[The soft glow of the late afternoon sun filtered through the marketplace awnings as Mio walked beside Aoi and Haruto, each carrying a small basket. Vendors called out prices, the smell of produce drifted, and the twins' small voices filled the air with something that felt like normal life.]
Aoi:holding two rice bags, comparing them like a tiny scientist Which one is good?
Mio: gently tapping the fluffier one That one. Shirou likes it for cooking.
[Aoi brightened, placing it in the basket.]
Haruto: spotting a discount sign with heroic enthusiasm Mio! Eggs are cheap! Kei's gonna be happy!
Mio:laughing softly
He'll eat the whole carton if we let him. Carefully, okay?
[Haruto lifted the carton like it was a sacred relic. They walked to the counter, paid, and stepped back into the warm orange of late afternoon, each carrying a small grocery bag.]
[Peaceful. Ordinary. Safe... or so it seemed.]
[As they made their way through a quieter street, Mio sensed movement behind them. Two men. Walking too slowly. Too measured.]
Mio: Stay close to me.
Haruto:tilting his head Why—?
[More men appeared ahead. Another from a side alley. The formation tightened — subtly, deliberately — until the street behind them thinned into silence.]
Aoi:voice shrinking
Mio… they're…
Mio: keeping her tone steady
Just walk. Don't look at them.
[But the men moved with them, closing in like a slow trap.]
[The alley curved. The walls narrowed. Their footsteps echoed louder. Then silence — except for the slightest shift of gravel.]
Mio: Mafia...
Mio: kneeling, steady hands on their shoulders Listen to me. When I say run, you run to the house. No stopping. No looking back.
Aoi:trembling O-okay…
Haruto: I'll run with her.
[Mio stood, jaw tightening.]
Mio: Run!
[Aoi and Haruto sprinted. Grocery bags dropped, cans rolling across the concrete. Mio slammed her forearm into an attacker, ducked another, countered a punch with a sharp knee.]
[The twins ran for the open path — and that's when the van screeched in.]
[Black. Heavy. Doors sliding open with a metallic clack.]
[And before Mio even turned—A blur stepped out.]
[Armor-shadowed. Fierce posture.
Arthur, Kyrlien Force's vanguard.]
[His hand shot out like a strike of lightning — gripping Aoi's shirt, yanking her straight off her feet with brutal precision.]
Aoi:crying out, legs kicking B-Brother—!
Haruto:shrieking, frozen in fear Aoi!!
Mio: eyes blazing, elbowing a man aside as she lunged Let her go!
[But Leviathan's gaze met hers from the van — calm, cold, unreadable.]
Leviathan:
Do not harm the child.
Arthur:hoisting Aoi with one arm like she weighed nothing Mission priority: secured.
[Aoi cried out again, reaching toward Mio.]
[Mio's fists clenched. Her breathing sharpened. She set her stance — and the entire alley tightened with tension.]
Mio: Haruto! Go! Run home!
Haruto: skidding, tears welling, voice cracking B-but… Aoi—! I can't leave her! I can't!
[He looked back and saw Aoi's sleeve caught in Arthur's grip, her small body lifted clean off the ground. His face twisted — fear, guilt, helplessness all at once.]
Haruto: Aoi!!
Mio:voice sharp but warm, eyes locked on him Haruto! Look at me!
[He froze, chest heaving.]
Mio: I'll get her back. I promise. But right now you have to run. If you stay, I can't protect either of you.
[Haruto's breath trembled. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles went pale.]
Haruto: B-but… she's scared…
Mio:stepping forward, fierce and certain, her voice a shield And because she's scared, she needs you to survive. Go. I'll take care of this.
[Haruto swallowed hard — then finally turned and ran, sprinting down the road with everything he had, tears streaming as he choked out his sister's name.]
[The alley erupted the moment Haruto disappeared around the corner. Mio spun, fist slamming into the first mafioso's jaw with a crack that echoed. Another lunged — she parried, grabbed his wrist, twisted, and slammed him into the wall. Hard.]
[Three more charged at once.]
Mio: eyes sharpening, stance lowering
Let's go, then.
