Chapter 4

The final bell echoed through Hoshin Academy beneath the sound of rain.

Instantly the school came alive.

Classroom doors slid open across every floor while students flooded into the hallways carrying bags, umbrellas, and conversations loud enough to drown out the weather outside. Laughter bounced off polished corridors while announcements crackled faintly overhead about club activities and delayed transit lines due to the storm worsening across central Tenshōkyō.

Riku barely noticed any of it.

He slung his bag over one shoulder, slipped his headphones over his ears, and walked through the crowds in silence.

Students naturally moved aside as he passed.

Not because he demanded it.

Because something about him felt untouchable.

The storm outside had darkened the academy grounds into shades of gray and neon by the time he stepped into the main courtyard. Rainwater streamed down stone walkways while towering buildings loomed overhead beneath flickering holographic advertisements.

Riku headed toward the front gates.

Then paused.

Voices echoed sharply from somewhere near the side alley connecting the athletics building to the lower parking sectors.

"...Fucking Kurain trash."

Riku's footsteps stopped.

One hand slowly lowered his headphones from his ears.

Another voice followed immediately after.

"How the hell did a demon even get into this school?"

A dull impact echoed.

Someone grunted in pain.

Riku turned toward the alley.

Rain fell harder there, pouring through the narrow gap between buildings where shadows stretched across soaked pavement beneath flickering security lights.

Two male students stood over another boy roughly their age pinned against the wall.

One of them kicked him hard in the stomach.

The boy collapsed to one knee coughing violently.

"Did you lie about being human on your application?" the taller student sneered.

The boy shook his head weakly.

"N-No."

Rain dripped from strands of dark silver hair hanging over his eyes.

"I was honest."

The second student laughed bitterly.

"Then the admissions office is even more pathetic than I thought."

The boy slowly forced himself back to his feet despite the blood running from the corner of his mouth.

"Some people..." he breathed unevenly, "...don't see us as monsters."

The taller student immediately grabbed him by the collar.

"That's all bullshit propaganda the government keeps spreading."

"Shut the fuck up."

The punch landed across the boy's face hard enough to slam him back against the wall again.

Riku watched silently for several seconds.

Expression unreadable.

Then—

"Leave."

The word cut through the alley calmly.

Cold.

Both students turned immediately.

"...Huh?"

The taller one blinked before recognizing him.

"Oh."

A grin spread across his face.

"It's you."

Riku stood near the alley entrance beneath the rain, one hand resting in his pocket while water rolled from strands of black hair across tired purple eyes.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Even the storm suddenly felt quieter.

The second student swallowed slightly.

But the taller one scoffed.

"You can't seriously be defending this piece of trash."

"Leave."

Riku's tone never changed.

The rich student laughed once under his breath.

"And what exactly are you gonna do if we don't?"

The second student glanced between them nervously.

"...Kaito, maybe we should just—"

"No."

Kaito stepped forward aggressively.

Expensive watch.

Designer shoes.

The arrogance practically bled from him.

"My father funds half this academy," he snapped. "Nobody tells me what to do."

Riku stared at him silently.

"I don't think," he said quietly, "you want to find out."

The alley went still.

Rain hammered against concrete around them.

Kaito's expression twisted.

"You think you're so fucking big because people worship you around here?" he barked. "You ain't shit."

Then he swung.

Fast.

Angry.

Sloppy.

Riku moved instantly.

His hand caught Kaito's fist mid-swing with effortless precision.

Kaito's eyes widened.

Before he could react—

Riku drove an uppercut directly into his stomach.

The impact lifted Kaito slightly off the ground.

Air exploded from his lungs violently.

Then Riku grabbed the front of his uniform and hurled him sideways.

Kaito crashed into the concrete wall hard enough to crack part of the paneling before collapsing into the rain with a scream of pain.

The second student stared in horror.

"...Fuck this shit."

And ran.

Immediately.

No hesitation whatsoever.

Kaito groaned against the pavement before forcing himself upward, soaked hair hanging over furious eyes.

"You son of a bitch..."

He pointed shakily toward Riku.

"My father is gonna hear about this!"

