The students had just been dismissed. Laughter echoed in the halls as they rushed out to enjoy their vacation.
But Ms. Sakamoto stood still, eyes focused beyond the academy gate.
"Someone's finding kai told," she whispered.
Aria-sensei's eyes narrowed. "I know who it is."
Sol, sensing the tension, stepped forward. "Who is it?"
Aria didn't answer. Instead, he entered the classroom and clapped his hands.
"Everyone, enjoy your vacation. Class dismissed."
As the students filed out, Aria's hand reached out and firmly gripped Ryker's wrist.
"Ryker. Stay."
Moments later, Sol and Ms. Sakamoto arrived at the door.
"What's going on?" Sol asked.
Then, more footsteps approached. One after another, familiar faces appeared—Aisa, Yumi, Izumi, Tasuya, Akira, Shin, King, Amelia, Hiroshi, Saki, Arisu, and Mio. All drawn here by something unspoken. An instinct.
Aria turned to Ryker, his voice low.
"Who are you, Ryker?"
Ryker lifted his eyes, calm and unwavering.
"I am Ryker Tensai."
Aria paused. "Tell me about your parents."
Ryker's voice grew quiet, almost distant.
"When I was a child… they died. I don't remember much. Just that… my father was a hero."
A long silence fell. Wind brushed through the broken quiet like a whisper from the past.
Aria-sensei stepped closer, his gaze sharp.
"Tell me about your uncle, Ryker."
Ryker flinched, his hand to his temple.
"I... I don't know anyone like that," he muttered, eyes narrowing in pain. "My head... it's that illusion again."
Without another word, Ryker turned and walked away, his steps slow and heavy.
Sol watched him go, then turned to Aria.
"What's going on, Sensei? And who is Kurota Kai?"
King blinked, confused.
"Kai...? Who is that?"
Aria exhaled deeply and dropped into a chair, rubbing his forehead like he was about to open a sealed door in his memory.
"Aah... what's happening..." he muttered to himself.
"Someone explain already," Shin said sharply, his tone demanding. "We're not kids anymore."
Aria finally looked up, voice steady but dark.
"In Japan, there are many powerful clans—like the Nakamura clan, famous even among heroes. But ten years ago, before most of you were aware of this world... two clans ruled from the shadows."
Everyone leaned in, listening.
"One was the Kai Clan—a feared Yakuza family. Ruthless. Silent. Unstoppable. They were the number one underground force in the nation. Even the government avoided conflict with them."
Sol's eyes widened. "And the other?"
Aria nodded. "The Oda Clan. A Samurai clan that carried on ancient traditions. Their power rivaled even the strongest heroes. They were more powerful than Nakamura... Tsukihara... even those that don't exist in records anymore."
The room fell silent. The weight of the truth sunk in.
"But…" Aria's voice dropped to a whisper, "something happened. Both clans disappeared overnight... as if erased from history. And yet... traces remain."
He looked at the door where Ryker had left.
"And I think... Ryker is connected to one of them."
I know Ryker is powerful," Ms. Sakamoto said, folding her arms as she looked toward the window. "But… does the Tensai clan really exist?"
Aria-sensei didn't answer immediately. Her eyes lingered on Ryker, deep in thought. Then she turned to face Sol.
"Sol… can you tell us? How did you meet Ryker? How did you two become friends?"
Sol looked at her, surprised. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"…Alright."
Eleven Years Ago
The wind outside howled with winter's bite. I was six. Celica and I were playing with building blocks in the living room. Laughter filled the house—until it was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock.
My father, Mr. Yoshida, rose from his seat and walked toward the door. When he opened it, we saw a boy standing there, he is my age. His dark hair was wet with snow, and in his arms, he held a small girl—his little sister.
Her face was flushed red. She was shivering, clearly burning with fever.
The boy looked up at my father, calm and unflinching. His voice was cold, steady, far too mature for his age.
"Are you Mr. Yoshida?"
My father hesitated, then nodded. "Yes… I am."
The boy adjusted the sleeping girl in his arms.
"My father… said if anything ever happened, I should come to you. He wrote your name and address in his diary. You were his friend."
There was no emotion in his voice. No fear. No tears. Only quiet strength.
My father's face changed. Shock, then sorrow.
He slowly stepped forward, gently taking the girl from the boy's arms.
"She's burning up… Come inside, Ryker."
That was the first time I saw him.
Ryker Tensai. A boy broken by fate… yet unshaken by it.
My dad looked at Ryker and said softly, "From now on, you'll live here."
And just like that, Ryker and his little sister became part of our family.
They shared our meals, our roof, our warmth. At first, Ryker barely spoke. He was quiet—always watching, always listening. But he never cried. Not once.
Celica and I were curious about him. We tried to talk to him, but he only answered in short words. Still, every day, we played near him. Slowly… he started playing too.
I don't remember when it happened exactly. One morning, I offered him half my sandwich, and he took it without a word. That was the first time he smiled—a small, tired smile. That was the day we became friends.
He was different from other kids. Stronger, quieter, sharper. He never bragged. But even as children, we all felt it.
There was something powerful inside him.
"So… that's the story?" Aria-sensei leaned back against her desk, arms folded. "Hmm. Impressive."
Everyone was silent for a moment, still processing Sol's memory.
"I know he loves his sister more than anything," Sol said, his voice quiet but certain. "Even back then, when he had nothing, he protected her like his life depended on it."
Aria narrowed her eyes. "No doubt. But that boy… he's hiding something."
Sol turned to her, frowning. "What do you mean?"
She stared out the window, her tone low. "Ryker Tensai… who are you, really?"
A hush fell over the classroom. Even the wind outside seemed to pause, as if the world itself was waiting for the truth.
Organisation hideout
"We saw it with our own eyes," Shiranui said, stepping forward. His sharp gaze didn't blink. "He survived the illusion."
A faint silence followed, cold and heavy.
Kurota Kai crossed his arms. "What now, Leader?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. "Do we move in?"
The leader of the organization remained still, seated on a throne-like chair at the center of the darkened hall. The flickering light above cast sharp shadows across his expressionless face.
"No," the Leader replied calmly. "For now… we just watch him."