An Avenger's Resolve

As Kaito closed the door to his mother’s room, the warm light from inside was replaced by the dim, sterile glow of the hospital hallway. His footsteps echoed softly as he walked, but his mind was far from quiet. Each word of Harumi’s story replayed in his head, the weight of her experiences bearing down on him like an unshakable storm.

His expression, initially neutral, began to harden with every step he took. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides as the implications of her story settled in his mind. Control over flight. The syndicate wants to strip humanity of its freedom and hold it hostage. That’s more than delusion—that’s pure madness.

His pace quickened unconsciously as a name echoed in his thoughts. Black Wing. The way Harumi had described him—the chilling demeanor, the cryptic words—matched the details Naoko had shared during their last discussion.

Kaito muttered to himself, his voice low and sharp. “Black Wing... Naoko said his name was Amato. Amato Makino.”

Stopping at the end of the hallway, he took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the distance. His resolve, forged by both his mother’s pain and the syndicate’s crimes, burned brightly in his chest.

“I’ll make sure I find you,” he vowed, his voice carrying an edge of icy determination. “And I’ll make you pay.”

Kaito returned to his house within the academy grounds, the quiet night air doing little to calm his racing mind. The soft click of the door shutting behind him echoed through the empty space as he walked into the living room. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the couch, his arm draped over his eyes, shutting out the dim light overhead.

But there was no shutting out the thoughts swirling in his head.

All this time... I never truly knew what my mother went through. Hearing the full story today—it’s almost unbelievable. He exhaled sharply, shifting uncomfortably. The details Harumi had shared with him were more harrowing than anything he could have imagined. He had known her injury had been serious, but the emotional toll, the horrors she had witnessed—those were things she had carried alone all these years.

His thoughts drifted to the syndicate, the shadowy organization behind it all. Their goal was terrifying in its scope and ambition. To control flight itself? That’s not the work of a small-time operation. This syndicate must really be massive, just like Naoko said.

He sat up slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as another thought clawed its way to the surface. But wait... if mom’s encounter was so significant, she must have reported it to her commander back then. The military would have acted on it, right? It’s been eleven years. Surely by now, they would’ve captured most of the syndicate... unless...

Kaito’s stomach tightened as his mind raced through the possibilities. Unless they didn’t. Why not? Were they stopped? Were their efforts sabotaged?

He frowned, recalling his time combing through the classified files on Operation Eclipse. The inconsistencies in the reports had nagged at him back then, but now they felt more ominous. Most of the details his mother shared today hadn’t been in those files, and no mention of the syndicate had surfaced during his online searches.

It doesn’t add up. Is the military protecting them? No, that doesn’t make sense. But politicians? His hand clenched into a fist. It’s not impossible.

The weight of it all pressed down on him, and he leaned back into the couch, staring at the ceiling. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how little he actually knew. He couldn’t fight an enemy in the shadows with scraps of information and a schedule divided between his investigations and his duties as a tutor.

This isn’t working. Juggling both won’t get me anywhere. If I want to uncover the truth, I need to commit fully to the search.

The faces of his students flashed in his mind—Reina, Katsuhito, Leona, and the others. The thought of them somehow being dragged into this dangerous world made his decision clearer.

“I have to resign,” he muttered to himself, the words heavy but certain. It was the only way forward. By stepping away, he could focus entirely on his investigation while keeping his students far from the danger that was beginning to circle him.

This is the only way to protect them... and to find the truth.

Kaito spent the night on the couch, sleep coming in fragmented moments, his thoughts too loud for rest. By morning, his resolve was firm. After gathering what he needed, he left his house and headed to the academy, a crisp envelope tucked inside his jacket.

The familiar corridors of the academy seemed heavier today, the weight of his decision pressing on his chest with each step. Finally, he arrived at Lieutenant Fuyuko’s office.

The lieutenant glanced up from her desk as he knocked lightly on the doorframe. “Kaito, how’ve you been? I was actually going to call you today to give you the schedule for when you resume work next week.”

