CHAPTER 10 : First Mission

The next day, on a quiet afternoon in a small housing complex, a boy named Seto parted ways with his friends after a long day of playing at the park. He walked home alone, carrying his beloved red bag. His steps were light as he imagined the delicious food his mother had prepared, waiting for him at home.
On his way back, Seto’s attention was suddenly drawn to a cat across the street. Its fur was white like snow, so clean and captivating.

Seto froze, staring into the cat’s eyes—black, round, and far too large for a normal cat. That gaze felt like it was pulling him in, as if something was whispering inside his head without making a sound.
His steps slowed. He no longer heard passing cars or the evening breeze. The world around him seemed to fade, shrinking until there were only two things left: himself and the cat.
Seto crossed the street without realizing he was stepping onto the main road.
A moment later, the blaring horn shattered the silence—
and everything went dark.

The truck’s screeching brakes echoed sharply, then a deep, suffocating quiet took over the street. The driver froze for a few seconds before stumbling out of the truck with trembling legs. His friend rushed over, his face pale as paper.

“H–how is it…?”
“I… I didn’t see him… God, what do we do?”

They stared at each other, breath snagging in panic. It wasn’t guilt that swallowed them—it was fear. Fear of trouble, punishment, and their lives falling apart.

“If anyone sees… we’re done,” the driver whispered.

With shaking hands, they lifted Seto’s body and placed him in the back of the truck. They didn’t dare look at him for long, as if guilt could spread through eye contact alone. The truck sped away, almost as if trying to escape the scene itself.

Inside the cabin, the two men tried to calm down.

“We’re just… dumping him, right? In the river. Then it’s over. Done.”
“Yeah… yeah, done,” the other replied, though his voice was far from certain.

But they didn’t realize one thing.

In the back, hidden among the swaying shadows of the truck bed, sat a white cat. Its fur remained spotless, untouched, and its huge, glossy black eyes were fixed on Seto’s body with eerie focus. Blood continued to drip from the boy’s head, filling the air with the heavy scent of metal. The cat approached and began licking Seto’s blood as it pooled beneath him.

When they reached the deserted riverside, the men hurried down. Without wasting time, they dragged Seto’s body out of the truck. Their hands were stained with blood, yet neither dared to acknowledge it.

“Hurry! Throw him!”

Within seconds, Seto’s body was tossed toward the river.
But the splash they expected… never came.

They didn’t notice.

Panic and fear had consumed them entirely. They jumped back into the truck and sped away, not daring to look behind.

Meanwhile, by the riverbank where darkness slowly spread, Seto’s body did not sink.
Did not fall.
Did not even touch the water.

His small body hovered… exactly one centimeter above the surface, as though held up by something unseen. The tiny hairs on his arms fluttered gently, like a breeze was rising from below.

Then slowly—very slowly—his eyelids opened.

Two pitch-black eyes stared blankly at the twilight sky.
No whites.
No pupils.
Just black.

Silence hung thick in the air.

Nearby, on the dusty ground, the white cat sat still.
Still chewing something small and wet.

When Seto’s eyes opened fully, the cat stopped chewing—
and smiled.

Meanwhile, in the union lobby, Ren, Toma, Mira, and Kurogane were walking together toward the vending machine during their training break.

“Freaking hell, Daichi is such an asshole,” Mira grumbled, eyes half-dead.

“For real. After that terrifying evaluation, we get drills straight from hell? What the heck, man,” Kurogane replied.

Ren yawned and stretched his arms. “Whatever… as long as I get a cold drink. My throat feels like a desert.”

Toma nodded with a grin. “If it’s a desert, then you’re the camel, Ren.”

“Shut up.” Ren bumped his shoulder, but he was smiling too.

Mira let out a long sigh, though her tone was calmer now. “Seriously, if Daichi stays this insane, I’m going on strike. I mean it. I swear to God.”

Kurogane burst out laughing. “You say that every week, Mir. But the next day you come crawling back like a lovesick servant.”

“Servant WHAT, you idiot!?” Mira snapped, but laughter slipped out anyway.

The four of them kept joking around, their footsteps echoing through the quiet lobby hall. Ren even mimicked Daichi’s angry walk—stomping with a furious expression—which made Mira laugh so hard she had to hold onto the wall.

Toma added, “Tone down the neck veins, Ren. Daichi looks like he’s married to stress.”

“If being married to stress is already that bad, imagine being married to Daic—”

“DO. NOT. FINISH.” Mira shouted before the joke could get worse.