Riku didn't even blink.

Kaito staggered backward.

"You have no idea who you're messing with."

Then he turned and disappeared into the rain-soaked courtyard clutching his ribs.

Silence returned to the alley.

Only rain remained.

Riku watched the direction Kaito fled for several seconds.

Expression blank.

Then finally turned toward the other boy still leaning against the wall.

"...You okay?"

The student wiped blood from his mouth slowly.

"...Yeah."

Up close, he looked exhausted more than injured.

Slim build.

Sharp gray eyes.

Silver-black hair partially covering faint markings near the side of his neck—subtle signs of Kurain heritage he probably spent most of his life hiding.

He studied Riku carefully.

"...Thanks."

Riku shrugged slightly.

"They were annoying."

The boy laughed quietly despite himself.

"...Fair enough."

Rain poured endlessly around them.

Eventually—

"You hungry?" Riku asked.

The boy blinked.

"What?"

"You haven't eaten today, have you?"

Silence.

Then the boy looked away awkwardly.

"...No."

Riku started walking.

"Come on."

The diner sat beneath an elevated rail line several blocks from the academy.

Small.

Warm.

Almost hidden between crowded storefronts glowing beneath neon signs and rain-drenched advertisements. Steam fogged the windows while old music played quietly through overhead speakers inside.

Compared to Hoshin Academy, the place felt strangely human.

The waitress barely looked up when they entered.

"Sit wherever."

Riku chose one of the back booths near the window overlooking the flooded streets outside.

The silver-haired boy sat across from him uncertainly.

Menus rested untouched between them.

"What do you want?" Riku asked.

"...Anything's fine."

Riku ordered for both of them.

The silence afterward wasn't uncomfortable exactly.

Just unfamiliar.

Eventually the boy spoke first.

"...Fucking Kaito Ishikawa."

Riku glanced toward him.

"Hm."

"That's his name."

The boy leaned back slightly against the booth.

"He thinks he owns everything because his father's chairman of Ishikawa Industries."

Riku recognized the name immediately.

One of the largest military-tech corporations in Eios.

Government-funded.

Deep political connections.

Heavy anti-Kurai lobbying.

"Ishikawa Industries funds security enforcement divisions in the lower districts," the boy continued bitterly. "Half the anti-Kurai surveillance systems in Tenshōkyō are built by them."

Rain rolled slowly down the diner windows.

"And people wonder why guys like him act untouchable."

The food arrived moments later.

The silver-haired boy practically tried not to look too desperate while eating.

Riku noticed anyway.

"You seem to really hate the government," he said quietly.

The boy laughed once.

"Hate them?"

His eyes darkened slightly.

"They spread lies about the Kurai every day. Talk about equality on broadcasts while letting people like Ishikawa profit off fear." He stabbed angrily at his food with the chopsticks. "They walk over the weak then call it public safety."

Outside, a giant digital billboard flickered across the rain showing campaign coverage from the upcoming election.

Masashido Kurozen's face appeared briefly.

The boy noticed it too.

"...Except him."

Riku's eyes shifted slightly.

"Kurozen?"

The boy nodded immediately.

"He's the only one actually trying to change things."

The storm outside intensified.

"Every other politician just uses Kurain people as scapegoats to gain votes. But Kurozen..." He looked toward the screen thoughtfully. "He talks like somebody who actually understands what this city's become."

Riku said nothing.

The boy continued quietly.

"If he becomes Prime Minister..." His expression tightened slightly with cautious hope. "Things might finally start getting better."

Rain hammered the streets outside harder now.

Traffic lights reflected crimson across the diner windows like blood.

Riku remained silent the entire time.

Listening.

Watching.

Eventually the silver-haired boy finished eating before looking embarrassed again.

"...Thanks for dinner."

Riku leaned back slightly in the booth.

"Hm."

The boy stood slowly.

"I should probably get home before transit gets worse."

Riku nodded once.

The boy hesitated before leaving.

Then—

"...Tenya."

Riku looked up slightly.

"My name."

A small tired smile crossed the boy's face.

"Tenya Ishida."

