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The Assassin world isn't for the weak, where the strong devour the weak. Only the courageous and the heartless can survive. Even assassins must follow rules, a thin line that keeps their humanity intact. That’s where the JAA comes in, to annihilate any assassin who refuses to comply. And as for the JCC, it is their duty to train the new generation to live by those rules.

On a seemingly normal day at the JCC, where new bloods sharpen their skills, Rion and her friends had their shooting range class.

Rion’s fingers wrapped firmly on the grip of the Beretta M9 with one hand. Adrenaline rushed to her veins as she released the trigger until the mag was emptied. The smell of gun powder lingered around the shooting range, brass casing flying out with each shot. In one smooth motion, she slammed in a fresh mag and raised the gun again. Satisfied with the results, she smirked.

"Hey Nagumo, what class do we have after this?" Rion asked, resting her arm on his shoulder.

"Assassination Regulations," Nagumo replied. Rion rolled her eyes after hearing the answer. On her way to the next class, she drags her legs to show protest.

She slid into a seat in the back row of the classroom. The chalk squeaked against the board, making Rion flinch. She hated this class already. Rion groaned. She never likes classes that require her to read and memorize, she prefers actions. As the teacher handed back last week’s test.

"Awww, come on!" Rion slammed her test on the desk. "I studied a lot for this!". She never expected to score this low. Her stomach sank when she saw her score. The teacher suggested she take points from Uzuki, who had received the highest grade in the class. She hated this feeling. And now the teacher wanted her to ask… Uzuki? Whoever that was. Rion froze mid-breath when she heard the name, scratching her head to recall any student named Uzuki. She hadn’t even known he existed before the teacher mentioned him… let alone asked for tips.

After class was dismissed, Rion went ahead to find her friends. Her mind kept spinning about who Uzuki was and why she hadn’t heard the name before. Spotting Nagumo and Sakamoto, she ran toward them.

"Hey guys, do you know who on earth Uzuki is?" she asked with curiosity.

Nagumo and Sakamoto briefly explained. Rion’s mouth twitched. "Uh…" she muttered, blinking at them. Her friends laughed softly, reading the blank expression on her face it was clear she had no idea what Uzuki looked like.

The next day, she had another class for assassination regulations. She sighed as she walked to the room. During the lesson, Rion leaned her head on her hand, lazily glaring at the whiteboard.

“Mind lowering your head a little? You’re blocking my view,” a voice came from behind.

Rion rolled her eyes. “I do mind,” she replied.

When no response came, Rion smirked in satisfaction. She didn't bother to look back to see who it was.

A few hours later, class ended. As Rion walked excitedly towards the exit, someone suddenly approached her. She sighed, she just wanted to leave class quickly.

"Hey, you left this on your desk." She narrowed her eyes, wondering who dared to speak to her.

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She looked back and noticed a guy with beautiful silver hair and lazy deep sea blue eyes. She said thanks, not wanting to lengthen the conversation, and then went on to her next class.

She headed to the main hall to continue her weapons handling class. Rion smirked silently because she is a professional when it comes  to how to maximize the usage of the weapon that she uses.

The teacher called her name. “Akao, you’re next! You will duel with Hakuji.”

Rion smiled proudly, playing with her knives. “Alright Hakuji, I won’t take it easy on you, okay?”

Rion twirled her knives effortlessly, eyes locked on Hakuji. He lunged forward, but she sidestepped, letting the blade cut past his shoulder. A smirk tugged at her lips. Too slow, she thought. With a swift flick, she stabs him at his legs to immobilize him. Blood poured from Hakuji’s shoulder and leg wounds, he's out of breath due to the loss of blood. Just as she was about to get more serious, the teacher stepped in “Alright Akao we’re done here”.

While Rion is checking out her knives she said “Aww but I'm just getting started”. The teacher declined her request and said “ I'll find someone suited for you to duel later”.

Rion pouted while sitting at the sidelines watching her classmates. After a while, the teacher called a familiar name “Uzuki your turn”. The name sounded familiar to Rion. She ran it through her mind, and a flashback appeared and she suddenly remembered the name from assassination class.

She paid attention to Uzuki’ s duel, curious about his skills.

Uzuki uses his sword whip as a weapon. A metallic blade divided into multiple segments suitable for both long and short range attacks.

Watching the duel, Rion grinned. Impressive.

Uzuki swung his sword whip, the metallic segments sliced through the air. He struck at his opponent easily, then flicked the blade back, extending it to a longer range in one smooth motion. His movements were fluid, precise, and controlled as if every strike was calculated. The crowd watched silently, impressed by his skill.

He managed to make his opponents bleed until unable to continue the duel. The teacher stepped in and ended the duel.

As the class has been dismissed, Rion catches up with Uzuki.

“Hey, wait up!” Rion called for Uzuki. He turned his back and faced her. "Would you mind having a match with me?” Rion said excitedly. Surprisingly Uzuki said “I do mind” and left the class.

Rude.... Rion though, and she suddenly remembers from her conversation with someone before. She paused mid-step, “So that's you, huh?” a sly grin spread across her face.

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Rion met with her close friends at the cafeteria after the class ended. The fun thing about JCC is how students get a meal, they have to use long-range weapons to hit targets on special vending machines. The better the result, the better the food they earn.

Sakamoto just used his pen, apparently he has a great adaptability when it comes to weapons that he wanted to use. Calm and composed, he flicks the pen across the room, letting it spin perfectly through the air to hit the target. The landing is quiet but perfect.

Meanwhile, Rion twirls her knives with precision, letting one fly to hit a small bullseye, scoring a decent snack. “Bullseye!” she said proudly.

As for Nagumo, he throws his daggers in a flashy way, one ricocheting off the wall before landing on the target. He grins proudly, waiting for applause that only Rion and Sakamoto give him. “Where’s the crowd!” he pouted.

The three of them enjoyed their delicious food, while other students  looked on with a hint of jealousy for missing the target.

Nagumo leaned across the table, pouting dramatically. “What have you guys been up to lately? I barely see you around.”

 Rion rolled her eyes while grabbing a spoon of her food “At class obviously, where else I would be”. Sakamoto just nodded to agree with Rion, while Nagumo groaned like he’d been betrayed. From a few tables away, a teacher shot them a sharp look, clearly already tired of their antics. 

These three have been close since the first day at JCC despite the personality differences. Despite all that, the teachers won't argue anything because of their skills in assassination. They were considered valuable new generation assets in the assassination world.

Rion sees a glance of someone familiar, a grin spread across her face.

“Oh oh, you’re up to something, please leave me out of this,” said Nagumo.

“Whatever you’re up to Akao, stop it, we already caused enough trouble,” said Sakamoto.

Their friend stood up from the table, and went towards Uzuki. Sakamoto and Nagumo looked at each other with curiosity since this is a new behavior from Rion.

She went after Uzuki, but he ignored her. She had another idea….She hid behind a pillar and startled him, forcing him to react, “Why are you so stiff dude” she teased him while laughing.

Uzuki ignored her, “It's none of your business,” he said calmly. She stifled a laugh, already addicted to the tiny reactions she managed to pull out of him. She wants to see more reaction from him. 

“Oh, come on, don't tell me you’re scared of me already!” while clinging to his arm. He removes her arm away from his “I’m not scared. I just don't have time for games.” 

“Games? This is me being friendly!” She shot back. 

Uzuki rolled his eyes “Your version of friendly seems … aggressive.” Rion laughs.

All of a sudden the alarms went off, the emergency doors were open. Both of them were startled by the situation. Most of the students panicked and ran out of the class. Rion sees that some of the teachers went on action mode for some reason.

She holds off one of the students, “Hey, what's going on!”. The student was quite shocked while saying “There’s a breach in JCC the teachers ask to evacuate” and continues to run off.

“Nagumo, Sakamoto… stop eating already. Let’s have some fun.” She smiled and got ready with her knives.

Nagumo shouted back “ Let’s go already, it's been a while since we had fun”. Sakamoto just followed them. As for Uzuki, he tightened his grip on his weapon and stepped forward slightly, tilting his head as he observed with curiosity.

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There's a lot of footsteps running in every direction. Students shouting as the evacuation grew more chaotic. The sirens wailed nonstop, drilling into everyone’s ears. Rion and her friends including Uzuki broke away from the fleeing crowd, scanning for any sign of intruders. They immediately split into two teams to cover more ground, Nagumo with Sakamoto while Rion went with Uzuki.

Rion and Uzuki went to the west area. They saw a few intruders with the students. Rion quickly threw her knives straight to the vital organ, blood gushed out and his body hit the floor before he even realized he was dead. Easy. 

For the other intruders, Uzuki swung swiftly his sword whip… each of the blades on the segment cut through the air quietly and severed the heads of the intruders before they had time to react. The enemies barely flinched before falling.

Meanwhile, Nagumo and Sakamoto moved to the south, dispatching intruders to keep the path clear for the others to evacuate safely.

Steel rang against steel as Nagumo’s daggers split through an intruder, the strike carving a deep line across the man’s throat. Blood sprayed warm across his cheek, but Nagumo didn’t even flinch. He jumped and  cut another down before the body hit the ground.

Sakamoto managed to grab a rifle while on the move. Sakamoto’s rifle thundered behind Nagumo, each shot cracking bone and tearing flesh. “Keep moving!” he barked, covering Nagumo as three more rushed in.

Nagumo drove his dagger into the first man’s gut, twisting hard until he felt the resistance give. The man choked, blood poured from his lips as Nagumo shoved him aside. A second intruder swung wildly, Nagumo caught his wrist, snapped it back with a crunch, then slammed his blade through the man’s chest.

Out of the sudden, Nagumo charged head-on, ignoring cover. His blade carved the man’s arm clean open, blood spraying across the wall, before he slit his throat in one motion.

“Nagumo—watch your rear!” Sakamoto barked, gunning down another intruder that almost caught him off-guard.

Nagumo didn’t even glance back. He yanked his dagger free, breath heavy, his movements sharper, harsher. Almost like he didn't care.

“Why can’t I be on the same team with Akao?” Nagumo's pupils darkened as if his humanity just shut off. A flicker of curiosity crossed Sakamoto’s face. “This isn’t the time to worry about teams.” Sakamoto said.

Nagumo’s body tensed up, he instantly knew what his friend meant.

Across the west area, Rion and Uzuki continue to eliminate intruders.

“Geez … you’re good, where did you get the sword whip?”, while mesmerizing the beauty of his weapon. Her eyes sparkled.

Uzuki flicked the blade back into place, catching his breath. For a moment, his gaze lingered on her, softer than before.“I made it myself. ” he said.

“Nice work” she looked at the details of his sword. Suddenly they heard a scream. They rushed out to the sound. They encounter a man wearing a dark hoodie with two small scythes in his hands.

He seems familiar. “Wait… isn’t that weapon? No way, that’s the rogue who turned against the JAA” asked Rion. The look in Uzuki’s eyes was fear. His grip faltered for a split second, breath caught in his throat. 

Uzuki focused on the rogue, he knew that the rogue was a powerful foe since The Order didn't manage to handle him yet. His heartbeat faltered, palms were sweaty while holding his sword whip.

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The rogue rushed forward. Uzuki felt a cold air rushing towards him, the rogue was already in front of him. He lets his survival instinct take command. The scythes are cold and eager for blood, Uzuki just barely avoids the attacks. Blood scent started to fill the air. He realised his left shoulder had just been grazed by the scythes.

A hiss escaped his lips as the wound throbbed with every small movement. Warm blood trickled down his arm, sticky against his grip on the hilt. He sustained himself to continue the fight. One small mistake could lead either of them to be dead. Uzuki continued to charge forward.

Rion stops breathing mid way, unable to process the situation. Both of them immediately take charge towards the rogue. As Uzuki’s sword whip cut through the air, the segment expanded. The rogue manages to deflect it using the scythes. Rushed forward to Uzuki…. and found an opening to attack. Rion jumped in to cover him. Her knives collide with the scythes. A small spark ignites as the steel clashed. As she slid her legs, she locked the rogue movement between her thighs. Her thigh muscles strained, pinning him in place. The rogue is incapable of moving for a while.

Uzuki slipped in as he saw an opening, the sword whip had been retracted. He tightened his grip and aimed the rogue. The blade pierced the rogue’s chest, the rogue grunt. Uzuki's arm felt the pierced through the blade. Blood splattering across the walls

The rogue swung his scythes in a deadly zone, forcing Uzuki to leap back, whip snapping to block the follow-up strike. Rion darted to his side, knives flashing, deflecting the rogue’s swing as she rolled away. Sparks flew from clashing metal, and the air reeked of blood and sweat. Muscles burned, breaths came in ragged gasps, yet they pressed on, testing every opening. 

