waves a peace sign and walks off. Kaito stares at the phone, amused and confused.
Just then, Ren exits the HQ, rubbing his eyes like he hasn't slept since 2005.
"You good?"
Kaito with a proud smirk
"Guess what? I got connections now. Akamichi-style."
Ren deadpan"Cool. Don't open your mouth about what happened. Stay quiet. Got it?"
Kaito nods like a scolded kid"Okay..."
Ren: (exhaling tiredly)"Gear up. There's a competition at the academy. Go find a team, get in. You're not fighting Yorei anytime soon. Use this to grow."
Kaito:"...Copy that, sensei."
He glances at the phone once more before heading toward his new chapter
Ren dropped Kaito at the academy gates and sped off, his car groaning under its broken bumper. Meanwhile, Kaito slid his hands into his pockets, stepping through the academy's front entrance with casual disinterest—until he saw the crowd.
"Damn… there's a lot more students here than I expected."
Different ages, different vibes… yet all cloaked in one thing—ambition. Kaito's eyes darted around.
"Wait... that Itsuki dude has a bike. Purple rank? But sensei's blue and still lives like a legend... How's that even work?"
His thoughts were cut short when his gaze landed on her—the girl who humbled him on day one—and then, Ryuu Tori.
He immediately changed direction.
Nope. Not going near that demon-squad.
But fate, as always, had better ideas.
Ryuu Tori noticed him. And with that same unreadable stare, he walked straight over, grabbed Kaito by the shoulder, and pulled him into their circle.
With a faint grin, Ryuu muttered,
"With you, we're six. Now we're complete."
Kaito blinked.
i am story...what…?
Kaito dusted off his shirt, flicked his collar like he was in some anime opening, and muttered,"No thank you... you guys already look like freaks."
Ryuu didn't blink. The scary girl next to him—Sena, the very same one who nearly ended Kaito's career on day one—just rolled her eyes.
The calm, composed girl beside them—her eyes sharp, her energy matching Ren's, just more feminine—gave a soft smile.Her name? Airiya.No relation to Ren's wife. Just coincidence. Or destiny.
And then there was Daigo.The man looked like protein powder chose to cosplay as a human. Arms the size of Kaito's ego and a smile so friendly it felt illegal."Now all we need to do is wait for Itsuki," Daigo chimed, still grinning like this was a yoga retreat.
But Kaito?
He was already halfway across the ground, locked on to a group of five angelic girls, each sparkling like they were sponsored by shampoo commercials.
His nose? Bleeding like a faucet.His brain? Gone.
He walked toward them like a certified clown, the confidence of a thousand rejections powering his stride.And then—BAM—another dude walked in. Same height. Jet-black hair. Model face. Probably owned skincare.
The guy joined the girls like he was the missing puzzle piece. He turned to Kaito and gave him the "ick" look. Like Kaito was a roach in a teacup.
Kaito snapped.
"OI, WHAT'S THAT LOOK FOR?! YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A JAWLINE?! COME FIGHT ME RIGHT NOW YOU L'ORAEL LOOKIN'—"
Before he could finish, Daigo casually picked him up by the back of his collar like a kitten.
"Relax, short king," Daigo said, still smiling, "this is a school, not an ego gym."
(kaito is actually 6 foot tall)
Kaito flailed mid-air."PUT ME DOWN YOU WAMLART HULK—!!"
The entire courtyard?Laughing.Even Sena smirked.
Kaito?Just took an L.But a funny one.
Chapter X.6: Butterflies & Spoilers
Sena crossed her arms, eyes narrowed.
"Ryuu... why this idiot?"
Ryuu shrugged like it was obvious.
"Because he's our only shot at taking down Team Kuragiri."
(The rival team so cracked even the teachers take notes.)
He continued,
"They've got a tracker who can tag a hummingbird mid-flight. But when our bloodlines are off... this idiot's raw instincts outmatch us all."
Kaito, eavesdropping with zero shame, cleared his throat loud enough to trigger two pigeons.
"Ahem. I'll help you. You're welcome."
Sena didn't miss a beat.
"We're helping you, moron."
...And suddenly.
Something fluttered in Kaito's cold, jaded heart.
Wait... was that a butterfly?
Was this... admiration?
Kaito stared at Sena.