[She ducked under a pipe swing, elbowed a throat, kicked another in the knee, grabbed the last by the collar and flipped him over her shoulder. Bodies hit pavement one after another. Groans filled the alley.]
[She was fast. Precise. Furious.]
[But outnumbered.]
[Another grabbed her from behind — she threw her head back, breaking his nose, then swept his legs. A knife flashed. She caught the wrist mid-swing, twisted it until the blade dropped, and kicked the man square in the ribs, sending him sprawling.]
Mio:breathing hard, hair sticking to her cheek
I told you. Wrong kid to touch.
[They kept coming. But she kept winning — step after step, blow after blow. A spinning kick dropped one. A knee strike floored another. A sharp palm strike sent blood splattering from a third's mouth. She moved like someone with everything to lose.]
[But the tide shifted.]
[Arthur stepped down from the van, Aoi tucked firmly under his arm, like she weighed nothing at all. His heavy boots echoed on the concrete — slow, deliberate. His presence alone made the remaining grunts recoil.]
[Leviathan followed behind him silently, tall and calm, hands in his pockets like he was observing a weather report instead of a kidnapping.]
Arthur:voice cold, bored
Your form is clean. But this is pointless.
[Mio raised her fists again, sweat dripping from her chin.]
Mio: Put. Her. Down.
Arthur: No.
[He tossed Aoi into the back of the van like secured cargo and stepped fully into the alley, cracking his neck slightly, as though warming up.]
Arthur: Let's end this.
[Mio rushed him first — a desperate strike. Arthur caught her wrist mid-swing with one hand, stopping her cold. His grip felt like iron clamps.]
Mio: gritting her teeth
Let go!
[She flipped, twisted, kicked — but Arthur absorbed it all with minimal movement. A shove from him felt like a battering ram, sending her sliding across the ground.]
[She stumbled up. Charged again.]
[Arthur didn't dodge. He simply blocked, countered, and walked her backward with brutal efficiency.]
[Then Leviathan joined the fight.]
[He moved like water — calm, controlled, but devastatingly fast. His long reach forced Mio into tighter footing. When she aimed a strike at his jaw, he deflected it with almost lazy precision.]
Ren: softly You're skilled, but not enough.
[Mio's breath hitched as his knee struck her stomach. She staggered — and Arthur's fist came down like a hammer.]
[She barely rolled aside in time, the impact cracking the concrete.]
Mio:panting, coughing, clutching her ribs
Damn it—!
[Two elites. A gap too wide to bridge.]
[Still, she charged again.]
[She ducked Leviathan's sweep, aimed for Arthur's temple — but Arthur's grip locked around her forearm like a metal vise. Leviathan stepped in, grabbing her other arm. She thrashed, snarled, kicked — but the strength difference was monstrous.]
Ren: Stop resisting, or we'll break you.
Mio: Break me then!
[She twisted violently — and actually slipped free for a second, rolling across the pavement. She pulled herself up, chest heaving, blood on her lip.]
Mio: I said put her down.
[Arthur exhaled like he was bored of this.]
Arthur: Enough.
[He was beside her in a single step.]
[One hit — a brutal, clean body blow — smashed into her side, knocking the wind out of her. The world tilted.]
[Before she could recover, Leviathan's hand closed around the back of her neck, not cruelly, but firmly. Almost gentle, but unmoving.]
Ren:tone flat Don't get up again.
[But she tried anyway — dragging herself to her knees.]
Mio:voice breaking Aoi… I promised Haruto…
[Arthur's shadow fell over her.]
Arthur: Just accept it. You lose.
[He struck her once more — not enough to kill, but enough to drop her flat to the ground. Her vision blurred. The alley spun. Footsteps grew distant.]
[She reached a trembling hand out toward the van as it began to close.]
Mio:
Aoi… no… please—
[Aoi's tiny voice cried her name from inside the van.
Then the door slammed shut.]
[Tires screeched. The van disappeared.]
[And the alley fell silent — except for Mio's ragged breathing and the soft clatter of fallen groceries rolling across the pavement.]