As the dust became heavier, it became a disadvantage for them. The rogue faltered for a beat, then attacked from a new angle, as he pushed them to their limits. 

They exchanged a brief glance. Exhaustion, determination, and the knowledge that backup wouldn’t arrive for a few more moments. The rogue’s smirk widened. He was relentless. And the fight was far from over. Suddenly, one of the pillars collapsed as it forced them to reposition.

“I… can’t keep this up” said Rion while breathing heavily. Uzuki grit his teeth as he tightened his grip. Both of them were trying to catch a breath, but the air felt heavy. There's a lot of rubble from the building. The rogue charges again but more aggressively.

Rion lunged to intercept the rogue’s strike, but her leg caught on a piece of debris. At the moment she knew she made a huge mistake, it would give the foe an opening.  A sharp pain shot up her side as the scythe cut deep into her torso. Every cell of her body felt a burning sensation as the scythe slashed her body. She staggered, blood staining her uniform, clenched her jaw so hard, refusing to collapse—refusing to give the rogue the satisfaction.

Uzuki’s heart skips a beat. He dashed across the area, eyes locked on Rion as she staggered, ignoring the pain through his shoulder. The injury could lead her to death, he didn't want Rion to end up dead while he was there.

Her eyesight started to blur, the last thing she saw was Uzuki running straight toward her.

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A scent of hospital filled her nose, felt a numbness around her torso. Her eyes felt too heavy to open, but the soft, rhythmic drip of the IV echoed in her head, each drop a quiet reminder she was still alive. I'm alive. A bright warm sunlight gently touched her face. She blinked slowly. Forcing herself to get up from the bed. She flinched. The ache spread through the centre of her body. She hissed.

“Don’t force yourself, you’re barely healed yet”, a soft voice came from the side of the room. She didn’t see clearly yet, but some warmth brushed past her hand. Slowly, she drifted back to sleep.

 A few days later, Rion managed to open her eyes. There was a  knock at  her door, and someone familiar stepped inside.

“How are you doing?”,  someone asked. She recognized that voice and smiled. 

Nagumo and Sakamoto entered the room. The room was filled with fresh air and a cool breeze.

“What’s  the current situation with the rogue?” Rion asked. Her eyes still lingering at her wound. Her friends sighed. “The Order has already taken care of the rogue. Thankfully you and Uzuki managed to hold him off long enough” said Sakamoto. “But…” he hesitated for a second.

Nagumo exchanged a glance with him before adding, “Some of his allies haven’t been caught yet. So stay on guard, Akao.”

“As for Uzuki, he’s doing well at school,” said Nagumo. Rion just nodded. 

While Rion was in the hospital, the nurses changed her bandages from time to time. There’s a dark mark on her torso. I’m not good enough . Her fingers trace the dark mark slowly. She managed to be discharged today. 

After she was discharged, she secretly trained harder than before in the training room. She’s covered with sweat and unable to breathe properly. She’s doing that for weeks without restraint. 

I'm not good enough. 

I'm not good enough. 

I'm not good enough.

That’s the only thing that consumed her mind. Unnoticed, there’s a mystery shadow that always lurks behind the walls. Watching her. Observe her. She isn't the type who wouldn't notice if someone was spying on her but her head was too clouded recently. 

The sound of her ragged breaths filled the empty training room. Somewhere in the corner, a shadow shifted, but when she turned, no one was there. Her chest tightened, not from training, but from the feeling she wasn’t alone.     

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The training room is empty, that's what she told herself. She sat on a bench to cool herself. Drenched by her own sweat, eyes wandering across the room. I'm being paranoid. But for some reason, she felt like she was being watched.

Nagumo's warning echoed in her mind. “Some of his allies haven’t been caught yet. So stay on guard, Akao.” She got a bad feeling about this. She wrapped up her training and went to search for her friends. She put on her leather jacket and went out.

As she stepped out into the corridor, the sound of her own footsteps seemed louder than usual. She tugged her jacket tighter, shaking her head. Get a grip, Rion. Someone kept calling her, she brushed it off  and sped up her pace.

A hand brushed softly across her shoulder, and she flinched. “Hey, I kept calling you,  but you ignored me. Are you okay?” a familiar voice asked. She turned her head and sighed in relief.

“Nagumo,” she smiled softly. “ I’m fine, it's just that there's been a lot going on in my head recently,” she said. Then she remembered an incident at the hospital. For a second, she doubted whether she should ask. She muttered as she asked Nagumo about who had visited her other than her best friend. Nagumo shot a weird look and said that it was just them and the nurses.

But who visited me that day, curiosity filled her but she decided not to worry much after that. She groaned. “I need to let out some steam.” She shoved her hand in the jacket. She pulled out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. Her hand flicked the lighter and lit it up. A thin layer of smoke came out as she exhaled. Better. Her eyes wandered, and out of nowhere, an image of a kid with blue and purple-tinted hair flashed in her mind. Akira. “I wonder if she’s doing fine,” she smiled faintly. It was her niece that managed to calm her down. Akira meant the world to her. That's all she needs to keep her going.

She went to class as usual after finishing smoking. It was a class on poison. The lab was filled with heavy air from mixed chemicals. It was never a pleasure to learn about them, especially with the odor and the side effects. Rion felt a sharp sensation in her head after two hours in the lab. And yet, she never complained about how rough it was at JCC. She took the class seriously.

After the rough experience at the poison class, she didn't have the appetite to have lunch. Her gut tightened as she felt a sour taste in her throat. As she lingered slowly in the hallway, she caught a familiar scent. She inhaled sharply. I know this scent . Her eyebrows frowned, while trying to remember where it came from. It's from the hospital. And the training room. 

She wandered around in the hallway, trying to locate it. The scent became more stronger as she quickened her steps.

“Hey!” she yelled, as she charged towards someone. The anonymous person looked back with a gaze wandered without focus, and dull… almost lifeless.

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Rion blinked twice, her brows knitting together as she tilted her head. “It was you, wasn’t it? At the hospital. And in the training room. Don’t even try to deny it.” He didn't even fluster when she accused him.

Conversations with Kei Uzuki were always like this. He never flustered, never raised his voice, always quiet, always calm. The exact opposite of her . They were like the sun and the moon. “Huh. So you finally noticed. Took you long enough.” Uzuki said calmly.

Rion clenched her jaw. Frustrated. “Why were you spying on me?”

“Spying? Don’t flatter yourself. I was just making sure you didn’t drop dead from overtraining” , keeps his hands in his pocket.

“Tch. Whatever. Next time, just mind your own business.” She rolled her eyes and brushed him off, leaving him alone in the hallway.

“No promises.” he muttered by himself as his gaze followed her.

For their next period, they will have a sparring test. The rules are simple, they must disarm their opponent without causing any major injury. The participants could choose any type of weapons that they prefer. As for choosing the opponents, it will be randomly chosen by a system. The system has already arranged their partners.

Rion’s eyes roamed at the screen as she searched for her name, she traced her fingers over the screen and a name popped up beside her. Kei Uzuki. This is interesting . They were the first to spar. Rion chose to pick a gun as for Uzuki he picked daggers. She knew that if Uzuki managed to close the gap between them, he would get the upper hand. Still, she grinned widely. She was confident about her marksman skill. She had proven herself an ace, whether the fight was long range or close range. Both of them readied their stances.

Uzuki lunges forward with his daggers. As she raised the gun, her fingers pulled the trigger. The brass casing flew, and the bullet struck one of Uzuki’s daggers. She smiled. Without hesitation, Uzuki fastened his speed to close the gap. The gun fired again, he dodged, narrowly escaping the round. 

Things got more intense as Rion shot more rounds of her gun. The bullet sliced the air with full speed, but Uzuki managed to deflect it with his dagger. Rion quickly slammed another magazine and raised her gun. This time, a bullet grazed his arm. Blood started to pour. Uzuki hissed as the pain lingered.

The other students gasp as the spar becomes more intense. The area filled with soft whispers

"They’re good.”

“Both of them are at the same level.”

“This is intense…”

“They’d make a good team together.”

Uzuki closed the distance in a blink, with a dagger aiming at her leg. She gasped. She didn't manage to respond quickly. The dagger cut through her skin. “ Now we’re even,” Uzuki said flatly, as if it meant nothing. But the battle hasn't ended yet, it's just begun.

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The gap had already closed, Rion decided to counter the attack with combat skills. She abandoned the gun. Her grip loosened as the gun dropped to the ground. Uzuki kicked it aside with his foot.

She shoved her foot at his head, Uzuki managed to avoid the attack using his forearms to block and reduce the impact.

Uzuki drove Rion back with relentless blows, but before she could counter, Uzuki lunged from the side, his dagger carving through the narrow space between them. She grabbed his wrist mid-swing with both hands, their strength locking together. The blade hovers close, and the pressure forced them closer, eyes locked.

Rion tried to kick him but he hooked her leg with his own, locking it between his legs. For a moment she’s trapped, pressed close, before twisting free.

Meanwhile, the other students smiled cheekily. A few let out teasing whistles as they watched the fight.“Ooooh, lovers’ quarrel!” one of them called out. “Ooooh~” the others teased, a sharp fwweeeet that made the others snicker. Which made Rion snap “Shut up!!” while Uzuki remained calm.

“You need to  work on controlling your emotion,” Uzuki said flatly. He slipped behind her in a swift move, arm across her chest to restrain her. Rion twisted, feeling his breath near her ear before she stomped his foot to break free.

“I don't want to be stiff like someone I know,” she grinned. Uzuki said “Controlling our emotions is essential for combat”. She shoved him back with her hand flat against his chest.

“See? My emotions are under control”. His heartbeat is wild under her palm. He grabs her wrist, pulling her closer instead of letting go. Rion gasped.

She’s frustrated when Uzuki manages to get the hold of her. She jerked the back of her head into his, the impact stunned him just long enough for her to snatch his blade. Shoved him to the ground using her lower body. Rion ends up straddling him around his waist, pinning his wrist down with the blade at his throat.

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Pinned beneath her, Uzuki only met her gaze in silence. His expression was impossible to read, as though the blade at his throat mattered less than whatever passed through his eyes.

The teacher interrupted. “Akao wins”. Rion rose and stretched her arm towards Uzuki. He grabbed her hand. He felt warmth from her soft hands. “Thanks,” he said flatly. She withdrew her hand quickly, as though the contact never mattered.

At the corner of the room, there was someone who couldn't keep his eyes off them. Nagumo. His smile faltered, but his eyes lingered too long on the scene, shadowed by something unspoken. He left without a word. As he walked away, he clenched his fist. Rion managed to catch a glint of Nagumo. Her brows arched. “ Nagumo?” she mumbled softly, wondering why he didn’t approach her like he always did.

Rion went back to the cafeteria side by side with Uzuki. “Not bad, right? For someone who couldn’t control her emotions,” she grinned. Uzuki rolled his eyes as he said “It's just by luck.” Rion laughed until her eyes were teary. She knew Uzuki wasn’t the type who would admit something. For some reason she had a good time spending her time talking with Uzuki even if he barely said anything.

“You’re a third year right? What are you going to do once you get your assassin licensed?” Rion asked out of curiosity. He took a long time to answer the question

“I want to take care of my family” , his expression softened. Rion flinched. Her legs stopped walking as she saw Uzuki’s smile. Uzuki waited for her. She never once saw Uzuki smile that sincere before. She smiled towards him.

“They are lucky to have you,” she said. “I have someone that I cared about too, my niece… Akira”. Rion would give her life away if it was the only way to save Akira. Akira is the only family that she had. 

“I guess we have something in common then….we have something to fight for,” Uzuki said as he tugged his hands in his pocket. Rion smiled as she nodded.

Their conversation was cut off as they bumped into Sakamoto and Nagumo. She asked Nagumo for an explanation at the sparring room, but he casually brushed it off  by asking another question. “So, I noticed that you two had been close lately” as his eyes never left Uzuki.

“Oh, I just wanted to tease Uzuki,” she laughed. She smacked his shoulder playfully. He shot her a sharp look and shifted his shoulder slightly, as if to shake off Rion’s hand. That kind of reaction would normally shut anyone up. But with Rion, it only seemed to make her laugh harder. Nagumo forced a smile, but his gaze lingered a moment too long before he looked away.

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They sat together for lunch, Rion insisted Uzuki to stay…. so he stayed. As usual, Uzuki preferred to stay in silence rather than talking to them. Rion bragged about the sparring she had with Uzuki. Rion leaned closer, waving her chopsticks like a sword. “You should’ve seen him, fast as lightning! I was barely blocked in time.”

Her laugh rang across the table, drawing curious glances from nearby students. A few even whispered, “Uzuki beat Akao?” Nagumo chuckled at her antics, though his gaze never left Uzuki. It used to be me she laughed with, he thought, lips pressing into a thin line. Sakamoto didn’t care much, busy with his tray as usual. But for Nagumo, the shift in attention stung more than he wanted to admit.