Kaito stepped inside, his hands clasped behind his back. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but that won’t be necessary.”

She smiled faintly, still typing away at her keyboard. “You’re already here, after all, so of course it won’t.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Kaito said, his tone calm but firm.

Fuyuko’s fingers paused mid-stroke. She looked up at him, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”

Without a word, he reached into his jacket and pulled out the envelope, holding it out to her. She took it with a curious glance. “What’s this?”

Kaito straightened his posture. “It’s my resignation letter. I’m sorry, ma’am, but I won’t be resuming my duties here.”

Fuyuko opened the envelope, her expression unreadable as she scanned the neatly written letter. When she finished, she set the paper down on her desk and fixed her gaze on him. “I don’t know what led to this, but I didn’t think you were the type to stop your life because of the death of someone close.”

Kaito’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice steady. “That’s not what this is about. I can’t continue here, for reasons I can’t explain right now.”

The lieutenant leaned back in her chair, studying him for a long moment. “Very well, then,” she finally said, her voice neutral. “But your send-off ceremony will have to wait until a proper date can be arranged.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Kaito replied, bowing deeply.

With that, he turned on his heel and left the office, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

After leaving Lieutenant Fuyuko’s office, Kaito walked through the academy grounds, his thoughts heavy. The faint buzz of activity around him—students chatting, instructors giving lessons—faded into the background as his mind wrestled with a decision he hadn’t fully resolved.

Should I tell my students? he wondered, his heart sinking at the thought of their faces if they found out. But as quickly as the thought came, he pushed it aside. No. I can’t. They’ll try to convince me to stay, and I can’t afford second thoughts right now.

Resolving to keep them in the dark for now, Kaito left the academy and made his way back to the Ledger’s hideout.

As he approached the hideout, the familiar sight of the discreet entrance brought a faint sense of relief. He stepped inside and was immediately greeted by Sayuri’s cheerful voice.

“Kaito-nii, where have you been?” she asked, rushing up to him.

Kaito offered a small smile, trying to appear unaffected. “Sorry, I had to take care of some things.”

Sayuri tilted her head, studying him for a moment before letting it go. “Anyway, Ryuji-ojii-san said we have an important meeting this evening at the training hall.”

Kaito gave her a nod of acknowledgment. “Understood. I’ll be there.”

Sayuri smiled, seemingly satisfied, before darting off to handle whatever task was keeping her busy. Kaito watched her go, his faint smile fading as he allowed his thoughts to drift again.

An important meeting, huh? He wondered what it could be about but decided not to dwell on it. For now, he needed to prepare—for what, he wasn’t entirely sure, but the path ahead was bound to be difficult, and there was no turning back.

The training hall of the Ledger’s hideout was dimly lit, its wide space buzzing with the quiet murmurs of gathered members. Kaito entered, his gaze scanning the room. Sayuri waved him over to a spot near the center where a few familiar faces stood.

Ryuji, the group’s leader, stood at the front of the hall. Despite his age, his imposing presence silenced the room as he cleared his throat. The murmurs faded, and all eyes turned to him.

“Thank you for gathering on short notice,” Ryuji began, his deep voice echoing off the walls. “We’ve received intelligence on a critical target linked to the syndicate’s operations.”

Kaito’s expression sharpened. He leaned forward slightly, his full attention on Ryuji.

“Two weeks from now, we’ll be launching an assault on a syndicate facility in Bangkok,” Ryuji continued. “The facility is believed to house sensitive information about their leadership structure and ongoing experiments.”

A soft murmur rippled through the crowd. Ryuji held up a hand, and silence returned.

“We received this intel from Samuel, who’s been working undercover in the syndicate’s headquarters for several months now.”