Ren, Toma, and Kurogane were still snickering as they walked toward the vending machine—until Ren suddenly stopped.

“Uh… wait,” Ren squinted toward the cafeteria’s half-open entrance.

Toma glanced. “…holy crap.”
Kurogane followed. “…DUDE.”

Inside the cafeteria, a group of girls had just sat down—and they all looked like they’d come straight out of an idol poster. Neat hair, glowing skin, still in their training uniforms but somehow stunning.

Ren forgot how to breathe. “Bro… the one on the left has insanely long legs, I swear.”

Toma grinned, eyes sparkling. “And the girl with the side bangs—holy hell, she’s gorgeous.”

Kurogane even fixed his hair. “Damn… why does today feel like a special event?”

Mira, standing behind them, stopped for a completely different reason.

“…SERIOUSLY?” She stared at the three of them, pure disappointment mixed with disgust. “One minute ago you were all whining about being tired, now suddenly your HP is full?”

But the boys had already moved ahead, not hearing a word. They hurried toward the cafeteria faster than light, trying their best to look “cool” in case any of the girls walked by.

Mira stood alone. “…you guys are so dead when I tell Daichi.”

Annoyed, she stomped toward the vending machine.

Mira let out a breath, pressed the soda button, and waited.

Clunk.

She crouched a bit to grab the can—
but when she stood up, someone was already beside her.

A guy. Tall.
White hair, slightly messy, like he’d just finished training but somehow still looked like a magazine model. Light gray eyes, calm but piercing.

Mira jumped, almost dropping her soda. “Uh—!”

The guy gave her a small smile, soft enough to make Mira’s breath catch.

“You’re Mira, right?”
His voice was low and calm.
“I thought you didn’t like sweet drinks.”

Mira blinked, confused. “W–wait? Do I… know you?”

The white-haired boy was standing really close—just a few inches away. His smile was relaxed, but his eyes scanned her like a full-body MRI.

“It’s been a long time,” he said, glancing at the soda can in her hand. “You used to drink black coffee. Now soda? So you do like sweet things.”

Mira frowned harder. “I genuinely have NO idea who you are.”

The boy chuckled softly. “Really? But I remember you. Even the way you get angry is still…”
He leaned in slightly,
“...just as cute.”

Mira instantly stepped back. “Okay, STOP. Who are you? And—don’t get that close.”

Instead of moving back, he looked even more relaxed.
“Why? Embarrassed? Or scared you’ll fall for me?”

Mira choked on her own breath. “EXCUSE ME—WHAT is wrong with you!?”

He only laughed again, clearly enjoying her reaction.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. You got prettier.”

Mira clenched her fist. “I swear to—if you don’t—”

He raised his hand, reaching for her shoulder.

“Relax,” he said gently. “I just—”

Suddenly—BRUK BRUK BRUK!!!
Ren, Toma, and Kurogane BURST out from behind Mira like three discount villains, dark aura BLEDUK BLEDUK exploding behind them, eyes popping with rage.

Kurogane grabbed the boy’s wrist instantly.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU, HUH?!”

His voice shook from trying too hard to sound macho.

Ren lunged forward, face dark like a Grand Blue character.
“YEAH WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO DO TO MIRA, HUH!?”

Toma crossed his arms, striking an intoxicated-looking intimidation pose.
“COME ON, EYE CONTEST! LET’S GO!!”

The white-haired boy blinked once.

“…are you three… cosplaying market thugs?”

Ren: “SHUT YOUR MOUTH!”

The dark aura around them intensified—like dramatic wind from nowhere.

Mira stood in the middle, still holding her drink, expression screaming I want to go home.

“I just wanted a soda…” she whispered miserably.

The boy tried pulling his wrist out of Kurogane’s iron grip, but Kurogane tightened it like he was auditioning for a chicken-wrestling competition.

“Ow—ow—HEY that hurts—” the boy winced.

Ren leaned closer. “YOU WERE TRYING TO TOUCH HER SHOULDER RIGHT?! WHAT WERE YOU GONNA DO HUH!?”

Behind them, a visual illusion appeared:

Ren, Toma, Kurogane = three raging gorillas
White-haired boy = confused tiny kitten

The boy sighed. “Are… you guys her boyfriends or what?”

The trio answered IN PERFECT SYNCHRONIZATION:

“NO!! BUT YOU CAN’T JUST TOUCH HER!!”