Uzuki kept his eyes on his food, chewing slowly, pretending not to hear. But when Rion slapped the table, still laughing at her own exaggeration, he couldn’t help stealing a glance. Just once. Then another, when she wiped a tear from her eye.

All the plates on the table are finished. Nagumo went off first. His shadow started to disappear as he took more steps. He shoved his hands in his pocket, forcing a smile that no one saw. He recalled little moments where Rion used to laugh only with him, and now it’s Uzuki. Sakamoto usually does his own thing, most of the time it's just the two of them.

Nagumo went to class as usual. Today he had stealth & infiltration class at three. Stealth and infiltration skills able to blend into the crowd or in the dark. In the Assassin world, brute force wasn’t the only weapon — silence was deadlier. Brute force will be useless if the opponent managed to counter the attack first. It will force the other side to extend the fight. 

The class gathers around at a dim training hall with obstacles, the perfect setting for hunters to stalk and prey. The room was filled with pillars and crates. The teacher explained the rules. 

The teacher’s voice echoed, sharp and commanding. “One attacker. One defender. The first to land a kill wins.” 

Students exchanged uneasy glances. Everyone had heard of the training daggers, black steel blades engraved with faint red markings. The rumor was even a shallow cut burned like fire, amplifying the pain and leaving a scarlet mark on the skin.

A murmur ran through the class. Some boys smirked with confidence, others swallowed hard. One girl rubbed her arm nervously as if imagining the sting already.

The class teacher allowed the students to choose their own opponent. As for Nagumo, he didn't care much since he was in another tier among his classmates. A few moments later, he saw a glimpse of a familiar person. Kei Uzuki. He grinned. Finally, a worthy prey had stepped into his sights.

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Nagumo’s feet walk towards Uzuki without hesitation. He stood in front of him, analyzed him. Why would Akao suddenly take interest in him? He seemed like an ordinary guy to me. He exhaled slowly.

“Wanna pair up with me?” he asked casually. At first, Nagumo thought that those two wouldn't get along that well. But his hunch said otherwise…. Every time he saw those two together, his gut would twist in a weird way. He didn't like the way Uzuki stole a glance towards Akao. 

Uzuki looked at him, then at the dagger in his hand. He didn’t answer right away, only gave a faint nod.

“Great, I’ve heard from Akao that you’re quite good. I’d be bored to death with easy prey.” Nagumo smiled widely. “I won't disappoint you then,” Uzuki brushed Nagumo's shoulder as he walked away.

The battle had a time range to complete the task. Within one hour, one of the pairs has to land a “kill”. The class had started. Each pair will take a turn to do the assignment. The room was filled with metal clashes and screaming due to the dagger effect. “This will be fun,” Nagumo said with a hint of joy in his eyes.

The time has come, it's their turn. The instructor called Uzuki and Nagumo forward. Murmurs ripple through the class, most of the students are excited to see the outcome of the assignment between those two. Those two have made quite a name among their classmates. They’re one of the strongest JCC students.

Then the lights cut, and the test began. The room was drowned in shadows. For a long moment, only the faint shuffle of feet and breaths could be heard. Then, metal sparked in the dark, just once. The blades touched and broke apart, each retreating back into silence, like they were testing the water.

Uzuki exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing. Nagumo had already vanished in the dark, no trace of him left but the echo of steel. The silence pressed down harder, every corner a threat.

A faint scrape of a boot against the floor. A distraction. Uzuki shifted his weight, refusing to fall for it. Nagumo was hunting him.

Something sliced past Uzuki’s cheek, close enough to burn. He twisted, dagger flashing, but Nagumo was already gone, leaving only the ghost of a grin in the dark. Shit…I’ve been hit. Uzuki’s cheek burned as if the cut were deeper than it was. The dagger’s liquid had already seeped in, amplifying the pain tenfold. His vision sharpened despite the sting.

Uzuki didn’t retreat far. He dragged his dagger along the pillar beside him, sparks flickering for just an instant before vanishing into the dark. A lure. He knew Nagumo would circle toward the sound. And when he did, Uzuki would be waiting.

The moment a faint shadow shifted across the crates, Uzuki lunged. His dagger cut upward in a clean arc, forcing Nagumo to twist back. The blade missed his throat by an inch, but the whisper of steel made Nagumo’s grin sharpen. “Not bad.”

Uzuki’s steps were silent, his breathing steady. He didn’t just hide, he stalked. Every time Nagumo vanished into the dark, Uzuki closed the gap, forcing him to move faster, tighter, until the space to breathe was gone.

“I bet the liquid’s already kicking in,” Nagumo’s voice cut through the dark. Uzuki’s grip tightened on the dagger.

Chapter Text

The burn spread from Uzuki’s cheek down to his throat, every throb sharper than the last. If the dagger’s poison was already working, he didn’t have much time.

His breath hitched, chest tightening with each throb. The edges of his vision pulsed, but he ground his teeth and forced his heartbeat to steady. If he let panic set in, Nagumo would have already won.

The room swallowed every sound, every breath. Nagumo’s grin lingered somewhere in the dark, circling. His footsteps were like whispers, teasing the edges of Uzuki’s senses.

Uzuki pressed his back to a pillar, his pulse steady despite the dagger’s effect. He wasn’t going to sit around waiting to be carved apart.

From the dark, Nagumo’s grin twitched. He’d expected Uzuki to crumble by now, but instead, every move only sharpened his instincts. “He’s not just enduring… he’s adapting,” Nagumo thought, excitement flickering in his chest.

A faint shift of air, Nagumo was moving. Most would flinch. Uzuki acted.

He snapped forward, boot hitting the ground in complete silence, his dagger slashing low toward the sound. Steel clashed, sparks hissing in the dark. Nagumo was forced back a step, caught off guard by the sudden attack.

“Didn’t think you’d last the pain this long, Uzuki.” Nagumo muttered, his grin widening.

Uzuki didn’t answer. His dagger was already angled again, hunting through the dark. He wouldn’t be cornered. If Nagumo wanted to play predator, Uzuki was ready to drag him down with him.

He kept pressing Nagumo, forcing him back. He managed to even grazed him once with the dagger, enough to make Nagumo’s blood drip.

The whole class was watching and murmuring. “No way Uzuki’s still moving,” someone whispered. Another muttered, “Nagumo’s holding back… right?” The teacher’s arms stayed crossed, expression unreadable, but even he leaned forward as the clash escalated.

 Nagumo started to take things seriously after Uzuki landed a clean strike. His tone sharpened, his movements getting faster. Uzuki stepped up his games as he sensed that.

Uzuki cornered Nagumo near the crate. Dust scattered as their feet scraped the floor. The crate loomed behind Nagumo, shadows pooling like a trap. For a moment, it felt as if the entire room held its breath, waiting for one to strike first. 

The sound of his footsteps were barely heard as he moved. Uzuki's heartbeat started to get anxious as the dagger effect started to get worse. Sweat dripped from his forehead and palms. His grip started to weaken slowly. He needs to end this assignment right now.  At that moment, it was hard for Nagumo to make an escape. Nagumo sensed something off about the current situation.

Uzuki lunged behind Nagumo with his dagger aiming at his body. But Nagumo already had it prepared for the ambush. Nagumo redirects his blade towards Uzuki that forced him off balance. Uzuki balanced his core body as he rolled to the side.

Nagumo stepped in as he saw an opening before Uzuki could recover. He lands the dagger to scrape against Uzuki’s neck, the amplified pain makes Uzuki freeze just long enough.

The burn in his throat flared, his body tensed up just as Nagumo’s blade scraped his neck. His fingers twitched on the hilt, but he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

In Nagumo’s mind, the fight had already ended. All that was left was the finishing stroke, the satisfaction of proving Uzuki wasn’t untouchable after all. His whisper came sharp as the blade itself “Checkmate.”

Chapter Text

Uzuki still felt the lingering pain, his body still burning even though the duel is over. He wouldn't admit it, but his skills aren't in the same tier as Nagumo. Not yet. 

I’m not strong enough yet to protect those I care about. 

His mind wandered, pulled somewhere else.. An old mansion came through his mind. Al- Kamar Orphanage. He had no parents growing up, yet within those walls he found his own family. Gaku, a  young man with spiky slicked back bluish-grey hair, had always been there. More than a friend, a brother. Uzuki’s hand curled into a fist at the memory.

Even in defeat, he refused to lower his head. He held his head high. Not wanting to show weakness in front of the class. He’s about to walk out himself when Nagumo approached him.

“Didn’t expect you to last that long,” as he smiled cockily. 

Uzuki did not respond to anything as he walked away. 

“Stay away from her. You know who,” Nagumo added. 

Uzuki froze mid-step. Without turning back his voice cut through the air, flat and unbothered.  “Why would I care? I’ve got better things to do.” In his world, emotions weigh people down. And Uzuki had no intention of carrying dead weight. He walked on without looking back.

Cool breezes brushed against his hair as he walked through the corridor. For a moment, he let himself enjoy it. Drawing in a deep breath, the air felt fresh, clean and almost nostalgic.

It reminded him of those days at the orphanage. Gaku always preferred to lock himself indoors, stubborn as ever.  Uzuki had to drag him outside once in a while. On a breezy day like this, Gaku’s hair ended up a mess. He’d complain it was a hassle to play outdoors, but Uzuki could still hear the faint laughter behind those words.

A small chuckle slipped from Uzuki now, the memory settling warmly in his chest.

Rion caught the small chuckle on his lips as she passed by, and couldn’t help but smile at herself. For someone who rarely smiled, his were warmer than anyone else’s. 

“What are you doing in the middle of the hallway? ” The warmth on his face disappeared the moment she approached, his expression shutting down into the lifeless mask he always wore.

Rion laughed, though she wasn’t sure if it was at him… or at how quickly he could hide himself.

“It's none of your business. Don't disturbed me” he said flatly as he started to walk away.

Someone’s in a bad mood, Rion thought, shoving her hands into her jacket. She pulled out a cigarette box, flicked it open, and held it out. “Want some? Might take things off your mind.”

Uzuki gave the box a brief glance before pushing it aside. “I don’t smoke.”

Rion flicked the cigarette box back into her pocket, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You don’t smoke, you don’t talk, you don’t laugh… Do you do anything?”

Uzuki gave her a sidelong glance, voice flat. “Train.”

She snorted. “Figures. No wonder Nagumo almost carved you up earlier. He hasn’t shut up about it since.”

Uzuki’s steps faltered for half a second, the burn in his throat flaring. He hid it quickly, but Rion caught the tiny stiffness in his posture. Her teasing softened into something closer to concern.

“You’re pale,” she said, tilting her head. “Don’t tell me you’re actually hurt.”

“It’s nothing,” Uzuki replied, but his hand brushed his collarbone briefly, betraying the lingering pain.

Rion folded her arms, studying him with a mix of amusement and worry. “You’re terrible at lying, you know that?”

Uzuki didn’t answer, already walking again, but the faintest twitch at the corner of his lips almost looked like… a smirk.

Chapter Text

The lecture hall buzzed with whispers, the weight of final evaluations hanging in the air. Students sharpened their blades, adjusted holsters, or simply sat in silence, each carrying the same thought. Only the strongest would graduate.

Uzuki sat at the back, his gaze steady. He had made it this far, but the path to the license would test more than skill.

“You’re way too calm for someone about to take the license exam,” Rion muttered as she leaned against the wall with her hands folded, chewing gum like the whole thing was just another casual class. 

Uzuki glanced at her, same goes to you , that's what he thought but the words didn't come out. 

“Tch, fine. Be all mysterious. But don’t expect me to drag you out if you fail.” She grinned anyway, though her eyes lingered on him longer than usual.

The final trial wasn’t the kind of fight Uzuki had expected. No flashy duels, no audience. Just silent corridors, hidden targets, and a strict time limit. Each student was tested based on everything they learned, from Assassins Regulation to Weapon Handling.

Uzuki moved through it with his usual calm, though the faint burn from Nagumo’s poisoned blade still lingered in his memory. He didn’t clear the course perfectly, his dagger hit the wrong target once, and his timing faltered when fatigue hit but he didn’t fail either.

By the end, his score was solid enough to place him in the upper half of the class. Not top-tier like Nagumo or Akao, but far from the bottom. For Uzuki, that was enough for now.

When the instructor handed him the provisional license, he had the license now, but the weight of carrying it felt heavier than the blade in his hand. A step closer to being strong enough to protect the only bonds he still cared about.

Akao turned next. He secretly watched it from the sideline. He noticed that Akao could easily handle a short or long range battle. She was strong, but her weapons didn’t suit her fighting style. He wondered if she realized it herself.