[Haruto slammed open the front door, legs pumping, heart hammering in his chest. His small hands trembled as grocery bags tumbled behind him, spilling their contents across the floor.]
Haruto:screaming, voice cracking
Shirou! Mio! Aoi! They… they took her! Mio… she's in danger!
[Shirou's eyes narrowed instantly. Without a second thought, he grabbed his phone and dialed.]
Shirou:voice sharp, urgent
Sera, we have a situation. Now.
[The phone pressed to his ear, he didn't even glance at the mess of groceries. Every second counted.]
[Meanwhile, Shizuka knelt in front of Haruto, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her soft, steady voice cut through his panic.]
Shizuka: Haruto, breathe. Look at me. In… and out. You're safe here.
Tell me slowly what happened.
Haruto:hiccupping, tears streaking his face
The street… men… a van… they grabbed Aoi… Mio tried to stop them… I ran… I couldn't help…
Shizuka: holding his gaze, voice calm
Good. You did exactly what you were supposed to do. Breathe. We're going to fix this.
[Shirou's fingers tightened around the phone. His jaw clenched. Every muscle in his body screamed to move.]
Shirou:into the phone, clipped
Sera, I need your unit. Now. The twins were intercepted. Mio's in danger. We need extraction and backup immediately.
[Haruto's sobs hitched again, but Shizuka's steadying hand kept him from collapsing entirely.]
Shizuka: It's okay. You're safe. Shirou and I are handling it. You don't have to face this alone.
[Shirou stood, fists clenching, eyes blazing. Time was short, and the operation to rescue Aoi and protect Mio had already begun.]
[Shirou ended the call with Sera, his jaw tight, eyes dark with determination. He looked down at Haruto and Shizuka, measuring the fear, the panic — and the spark of courage in the boy.]
Shirou: Shizuka, let's go. Ryokou, take care of Haruto. Get him inside and keep him safe.
Ryokou:nodding, voice steady
Understood. Haruto, stay calm. Let's stay here.
Haruto: shaking his head, voice trembling but firm I… I want to come. I have to. I can feel… what's going to happen. I can help.
Shirou: eyes narrowing, voice sharp
You don't understand, Haruto. This isn't a game. You can get hurt. You have to stay here.
Haruto:voice breaking but determined
I know! I know I haven't mastered my power fully, but… I can see, sometimes… glimpses of what might happen. I can help Shirou. Please.
Shirou: Powers? What do you mean by that?
Haruto: Me and Aoi possess the power of prediction and telepathy, gaining it from our lineage. We can also dispel curses to individuals who are inflicted with malice and corruption. But... our clan got wiped out by the people who didn't want us, because we might ruin their plans. That's why you found us as slaves last time.
[Shizuka placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently, trying to ground him.]
Shizuka: Still, Haruto… this is dangerous. But… we'll need every bit of you when the time comes. Right now, Shirou is leading. Trust him.
[Haruto's eyes flicked to Shirou, the resolve mingling with fear. He swallowed hard, chest heaving, and clenched his fists.]
Haruto: I can do this. I'll try. I have to.
[Shirou's gaze softened slightly, seeing the courage behind the panic, but his jaw remained tight. Every second mattered. He had to make a decision — Haruto's safety or letting him help.]
Shirou:
If what you're saying is true... fine. But you follow my lead. No heroics. Do exactly as I say. Understood?
Haruto: nodding quickly Yes. I understand.
[Shibuya Ward Police Investigations Unit HQ — Night]
[The HQ buzzed with controlled urgency. Officers moved with purpose, radios crackling, monitors flickering with live feeds from the city streets. Every workstation was active, every voice measured and alert.]
[Shirou, Haruto, and Shizuka entered, the small group immediately drawing attention. Ryou and Shin were at the command consoles, coordinating field units with practiced efficiency. Sera stood near the central table, eyes scanning digital maps, while Captain Reina moved calmly among the officers, issuing concise orders.]
Reina: All units, report. Streets clear? Suspect vehicles? Any sightings of the van?
Ryou: typing rapidly All units are mobilized. Street cameras flagged multiple patterns near the last known location of the van. No confirmed visual of the suspects yet.