Then he turned and disappeared out into the storm beneath the glowing lights of Tenshōkyō.

Riku watched the rain for several seconds afterward.

Then slowly reached for his headphones again.

Outside—

The city kept drowning beneath politics, fear, hatred, and promises of salvation.

___

The train cut through the storm-lit arteries of Tenshōkyō like a steel serpent.

Rain battered the windows relentlessly while towering skyscrapers blurred past in fractured streaks of neon and darkness. Inside the crowded transit car, exhausted workers stared blankly at glowing phones while students talked quietly beneath the hum of overhead lights.

Riku stood near the rear doors.

Headphones over his ears.

Hands buried in his pockets.

The conversation with Tenya lingered faintly in the back of his mind.

Ishikawa Industries.

Anti-Kurai surveillance.

Government contracts.

Kurozen.

The city always felt different after hearing ordinary people speak honestly about it.

Because beneath the speeches, broadcasts, and propaganda—

Tenshōkyō was rotting.

The train finally slowed as it approached the private sector station beneath Kurozen Enterprises. Unlike the overcrowded public lines throughout the capital, this station remained unnaturally clean and quiet, guarded by discreet security personnel dressed in black suits standing near sealed gates.

The doors slid open.

Cold air spilled inside.

Riku stepped onto the platform.

And immediately noticed Midori waiting near one of the pillars.

She leaned against the wall with her arms folded, long black hair falling loosely around her shoulders while rainwater still clung faintly to the ends from earlier. Students and corporate workers passed around her without realizing how dangerous she actually was.

The moment she spotted him, she straightened slightly.

"I was wondering where you disappeared to."

Riku approached silently.

"Something came up."

Midori studied him for a second.

"...That all?"

"Yeah."

She could tell he wasn't interested in elaborating.

So she let it go.

"I got a call from Kurozen."

That finally earned a small glance from him.

"Our next mission came in."

The storm rumbled faintly somewhere above the city.

Midori pushed herself off the wall.

"He wants to brief us personally."

Riku nodded once.

Nothing else needed to be said.

Together they headed deeper into the secured station corridors beneath Kurozen Enterprises.

The transition from public transit into the corporate tower felt seamless.

Intentional.

Massive reinforced doors opened automatically as security systems scanned them on entry while armed personnel stood silently along the polished hallways beyond. Soft white lighting reflected against black marble floors while holographic displays projected market trends, political coverage, and security updates across transparent panels lining the walls.

Above them—

The tower climbed endlessly into the storm clouds over Tenshōkyō.

The private elevator carrying them upward moved silently.

Floor numbers climbed rapidly across the digital display.

Neither spoke during the ascent.

The higher levels of Kurozen Enterprises always felt strangely detached from the rest of the city.

Like another world suspended above civilization itself.

By the time the elevator doors finally opened onto the executive floor, night had fully settled across Tenshōkyō outside.

Rain crawled endlessly down the massive glass walls overlooking the skyline while distant lightning illuminated the city in pale fractured flashes.

Kurozen was waiting near the windows.

Alone.

One hand rested behind his back while the other held a crystal glass untouched beside him. The reflection of the city stretched across his dark suit and crimson eyes alike, making him appear almost part of the skyline itself.

Elegant.

Still.

Dangerously calm.

Neither Riku nor Midori spoke immediately.

Kurozen acknowledged their presence without turning.

"You're both punctual as always."

His voice carried softly through the enormous office.

Measured.

Controlled.

Then he finally looked toward them.

"I apologize for interrupting your evening."

Midori shook her head slightly.

"It's no trouble, sir."

Riku remained silent.

Kurozen's gaze lingered on him briefly before shifting toward the massive digital screen behind his desk.

With a single gesture, the display activated.

Files appeared instantly.

Photographs.

Financial reports.

Security footage.

And one man's face.

Councilman Reiji Takemura.

Mid-fifties.

Expensive suits.

Perfect smile.

One of the leading anti-Kurai political figures within the National Stability Committee.

Midori's expression darkened slightly.

"...Takemura."

Kurozen nodded once.

"A patriot in public."

The images shifted.

Hidden recordings.