The teachers gathered the students, “With your results recorded, you are free to leave. Until the next summons, you are dismissed” . After months held up in this hellhole, the students finally headed back to whatever lives waited for them beyond these walls.

 Yoichi Nagumo

Nagumo stretched out on the wooden porch of his family’s old house, the evening breeze carrying the smell of dinner cooking inside. He leaned back on his hands, eyes half-closed, like the world didn’t have a single problem worth worrying about.

His parents plopped down beside him. “You don’t look like someone who just survived the toughest exam ever,” they teased.

Nagumo grinned, tossing a pebble lazily into the yard. “Why waste energy stressing? A pass is a pass. Besides… the stars look nicer when you don’t overthink.”

The carefree smile lingered on his face, one that said he’d always find a way to laugh things off—no matter how heavy the road ahead.

Taro Sakamoto

Meanwhile, Sakamoto returned to his small apartment. He set a pot of rice on the stove, scrolled through his phone while it simmered… then smelled smoke. The rice had burned. Sighing, he tossed it in the sink and went out to buy some instant noodles instead. At the nearest convenience store, a young girl at the counter greeted him with a cheerful smile that, somehow, found its way past his usual guard. Aoi. 

Rion Akao

Across town, Rion dropped her bag by the door and barely had time to take off her jacket before a small figure darted down the hallway.

“Aunt Rion!” Akira launched into her arms, laughing as Rion spun her around once before setting her down.

“You’ve grown again,” Rion teased, ruffling the girl’s hair. For once, her smile wasn’t cocky or teasing, it was just warm. In this house, she wasn’t a trainee assassin. She was just family.

“Did you bring me something?” Akira asked, eyes wide with expectation.

Rion chuckled, pulling out a small snack from her pocket. “Of course. I’d never come home empty-handed.”

Kei Uzuki

Finally, Uzuki walked toward the orphanage gates. The children ran out as soon as they spotted him, clinging to his arms and legs, shouting his name. He let them tug him inside, ruffling their hair one by one. “You’ve gotten taller,” he murmured. Later, when the halls fell quiet and the kids were asleep, he sat by the window with the provisional license in his hand. His eyes softened as he glanced at the sleeping faces. This is why I fight.

Chapter Text

Warm sunlight passed through the window, and the cool breeze slipped into the room. Refreshing, unlike the main city where the air was heavy with smoke and chemical fumes. Al-Kamar orphanage stood on the outskirts, far enough that the skies looked clear.

Uzuki sat comfortably in his chair, fingers idly turning the next page of his book. He wore a light grey turtleneck with black pants, simple clothes that matched the quiet of the moment. His white hair fell across his forehead as his eyes moved steadily across the words.

He liked the air here. He liked the silence.

But no matter how peaceful it looked, there was always a shadow at Al-Kamar orphanage. A place built to raise killers couldn’t hide its scars. The drills, the punishments, the rules carved into the skin and mind alike.

Uzuki shut the thought away. It wasn’t the place he cared for, it was the people. The few bonds he managed to hold onto in a world designed to break them.

A sudden knock on his door appeared. The door slid open as someone came inside. Gaku. He helped himself by sitting on Uzuki’s bed, his legs swinging lightly off the edge, eyes avoiding Uzuki’s gaze. “You got a message from JAA. It's about your first mission,” as he threw a piece of letter on Uzuki’s lap. 

Uzuki sighed as his fingers gently opened the letter. The paper crinkled under his tightening grip. For a moment, his breath hitched, but he quickly steadied it. “Take care of the rest while I’m gone will you,” as he ruffled Gaku’s hair. The young boy just nodded. 

“About the training…hang on for a while. Everything will be fine as long as I achieve what they want,” Every single Uzuki’s cell felt shiverness. Deeped down, he knew he never wanted to live like this. Despite his outstanding skills in assassination, he never wanted to shed any blood in his hands. He wanted peace. But for the sake of his loved ones, he would do it.

“We’re sorry, we knew that you’re forcing this because of us,” Gaku's eyes drooped on the floor. Full of regrets and sympathy. Uzuki just smiled towards the young boy while patting his shoulder gently.

“No one forced me to do this, it's okay. I wanted to do it,” he said softly. He stood, pausing at the door. For a heartbeat, his gaze lingered on Gaku. Then he waved his hand. “I’m gonna get going now. Take care, Gaku.”

Outside the main city of Japan, he patiently waited for his partner to arrive. The letter had assigned him to investigate the rogue with a partner, another newcomer. But no name was mentioned. He sighed. This is why I preferred to work alone, he thought. Time kept running by as he continuously looked at his watch every 10 minutes.

They were supposed to meet 30 minutes ago. He clicked his tongue in irritation. He sat there, growing restless by the minute. Suddenly, the sound of a motorbike started to appear. The rider wears white simple t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket and a dark tinted helmet. Despite it makes the rider unrecognizable, Uzuki already gets the idea who it might be.

The bike stopped in front of him. Uzuki scoffed, reaching to lift the helmet away. Strands of blue hair slipped free as the helmet came off. She glanced up, only to meet his sharp gaze.

“You’re late,” he muttered, tone clipped. But the way his hand lingered as he tucked a loose strand behind her ear her betrayed a gentleness he couldn’t hide.

She only smirked in reply.

Chapter Text

Their first mission required them to gather any intel about the rogue. The one who had tried to hijack JCC months ago was only the beginning.  Lately, facilities under JAA’s watch had been attacked, quick and clean, like someone testing their defenses. JAA assumed there was more beneath the surface.

The intel led them to an abandoned port. By nightfall, Kei and Rion were already stationed near the old port. The streetlights barely worked, casting the whole area in uneasy half-shadows. 

Rion adjusted her gloves for the third time, stealing a glance at Uzuki. He hadn’t said a word since they left. His gaze stayed sharp, scanning the rooftops, the alleys, the corners where shadows were too thick.

“You could at least tell me if you see something,” Rion whispered.

He didn’t answer. He shifted slightly, eyes narrowing on a group of crates stacked at the far end of the pier. For a second, Rion thought he’d keep ignoring her until he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear, “Footsteps. Three of them.”

Her breath caught. She hadn’t noticed a thing.

They ducked behind a shipping container as faint voices drifted closer. Rion felt the space between them shrink until she could hear Uzuki’s steady breathing beside her. She tried not to fidget, tried not to focus on how calm he seemed compared to her racing heartbeat.

The footsteps passed. Silence returned. Uzuki straightened, brushing the dust from his jacket as if it was nothing. Glancing at her, he asks. “Why is your face suddenly turning red?”

Her face heated. “Sorry. Not used to hiding behind rusty metal boxes.”

“Get used to it.” His words were sharp, but not cruel. More like… matter of fact.

Later, they found markings engraved onto a wooden beam near the warehouse door. A strange symbol, half-scratched out, like someone didn’t want it found. Kei crouched down, running a finger over it.

“Looks like a message,” he muttered.

Rion leaned closer, frowning. “So the rogue wasn’t working alone.”

Uzuki didn’t respond. His eyes lingered on the mark longer than they should have, as if it reminded him of something.

The rest of the night passed without incident, but the silence between them felt different on the way back.

Chapter Text

They rent a cheap apartment in the nearest district. “You’ve got to be kidding me” as Rion clenched her nose bridge. The room only had one bed even though they requested two beds. Bad timing, since right now it is the cold season. This cheap rent barely managed to make the heater stay on. One of them could drop dead before even finishing the mission.

“Don’t bother, you’ll take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor”. Uzuki drag the table to the middle and pull out a piece of paper. It's been almost six years since he last saw the symbol. “ I think I know who might be responsible for this,” he sighed. 

Rion shot a look. “ Unlike you, I wasn't raised by my family. My whole life I was raised at the orphanage. It wasn't like any regular orphanage, it was one of JAA projects to train kids to become one of their pawn”

“Why haven't I heard of it?” she asked.

Uzuki’s hand froze on the paper. For a moment, he almost stayed silent. Talking about Al-Kamar never came easy. But Rion’s stare didn’t waver, and finally he said “Only certain people knew about the project. Al-Kamar wasn’t an orphanage… it was a cage.”

Al-Kamar orphanage brutally forced its children to train and kill from as early as six. They weren’t given proper meals or even basic necessities. Survival meant turning on each other. Killing their friends off with their own hands, and watching others do the same.

Her smirk faded. “That’s messed up… kids aren’t supposed to…” she trailed off, shaking her head.

“Six years ago, something happened. I still hear their voices sometimes…” as he wondered about an old past.

6 years ago

The training yard reeked of steel and sweat. Two 10 and 8 year-old brothers stood in the dirt, daggers trembling in their hands. Their breaths came ragged, their eyes desperate, terrified, locked on each other.

Above them, an instructor’s voice cut sharp as a blade. “Only one of you passes.”

The younger boy dropped his dagger. “Please… don’t make me fight him.” His voice cracked. “He’s my brother!”

The instructor didn’t blink. “You’ll fight, or I’ll kill you both”

The other children were forced to watch, unable to look away.

The order came. The older brother moved. Not because he wanted to—but because hesitation meant execution for them both. His dagger found its mark but it wasn't enough to make a kill.

The younger fell, eyes wide with betrayal, blood blooming hot between them. He reached out a trembling hand.“Why…?”

The older brother’s scream was swallowed by silence. “Finish him” as the instructor gave the cold order.

The older brother hesitated while gripping the blade. He stepped backward away from his brother as tears flowed down his cheeks.

The instructor’s grip was merciless as he yanked the blade free from the older brother’s trembling hands. His eyes flicked down at the boy on the ground—bloodied,gasping, still clinging to life.

“Pathetic,” he muttered.

Without hesitation, the blade plunged down. The steel tore across the younger brother’s legs, a savage strike meant not to kill clean but to make him writhe. His scream ripped through the training yard, raw and broken, echoing against the walls.

The other children flinched, but none dared to look away.

The older brother’s knees buckled. His throat burned with the urge to shout, to stop it, but his voice locked inside him. They stood rigid, eyes glassy, some wiping their faces with fists, some staring as if trying to unsee what had just happened.

The instructor twisted the blade free, then slammed it down again, this time at the boy’s chest. The younger boy’s wide, glassy eyes locked on his brother one last time, not with anger, but sorrow.

“Finish it,” he said to the boy, voice like gravel.

The younger’s body went limp in the dirt. The children turned their faces away, but not him. He couldn’t.

“Forgive me…. I love you,” he whispered, voice cracking, and the blade sank, it met flesh with a soft, terrible sound.

Something inside him cracked. He stood there, drenched in his brother’s blood, staring at the red that stained his hands. The tears stopped coming. His throat was dry. 

Only one thing remained.

Hatred.

“I killed him”

“I killed him”

“I killed him” He murmured the same thing again and again.

The dagger slipped from his grasp. His brother’s eyes, wide and unblinking, stared past him….empty, lifeless.

His breath caught. For a moment, the world went silent. He dropped to his knees beside the body, shaking his brother’s shoulders as if sheer force could drag him back.

“Hey… wake up,” he whispered, voice trembling. “Come on, stop playing around… You’re always pulling pranks like this, right? Right?”

His brother’s head limped to the side. No flicker of breath, no warmth answering his desperate hands.

“No… no, no, no,” he choked out, pressing his ear against his chest, pleading for a heartbeat. Nothing.

The tears blurred his vision until he could barely see the blood pooling beneath them. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking. He shook his brother harder now, his voice cracking. “Don’t do this to me! You can’t—don’t you dare leave me!”

The instructor’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “Remember this, boy. This is what weakness costs.”

He stood frozen, hands drenched in a stain that would never wash away. In that moment, a part of him died alongside his brother.

The words dissolved into a strangled sound that was half-sob, half-laugh. A raw, broken noise clawing out of his throat. He laughed again, higher this time, hysterical… like if he just laughed hard enough, this would turn out to be some awful joke.

But the more he laughed, the more it broke. The sound dissolved into choking gasps, until all that remained was the truth pressing down on him. He had killed his own blood.

And so Al-Kamar got what it wanted—not a child, not a brother, but a deadly weapon.

Chapter Text

Silence pressed heavily between them. Rion hadn’t interrupted once, but her eyes were sharp, studying every flicker of Uzuki’s face.

“That boy…Rerir” Uzuki’s voice was hoarse, as if the memory had scraped his throat raw. He clenched the paper tighter in his hands. “I wasn’t the one holding the blade that day. But I watched him. I trained with him. And when he broke… I understood what Al-Kamar was truly for.”

Rion’s breath hitched. She had seen her share of blood, but the weight behind his words made her stomach twist. “What happened to him?”

Uzuki finally lowered his gaze from the ceiling. “He didn’t stay. Not like me. He… left Al-Kamar before everything changed.” His voice hardened at the edges. “Back when it was still a cage that chewed kids alive.”