Shin: Traffic routes secured. Extraction points monitored. Patrols positioned to intercept.
Sera:leaning over the digital table, voice focused The van could be heading anywhere. We'll need rapid response teams at all possible exits and alleyways. Precision is key — we can't risk the children's safety.
[Haruto's eyes darted between the monitors, trying to sense the movements ahead. His small fists clenched as he glanced at Shizuka.]
Haruto:whispering I can… feel something… but it's weak. I'll try to guide us.
Shirou:placing a hand on his shoulder Good. Focus. But stay close. Don't overextend.
Reina:voice firm, commanding
Shirou, your team is cleared to move. Use any means necessary. Officers Ryou and Shin will maintain city-wide coverage and communications. Sera, coordinate tactical support.
[Sera nodded, fingers flying across the digital maps. Lines connecting patrols, checkpoints, and predicted routes highlighted in red.]
Sera: Understood. All units are synced. We'll guide your movements and ensure no collateral exposure.
[The HQ hummed like a living organism — each officer, each command, each report feeding into the mission. Outside, Shibuya lay quiet, unaware of the storm about to break across its streets.]
[Shirou tightened his jacket, eyes hard, heart racing. Every second counted. The rescue operation had officially begun.]
[Unknown Crash Site — Near Shinjuku — Night]
[The van rolled to a stop beside a crumbling, abandoned building. Dust rose from the cracked pavement as Leviathan and Arthur stepped out, their boots clicking against the concrete. Aoi followed, her small frame tense, eyes sharp. Every step was measured, every breath controlled.]
[The entrance to the building yawned like a hollow mouth. Inside, the air smelled of damp concrete and rust. The van doors thudded shut, leaving only the faint hum of distant city lights seeping through broken windows.]
Arthur:gesturing toward a heavy metal door In here. Now.
[Aoi's feet barely made a sound as she was guided into the underground base. The door clanged shut behind her, locking with a mechanical click that echoed through the concrete chamber. She pressed herself against the cold wall, muscles coiled, ready to react if anything came close.]
Ren:hands crossed, voice flat
She's secure. For now.
[Arthur adjusted his stance, scanning the darkened hallways leading further into the base. The silence was thick, only broken by the distant drip of water from above.]
Arthur: We wait. Vlad should be here soon.
[Aoi's eyes never stopped moving, taking in every shadow, every crack in the walls. She had control — her senses sharp, her awareness precise. But she knew she ans Mio were alone. For now.]
Aoi:thinking, calm but alert
Stay calm. Measure. Watch. Wait for the right moment.
[Leviathan moved closer to the metal door, listening. Every footstep, every distant echo outside, mapped and memorized. Even here, he could feel the potential movement of Shirou's team, their approach inevitable.]
Leviathan:thinking They'll come. The boy… the others. They always come.
[Arthur's hand lingered near his sidearm, ready to respond at the first sign of trouble. The base was quiet, but the tension was thick, a coiled spring waiting for Vlad's arrival and the next stage of their plan.]
[The shadows seemed to stretch longer as the two waited in the abandoned underground space, the hum of the city above a distant, unknowing backdrop. Every second brought them closer to the point where the operation would move forward, and the storm outside would meet the calm before it.]
[The underground cell was dim, walls cold and damp. Aoi sat cross-legged on the concrete floor, hands folded neatly on her lap. A soft sound echoed as the door opened, and Leviathan stepped inside alone, carrying a small paper-wrapped bundle. His expression was calm, but his eyes held something quieter — a hint of care.]
Ren:placing the bundle gently on the floor
Bread. Here… eat.
[Aoi tilted her head, surprised, but curious. She unwrapped the bundle slowly, the smell of warm bread filling the air. It was ordinary, simple, but the gesture was anything but.]
Aoi: Why… why are you doing this?
[Leviathan shifted slightly, scratching the back of his neck. His gaze softened, almost shyly. He didn't have a clear answer, but something inside him compelled the action.]
Ren: voice quiet, thoughtful I… I'm not sure.
he paused, looking away for a moment, then added softly Feels like… someone close… always did this. With care. With heart.