Underground facilities.

Emaciated Kurain prisoners restrained in cages.

"Something else entirely in private."

Silence filled the office.

Even Riku's eyes narrowed slightly.

Kurozen walked slowly toward the display.

"Three years ago, Takemura established a classified partnership with several private security corporations operating beneath government oversight."

Images continued scrolling.

Shipping manifests.

Human trafficking routes.

Experimental documents stamped CONFIDENTIAL.

"He has been illegally detaining Kurain civilians from the lower districts and selling them to black-site research facilities under the justification of 'national security advancement.'"

Midori's voice lowered.

"...Human experimentation."

"Yes."

Kurozen's tone remained perfectly calm.

Which somehow made the information feel even colder.

"He profits from fear while preaching morality to the public. Every speech condemning Kurain violence..." His crimson eyes darkened slightly. "Every promise about protecting humanity..."

The screen shifted again.

Bodies.

Scars.

Children.

"...funded by suffering hidden beneath the city."

Riku stared silently at the files.

One photograph remained onscreen slightly longer than the others.

A young Kurain boy strapped to a surgical restraint table.

No older than ten.

Something in the room changed.

Subtle.

But noticeable.

Kurozen observed him carefully.

"Our intelligence division confirmed Takemura will be visiting one of these facilities personally tonight beneath District Nine."

The city thundered outside.

"He intends to authorize the transfer of additional test subjects before the upcoming election."

Midori folded her arms tightly.

"So what are our orders?"

Kurozen looked toward the storm beyond the windows for several seconds before answering.

"Destroy the facility."

Lightning illuminated the skyline behind him.

"Retrieve all surviving prisoners."

His gaze slowly returned toward them.

"And bring me Takemura alive."

Midori blinked slightly.

"Alive?"

"Yes."

Kurozen stepped closer.

His presence alone seemed to make the air heavier.

"Men like Takemura thrive because society hides corruption behind legal systems and expensive suits. If he disappears quietly..." His voice sharpened faintly. "Another parasite will simply take his place."

The rain intensified against the glass.

"But if the truth is exposed publicly..."

Understanding crossed Midori's expression.

"The election."

Kurozen nodded.

"Fear controls this country because people have been taught to look downward for monsters instead of upward."

The giant screen behind him displayed Takemura smiling confidently beside military officials and corporate executives.

"A man who cages children while speaking about justice deserves neither power nor secrecy."

Riku finally spoke.

"...How heavily guarded?"

Kurozen almost smiled.

"Beneath the old metro tunnels in District Nine. Private military contractors. Roughly thirty personnel."

The display shifted again.

Blueprints of underground tunnels appeared across the screen.

"There are automated security systems throughout the facility alongside drone patrols and biometric locks." Kurozen looked directly at Riku. "Additionally..."

Another image appeared.

A massive armored figure dressed in black tactical combat gear.

Augmented.

Enhanced.

Eyes glowing faintly red beneath a combat visor.

"Takemura recently hired an independent enforcer known as Raizen."

Midori's expression immediately changed.

"...The Black Oni?"

Kurozen nodded once.

"Former military special operations. Kurain."

Riku's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why would a Kurain work for someone like Takemura?"

Kurozen's expression became unreadable again.

"Because hatred corrupts everyone eventually."

Silence followed.

The rain outside sounded almost violent now.

Kurozen turned fully toward them at last.

"For tonight's operation, secrecy is secondary."

That caught Midori's attention immediately.

"...Meaning?"

His crimson eyes reflected lightning beyond the glass.

"If resistance escalates..." he said softly, "I will permit lethal force."

The room went still.

Kurozen rarely needed to say things twice.

Riku looked toward the image of the imprisoned children again.

Then nodded once.

"...Understood."

Midori exhaled slowly.

"We leave immediately?"

"Yes."

Kurozen folded his hands behind his back.

"The transport is already waiting below."

Then his voice lowered slightly.

Almost sorrowfully.

"There are monsters beneath this city pretending to be civilized men."

Lightning split the heavens outside the tower.

"And tonight..." Kurozen said quietly, "we remind them that darkness is capable of looking back."