Rion tilted her head. “Left?”

“Escaped,” Uzuki said. “Maybe they let him go. I don’t know.” Uzuki’s hand tightened into a fist. “But I stayed. I watched Al-Kamar shift into something new. Same cruelty, different mask. They called it reform, but it was just another way to polish their weapons.”

She sat forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Uzuki’s silence was confirmation enough. The room seemed to breathe around the weight of his past.

“The symbol…” Uzuki’s voice faltered, rough at the edges. “The instructor made us carve it. Said it would represent one of us. A mark. A number.” He exhaled sharply, but the sound caught like it hurt.

He fell silent after the memory, staring at the paper he'd drawn the symbol on. His fingers trembled. He curled them into a fist as if to hide it. Rion saw it but said nothing.

Rion finally snapped the silence. “You’re an idiot,” she said. “You act like you don’t care, but you’re a softie” Uzuki scoffed, and smiled.

It's already past midnight, Uzuki slept on the floor ignoring the cold that spread through his body. He could barely sleep at that time, forced himself to sleep but only managed to shut his eyes while his mind focused on the cold. The body started to shiver to his spine as time went by.

 A soft kick landed behind his back, he groaned “ Sleep on the bed you idiot, I don't mind sharing it” Rion said flatly. He stared at her as if needed more verification from her. She just nodded. 

As he lay down on the bed beside her, the room suddenly felt more quiet than usual. The warmth from her side seeped slowly into him, chasing away the cold he had been drowning in moments ago. 

He forced his eyes shut, but every sound of her breathing, the shift of sheets kept him awake. Both of their hearts beat louder than the silence, betraying nerves neither wanted to admit. That's what they felt during the whole night without any reasonable reason.

Uzuki turned onto his side, careful not to face her. Still, the faint heat of her presence lingered at his back, impossible to ignore. “Thanks… for this.” he whispered loud enough to make her hear it.

She flushed, “I’d rather keep you alive than dig your grave.” Uzuki smiled quietly, hiding it in the darkness, afraid she might catch how much it meant.

A few minutes later, they both fell deeply asleep. Sleep came easier that night, the quiet filled by the warmth of the other’s presence.

Morning sunlight brushed Rion’s face, warm and gentle. Her sleep felt more comfortable than usual, despite the hard, cheap mattress. Her hands lingered on something. …something soft and warm — the steady rise and fall of breath beneath her palm. She grunted. Her eyes flickered as the sunlight flashing at her eyes.

She gasped. Shit. At some point in the night, she’d ended up holding Uzuki. She sighed in relief when she saw Uzuki was still asleep. Her eyes refused to turn away as she looked at him. His hair covered his forehead and a bit of his eyes. A small smile tugged at her lips. He looked so unguarded, almost gentle, in sleep.

She carefully slipped her hand away, but the movement stirred Uzuki. “Morning,” his voice came out hoarse.

“Morning.” She shot up from the bed too quickly, almost tripped. She steadied herself quickly, pretending nothing happened. Her eyes darted anywhere but at him. He squinted against the sunlight. 

“You always hold people in your sleep?” he asked.

“I didn't mean it, it was an accident!” she flustered as Uzuki teased her. He just rolled his eyes “Sure.” A faint smirk lingered on his lips as if he enjoyed watching her squirm.

She grabbed her jacket from the chair, forcing her voice steady “We need to update the JAA about yesterday,” she casually brushed it off with a change of topic. Uzuki just nodded. 

While preparing to leave, she added “Don’t get the wrong idea about last night”

Uzuki just gives a noncommittal “hm.”

Chapter Text

The JAA headquarters felt unnaturally quiet that morning. White walls, neat halls, the hum of distant machines. It was a place that never changed, no matter what they brought back with them. Rion stood at the front of the small office, delivering the report with her usual clipped tone. Uzuki sat slouched beside her, only speaking when she missed a detail. The rest of the time, he kept his gaze fixed on the floor.

When she finished, the officer leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking between the two of them. “You make a good team,” he said simply. “We’ll be assigning you together more often. Consider it official.”

Rion straightened, forcing her voice steady. “Understood.” Beside her, Uzuki exhaled softly. “Guess I’m stuck with you then.” The words sounded like a grumble, but it felt almost like he didn’t mind at all.

The officer dismissed them with a wave of his hand. No more questions, no further judgment. As they left the office she said, “You could’ve at least looked interested in working together with me.”

“Didn’t need to.” His voice was quiet, almost lazy. Then, “I like it when you’re the one talking.”

Rion blinked, thrown off guard. For a second, she thought she imagined it. Uzuki never said things like that, his words were usually sharp as his blade. But this one… it lingered. A compliment. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, narrowing her eyes, though her lips twitched with the start of a grin.

He only shrugged, looking away as if the conversation bored him.

It's been a month since their first mission, the JAA have frequently been assigned those two to work together. Most of it to clean out any assassin that went rogue with the law. Every day these two went to the rent with minor injuries. A lot of rogue assassins have been reported recently, rumors whispered that Rerir is behind it all.

One day, Uzuki made a wrong call while handling one of the rogues. A bullet pierced his abdomen, it didn't hit any vital organs but it will cost his life if not treated well. He was limping as he headed to the rent. Hands covering his wounds with enough pressure to reduce blood loss. He clenched his jaw as he endured the pain. The warmth of his blood soaking his shirt.

Rion was just about to make dinner as she heard the door creak “I’m gonna make us some dinner, do you want anything?” she asked. She heard a grunt from the door. She takes a peek from the kitchen. She flinched as she saw Uzuki covered in his own blood and ran towards him. Her stomach dropped, her hands frozen for a split second before she rushed to him. “What on earth happened to you!” as she takes a look at his condition.

“Relax, it’s just a minor scratch.” His voice was hoarse.

She shot a look, worried was written across her face. “This isn't minor! Jeez you can’t even take care of yourself ”. She searched for the first aid kit across the room. She gave first aid to Uzuki. She wanted to help him but he declined it. She just rolled her eyes. “Suit yourself then.” She turned away, but the tension in her chest didn’t ease.

Uzuki grabbed the first aid kit and undressed himself to tend the wound. When he pulled his shirt over his head, Rion’s brain stuttered. His shoulders were broad, arms roped with lean muscle. The hard lines running across his stomach caught the dim light, proof of his discipline. Not the kind of body you expected to see every day. She flushed at the sight and snapped her head away. Great. Now I’m checking him out? Seriously? she thought. 

He shrank from pain as he tried to remove the bullet from his torso. His breath hissed between his teeth, jaw tight. Cliched his tongue as he was unable to get it. Rion kneeled in front of him as she seized the tweezer from him. Blood flowed fast through his body, and still Kei growled, “I said leave it! I can handle it.”

Rion slammed her hand down, furious tears burning her eyes. “No, you can’t!” Rion scowls. He froze, shocked by the force of her voice. “Stop being a fool and let me help.” She reaches for him, but he pulls back. Her chest tightens. This wasn’t just about the injury, it was because he was shutting her out.

“Kei,” she says, and the name falls heavily, intentionally. His head jerks up at the sound, eyes widening. No one had called him that in years. “Let me help you. Please.” For the first time, he didn’t pull away when she reached for him.

Her hands pressed firm and steady against his wound, “You could’ve been dead by now,” her voice cracked before she covered it with a sigh. Uzuki just remained silent. She pulled the bullet out of his torso. He hissed, avoiding looking at her eyes as she searched for his.

She grabbed the bandage and wrapped his wound. She tightened the bandage on purpose. He winced when she pressed hard and said “I deserved that” he scoffed. She arched a brow, lips tugging into a grin she couldn’t quite hide.

He felt every touch of her hands around him, her fingers gently caressing his body as she tended his wound. His heartbeat is racing, each brush of her fingers burning more than the wound itself.

Rion tied the last knot on the bandage, her fingers lingering a moment too long. Neither of them mentioned it, but the silence between them was loud. “Try not to be a jerk next time,” Rion muttered, but her hands were still on his body. Uzuki only smirked faintly.

Chapter Text

After she finished tending his wound, Uzuki started gathering his things, ignoring the pain.

“Where are you going like that?” Rion’s voice was sharp.

“Finishing the mission. I let the rogue slip away,” he muttered, straining to stand.

Rion blocked the doorway before he could reach it. Her eyes flashed.“You’re not going anywhere in that condition. Do you want to bleed out?”

“I’ll be fine,” he tried to brush it off, but his body betrayed him. His step faltered, his weight shifting unsteady.

He isn’t fine, Rion thought, heart clenching. Frustration bubbled in her chest. Not only because he was reckless, but because she couldn’t stand the thought of watching him push himself into death.

Her voice cut through the silence, firm and unyielding. “Sit down, Uzuki.” It wasn’t a request. It was an order.

For a long moment, he stared at her, defiance flickering in his eyes. Then, finally, he exhaled and lowered himself onto the chair with a heavy sigh. “...Fine.”

Later that night, she stayed awake because she didn’t trust him not to leave. Her eyes wandered to the bandaged wound, the rise and fall of his chest uneven but steady. “Stubborn as hell…” she whispered. As she watches him, a loose strand of hair falls across his face. Her hand twitched to brush it aside, but she curled her fingers into a fist instead.

Without her realization, she started to care about him…more than usual towards others. She’d patched up friends before, but never sat guard after. Never watched their faces soften in sleep, so why him? The thought gnawed at her, heavier than she wanted to admit. Those thoughts lingered for a while since they worked together. Sure…at first she just loved to tease him, but right now it was something more.

Uzuki wakes up in the middle of the night and catches her dozing off in the living room. Her brow was faintly furrowed even in sleep, exhaustion carved under her eyes, she’d been staying up watching out for him. He hovered for a second, fingers brushing the fabric as if unsure he had the right, then finally laid the blanket over her shoulders. 

He thought about slipping back out, tracking the assassin down. But one glance at her, curled and stubbornly keeping watch even in sleep, made him pause. He couldn’t risk her waking up in an empty room. So he stayed, settling into the silence with a sigh he didn’t realize carried relief.

Her lashes fluttered, eyes half-lidded. “...what are you doing?”

“Nothing. Go back to sleep.” His voice was softer than he realized. She hummed, already drifting off again, but her lips curved faintly like she’d heard more than he meant to say. Uzuki stared at her for a long moment, then shook his head. She was impossible. Yet somehow… he didn’t mind.

Rion stirred awake first, blinking at the blanket draped over her. She froze, realizing she hadn’t pulled it on herself. Her eyes flicked to Uzuki, still asleep on the bed, his arm draped lazily over his abdomen where the fresh bandages sat.

She sat there for a moment, biting her lip. He looked almost peaceful like this. Almost human. Not the same man who drove her insane with his stubbornness last night.

Rion muttered under her breath, “You really don’t make it easy, do you…” before pushing herself up. She busied her hands with breakfast just to drown out the heat rising in her chest.

Behind her, the sound of shuffling blankets. “Morning,” Uzuki’s voice rasped.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Morning. Don’t even think about moving too much. You’ll rip your stitches.”

He smirked faintly despite the pain. “Bossy first thing in the morning, huh?”

“Someone has to keep you alive,” she replied. Rion turned back to the stove, flipping the pan with more force than necessary. “Sit there and don’t move. If you bleed on the floor, you’re cleaning it up yourself.”

Uzuki leaned back against the headboard, lips twitching. “Didn’t know near-death came with housekeeping duties.”

She shot him a glare over her shoulder. “Keep talking and I’ll make yours half-burnt to eat.”

His smirk widened despite the sting in his side. “So violent first thing in the morning. Guess I should be grateful you didn’t kill me in my sleep.”

Rion set a plate down in front of him with a clatter. “Don’t tempt me. Eat.” But when he caught the faintest curve at the corner of her lips, he knew she didn’t mean it.

Chapter Text

Several days have gone by since Uzuki had been injured, the wound almost healed up. Rion tossed his jacket to him. “Come on, let's have some fun”. At first he declined her offer but she persuaded him to go. It's been a while since they did a mission. Unfortunately Rion isn't the type of person who would do nothing on a daily basis. 

She dragged Uzuki along since they didn't have anything to do. They went to the Aquarium since she never has been there. He grumbles about it being childish, she smirks “Better than doing nothing.” She hooked her arm through his and ignored every muttered complaint.

They entered a tunnel fish tank. Surrounded by tons of types and colours of fishes and corals. Light rippled across her face as the water shimmered above them. He barely spared the fish a glance… somehow, her wide-eyed wonder mesmerizing the whole ocean around them. He finds himself watching her more than the fish. Uzuki mutters, “You’re too easily entertained.”

She shoots back, “And you’re impossible to entertain.”