Mira chugged half her soda in one go, then—BRAK!—threw the empty can straight at Ren’s head.

“AAAAAAH!!” Ren collapsed dramatically like he’d been struck by a meteor.

Toma panicked. “MIRA YOU THREW A STEEL CAN!?”

Mira: “It’s ALUMINUM, MORON.”

Kurogane dropped dead too even though nothing hit him.
Pure theatrics.

The white-haired boy blinked again. “…your friends… are intense.”

Mira sighed. “Not intense. They’re idiots.”

The trio stood up with fresh dark aura even though they were injured from their own stupidity.

Ren pointed at the boy like a knockoff superhero.
“WE ASK YOU ONE MORE TIME—WHO ARE YOU, HUH!?”

Toma and Kurogane posed behind him like criminal cheerleaders.
“YEAH!! WHO ARE YOU? TALK!!”

The white-haired boy smirked—just a hint, a little mischievous.

“I’m… someone Mira will remember eventually.”

The trio:
“WHY ARE YOU BEING ALL MYSTERIOUS ALL OF A SUDDEN?!”

Mira:
“DEAR GOD… give me patience.”

The boy finally pulled his hand free from Kurogane. His cool aura was completely gone—replaced with confusion, exhaustion, and mild fear of collective stupidity.

“…Okay. You guys are… unique,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“I’ll be going now.”

Ren moved forward instantly.
“DON’T YOU RUN—”

Toma grabbed him. “BRO, STOP—HE’S CLEARLY WAY MORE HANDSOME THAN YOU!”

The white-haired boy looked at Mira one last time. His eyes softened—way out of place in the chaos.

“Nice seeing you again.”
He raised a small wave.
“Bye, Mira.”

Mira froze. “...what the hell.”

The trio GASPed collectively.

Ren: “HE SAID BYEEEE?? HE WAVED AT YOU, MIRAAA!!!”
Kurogane: “THIS IS 100% LOVE RIVAL ARC!”
Toma, crouching as if blinded: “HIS BEAUTY IS ATTACKING MY RETINAS—OW—”

The boy walked away calmly while the three idiots collapsed to their knees dramatically, dark aura swirling around them like a cartoon.

On the way back to the training room

Mira walks in front, looking like exhaustion incarnate.
Behind her, Ren, Toma, and Kurogane follow tightly—like three nosy ostriches.

Ren fires the first question.
“Mira. Who was that?”

Mira: “Dunno.”

Toma adds, “No way you don’t know. He clearly knows you.”

Mira: “I. DON’T. KNOW.”

Kurogane sticks his face so close it nearly bumps Mira’s shoulder.
“Is he your ex?? HUH??”

Mira stops walking and stares at the three of them like they’re humanity’s collective sins.
“I. Don’t. Know.”

Ren: “But he said ‘nice to see you again’.”
Toma: “He even knows your favorite drink.”
Kurogane: “And he knows you get angry easily—oh wait, yeah, everyone knows that.”

Mira: “My personality is not a STATE SECRET.”

But the trio keeps following, firing questions nonstop:

Ren: “Did you meet him when you were little?”
Toma: “Or maybe he’s a stalker!?”
Kurogane: “Or maybe he’s your love-interest arc??”
Ren: “OR—MIRA MAYBE HE’S A PRINCE FROM SOME OTHER KINGDOM WHO—”

Mira: “REN I SWEAR I WILL SLAP YOU.”

They continue walking—even louder than before.

Until—
Mira suddenly stops.

The three guys crash into her like falling dominoes.

“OW—”
“OUGH!!”
“WHY DID YOU STOP LIKE THAT!?”

Mira doesn’t answer.

Her eyes widen slightly.
Like something just clicked in her brain.

She touches her chin slowly.
“…wait.”

Mira stands frozen in the hallway.
Her gaze empties out—like someone who suddenly heard her childhood OST.

Ren, Toma, and Kurogane immediately crowd around her like amateur detectives.

Ren: “WHAT?? DID YOU REMEMBER SOMETHING??”
Toma: “WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU GOT HIT WITH PTSD??”
Kurogane: “DON’T TELL ME HE REALLY WAS YOUR EX!?!?”

Mira doesn’t answer.

She just mutters quietly—
“…I think I… saw him… when I was little.”

B R E N G

The trio convulses like Mira’s first-love arc just electrocuted them.

Ren: “FLASHBACK ARC!!”
Toma: “FINALLY!!”
Kurogane: “GIVE US THE LOOOORE!!!”

