Rain begins to fall.
Droplets hit the glass… like a warning.
Staff Room
The principal… is being beaten by Keiko without mercy.
— "That's enough!" — Kentarou tries to intervene.
— "Calm down!" — Tadashi grabs her arm.
But Keiko keeps going.
Hayato, leaning near the window… simply watches.
He looks at the sky.
— …It's already started raining.
Battlefield
Ren… still standing.
His body is destroyed… but his eyes…
Cold.
Silent.
Dangerous.
Kenji hesitates.
His body trembles.
As if every instinct is screaming:
"Run."
Ren says nothing.
He simply picks up Hana… and disappears, running.
Many years ago
Itsuki is crying.
A younger Ren stands there, fists clenched.
Kaien approaches.
— Why did you hit them, Ren?
— They were insulting Itsuki… and saying things about you.
Kaien sighs.
— I know people can be cruel…
But if you play their game… you become just like them.
He places a hand on Ren's head.
— Remember… there are fights that shouldn't be fought.
Present
Kenji chases.
Absurd speed.
A direct punch—
But he stops.
His eyes shake.
For a moment…
he sees something.
Not Ren.
But…
a predator.
A wolf… staring into his soul.
Kenji steps back.
Breathing heavily.
— …What the hell was that?
Abandoned Building
Hana, still trembling, looks at Ren.
— …Thank you, Ren.
Ren freezes for a second.
As if those words are… too rare.
— …Yeah… it was nothing.
He looks away, a bit awkward.
An odd silence forms.
Almost uncomfortable.
BOOM
Ezonku suddenly wakes up and punches Ren in the face.
— WHERE AM I?!
— WHAT THE HELL, IS THAT HOW YOU SAY THANK YOU?! — Ren holds his face.
Hana tries to calm things down:
— You were unconscious…
Ezonku looks around, confused.
— …and who's this?
— Hana. — she replies.
Ren, still irritated:
— She saved your life, idiot.
Ezonku narrows his eyes.
— Saved… me?
Hana nods.
— I have healing abilities.
Ezonku watches her for a few seconds…
Then turns away.
— Doesn't matter. I'm going to kill that bastard.
Ren stands up.
— You're going to fight Kenji?
— I am. Don't try to stop me.
Ren steps forward and punches him.
— You won't win.
Ezonku wipes the blood from his mouth.
— Want to die with me?
They stare at each other.
Tension rises.
The air grows heavy.
Clenched fists.
Ready to explode.
— STOP!! — Hana shouts.
Silence cuts through everything.
She takes a deep breath.
— Alone… you'll lose.
They keep staring at each other.
— But together… you have a chance.
Ren clicks his tongue softly.
— Fight alongside this guy? No thanks.
Ezonku fires back instantly:
— I don't trust trash either.
Hana steps forward.
Determined.
— Please… call a truce. Just for now.
Silence.
Heavy.
She continues:
— Just for now… work together.
Ren and Ezonku exchange long looks.
Full of conflict.
Until…
— …Whatever. — Ren says.
— Just don't get in my way. — Ezonku replies.
Alliance formed.
Forced.
Unstable.
Perfect.
Ren crosses his arms.
— So… what's the plan?
Hana takes a deep breath.
— First, we need to understand our abilities.
Ezonku leans against the wall, impatient.
— Tch… waste of time.
Hana ignores him.
— I'll start.
She raises her hand.
A soft white light appears, illuminating the space.
— I use healing Reikon. I can treat injuries… even severe ones.
Ren looks impressed.
— That's really useful.
Ezonku comments:
— Support.
Hana makes a slight face, but continues.
Ezonku steps forward.
Flames ignite around his hand.
— Kinjutsu: Shiranui.
The fire spins… dense, compressed.
— I manipulate fire. For attack… or mobility.
He extinguishes the flames.
— Simple.
Silence.
They both look at Ren.
Waiting.
Ren scratches his head.
— …Yeah.
Silence.
More silence.
Ezonku frowns.
— And?
Ren answers plainly:
— I don't have a technique.
Hana blinks.
— …What do you mean?
— Not even Reikon.
Absolute silence.