“Maybe you just don’t know how to have fun,” she teased, pressing her hand against the glass where a stingray floated by.

Uzuki gave her a sideways glance. “Don’t expect me to clap for a fish.”

“You’re hopeless.” She laughed under her breath, though the sound only made the corners of his mouth twitch again. Both walk through the glass tunnel, sharks circling above. Rion suddenly stopped and pulled out her phone. “Let’s take a picture.”

Uzuki frowned. “No.”

She ignored him, snapping one anyway with him in the background. Later, she scrolled through the photo with a small laugh, and he caught her. “Tch. You’re ridiculous,” he muttered, and looked away. Still, his eyes had flicked to the screen just long enough to see his own face beside hers. Ridiculous, maybe. But… not unpleasant. He shoved the thought away before it could settle.

As they moved with the crowd, their shoulders brushed. Neither stepped aside. Neither mentioned it. At the end of the tunnel, they went to the penguin section. The glass fogged faintly as the penguins splashed, their waddling drawing bursts of laughter from nearby kids. Rion laughed watching the penguins waddle, Uzuki rolled his eyes but secretly softened at the sound.

A little boy bumped into Uzuki’s leg, nearly toppling over. Uzuki stiffened, hands half-raised in panic at the thought of touching a child. Rion covered her mouth, trying not to burst out laughing. “Relax, you act like he’s a bomb.”

“Feels safer dealing with one,” Uzuki muttered, stepping aside. Her grin only widened. He’d moved with surprising care, guiding the boy back on his feet without a trace of irritation. Gentleness hidden beneath his cold exterior, fleeting but undeniable. Akira would love him, she thought as she smiled.

He muttered, “Someone is enjoying this trip.” She smiled radiantly. Her smile caught him off guard, brighter than any of the lights reflecting off the water. He looked away too quickly, but the image stuck. He never thought he’d be glad she dragged him here

On their way out of the penguin hall, Rion tugged him toward the café corner. “Come on, let’s get something.”

Uzuki eyed the menu, his frown deepening. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Fifteen bucks for ice cream shaped like a fish?”

“Worth it,” Rion declared, already at the counter. Moments later she handed him one, the wafer crisp tail poking out.

Uzuki stared at it like it had personally offended him. “…I’m not eating this.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, taking a dramatic bite of her own. He sighed, eventually taking a reluctant lick. Rion’s smirk grew instantly.

“Don’t say a word,” he warned.

“Didn’t have to. Your face says it all.” She was laughing hysterically, and though Uzuki scowled, his grip on the ridiculous fish-shaped dessert didn’t loosen.

As they sit on a bench near a huge panoramic tank. The sharks and rays glided past, their move gracefully, like they had all the time in the world. A swarm of silver fish darted past in perfect unison, scattering like stars before re-forming into a single shimmering wave. The light shimmered over their faces. She leaned back, arms crossed but a smile tugged at her lips. “See? A break wasn’t so bad.”

Uzuki sat beside her, elbows resting on his knees. He didn’t answer right away. His gaze followed the arcs of the creatures above them, but his eyes shifted, lingering briefly on her. The corners of his mouth twitched. “Maybe not.”

It wasn’t much, just two words, but they carried weight. For someone like Uzuki, it was practically an acknowledgement.

Rion raised a brow, clearly amused. “Wow. High praise, coming from you.”

He exhaled roughly, “Don’t get used to it.” Still, he didn’t move, didn’t rush to stand or insist they leave. For once, he allowed the silence to linger between them. The vibration of the water filters, the distant chatter of visitors, the gentle sound of the water rippling. Peace. That's the first thought of him right now. He always wanted to live like a normal mundane. Nothing special nor unusual. One day he would like to leave the assassin world when he gets the chance.

And though he would never say it out loud, he found himself thinking the same thing she did. Sitting here wasn’t so bad, not when it was with her.

Chapter Text

Days turned into weeks, Uzuki’s torso had fully healed. He barely could feel any pain from his abdomen. The bandage had been taken off, and the wound healed nicely. Almost three months had passed since they'd been living under the same roof, sharing cheap rent and running missions side by side, sometimes on their own under JAA orders.

Life had fallen into a quiet rhythm until small things began to feel off. Something had changed for Uzuki behaviour. That night before sleeping, Rion half-wakes and thinks she heard the door click faintly. She assumes she imagined it. But Uzuki went out through the door. 

The next morning, the faint metallic scent still lingered by the doorway. She did ask him about it but he turned a blind eye to it. A lot of questions that she asked herself. What’s he hiding? What was he doing that night? But she didn't bother to ask for more details.

While carrying out a solo task, Rion never thought twice about her blade. It cut clean without exception, sharp as though it had never dulled. Her combat style has always been using a blade and a gun, able to cover short and long range combat. It was always sharp, too sharp for how often she used it. 

She told herself it was her own skill, nothing else. But sometimes, when her blade sliced cleaner than it should have, her thoughts flickered to Uzuki’s closed-off expression and the way he always brushed off her questions. 

It all started after the short trip she had with Uzuki. Sometimes she’d find her blade gleaming as if newly polished, though she couldn’t remember the last time she’d cleaned it. 

They received a new mission from JAA, a raid on one of Rerir’s hidden outposts. Another mission—together. The mission file had been thin. Too thin. Bare coordinates, a list of suspects, nothing else. Missions with too little detail never ended cleanly. She glanced at Uzuki. He didn’t look worried. That worried her more.

They prepared themselves before departing. Rion checks her gun to make sure it's working well. Uzuki slung his jacket over his shoulder, eyeing her. “If you clean that gun any more, you’ll polish the barrel right off.”

“At least I won’t misfire,” Rion snapped back, closing the chamber shut. She was halfway to the door when a hand holding against her waist, making her breath hitch before she even realized he was there 

“You forgot this,” Uzuki said, sliding the blade into her waist sheath. She muttered a quick thanks, but her chest felt tight. She stiffened, but Uzuki didn’t comment, only let his hand fall back to his side. The lock clicked as she pushed the door open. The streets outside were quiet, pale morning light spilling across the cracked walkway. Rion adjusted her gloves, her mind stubbornly trying to shake off the lingering warmth at her waist.

They moved toward their destination in silence. The air felt heavier here, too quiet. Uzuki suddenly raised a hand, halting her steps. Rion arched a brow. “What’s wrong?” she whispered. Something wasn’t right. This place should’ve been crawling with enemies, yet it was silent as the grave. Uzuki’s grip tightened around his sword whip.

A bullet sliced through the air, Uzuki shoved Rion aside just in time. An ambush. Another shot rang out, this one from the opposite direction. They dropped behind a nearby crate “I can’t pin down their position,” Uzuki hissed, breaking the silence.

Bullets shredded the air, forcing them to crawl backward behind cover. Rion peeked out, only to be forced back by another crack of a rifle. Uzuki’s jaw tightened. Flashes kept coming from different angles, herding them like prey. Then came the sound of the boots scuffing against gravel, closing in. “Flankers,” he muttered.

Rion fired a burst to push them back, slipping from cover just enough to slash down one who got too close. Uzuki’s whip-sword lashed out, disarming another with a sharp crack. A bullet grazed his cheek. Rion cursed, realizing the sniper had locked onto them. Another attacker lunged with a blade but Uzuki caught the strike, sparks flaring as steel met steel. Rion’s shot dropped the one behind him, saving his blind side.

But then, she exposed herself half a second too long. A sniper’s glint flashed. Uzuki saw it, shoved her down hard as the bullet tore through the empty space where her head had been. Her eyes widened at him from the ground, his hand still braced over her. For a heartbeat, the chaos fell away. Then he pulled her up roughly, voice sharp “Focus.”

“Fine,” she snapped back, breathless. “I’ll take the sniper. You hold them off.” And before she breaks cover. Uzuki’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist. “You’ll get yourself killed.” His voice was sharper than the bullets around them. She met his eyes, unwavering. “Trust me.” 

For a second, neither moved. Then, reluctantly, his fingers slipped away, jaw clenched. She bolted through cover, leaving Uzuki to meet the strike team head-on. His blade cut down the first man that lunged, but even mid-swing his gaze flicked toward Rion. 

She sprints across open ground, dodging shots by unpredictably zig-zagging. Use the nearby structures to close distance. Uzuki swore under his breath, trying to focus on the strike team, but his eyes kept darting to her. She managed to spot the sniper’s glint. Fires a single precise shot, forcing him out of position. One breath, one squeeze, the shot landed clean. The body toppled from the rooftop. Gotcha. Another shot went through the sniper’s head.

“Don’t ever pull that stunt again,” he snapped. 

“You don't have to babysit me, I'm doing fine!” she shot back, chin lifted stubbornly. He doesn’t answer right away, just meets her gaze. Too many words pressed at his throat, but none came out. Finally, he turns back to the fight.

The strike team was thinning out. Just when Rion thought they had the upper hand, a shadow broke from the smoke, blade flashing straight for her back. Uzuki’s whip-sword lashed out, yanking the attacker off balance before the strike could land. He cut him down fast, fueled by something more than battle instinct.

For a moment, neither spoke. Rion’s pulse hammered, realizing how close that had been. Uzuki’s glare lingered on her a second too long before he turned away, finishing off the last of the squad.

The gunfire ceased. Only silence and smoke remained. The last body hit the ground. Silence. Only their ragged breaths filled the air. Rion lowered her gun, shoulders trembling. “We made it…” she whispered, forcing a smile.

Uzuki didn’t answer. His sword whip dragged against the dirt, his hand barely steady. Blood spattered across his jaw. “They were after me,” he muttered at last, his eyes shadowed.

Rion blinked. “What are you talking about?” He finally looked at her, and for a moment she saw something raw—fear, maybe even guilt. “Every shot… every flank… it was aimed to corner me. You were just in the way.”

She stepped closer, reaching for his arm. “Uzuki… ”

But he pulled back, “If you keep staying near me… they’ll keep coming for you. And next time, I might not be fast enough.”

Her chest tightened, words dying in her throat. He turned, walking past the bodies without looking back, leaving her more shaken by his distance than the fight itself.

Chapter Text

Back at the rent, the silence pressed heavier than usual. He barely spoke to her all day. Guilt started to consume him. He could remember the scene clearly…. Her wide eyes when the sniper’s bullet missed, the sound of her breath catching. Images he couldn’t shake. He should never agree to work with someone, especially with Rion. He had always gotten the work done alone. Silent, efficient, detached. No one else slowed him down. No one else to lose. 

But when she came into his life at JCC, his perspective changed. He enjoyed her companion for these three months. Three months of her teasing, her sharp retorts, the rare sound of her laugh, things he’d never expected to matter. He’s worried that she might get in the crossfire due to his past. She doesn’t see it yet, but staying near him is a death sentence. If she stayed, she’d bleed for the past he carried. He wouldn’t let that happen.

There’s a part of his past that he didn't mention to her. That's the reason Rerir targets him and JAA. He sought revenge for the death of his brother, and blamed the JAA for his brother’s death. The cruel system that pitted them as enemies and he wanted blood in return. 

The day before their escape attempt, Rerir asked Uzuki to help him and his brother run. The training was hard. Too many nights stained with blood and shouted orders. Terrified, Uzuki told the instructor about the escape plan. They kept everyone in tight security to prevent that from happening. Rerir blamed him for that. If Uzuki didn't tell the instructor, he and his brother could be free. Rerir didn’t want justice, he wanted payment.

Now Rerir demanded blood, the debt Uzuki had been made to pay. When some of Rerir’s men saw Uzuki with Rion at the aquarium, they reported it, now Rerir has a clear way to make Uzuki pay. He will target her. The death of his loved one will be paid by the blood of the person he started to care for. Rion Akao. Blood for blood. Uzuki’s past would now try to exact its price from the person he’d begun to care for most.

Rion breaks the silence “It's not your fault his brother died, you know…” She noticed the shift between them lately. He’d grown quieter than usual.. She’s worried about him. The fact that she couldn’t reach out for him breaks her more. What could she probably do? They aren’t close enough, the JAA assigned them to work together.

“Stop acting like you care about me, you don’t” his tone was harsher than usual. 

The words cut sharper than any blade, she flinched. But she cared about him. More than anything. Why would she have bothered tending his wound when he didn’t even want her to? She wouldn’t go to the aquarium with him if she didn't want to spend time with him. All the special care that she showed, she never did it with anyone. Every attempt she made to bridge the gap only seemed to push him further away. Her throat tightened with words she couldn’t force out. 

She stepped outside, leaving behind the words she’d never dared to say.

Rion kept away from the rent for a few days, giving Uzuki space to cool off. A small figure barreled into her arms. Akira. Rion poked her side body, which caused her to laugh. “That tickles!” Akira chuckled.