Mira closes her eyes.
A long-buried memory—blurry, yet suddenly glowing—starts to surface…

In Kindergarten

A playground so tragic it shouldn’t legally exist.
The swing creaks. Kids scream nonsense while running around.

Little Mira stands alone, holding a snack, born with a resting annoyed face.

In the middle of the playground…
A little boy with white hair, flushed cheeks, gripping a plastic flower that’s lost most of its color.

He approaches Little Mira with hesitant, trembling steps.

Little boy:
“M-Mira… I like you…”

Little Mira glances over with half-dead boredom.
“…and?”

He gathers every atom of microscopic courage he has.
“I wanna… be your boyfriend!”

The surrounding kids erupt:
“WOOOOOAAAAHH!!”

The swing stops.
Reality freezes.

Little Mira raises an eyebrow.
“…no.”

He looks heartbroken. “W-why…?”

Little Mira munches her snack.
“You smell.”

The boy looks like he’s about to cry.
But Mira isn’t done.

She looks down…
…at something on the ground.

Adult Toma in the flashback:
“NO. PLEASE NO—”
Ren: “THIS IS BAD—”
Kurogane: “THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE SAFE—”

Little Mira picks up cat poop—
with her bare hand, face deadpan like a battle-worn soldier.

Little boy: “M-Mira??”

Mira raises the biological projectile.

And then—

SPLAT!!

The poop slaps onto the boy’s cheek, exploding instantly.

White-haired boy:
“UWAHHHH—WHY IS IT SO DIRTY—!!”

The kindergarten kids scream like they’re watching an R-rated action scene.
“AAARGHHH IT STINKS!!”
“SHE THREW POOP!!”
“LEGENDARY!!”

Little Mira simply claps her hands to shake off the residue,
then calmly walks away, leaving the traumatized boy bawling.

Mira opens her eyes slowly.

Ren, Toma, and Kurogane are ALREADY CRYING from laughter.

Ren:
“Y-YOU… YOU POOP-SLAPPED HIM!? AHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Toma is rolling on the floor.
“M-MY STOMACH—PLEASE—STOP—!!”

Kurogane slaps the wall, tears streaming.
“NO WONDER HE LOOKED PTSD!! CHILDHOOD PAYBACK ARC!!”

Mira hides her face with her hands.
“I WAS BARBARIC THAT DAY, OKAY!?”

Ren, half-squatting from laughing:
“What was his name??”

Defeated, Mira mutters:
“…Shīru.”

The trio IMMEDIATELY collapses again.

Ren: “BROOO SHIIRU WAS THE POOP VICTIM!!”
Toma: “IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!!”
Kurogane: “BEST ROMANCE ARC OF ALL TIME!!”

Mira looks up at the ceiling.
“…I need new friends.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

Shiru stands tall in the center of the underground training hall.
The black turtleneck clings neatly to him, contrasting sharply with his pale skin and white hair.
His dark pants finish the minimal silhouette—
as if his combat ability itself is enough decoration.

Around him, thousands of monster replicas stand in attack formation.
Humanoids with massive swords, three-headed giants frozen mid-roar,
tiny toothy gremlins that look like failed experiments—
a vast ocean of enemies.

Cold white light pours from the high ceiling, casting a ritual-like circle of shadows around Shiru.

He closes his eyes.
Inhales.
Holds it.

The room seems to hold its breath with him.

And then—

SHING.

A motion too fast for even slow-motion cameras.
His sword is drawn.

No slash sound.
No readable movement.

But the world around him fractures.

Monster replicas split cleanly, collapsing into thousands of pieces like plastic snow.
Some dissolve into near mist—
as if they never existed.

Shiru sheaths the sword with the calm of someone closing a closet door.

Click.

And instantly, the remaining mannequins crumble, obeying an invisible command.

Silence.

Then—

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Someone stands at the doorway, leaning casually, stuck between admiration and stress.

“Wow,” he says with a wide grin.
“New record. Seriously. The arena’s sensors literally lagged.”

He walks closer, clapping lightly—as if part mocking, part surrendering.

“As expected from the future S-Rank hero,” he says, raising a brow.
“So? What’s up? Something piss you off today?”

Shiru opens his eyes.
His gaze is sharp, but impossibly calm—
the kind of calm from someone who could erase an army without raising his pulse.

He smiles faintly.

“…No,” he answers softly.
“Just met an old friend.”