Ryuji glanced around the room, his gaze meeting each member. “For those unaware, Samuel was once a member of the syndicate. He left after discovering certain truths about their operations and has been aiding us ever since. According to his reports, the facility in Bangkok serves as a critical hub for their Southeast Asian activities. It houses key data, including details about their leadership and upcoming operations. However, the syndicate plans to relocate this data in about a month, which gives us a narrow window to act.”

“This won’t be a small operation,” he said. “The syndicate won’t let us waltz in unchallenged. Expect resistance. Heavy resistance. But this mission is critical. If we succeed, we’ll finally have a chance to uncover the truth about their operations.”

Moka raised her hand. “How are we supposed to get there? Flying cross-country is illegal, and we don’t exactly have the funds to take us all there commercially.”

Ryuji nodded, anticipating the question. “I’ve arranged transportation through an old friend of mine who runs a business in Thailand. He’s agreed to cover our plane fees. Once we’re on the ground, Samuel will guide us.”

Sayuri raised her hand. “Do we know who’s in charge at the facility?”

Ryuji nodded grimly. “Our intel suggests that a high-ranking operative of the syndicate’s East Asian branch will be overseeing the site. Amato Makino.”

Kaito’s stomach tightened at the name. He clenched his fists at his sides, the image of his mother’s assailant flashing in his mind.

“Makino...” Kaito muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible but laced with determination.

Ryuji’s gaze swept across the room. “For those who don’t know, Makino is not just any operative. He’s ruthless, intelligent, and dangerous. If he’s there, it’s not just a facility—it’s a stronghold. Which means we’ll need to be precise and efficient.”

Ryuji paused, his eyes meeting Kaito’s. “Kaito, this will be your first mission with us. Are you ready?”

Kaito straightened, his expression firm. “I’m ready.”

“Good,” Ryuji said, nodding. “Because we’ll need every hand. You’ll be assigned to the infiltration team alongside Sayuri, Akihiko and Yuma. Your role will be to breach the facility’s interior and retrieve the data. Meanwhile, the assault team will handle external security and draw attention away from your group.”

The room grew tense as the gravity of the mission settled in. Ryuji continued outlining the plan, detailing entry points, escape routes, and contingency measures.

As the meeting wrapped up, Kaito remained in his spot, his thoughts churning. This was it. His first step back into the fray, his first chance to confront the syndicate directly—and perhaps, to come face to face with Amato Makino.

Naoko then approached Kaito, motioning for him to wait. “Kaito, hold on a second,” she said, her tone holding a hint of excitement.

“What’s up?” he asked, noticing the glimmer in her eyes.

“I have a surprise for you,” she said, leading him toward the workshop area. She pointed to a set of devices on a nearby table. “I’ve been working on these for a while. They’re designed to help you with your flight posture and reduce the strain on your muscles. This,” she gestured to a sleek prosthetic-like apparatus, “is a device I call, the BioFrame. It will perform the work of the bones that have lost their strength.”

Kaito’s eyes widened in surprise. “You made these… for me?”

Naoko nodded. “I believe they should help you fly smoothly again. Try them on.”

With her guidance, Kaito strapped the devices onto his body. At first, they felt foreign, but as he tested them out, hovering briefly off the ground, a glimmer of hope appeared on his face.

“These… might actually work,” he admitted, a faint smile breaking through his usual stoicism.

Naoko observed him with a mixture of pride and concern. “They work, but there’s something you should know. These devices replace the function of your damaged bones. They won’t allow your body to heal naturally, and prolonged use could have consequences later on.”

Kaito shook his head. “No worries. If I can fight again now, then that’s all that matters.”

Naoko hesitated for a moment but then gave him a small smile. “Just promise me you won’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’ll be careful,” he replied, his tone softer than usual. “Thank you. Truly.”

Later, Kaito found himself alone in the training room. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his face a mixture of determination and somber reflection. Images of Emi flashed through his mind—her smile, her unwavering spirit, her determination to fight for justice.

His expression softened, and he whispered to himself, “Don’t worry. I will make sure they pay.”

With that, he turned toward the training equipment, his resolve burning brighter than ever.