"Why is she glowing? Is that a filter? The hell's wrong with me—"
His daydream was interrupted by the sound of sneakers.
Itsuki had arrived.
Everyone: "Yo Itsuki!"
Itsuki, chill as ever:
"Hi."
Sena tried to intro Kaito like a proud mom:
"This is—"
"I know him." Itsuki interrupted.
"He's part of our team. Can be surprisingly reliable."
Everyone nodded.
Kaito? Still locked in on Sena like a deer in simp-light.
His vision? Blurred.
The sounds? Muffled.
The soul? Weak.
Itsuki waved a hand in front of his face.
"Kaito to earth?"
Kaito blinked.
Internal monologue:
"The fluff... did I just fall for her??"
Out loud:
"Heh… hey Itsuki. Wait—you know each other?"
Sena grumbled,
"Itsuki, stop interrupting me."
Kaito:
"Actually yeah... how did you know all this?"
Daigo flexed casually:
"Itsuki's bloodline can kinda... peek spoilers from the future."
Kaito's eyes widened.
"Damn. That's broken."
And for once...
He didn't mind being the team's clown.
Not if she was watching.
Itsuki clapped his hands."Alright! Team's full. Now we go get our Guard and Guide."
Kaito blinked."Our what now?"
Itsuki grinned."Think... seniors. But like, cooler."He wrapped an arm around Kaito's shoulder."The Guard and Guide are like your temporary captains—guard protects one person, guide leads you by giving the enemy's location.
Kaito:"Cool cool… and who are they?"
Itsuki leaned in like it was a juicy spoiler."Our Guide is Ririka Tsunagi—a walking heart attack in heels. She could kill you with a smile... or a kunai. Depends on her mood."
Kaito:"...I'm listening."nosebleed pending
Itsuki continued."And her brother, our Guard—Kazan Tsunagi—a certified menace.
Kaito:"...okay that's actually terrifying."
Itsuki:"Yup. They are."
The team exchanged nervous glances. Except Kaito—who was already fixing his hair in a window reflection.
Sena rolled her eyes."Ugh. He's gonna be that guy."
Daigo:"Let's just hope he wont drag us down"
Cue ominous laughter from a distance...Someone beautiful was approaching.Someone dangerous.And her brother? Already standing behind Kaito.
Ririka & Kazan had arrived.
"Yo... hold up. What even is this competition?"
Itsuki grinning
"Battle Royale… meets tag… meets psychological warfare."
"huh????"
Itsuki continues"160 participants.Every team gets a band—if you're tagged by an 'It' team, you're hunted.10 teams start as 'It.'Each 'It' team gets another team assigned as their prey. Knock 'em out, they're gone.
When 10 teams are eliminated? Boom—Game condenses to 5 'It' teams.Then 2.5—some teams will have to share a target.4 wildcard teams randomly thrown in chaos mode.And finally…1 winner."
Kaito processing
"...Sounds illegal."
Itsuki chuckling
"Pretty much."
Kaito: "So if we get tagged early... we're screwed?"
Itsuki: "Not instantly. Only way to un-'It' ourselves?Knock out the person that tagged us in less than 10 minutes.Simple."He winked."Just don't get caught slippin', brother."
Kaito: "Yeah, great. No pressure."
Ririka: "Now the special rules, listen up." and Ririka continues
Kaito blinks. "Wait, only two can use bloodline powers?"
Sena nods. "Yeah. Aside from our guard and guide, just two active members can use theirs during the match."
Ryuu smirks. "That's me and itsuki. You're still locked, genius."
Kaito frowns. "Wow, discrimination."
Ririka ignores him. "The game lasts 3 hours. If we're the hunter team, we need to tag every member of our assigned prey team aside from their guard and guide. Tag all, or it doesn't count. Simple."
Kaito scratches his head. "So… knockout tag with 160 psychos. Sweet."
Itsuki walks back, tossing the registration slip in the air. "We're in."
Ryuu: "What'd you name us?"
Itsuki: "Strawhelmets."
Kaito stares. "Like… the cereal?"
Daigo laughs. "Could be a pirate crew. Could be a breakfast item. Iconic either way."
Itsuki smirks. "We'll make it legendary."
Kaito mutters, "Sure, Captain."
and the game begins