His tone is smooth as a still lake.

But the plastic graveyard around him says otherwise.
Something definitely got to him.

The next morning, Ren, Kurogane, and Mira walked into the training hall, mentally bracing themselves for Daichi’s infamous “hell training.”
But the moment the door opened, all three of them froze.

Daichi stood with his arms crossed—and beside him, Toma was wearing a brand-new official Xentra uniform.

Mira blinked. “Huh? Why is Toma in uniform? Does he have a mission today?”

“Halah,” Kurogane muttered, yawning. “He’s probably just showing off. Like always.”

Ren elbowed him and pointed toward the other side of the room. “Not just that. Look over there.”

Mira and Kurogane turned—and immediately went still.

On the far side of the room, Shiru stood with three newcomers: one guy and two girls.

Kurogane pointed without thinking. “Oi—ain’t that your boyfriend, Mir?”

Mira whipped her head around with a murderous expression. “SHUT UP YOU IDIOT.”

Ren got even more excited. “Not just that, look at the girls. Aren’t those the insanely pretty ones from the cafeteria yesterday?”

Kurogane’s eyes widened. “HOLY—YEAH! The short-haired one is my girlfriend now.”

“DISGUSTING,” Ren replied instantly.

Mira sighed long and deep, as if her soul left her body. “You two are… unbelievable perverts.”

Before they could continue bickering, Daichi’s voice boomed through the entire room.

“HEY!! YOU THREE—GET OVER HERE!”

Ren, Kurogane, and Mira instantly went stiff.
Hell had officially begun.

Ren, Mira, and Kurogane stood in a line before Daichi, trying to act composed even though they were still rattled from his shout earlier.

Daichi scanned the three of them, expression flat, tone sharp.

“Alright. Today, you three will carry out a small assignment.”

Ren slowly raised a hand. “Uhm… a ‘small assignment’ by Daichi standards, or by normal human standards, Sensei?”

Daichi’s stare cut him down instantly. Ren lowered his hand.

Daichi continued, “This task is to test your courage as advanced trainees. It’s time for you to prove you won’t run away in real situations.”

Kurogane leaned toward Ren. “Bro… every time he says ‘small assignment,’ at least two people end up traumatized.”

“At least,” Ren whispered back.

Daichi ignored them and pressed a button on his remote. A hologram flickered to life—showing a young boy, around nine years old, messy hair and innocent face.

“A few days ago, a child went missing,” Daichi explained. “Name: Seto. Last seen on the city surveillance cameras three nights ago.”

Mira frowned. “How does a kid that small wander out alone?”

“That is what you will find out.”

The hologram shifted to a city map, zooming in on an area at the outer edge. A red marker blinked ominously.

“This is the last recorded location. The boy entered the Kagami Village—an abandoned restricted zone.”

Ren stiffened. “Kagami Village… that one? The one with the rumor about monsters that look like—”

“Don’t continue,” Mira cut him off. “Urban myths don’t matter.”

Daichi carried on without pause.

“The village was sealed due to uncontrollable monster activity. Even Xentra teams rarely enter unless it’s a major operation.”

The hologram vanished.

Silence.

Then Ren raised his hand again. “Sensei… if even Xentra teams rarely go there, why are WE—THREE TRAINEES—the ones being sent?”

Kurogane joined in. “Yeah! At least give us anti-death armor first!”

Mira, calmer but clearly confused, added, “Sensei… this does not sound like a small assignment.”

Daichi clapped his hands once—loud enough to jolt all three of them.

“Protest time’s over. Good. Departure in ten minutes.”

Ren went pale. “TEN MINUTES?!”

Kurogane let his head drop. “This isn’t a test… this is a funeral.”

Mira sighed deeply. “Let’s just get it over with.”

Daichi smiled slightly—a dangerous smile.

“Prove that you deserve to remain in the Union. Besides, you won’t be going alone this time. You’ll be accompanied by… let’s just say, students of an old friend of mine.”

He gestured toward Shiru and his group.

Shiru, noticing Mira looking his way, smiled gently and gave her a small wave.

Meanwhile, Ren, Kurogane, and Mira stared from afar, jaws hanging open.


note :

Hey everyone! I’m really sorry for the delayed update. I’ve been quite busy these past few days with some important things, so I didn’t have much time to write. But don’t worry—the story is still moving forward, and I’ll do my best to get back on track with the updates.

Thank you so much for sticking around and waiting patiently. Your support means a lot!