They shifted, settling side by side on the couch. “Who’s this, Aunt Rion?” as she showed a picture. Akira holding up the phone, Rion froze for a beat, her chest tightening.

Yesterday, while fiddling with her aunt’s phone, Akira stumbled on a picture that caught her eye. A picture of her aunt and a guy. He looks like a prince or something, Akira thought with wide eyes. Keep it in her voice. Akira was curious, so she decided to ask her later.

“He’s my partner,” she answered.

“You didn’t tell me you had a cool boyfriend! I want to meet him!” she pouted. Rion cheeks blushed and she quickly ruffled her niece’s hair to hide it. She explained that Uzuki was just her work partner. But still Akira wanted to meet him. She sighed. Uzuki barely wanted her near him these days. How could she bring him to meet Akira?

“Pleaseee! I wanna meet him!” she tugged insistently at her aunt’s sleeve. Rion couldn’t help but smile and give in. It's hard to resist her niece's charm. Akira squealed and bounced on the couch, victory shining in her eyes.

“Why do you even want to meet him? Trust me, he barely gives anyone a smile.” she shrugged. Akira puffed her cheeks. “Because you never let me meet your friends!” That's why she is eager to meet Uzuki. She peeked at the photo again and grinned. “And… you two look good together.”

She flicks Akira’s forehead lightly. “What are you even talking about? You’ve been reading too many fairy tales.”

She gets a little too defensive, which ironically makes her niece grin more, clearly pleased with herself.

Rion’s smile faded as her eyes drifted back to the photo, staring at the photo longer than she meant to. He’s not like that. He wouldn’t… look at me that way. That's what she thought of herself.

Akira’s grin faltered. “...Aunt Rion? Did I say something wrong?” she asked, her small fingers brushing Rion’s sleeve. Rion snapped out of her inner thoughts and reassured her.

Chapter Text

Blood dripped from his hand, his hand shaking out of fear. His heartbeat spiked, his whole body trembling. Uzuki’s eyes darted forward and froze on the body lying ahead. Rion. She was crumpled on the floor in a pool of scarlet, a katana pierced through her body.

“No…no…no!” Uzuki’s voice cracked, echoing through the hollow corridors as he stumbled to her side. He dropped to his knees, hands clawing at the weapon. Blood poured out as he pressed his hands desperately against the wound. It was meaningless, there's no heartbeat through her heart any longer. He pressed harder, harder—searching for a pulse that wasn’t there. He pressed his forehead against hers, whispering broken apologies no one would ever hear.

“Stay with me… please, please…” His forehead pressed to hers, his breath hitching. He tried to force life back into her, pressing harder, harder, but her chest stayed still beneath his desperate hands.

“No!” His scream ripped through the silence, raw enough to tear his throat. “Don’t leave me… not you…” His hands shook so violently he could barely keep them on her, and still he tried—compressing, begging, breaking apart with each second she didn’t move.

Her blood rose higher, flooding between his fingers, up his wrists, drowning him. The floor beneath them was gone, only red, endless and suffocating. Rion’s face vanished in the tide.

Uzuki jolted awake.

Sweat plastered his hair to his face. But there was nothing. Just the dark room, just him. He started to have nightmares every night, filled with guild.

The first time, he woke drenched in sweat, chest heaving as though he’d just run through fire. His hands wouldn’t stop trembling. He told himself it was just a dream. Just a dream.

The second time, he woke up choking on a scream, her name still tearing from his throat. He stared at his palms in the dark, swearing he could still feel her blood slipping through his fingers.

The third time, it was worse. He didn’t wake right away. He stayed trapped in it—her body limp, her heartbeat gone, her eyes staring through him. Her lips parted as though she was trying to say his name. But no sound came. Only blood. He ripped himself awake, gasping, tears he hadn’t realized falling down his face.

By the fourth time, he stopped screaming. The silence hurt more. He just lay there, fists clenched tight enough to draw blood, afraid to close his eyes again. Because he knew what waited for him the moment he did. 

He didn't sleep for days, dark circles began to form under his eyes. He barely touched food all week. Plates went untouched, meals left to grow cold, while nightmares sank their claws deeper each night.

He jolted when the door creaked open, Rion went in. Her eyes widened when she saw him. He was a mess. His hair hung in unwashed strands, clothes wrinkled, eyes bloodshot. “Why on earth are you like that! I was gone just for a week and you ended up like this!” He kept his gaze fixed on the floor, flinching when her hand reached for him.

“Look at you! You’re a mess, don’t shut me out!” Rion’s voice cracked as she reached for him.

Uzuki slapped her hand away, his tone a whip. “Stop pretending you care. You’re only here because the JAA chained us together. If they cut that chain tomorrow, you’d forget me like I never existed.”

Her chest hollowed, the words hitting harder than any blade. “That’s not true”

“Don’t lie to yourself.” His gaze burned, merciless. “You don’t know me. You never will. Whatever you think this is….it’s nothing. You mean nothing.”

The words hit harder than any blade. Rion froze, her breath hitching, pain flickering in her chest. But she refused to turn back. “Maybe I don’t know everything,” she whispered, fists trembling, “but I’m not leaving you like this.”

He snarled, “I don’t want you here!”

Her answer was silence. She sank into the chair beside him, arms tight around herself. No matter how hard he tried to push, she wasn’t going anywhere. And that, somehow, terrified him more than her absence ever could.

Uzuki’s breath stuttered, the mask was slipping. He turned his face away, but the tremor in his hand betrayed him. He wanted to shove her out of his life, yet her stubborn warmth pressed against the wall that he built reminded him that no matter how cruel his words, she refused to leave him.

“You barely ate anything. Do you want something?” Rion asked softly as she moved toward the kitchen. He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her. He just sat there, hollow-eyed, staring at the floor in silence.

She rolled her eyes—of course he wouldn’t answer. With a sigh, she busied herself in the kitchen, putting together a simple meal for them both. When she set the plate in front of him, Uzuki only stared at it, his hands limp on his lap.

“Just eat it, Kei,” she said, his name leaving her lips softer than he ever expected. “I’ll be out of your sight once I know you’re fine.” 

Her voice dipped low, wrapping around his first name with a warmth he didn’t deserve. Kei. He hated how the simple word, spoken like that, made his breath falter.

Uzuki’s hand hovered over the plate, hesitation thick in the silence. For a long moment, Rion thought he would ignore her again. But then his fingers twitched, slow, deliberate, as if weighed down. He picked up the chopsticks.

He ate quietly, forcing each bite down, and when the plate was nearly empty, he stood without a word and disappeared into his room. Rion let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. At least he ate.

The house fell into uneasy stillness. Hours passed.

He collapsed on the bed, back turned, shoulders tense. She lay down on her side, leaving space between them. The silence felt heavier than the air itself.

In the middle of the night, Rion stirred awake. A strangled gasp cut through the night. She blinked, disoriented, until she realized Uzuki was thrashing beside her. His hand gripped the sheets like a lifeline, body slick with sweat.

“No… no, please…” his broken voice rasped, and her blood ran cold.

She reached out instinctively, shaking his arm. “Uzuki! Wake up!” His eyes flew open, wild with fear. Without thinking, he shoved her away, his voice sharp, desperate. “I’m fine”

Rion froze, stung, but refused to retreat. “You were having a nightmare… ”

“I said don’t!” His words cracked like glass, but this time his voice faltered. His breathing was ragged, chest heaving as if the dream still clawed at him.

For a long second, the distance between them felt like a canyon. Then slowly, as though the fight drained out of him, he dropped his face into his hands. His shoulders trembled. He didn’t say it, but the plea was written all over him: don’t leave.

Rion’s chest tightened. She hesitated, then inched closer, ignoring the sting of his earlier push. She touched his hand lightly. He didn’t flinch this time.

So she stayed. She slid nearer, her voice soft, steady. “It’s alright. I’m here.”

Uzuki didn’t answer, but he didn’t push her away either. Instead, he let his head fall against her shoulder, quiet and fragile in the dark.

Rion wrapped her arms around him, holding him as if her embrace could keep the nightmares at bay. For the first time in days, his breathing began to steady.

Chapter Text

She thought he’d fallen back asleep, but then his head tilted slightly, resting against her arm. For a moment, she didn’t breathe. He probably didn’t even know what he was doing but the warmth of his weight against her made her heart ache in silence.

Her hands gently stroked his hair. He didn’t avoid her touch this time, he let her. She smiled softly, seeing a side of Uzuki no one else did. Unguarded, fragile. It almost made her forget this morning act. His breathing evened out, slow and unsteady, brushing faintly against her skin. He calmed down a bit compared to 30 minutes ago. Whatever nightmare had haunted him, it seemed to loosen its grip for now.

He fell asleep a few minutes later. She stayed still, afraid any movement might wake him. The rise and fall of his chest steadied against her arm.

Her thumb brushed a stray lock of hair from his face, he looked at peace. She settled herself at the headboard. He's okay for now. Outside, the wind pressed faintly against the window. Inside, they finally rested.

His breathing hitched again, a faint tremor passing through him. Without thinking, she tightened her hold just slightly.

His fingers twitched, as if clinging to her touch. She didn’t speak. Just kept stroking his head until his shoulders eased and the tension bled out of him. When his breathing finally evened, she let her eyes close too, whispering one last thing she knew:  “I’m not going anywhere….”

The sun spilled softly across the room, catching on Uzuki’s hair as he stirred. For a heartbeat, he realized he was still pressed against Rion’s side. His chest tightened and embarrassed. She shifted too, stretching lazily, but her hand brushed his arm as she yawned. A small, lingering touch.

Uzuki swallowed, caught between moving away and wanting to stay. The quiet between them wasn’t heavy anymore, it was gentle and almost comforting. For the first time in days, he didn’t feel so alone.

Rion’s voice broke the stillness, soft and teasing. “Morning… don’t think I’ll let you run off this time.” He avoided looking at her eyes and just nodded.

Uzuki gets up without much problem, makes himself coffee silently. He doesn’t comment on last night, but his actions show he’s back in control mode. He murmured softly as he stared blankly at the floor “I’m sorry… for bothering you yesterday.’”

Rion wanted to ask about more details but she knew he wouldn’t answer it anyway so she just nodded with a smile.

He ate without a word. When he finished, he muttered, ‘Thanks.’ It was small, but it meant everything. She watched him from the corner of her eye. He looked better…  still distant, but the tension in his shoulders had eased.

“Hey…” she started softly, almost hesitant. “Akira’s been asking about you. Maybe you could meet her sometime?”

He froze, unsure how to respond. His eyes drifted toward the floor before he finally spoke. “I’ll think about it,” he said quietly. Rion smiled faintly. The words hung between them, fragile as glass. Rion wanted to say something but the wall was back.

“Alright,” she whispered instead. “Just… think about it.”

The arcade buzzed with flashing lights and the sound of clashing buttons. Akira’s fingers moved fast across the console, her eyes locked on the screen. Beside her, a tall man leaned forward, lips pressed into a smirk as he tried to keep up.

“Seriously?” Akira laughed, hitting the final combo that ended the match. “You call that skill?”

“Don't get cocky, shorty. I went easy on you.”

“Sure you did.”

Gaku leaned back with a dramatic sigh, the reflection of neon lights flickering across his sharp features. “You’re annoying,” he muttered, but there was amusement behind it.

“Thanks! You’re fun too,” Akira grinned, unbothered.

They played a few more rounds until Gaku finally gave up, shaking his head. 

“You’re not bad for an old guy.”

He choked. “Old?! I'm sixteen!"

She only giggled, hopping off her stool. “Anyway, I gotta go buy some groceries for my aunt.”

“Groceries?” he raised a brow. “You’re running errands right after humiliating me?”

Akira shrugged, already heading toward the exit. “You can come along if you want. I could use an extra hand. You know… for the heavy stuff.”

He stared for a second. “You’re using me for labor.”

She smiled sweetly. “You noticed?”

A beat of silence then Gaku sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Fine. Lead the way.”

The grocery trip turned out louder than necessary. Gaku complained about every item Akira tossed in the basket, and Akira countered with “You said you’d help, not whine.”

By the time they reached Rion’s rented place, Gaku had two full bags in each hand and zero patience left. “How much does your aunt even eat?”

“It’s not all hers,” Akira defended. “Some are for my cool friend who helped me carry them.”

He gave her a look. “You’re lucky I’m too lazy to argue.”

One minute he was walking Akira home after helping her carry a few grocery bags, and the next thing he knew—

“Come on, it’s just right around the corner!” Akira chirped, tugging at his sleeve like an impatient kid.

He sighed. “Didn’t you say your aunt hates uninvited guests?”

“She’ll be fine! She likes nice people.”

“I’m not nice.”

“You carried my groceries.”

“That doesn’t count—hey, stop pulling!”

