Okinawa Resident 1: They've been living together for years now.
Ryujin: Never with parents or relatives?
Okinawa Resident 1: We've wondered the same thing. Itoshi works part-time as a truck driver, but that wouldn't be enough to cover school or daily expenses. No one ever really knew where their income came from.
Okinawa Resident 2: Those poor siblings... They've seen how cruel the world can be at such a young age. Losing their mother so early... it's heartbreaking.
Ryujin: What exactly happened?
Okinawa Resident 1: We're not really sure. We were all shocked when Mrs. Kiyagari died, especially so soon after Mr. Kiyagari had that business accident.
Ryujin: Accident? Where did he work?
Okinawa Resident 2: From what we heard, WESCU? They never talked much about jobs — mostly just about better times. Look at that once colorful house... now it's just ruins.
Okinawa Resident 1: Yeah... I wonder what will happen to those two now.
Ryujin approached the ruined Kiyagari household. Among the rubble, he spotted a few buried family photos. He carefully picked them up and pocketed them as he walked away.
Two days after the storm, Itoshi lay in the clinic, thinking about their late home. He considered sending Kara to check on it, but she insisted they go together.
After two weeks of recovery, Itoshi could no longer bear the uncertainty. He left the clinic and made his way to Kin Beach.
When he arrived, only the foundation and a few fallen wooden posts remained. No furniture, no belongings — nothing left.
He gripped his jeans, trembling, his eyes stinging with the tears he refused to shed.
"Now what?.. What do I do?... I failed to protect the only thing I have... I should've made the house stronger!.. Shit!"
The sight left her legs weak and he crumbled to the pavement.
"Itoshi.. Where do we go?.."
Itoshi turn to Kara, one eye covered by his palm, while the other locked onto Kara's form sitting in desperation.
"Sorry. Kara, I failed you. I failed the promise I gave to mom.."
An then..
"No!"
Itoshi was startled by Kara's response.
Kara stood up and he held Itoshi by his cheeks.
"You didn't!.. I'm still alive and well because of you! Get yourself together. I know you know you can still fight!"
The words got through Itoshi, but the doubt in his heart was way stronger.
"Fight with what?"
He replied as he looked down to the ground tears falling from his eyes.
Kara kneeled down to Itoshi's level, trying to catch his eyes.
"Wake up!.. Koya!.. We made a promise to Mrs. Kiyagari. Remember?! Let's take everything we can get.. and move on!"
She paused as Itoshi slowly raised his head.
"As long as we're together.. We're gonna be alright!"
Itoshi's eyes got to Kara's level as he responded, voice cracking, but still resisting.
"O-Ok...."
Itoshi and Kara took what they can get from the remaining things left from their house. As they saved what they could, the pair heard a distant footstep.
Kara tugged the back of Itoshi's jacket. Getting his attention as he moved a fallen wood.
Itoshi looked back, And Kara was pointing to the road.
"Koya.."
He looked at where Kara was pointing. And there she stood, Their neighbor Mr. Rosales, waving at them with a smile and wrapped food on hand.
"Sorry, this is all we can give right now.."
Mr. Rosales handed out foods, Foods that the siblings could eat.
Kara took it bowing as she did, while Itoshi continued his work.
"No.. thank you so much! We both thank your kindness deep in our heart.."
She raised her head and smiled at Mr. Rosales and he smiled back.
"Oh well.. I'll return back home now.. There are some errands back home too, I just thought you guys needed the help of an adult."
Mr. Rosales mentions scratching the back of his head.
He walked away from the wreck, waving with his back turned to Kara. Meanwhile... With Itoshi's experience, he managed to make a small hut that can shelter.
Kara ran towards Itoshi, With a smile.
"Koya!!"
Itoshi looked back, face neutral. As Kara handed out the food that was given to them.
"This should last us for a week.."
Itoshi said "week" but the food given to them was not much at all. Careful rations will be put into action.
As they both walked towards the small hut, But both of them know it's not enough to sustain and support them anymore. There will be a time where they have to completely give everything up. Meanwhile Ayro was watching them from far away.
~~~March 29 2169~~~
Three weeks had passed since the storm.
Itoshi had recovered from his wounds — physically, at least. But his weight had dropped significantly. He prioritized Kara's needs, always giving her the better share of their limited food. He'd smile and claim he ate the same portions, but Kara wasn't fooled.
They sat inside their shelter, once again sharing a meal. But their peace didn't last long. The sirens blared — the dreaded Seele warning.