The rain seems louder now.
Ezonku starts laughing.
— You're joking, right?
Ren keeps a straight face.
— No.
Hana steps forward.
— Wait… then how did you fight until now?
Ren shrugs.
— Just… fighting.
Ezonku stares at him, disbelief written all over his face.
— Then that strength… that speed…
— It was all physical?
Ren answers without pride:
— Since I was born, my body's always been like this.
Silence.
Different now.
Heavier.
Hana (thinking):
"Without Reikon…
And still… he fought Kenji…"
She tightens her hand slightly.
"What kind of person is he…?"
Ezonku looks away.
— …Monster.
Ren looks at him.
— You say something?
— Shut up.
Hana takes a deep breath and refocuses.
— Then that changes the plan.
They both look at her.
— Ren will be the front line.
— Ezonku, ranged offensive support.
— And I… keep you alive.
Ren smiles.
— Sounds good.
Ezonku crosses his arms.
— If this fails, it's on you.
Hana answers without hesitation:
— Then we won't fail.
Silence.
But now…
It's not uncomfortable.
It's preparation.
Strategy
— Surprise attack. — Ezonku says.
— Use distraction. — Hana adds.
— …I like it. — Ren says.
⚔️ Present
Kenji, surrounded by other participants.
Annoyed.
— Get out of my way.
They attack.
At the top of a tower—
Ezonku:
— Kinjutsu: Shiranui.
A compressed fire bullet shoots forward.
Kenji dodges—
But Ren is already there.
Punch.
Impact.
Ezonku propels himself forward with explosions—
BOOOOM
— It's working! — Ren grins.
But—
Kenji appears.
A brutal punch.
Ren is sent flying.
The suppression field expands.
Ezonku weakens.
Close combat.
Ren returns.
With a metal pipe.
CRASH
— It's working!
— Don't let your guard down! — Ezonku shouts.
Hana heals quickly.
Kenji stands.
Slow.
Terrifying.
— So this is your plan?
He smiles.
— Pathetic.
— A piece of trash without Reikon…
— A failure…
— And a useless girl.
Silence.
— I'll show you… the power of the Kurogane clan.
The field expands.
Crushing pressure.
Kenji appears—
Hana tries to react—
Ren steps in front.
IMPACT
Both are thrown away.
Ezonku responds with fire—
Chain explosions.
Smoke.
Silence.
Laughter.
Kenji… unharmed.
He disappears.
Appears behind Ren.
BOOM
Ren is blasted through an entire building.
— REN!! — Hana screams.
Kenji grabs Hana by the hair.
— It's over.
— LET HER GO. — Ren says… appearing again.
The atmosphere shifts.
The air grows heavy.
Kenji feels it.
Fear.
— What the hell are you…?
Ren smiles.
— Today… is a good day to die, right?
Brutal combat.
Fists.
Impacts.
Blood.
Kenji dominates.
But…
The fear grows.
Every second.
Every hit.
— Why…? — Kenji thinks
— WHY AM I AFRAID?!
Ren speaks.
Cold.
— Weak.
Kenji explodes in rage.
Amplifies everything.
Stronger.
Faster.
Heavier.
But Ren…
Keeps going.
Smiling.
Hana (shocked):
— This isn't normal…
Ezonku:
— This guy… is insane.
— DIE!! — Kenji screams
— I said… — Ren replies
His eyes change.
Something awakens.
— I won't lose.
A voice echoes.
"Fight…"
"Keep fighting…"
Ren moves forward.
One single strike.
RIGHT HOOK
Absolute silence.
Kenji… falls.
Unconscious.
Ren, smiling:
— I told you…
— I won't lose.
FINAL SIGNAL
Test complete.
Ren collapses.
Exhausted.
Still smiling.
Distant Future
Ezonku stands.
Serious.
Facing Ren.
— How did we end up here…?
— Of all people… you were the last one who should have fallen into darkness.
— Even your smile… is gone.
Heavy silence.
— I'm sorry, Ren…
Energy begins to rise.
Flames… black.
— But your time ends here.
He raises his hand.
— Kagutsuchi no Kage.
— Goodbye… my friend.