To understand Haruki Sora, one must understand the Sora Clan—an ancient, formidable bloodline shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that the true heirs of Sora possessed a physiological marvel: in moments of absolute fury, their pupils would ignite into a piercing, crystalline crimson. This wasn't supernatural power, but a genetic gift—a mark of the "Red Diamond Eye."
The Sora were celebrated for two things: their unbreakable loyalty and their terrifying intellect. But greatness invites shadows. A mysterious organization began hunting them down, obsessed with their unique trait. Now, only a few "Red Diamond" heirs remain, hiding their identity under the veil of ordinary lives. Haruki is one of them—a secret guarded with his life.
The night air was still until the black sedan screeched to a halt, blocking Haruki's path. As the headlights blinded him, Haruki's pupils bled into a lethal red.
He calmly reached for his black tinted glasses and slipped them on.
"You idiot!" Emi snapped from the back seat, her voice trembling despite her arrogance. "Why are you putting on sunglasses now? Is this a fashion show or a kidnapping?"
Haruki's lips curled into a faint, cryptic smile. "I just don't want anything getting in my eyes during the mess. Stay in the car, Miss Emi. Don't come out until it's over."
Haruki stepped out, standing tall against the glare of the enemy's headlights. From the opposite car, a man emerged. He dripped with menace—heavy chains rattled around his neck, multiple piercings caught the light, and intricate tattoos snaked across his skin.
For a moment, the world went silent. Only the hum of the engines broke the peace.
"I have no grudge against you, boy," the man spoke, his face half-hidden in shadows. "Just hand over Emi. Her father misses her dearly."
Haruki didn't blink. His face was a mask of absolute calm. "And I have no grudge against you. But I've made a promise to a mother. I cannot hand Emi over. I'm sorry."
The stranger let out a dark, guttural laugh. "So, we fight?"
"If you insist," Haruki replied, his eyes narrowing behind the dark lenses. "But fighting on a public road is messy. Why don't we sit down and talk this out?"
The man stepped into the light, a mocking grin on his face. "No talks. I've been paid a fortune by Emi's father, and I always finish the job."
Haruki sighed, his entire aura shifting. The air around him seemed to grow heavy. "A promise made to a mother is a promise I will keep, even if it costs me my life."
The man looked impressed. "You have spirit. But those glasses... they irritate me."
Haruki didn't respond with words. He dropped into a low, predatory stance—one leg back, fists raised in a perfect Southpaw Guard.
"I am Laho Kun," the man declared, his smile widening like a predator. "The legendary Kung Fu Master of the Dragon Stream."
Haruki's heart skipped a beat. Cold sweat broke on his forehead, but his resolve didn't flicker. Laho Kun... the man who dismantled entire gangs in China. "Laho Kun," Haruki said respectfully. "I've heard the legends. I've studied the arts myself, but I never expected a master of your stature to come to Japan for something as low as a kidnapping."
Laho Kun laughed. "I'm not kidnapping. I'm reuniting a father with his daughter. Is that so wrong?"
"If Emi doesn't want to go, then yes, it is," Haruki countered.
"Spoken like a true kidnapper," Laho Kun hissed.
Before Haruki could breathe, Laho Kun moved. He was a blur—a literal gust of wind that kicked up dust. In a flash, he was behind Haruki.
"Haruki! Behind you!" Emi screamed from the car.
Haruki had already sensed the shift in air pressure. Just as Laho Kun's strike whistled through the air, Haruki performed a stunning Back-Tuck Flip, landing effortlessly on the roof of Laho Kun's car.
"I'm not the kidnapper!" Haruki shouted. "I'm the one protecting her!"
Laho Kun didn't listen. He used a Lightning Step, appearing in Haruki's blind spot and burying a devastating Liver Punch into Haruki's midsection.
Haruki gasped, the wind knocked out of him. His speed is insane... I have to change my rhythm.
Laho Kun stood on his car's roof, looking down. "You can't win. Give up."
Emi rolled down the window, her voice cracking. "He's not a kidnapper! He's my driver!"
Laho Kun paused, glancing at her. "If you say so, I'll believe it. But... I still have a job to do."
In a terrifying display of speed, Laho Kun appeared right at Emi's window. His hand moved like a snake, aiming for a Nerve Strike on her neck to knock her unconscious.
WHOOSH!
A wall of dust erupted. Haruki was there. He had caught Laho Kun's wrist mid-air. The grip was like iron.
Laho Kun's eyes widened. Even after taking my Liver Punch, he has this much power? I can't move my arm!
"Emi, get down!" Haruki roared.
As Emi ducked, Haruki channeled every ounce of Kinetic Energy from his heels, through his core, into his right fist. A 180-degree Corkscrew Punch tore through the air, hitting Laho Kun squarely in the jaw with the force of a sledgehammer.
CRACK!
Laho Kun was sent flying, crashing through Haruki's own car windshield.
Haruki, clutching his aching side, slumped down next to the car door where Emi was hiding. He forced a smile. "I told you... not to come out."
Emi looked at him, her eyes shining with something more than fear. She grabbed his face with both hands, her "Ice Queen" mask finally shattering. "Because I knew my driver would save me. I knew it."
Suddenly, she pulled him into a tight embrace. "This is just because you took a hit for me," she whispered, her voice softening. "And because you kept your promise to my Mom. Don't think it's anything else!"
Haruki felt a sudden warmth. For a moment, he remembered his mother—the way she used to hold him. "Thank you, Miss Emi," he whispered. "You're actually very kind."
Emi's face turned bright red. She pushed him away so hard his chin hit the ground. "Enough! Let's just go home!"
Haruki stood up, dusting off his clothes. Laho Kun, incredibly, sat up on the hood of the car. He looked at the sky, then jumped down.
"I won't lie," Laho Kun said, bowing deeply with his fist in his palm. "That was the hardest hit I've taken in ten years. Thank you for the match."
Before Haruki could respond, the master got into his car and drove off into the night.
Back at the Kaminari Estate, Kenzo saw Haruki's torn clothes and bruised face. "You fought him... Laho Kun?" Kenzo's voice trembled with shock. "How are you even alive? That man is a monster!"
Haruki smiled tiredly. "He wasn't a monster, Sir. He was just misinformed. Once he realized I wasn't kidnapping Emi, he left."
Kenzo looked at the young man with tears of pride. "Stay the night, Haruki. It's too late to go home."
Haruki turned to leave. "No, Sir. I need to go to my own place."
Emi, watching from the stairs, snapped with her usual attitude. "You really are an idiot! Leaving this mansion for your tiny, poor house?"
The words stung. Haruki paused, then looked back with a sad, steady smile. "I may be an idiot in your eyes, but my home is everything to me, no matter how small."
Kenzo couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward and hugged Haruki tightly. "Listen to me, boy. From this day forward, you are not just a driver. You are the one who will lead this family after I'm gone. You are the next Head of the Kaminari Clan!"
Silence fell like a guillotine. Emi and Haruki both froze, their eyes wide with absolute disbelief.
"WHAT?!" they screamed in unison.