Itoshi jolted up from his seat.
"Shit! Not again!"
This time, the attack was unlike anything before. A massive horde of Menschlich-class Seele emerged from the sea. The once-blue water turned pitch black, rippling with their glowing forms.
"Those fuckers... I'll kill them all!"
Hatred once again flooded his mind.
Without hesitation, Itoshi sprinted toward the shoreline, blue flame surging from his hands. He threw everything he had at the oncoming horde.
Kara: Koya! Wait!!
But to his horror, his flames didn't even scorch them.
"What?! Why aren't they burning?! He scared them off with my power before!"
A Seele struck him hard — sending him flying across the sand.
"S-So strong... What am I doing wrong? No... I can't let them get near our home!"
He sat on the hot sand, hand clutched on his hand, mind filled with confusion.
He pushed himself up, teeth gritted, and launched more flame. Again. And again. But nothing worked — they kept advancing.
Up in a nearby tree, Ayro watched silently beside Ryujin.
"Huh... He's alone, outnumbered, and still charging headfirst. Yeah... do something already, Ryujin."
Ayro spoke just loud enough for Ryujin to hear.
Ryujin stood. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"This might be the perfect time. Stay here, Ayro."
In a hush, Ryujin vanished.
Ayro then lazily leaned his back on a branch. Hands behind his neck, eyes close and a smirk on his lips.
"Heh. Guess you're finally getting closer to your dream."
Ryujin leapt from the branch and landed beside Itoshi on the beach.
Itoshi was unmistakably startled by the sudden appearance of a tall man with purple eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?! Ryoojeen?!"
"Push harder. You've got this."
Itoshi argued.
"Are you blind?! I'm already at my limit!"
Ryujin didn't reply. He simply smirked and unleashed a torrent of water at the Seele — but the result was the same.
Nothing.
Itoshi (in disbelief): Even you're not doing damage?!
Ryujin: Thought I'd be useful, didn't you?
One of the Seele lunged. Ryujin didn't move.
Itoshi: Watch out!!
The blow landed. Ryujin hit the sand, laughing through the pain.
"Why didn't you dodge?! You could've avoided that easily!"
Itoshi used his flame to cover him and Ryujin from the seele's coming for them.
Ryujin (grinning): Not against these ones... But you — you might be able to hold them off. Protect Kara.
Itoshi: My flames don't work! I'm throwing everything I have at them!
Ryujin's grin faded. His tone cut low and sharp.
Ryujin: Itoshi... is your life worth living?
The words pierced him. Itoshi froze, his blue fire wavering.
Ryujin (mocking): Whoa, look at that! Holding off a horde while having a midlife crisis — impressive!
Itoshi: What the hell is with that sarcasm?!
Ryujin (laughing): Dummy. Aim your flame lower.
Itoshi: Huh?!
Ryujin's laughter rose as Itoshi hesitated... then obeyed.
The flame struck low. The Seele shrieked, their glowing forms recoiling as they stumbled back.
Itoshi: Wha–what the hell?! It's working?!
Ryujin was still lying on the sunlit beach, arms folded behind his head, laughing at Itoshi the entire time.
Meanwhile, Itoshi gritted his teeth and intensified his flame, spreading it wide across the sand. He wasn't just fighting anymore—he was defending the entire coastline, holding back the approaching horde until help could arrive.
Finally, the sirens were drowned out by the roar of engines and thunderous footsteps.
The authorities had arrived.
Elite operatives from W.E.S.C.U. emerged and immediately joined the fray. Using their powers, they manipulated the sand — hurling massive waves of it toward the Seele, burying some, scattering others. With practiced precision, they neutralized the threat in a matter of minutes.
Itoshi dropped to one knee, panting, drenched in sweat.
Ryujin raised his head slightly and turned toward Itoshi, voice casual.
"Itoshi... ever wanted to explore the world? See things you've never imagined? Chase the dream you've been hiding all this time?"
Itoshi was out of breath, but he was still able to speak. He sat at the sand, along with Ryujin as he replied.
"Dreams, huh? That's a luxury I don't have."
Ryujin chuckled.
"Yes, you do!"
"With my current life no.. Besides.. If I do get one, it's impossible for me to reach."
Itoshi shot.
Ryujin turned his head to the sea as he replied.
"Nope."
He smiled wider, eyes closed, as if completely relaxed despite the chaos.