[Aoi studied him, surprised at the gentle tone, the subtle warmth behind his words. The man who had captured her, who had been part of the force that dragged her here… now offered her something as simple and human as bread.]
Aoi: thinking, curious but cautious
He's… not cruel. There's… something kind in him.
[Leviathan leaned lightly against the wall, a quiet presence, his posture relaxed but alert. He didn't force conversation, didn't crowd her space — yet his act spoke louder than words. Aoi unwrapped the bread fully, breaking off a piece, and ate slowly, keeping her senses sharp but feeling a tiny thread of calm in the rare warmth he offered.]
[The cell remained quiet, the distant hum of the city above a muted reminder of the outside world. In that small moment, the tension between captor and captive softened, enough for Aoi to sense that Leviathan's actions came from a place older and more human than the mission required.]
Aoi: Why… why are they suddenly after us? Just because we're wanted like slaves?
[Leviathan shifted, glancing down at the bread for a moment before speaking, voice quiet and reflective.]
Ren: I'm only following my boss's orders.
he shrugged lightly, as if to emphasize his uncertainty I don't really know their full intentions. Even I don't have the answers.
[Aoi stared at him, processing his words. There was no malice in his tone, only honesty, and it made her wary curiosity mix with a strange sense of calm.]
Aoi:thinking He's… just a part of something bigger. Not cruel… just doing what he's told.
[Leviathan gave a small nod, staying nearby but giving her space. Aoi picked up a piece of bread, taking a careful bite as the quiet of the underground cell pressed in around them, a brief pause before the storm to come.]
[Aoi finished the small bite of bread, then, almost on impulse, reached out and placed a soft hand on Leviathan's arm.]
Aoi: I heard Mama always said this to my brother: "You don't have to carry the burden all to yourself. You can always change, no matter the grave mistakes you've done."
[Leviathan froze for a moment, the words sinking in. A faint memory stirred, a soft echo from the past — Sera, when they were children, had spoken the same words to him, gentle and unwavering. He felt it now, quiet but real, brushing against the weight he carried.]
[For a moment, the mission, the orders, and the chaos outside seemed lighter. A subtle shift in his posture hinted at the small relief that Aoi's words had offered. He did not speak, did not acknowledge it aloud, but the thought lingered, a fragile warmth in the cold, concrete cell.]
[Aoi withdrew her hand gently, her gaze steady, while Leviathan remained still for a heartbeat longer, letting the quiet possibility of change settle within him.]
[Leviathan knelt slightly, his hand moving with surprising gentleness as he brushed a stray lock of hair from Aoi's face.]
Ren:
You're a good kid. Your mother raised you well.
[He lingered for a heartbeat longer, letting the quiet of the cell hold them both. Then, gently, he stepped back, giving her space.]
Ren:
Eat well. Keep your strength.
[Aoi nodded, eyes wide, still processing the moment. Leviathan gave a small nod in return, then moved toward the door.]
Aoi: Wait… will you… come back?
Ren:pausing at the threshold, voice low but steady I don't know. But… you stay safe. That's enough for now.
[The heavy metal door clicked softly as it shut behind him, leaving Aoi alone once more. She touched her hair where his hand had brushed it, feeling a faint warmth linger in the cold, underground chamber.]
[Leviathan's footsteps echoed lightly as he moved down the corridor. Each step carried weight, not just of the mission, but of the quiet uncertainty gnawing at him. For years, he had followed SoveCle's orders without question, loyal to the chain of command and the power it promised. Now, the thought of continuing blindly felt heavier than before.]
[He doubted he could still stand with SoveCle. The idea of following orders without thought no longer sat right with him. A new path had begun to form — one where he didn't merely obey, but acted for himself, for what he believed was right.]
[The notion lingered, fragile yet insistent. Betrayal carried risk, but staying silent felt heavier. For the first time in a long while, Leviathan realized that the world he had always served might not be the only choice. He could stand against the Circle, protect someone, and define his own path.]
[With a quiet breath, he continued toward the regrouped mafia outside, the conflict inside him hidden behind his calm exterior. The seed of doubt — and possibility — had been planted, subtle yet real.]