At Hikotu High, the air was heavy with tension, broken only by the sound of rain hammering against the shattered windows. The real Tetsuya sat sprawled across his damaged throne, his expression a mix of arrogance and malice. The once grand chair was a fractured symbol of his dominion, the cracks and splinters matching the chaos he commanded. Standing nearby, leaning casually against the wall, was a student with a distinctive look—short hair tipped with electric blue and a pair of thin glasses perched on his face. His gaze was cold, unflinching as it fell on the wounded students strewn across the floor, each one a victim of Tetsuya's ruthless strength.
The other Tetsuya, his wild hair and the scar slashed across his face marking him apart, approached quietly. His boots clicked softly against the floor as his sharp eyes surveyed the wreckage. Without looking directly at the seated Tetsuya, he asked in a low voice, "Where's Kira? Didn't she catch up with you two on the way back?"
The student leaning against the wall straightened, his movements slow and deliberate, as if every action was calculated. "She's got her own plan. Something about handling loose ends," he replied, his voice calm but laced with disinterest. "Why didn't you follow us back here?"
The scarred Tetsuya strode to the corner of the room and dropped to the floor, resting his back against the wall. He spoke with a casual confidence, though his words carried an edge. "I had another message to send. Those guys might come here tonight—or maybe tomorrow. Doesn't matter."
The seated Tetsuya threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing ominously in the battered room. Rising slowly from his throne, he spread his arms wide as if to embrace the chaos. "Let them come! When the rain dies down completely… it's war!" His grin was feral, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained anticipation.
Elsewhere, Ren, Hikaru, and Neko sprinted through the rain-soaked streets, their destination clear: Shoto's house. Ren kept pace with Hikaru, his soaked clothes clinging to his body as the rain poured relentlessly. Nestled beneath Hikaru's school jacket, Neko—a talking cat—peeked his head out, his disdain for the rain evident in his narrowed eyes.
Hikaru glanced down at the cat, his voice low but urgent. "Talk to me, Neko. What's going to happen when you use that last arrow on Kazami?"
Neko sighed, his tiny ears twitching as he ducked further into the jacket. "When I hit him with it, he'll lose that insane drive he's got. That arrow? It's like an adrenaline cocktail—makes him faster, stronger, practically unstoppable. But once I shoot him, it's like starting a countdown. Tick, tock."
Ren listened intently but didn't respond. His focus was interrupted as he suddenly skidded to a stop in front of Shoto's house. His sharp intake of breath caught Hikaru's attention, and the two of them stared at the figure standing at the door. It was a transfer student—an imposing young woman with a drenched ponytail, her body adorned with skull tattoos and multiple piercings glinting in the dim light.
"What the hell?" Ren muttered under his breath.
The trio quickly ducked behind the gate as the girl turned her head, scanning the rain-soaked street as if expecting to be followed. Satisfied that she was alone, she rapped on the door with a forceful knock. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a tired-looking woman—Shoto's aunt, Mai Kazami.
"Shoto?" Mai asked, her voice groggy. She rubbed her eyes, blinking at the dark figure on her doorstep. "Is that you? Come in before you catch a c—"
The girl shoved Mai to the ground effortlessly, stepping into the house with slow, deliberate movements. Her eyes scanned the interior, her lip curling with irritation. "That Shoto kid's not even hereee. Tchhh."
Mai scrambled to her feet, her face pale with shock, but before she could cry out, the girl flicked her wrist, pulling out a small needle. She hurled it with deadly precision, the sharp glint of metal flashing as it streaked toward Mai's head.
Suddenly, a figure appeared between them, the needle stopping mid-air as it grazed his fingers. The man dropped the needle casually, licking the blood from his fingers as he straightened. His jacket bore the name Endo stitched across the back, and his modern emo look—complete with jet-black jeans and dark bangs shading his intense eyes—gave him an air of unpredictable danger.
"You should be more careful with these needles," Endo said, his voice dripping with amusement. "What are you, an assassin? Kids these days…" Without warning, he grabbed Mai by the arm and knocked her unconscious in a single, fluid motion.
Outside, Ren, Hikaru, and Neko watched the scene unfold, hidden behind the gate. Rain dripped from their hair and clothing, but they didn't dare move. Ren shifted, ready to act, but Hikaru yanked him back down.
"What are you doing?!" Ren hissed. "Endo's gonna go berserk. He'll probably side with them—he's just the kind of psycho to do it!"
Hikaru silenced him with a sharp gesture, his eyes narrowing. "There's someone else here," he whispered. Sure enough, above them, a shadow moved—a figure standing on the roof of Shoto's house, a baton gripped tightly in their hand, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Inside the house, Endo vanished, reappearing a moment later in front of the girl. He held her wallet, flipping it open and scanning the ID inside. "Kira, huh? Whatever your last name is. Do you even have any money- in-here?"
Kira's eyes widened in shock as she lunged to snatch her wallet back, but Endo disappeared again. The wallet fell to the ground, and before Kira could react, Endo reappeared behind her, his leg arcing in a high kick aimed at her back.
Kira twisted, leaping out of the way just in time, her boots skidding on the wet floor as she regained her footing. She smirked, her posture tense but ready. "Ah… interesting. This might actually be fun."
Endo's cocky grin widened as he launched himself toward Kira with reckless confidence. His movements were swift, his footsteps splashing against the rain-soaked ground. Kira reacted instantly, her hand darting into her jacket to pull out a small, gleaming pocket knife. She swung with precision, aiming for his chest or face, the blade slicing through the air with deadly intent.
But Endo vanished in an instant.
Before Kira could process what had happened, he reappeared behind her, his grip like iron as he seized her arm. The sudden force made her drop the knife, the weapon tumbling to the wet ground with a metallic clatter. Without hesitation, Endo kicked the blade away, sending it skidding across the grass. He released her arm just as quickly, stepping back with an air of nonchalance as if her resistance was barely worth his effort.
With a practiced calm, Endo wiped his hands on the front of his jacket, his fingers methodically brushing away the rain and dirt. His eyes flicked toward Kira, a mocking light dancing in them. "How long have you been standing in the rain? All day?" he taunted, his tone dripping with amusement.
Kira's lips curled into a dry chuckle, her laughter low and dangerous. Without warning, she shifted her weight and drove her knee upward into his stomach. The blow connected, forcing Endo to stumble back a step, a faint grimace crossing his face. Kira pressed her advantage, lifting her leg high into the air before driving it down in a powerful axe kick aimed directly at his head.
But Endo was too quick. Just as her heel was about to connect, he disappeared again.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared several feet away, now standing in the rain with his hood pulled up over his head, shielding his face from the downpour. Water dripped steadily from the edges of the fabric, but his grin was still visible beneath the shadow of his hood. "Is that all you've got, little girl?" he sneered, his voice sharp and mocking. Despite his insult, there was a faint edge of amusement in his tone, as though her defiance was more entertaining than threatening.
Kira straightened, her breathing steady despite the intensity of the encounter. A wicked smile spread across her face, revealing razor-sharp teeth that glinted in the dim light, adding an unsettling ferocity to her presence. She tilted her head slightly, her words slithering out like venom as she finally spoke.
"What a troublesome little brother he has…" she hissed, her voice smooth and serpentine, her gaze locked on Endo with predatory intent.
Endo's grin faltered for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before it was replaced by his usual cocky smirk. "Little brother?" he echoed, his tone laced with intrigue. "You talk like you know me. Or maybe you're just looking for a reason to get your ass kicked."
Kira chuckled again, her fingers twitching as if itching to reach for another weapon. The rain continued to pour around them, the tension between them growing heavier with each passing second.