Itoshi clenched his fists. The flames around him began to sputter and shrink. Then, without warning, he took a deep breath—
And roared at the sea as he stood up.
"I WANT THE SEELES TO DISAPPEAR! ALL OF THEM! JUST SEEING THEM MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!!"
Ryujin burst out laughing, loud and free.
"Bruh!!... you're insane! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
With his breath absolutely ragged, Itoshi turned his head to Ryujin.
"It's impossible, right?!"
Ryujin then calmed down and he stopped laughing.
"What a beautiful dream..."
Out of curiosity, The words slipped out of Itoshi's mouth.
"What about yours, Ryujin? What's your dream?"
"Mine? It's to be—"
Before Ryujin could finish, a WESCU agent approached, still in partial battle gear, sand clinging to his boots.
"Sir. That was... remarkable. You held the line alone against water-class Seele. Not only that, you adapted your flame to the terrain and used sand to amplify its reach."
He held out a slip of paper — official-looking, stamped, marked in red ink.
"According to our field logistics team, you meet the combat experience threshold for Seele-type engagement. More importantly..."
He paused, glancing at the beach, then back at Itoshi.
"We've never seen a flame burn that shade of blue. Not like yours."
Itoshi stared at the paper.
"Tsk.. After you guys attacked my house.."
He thought to himself.
Ryujin sat up, smiling teasingly, brushing sand from his coat.
"Looks like the world's opening a door for you, Itoshi."
"Well they jus-"
Suddenly, Ryujin slung an arm around Itoshi's shoulder, pulling him in with a firm grip that caught both Itoshi and the agent off guard.
"Sorry—he's already part of your nemesis. The United World Defense Society."
Those words came out of Ryujin's mouth with pride and confidence.
He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper just for Itoshi:
"Last chance. Tomorrow. Yomitan High. 0300."
Itoshi: Wha—?
Ryujin released him just as quickly and casually walked off, both hands resting behind his head as if nothing had happened.
Itoshi and the W.E.S.C.U. agent stared at each other in stunned silence.
The agent narrowed his eyes, then shrugged and turned back to assist his team. The beach was being cleared—one Seele at a time—while Kara and Itoshi sat outside their makeshift hut, watching the orange glow of sunset cast long shadows over the sand.
The breeze was light, but the moment felt heavy.
"...Hey, Kara?"
"Yeah.. Koya?"
"What do you have right now?"
Kara's heart skipped a beat with the sudden question that came out of her brother's mouth, She raised a single brow.
"That's a weird question."
Itoshi then chuckled as he replied.
"I know, right?"
"What are you thinking about now?"
"Not sure. Just... wondering. Say, if I decided to leave—would you come after me?"
Kara looked at him, a little surprised at first. Then she smiled gently.
"Let me answer the first question first. What do I have?"
She held up a small stuffed bear.
"This teddy bear... a few old clothes... and us!"
She looked him in the eye.
"For the second question—we made a promise to Mrs. Kiyagari, remember?"
Itoshi looked down, the emotion in her words grounding him.
"...I see."
He looked up again, resolve building in his voice.
"I'm going with Ryujin. Wanna come with me?"
Kara smiled brightly, as if the decision had already been made long ago.
"Yes. Let's go."
~~~March 30 2169, 2:53 PM~~~
Itoshi: Let's go, Kara! We're almost there!
Kara: Right behind you!
They sprinted down the quiet streets, their footsteps echoing in the early morning silence. As they reached the gates of Yomitan High, still half-finished and littered with construction equipment, Itoshi slowed down—surprised that the guards didn't even try to stop them.
Itoshi (panting): That's... strange. No one's stopping us.
Kara: Maybe they were told to let us in?
Suddenly, the heavy thrum of helicopter blades roared to life in the distance.
Itoshi: That must be them!
Without hesitation, they bolted across the unfinished campus, dodging scaffolding and piles of gravel. The sound grew louder, more urgent. They finally burst into the open-air basketball court—and there it was.
A sleek, matte-black helicopter was lifting just inches off the ground. Inside, Ryujin and Ayro were already aboard.
"RYUJIN!! We're here!!!"
Ryujin paused, looked back over his shoulder, and smirked.
"Took you long enough."
He extended a hand as the copter hovered, waiting.
Ayro (teasing): You sure you're ready for this, blue flame?
Itoshi (grinning, grabbing Kara's hand): Let's find out.
Together, they dashed toward the helicopter—toward a new life waiting just beyond the edge of the court.
To be Continued