By the time they reached the small rented unit, Gaku was seriously considering turning around. But Akira was already knocking on the door.

It swung open a few seconds later, revealing a woman in casual clothes with her hair tied back, eyes widening slightly at the sight of the stranger beside her niece.

“Akira?” Rion blinked. “You’re back early. Who’s this?”

“This is Gaku!” Akira chirped. “He’s my new friend! He helped me with groceries, so I invited him over!”

Rion stared at the man for a beat too long. “You… what?”

Gaku coughed into his fist, offering a polite nod. “Uh, yeah. She kinda insisted.”

“I didn’t insist!” Akira huffed. “You said you didn’t mind!”

“I said I’d carry the heavy stuff, not follow you home,” he muttered under his breath. 

Rion exhaled a laugh, caught between surprise and amusement. “Well… thank you for helping her anyway. Sorry if she dragged you into this.”

“She’s persistent,” Gaku replied. “Couldn’t exactly say no without causing a scene.”

“That’s my niece,” Rion said with a small smile. “Come in. You’ve probably earned a drink after surviving her.”

Akira grinned triumphantly. “See? Told you she’s nice!”

She moved aside, letting them both in. “Come on, I’ll make some tea.”

Gaku hesitated but followed, setting the bags near the counter. “You’ve got a nice place.”

“Thank you,” Rion said politely, pouring water into the kettle. “You’re… Gaku, right?” Gaku nodded to answer the question.

She smiled faintly. “Well, thanks again for helping Akira. I’m surprised she didn’t talk your ear off.”

“She tried,” he said dryly. Akira giggled in response. Rion handed him a glass of water. There was a comfortable silence for a moment—until Akira suddenly perked up.“Oh! Aunt Rion! Can we go to your rent later?”

Rion blinked. “Huh? Why?”

“Because I want to meet that guy in the picture again! The one with white hair!”

Rion froze. Akira, beaming. “Yeah! He looks so cool! Please, please, please! Let’s gooo!”

“Akira, it’s not that simple. He’s not in a good shape right now”

“Pleaaase, maybe I can cheer him up?” She clasped her hands, eyes shimmering like she’d practiced this for years.

Rion groaned softly. “You’re impossible…” She sighed. “Fine. But just for a bit.”

Akira cheered, instantly turning to Gaku. “You’re coming too!”

“Wait, what?” Gaku frowned. “Why me?”

“Because you’re my friend now! And you helped me! So come with us!”

“I—” Gaku hesitated to answer.

“She won’t take no for an answer,” Rion said, half amused, half resigned.

Gaku stared at the two of them and sighed. “Fine. But if that guy’s weird, I’m out” Rion gave a small, knowing smile. “You have no idea.”

Chapter Text

The elevator chimed softly as it reached the fifth floor. A faint hum echoed down the quiet hallway, followed by the shuffle of three pairs of footsteps. Akira was the first to step out, practically bouncing on her heels, a grocery bag swinging dangerously from one hand while her other hand clutched Rion’s. Behind them, Gaku walked with his usual unbothered gait with hands in pockets, expression hovering somewhere between mild annoyance and amusement. But he didn’t complain about it.

Rion gave the child’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Remember, Akira — don’t run or shout. He’s not great with surprises.”

“I’ll behave,” Akira chirped, puffing her cheeks in mock seriousness.

Rion sighed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The hallway smelled faintly of detergent and dust. An ordinary building scent, yet it felt heavier to Rion. Maybe it was the quiet. The last time she’d been here, Kei hadn’t looked well. She wondered if he’d even gotten any rest since.

Her knuckles brushed against the door, knocking softly. There was a faint shuffle from within before it opened a fraction, then fully.

Kei stood at the threshold, towel slung around his shoulders, damp hair falling into his eyes. His gaze landed on Rion first, and his posture eased just slightly. But the moment he saw Gaku standing behind her, his expression froze.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered.

Gaku blinked, then gave a dry laugh. “Wow. Small world.”

Rion looked between the two of them, eyebrows furrowed. “Wait… you two know each other?”

“Kind of,” Kei said flatly, crossing his arms.

Gaku smirked. “Missed me, didn’t you?”

Kei didn’t bother replying.

Meanwhile, Akira’s eyes darted between them like she was watching the opening act of a soap opera. “You’re friends?” she asked brightly.

“He’s more like a brother to me,” Kei deadpanned.

He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “…Rion,” he started flatly, “why are there children at my door?”

“I’m not a child!” Akira protested immediately, puffing her cheeks again. “I’m Akira! And you’re Kei, right? You look exactly like the photo!”

Kei blinked, caught off guard. “Photo?”

Rion cleared her throat quickly, scratching her neck. “Ah — that photo. Long story. Can we come in?”

He stared at her for a moment, then exhaled a long sigh and stepped aside. “Fine. But if this turns into chaos, you’re cleaning it up.”

“Deal,” Rion said, ushering Akira in with a smile that was a little too quick. Gaku followed behind, quiet but observant.

Inside, the apartment was dimly lit. Blinds half drawn, the scent of coffee lingering in the air. Their place was neat but lived-in. Papers stacked neatly on the table, a mug half-full beside his tools. It was the kind of order that came from someone who didn’t want to think too much. Kei

The silence hung thick for a while, broken only by Akira’s curious steps as she wandered toward the couch and plopped herself down like she’d always belonged there.

“You don’t smile much, do you?” she asked bluntly.

Kei froze mid-pour, coffee pot in hand. “…No.”

“You should! You’d look nice if you smiled more.”

Rion’s eyes widened slightly but to her surprise, Kei didn’t glare or brush the comment off. He just looked at Akira for a long moment, then a faint tug appeared at the corner of his lips. “…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“She’s honest,” Gaku murmured from the counter, half amused.

Rion shot him a look. “Don’t encourage her.”

But Akira was already chattering again about the arcade, her “cool friend” Gaku, how they’d ended up helping Rion with groceries, and how Rion and Kei looked good together in that photo.

Rion nearly dropped the cup she was holding. “Akira!”

Gaku laughed quietly, leaning against the counter. “Your niece’s got guts.”

“Too much of it,” Rion muttered, her face burning. As for Kei, he just smiled and patted Akira's head gently.

The tension slowly eased after that. Laughter, unguarded — began to seep into the room. Akira’s attention shifted to the weapon maintenance kit on the table, her eyes lighting up. “Whoa! It’s shiny!”

Kei set his mug aside and crouched beside her, explaining what each part did with surprising patience. His voice, usually so clipped and dry, softened as he guided her hand away from the sharper edges.

Rion found herself pausing in the kitchen doorway. The sunlight through the blinds painted soft gold across the floor, catching the faint smile on Kei’s face as Akira listened, fascinated. It was a rare, quiet sight. The kind of warmth she hadn’t seen in him since that night he’d woken from a nightmare.

Meanwhile, Gaku helped unpack groceries, though he kept glancing toward the pair every few minutes. “He’s not what I expected,” he said finally, keeping his tone low.

“What do you mean?” Rion asked, slicing fruit with careful movements.

“He looks… different. Didn’t think a guy like that would be good with kids.”

Rion smiled faintly, eyes softening. “He’s not bad once you get past the walls.”

By the time the afternoon light mellowed into orange, Akira was sprawled comfortably on the floor beside Kei, asking endless questions while he humored her with quiet replies. Gaku was quietly plating snacks at the counter, teasing Rion every now and then.

And for the first time in a long while, the air didn’t feel heavy.

Rion leaned back against the counter, eyes resting on the scene before her — Kei sitting cross-legged on the floor, adjusting Akira’s ponytail as he explained something about balance and grip, his expression calm and strangely gentle. Akira laughed at something he said, the sound bright and effortless.

For a moment, Rion’s chest ached, not in pain but in quiet relief. The man who had once seemed made entirely of shadows now looked almost human again.

She whispered under her breath, “Guess you were right, Akira. He really does look better when he smiles.”

Her gaze lingered a moment longer. Maybe Kei didn’t need to say thank you. Maybe this silence — this warmth said everything he couldn’t.

Outside, the last streaks of sunlight faded from the horizon. Inside, laughter still echoed softly through the apartment, unpolished but genuine… the kind of sound that promised, if only for a little while, peace.

Chapter Text

The smell of cooked rice filled the apartment, blending with the faint aroma of tea Rion had brewed earlier. The sun had long since dipped below the skyline, and the city lights outside painted the windows in gold and violet hues. The atmosphere had softened — less awkward now, more like a scene stitched together by chance and comfort.

Akira sat cross-legged on the floor with a plate of neatly cut fruit, humming to herself. Gaku leaned against the counter, idly scrolling through his phone, occasionally stealing pieces of fruit when he thought no one was looking.

Kei sat opposite from them, cup of tea in hand, quietly taking in the noise — laughter, small chatter, the clinking of utensils — all of it. His life hadn’t sounded like this in a long time.

Rion stood near the stove, drying her hands on a towel. “Thank you for letting her stay this long,” she said softly. “I didn’t plan to turn our place into a daycare.”

He took a slow sip of his tea before answering, voice steady but quieter than usual. “It’s fine. She’s… not that bad.”

“‘Not that bad’? You were smiling,” Rion teased lightly.

Kei gave her a look that almost resembled embarrassment. “Don’t start.”

She chuckled under her breath, returning to tidying up the counter.

Gaku straightened from where he stood. “I should get going soon,” he said, tone casual but polite. “Thanks for the snacks.”Gaku smirked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Akira looked up. “You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah. I’ve got to get back before midnight.” He bent down and gave her head a light pat. “Don’t get into trouble kid,” he said.

“I never do!”

Rion raised a brow. “Really?”

Akira grinned, guilty but proud. “Sometimes.”

The group shared a small laugh as Gaku headed toward the door. Kei followed to see him out. For a moment, as Gaku paused at the doorway, they exchanged a silent look — one of acknowledgment, maybe even mutual respect.

“You looked happy recently,” Gaku said simply.

“She’s been growing on me since I met her,” Kei replied.

“I know your past isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows,” Gaku said, his tone softer than usual. “But letting her into your life… that’s a good thing. You don’t have to keep pushing everyone away, you know. Some people actually care about you.”

Kei huffed a small laugh. “That’s the most words I’ve heard from you in a week.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Gaku muttered. “I’m still right, though.” Kei only nodded in response.

When the door clicked shut, the quiet settled again, softer this time.

Rion gathered the remaining dishes, and Kei joined her without a word. Their hands brushed briefly when they both reached for the same plate. She blinked, startled, but he didn’t move away.

“…You didn’t have to help,” she said.

“I know,” Kei replied, rinsing the plate anyway. “But you brought the noise back. It’s… weirdly quiet when it’s gone.”

Rion glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “That’s a poetic way of saying you don’t hate company.”

He didn’t respond immediately. The sound of water running filled the pause. “Maybe,” he said finally, low and honest.

When they finished, Akira had already dozed off on the couch, curled up under the thin blanket Rion had packed earlier. Her breathing was soft and steady. Acontrast to her usual burst of energy.

Rion adjusted the blanket gently, brushing a strand of hair from her niece’s face. “She must’ve tired herself out.”

“She talked enough for five people,” Kei said, but his tone carried a faint warmth that surprised her.

Rion turned to look at him — the man who once spoke in clipped words now standing quietly, eyes on the sleeping child, his expression unreadable but calm. The tension that usually sat around his shoulders seemed lighter somehow.

"You know,” Rion murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “you don’t have to hide it from me. If something’s wrong… you can tell me.

Kei looked at her, caught off guard by the gentleness in her tone. The kind of voice that didn’t demand, didn’t pry — just understood. He opened his mouth, thought of a dozen deflections, but none of them fit.

Instead, he said, “Thanks. For bringing her.”

Rion smiled. “She brought herself. I just followed.”

A quiet chuckle escaped him. “Still counts.”

For a long moment, the two of them stood there in comfortable silence — the hum of the refrigerator, the faint city noise outside, the soft breathing of a child asleep. The apartment no longer felt like a place Kei lived in out of necessity. It felt lived-in. Warm.

When Rion finally gathered Akira in her arms to leave, Kei walked them to the door. “Get home safe,” he said simply.

“We will.” She hesitated for a second, then added, “You should visit us next time. Akira would like that.”

He didn’t promise, but his faint smile was enough. “We’ll see.”

Rion nodded, returning the smile before disappearing down the hallway with Akira. The sound of their footsteps faded.

Kei stood by the door for a while, staring at the empty space they’d left behind. Then he turned back toward the couch — the blanket slightly rumpled, a forgotten toy still on the table. Small reminders of a day that shouldn’t have mattered, but did.

He sat down, leaning back against the cushions. The room was quiet again, but not in the same way. The silence felt… softer. He closed his eyes and it didn’t feel heavy.