Saito and Kaito sat across from each other in a small restaurant, the warm light above them a sharp contrast to the cold streets outside.
A waiter placed two hamburgers on the table.
Saito leaned forward immediately, taking a bite. "Not bad," he said with a grin.
Kaito ate quietly, calm as ever.
After a moment, Saito spoke again. "So… how did you become an assassin?"
Kaito didn't even look up. "It's none of your business."
Saito shrugged. "Sure." He took another bite, unbothered.
For a few seconds, only the sound of chewing filled the space.
Then Kaito's eyes shifted slightly, landing on the blue scarf around Saito's neck.
"Yours?" he asked.
Saito glanced down at it, then nodded. "Yeah. This one is… my precious."
Kaito watched him silently. "I see."
Saito smiled faintly. "My mom gave it to me… before I left for my journey."
Kaito paused.
The room felt quieter for a moment.
Then he sighed, setting his food down. "Fine… I'll tell you."
Saito's eyes lit up. "Yay."Kaito leaned back slightly. "At that time…"
His voice trailed off as his eyes grew distant.
A memory surfaced.
A younger Kaito stood in a dim room, small hands clenched at his sides.
His parents stood in front of him.
"Kaito," his father said coldly, "get ready. We will assign you to assassin work."
Kaito hesitated. "But… mom, dad… I just want to be a civilian."
A sharp sound cut through the air.
His father's hand struck his face.
"You want to disgrace our name?" his father snapped.
Kaito lowered his head. "No… dad."
"Good," his father said firmly. "Then become one."
Kaito stayed silent.
Slowly, he turned his eyes toward his mother.
She said nothing.The family now stood inside an assassin base, the air cold and silent.
Kaito's father looked down at him. "Kaito, get ready. They will send you on a mission."
Kaito hesitated. "Dad… I'm just 10."
Before he could say more, his mother's voice cut in sharply. "Kaito, don't you dare talk to your dad with that tone."
Kaito fell silent.
Time passed.
Mission after mission.
Kaito moved in the shadows, completing every task without hesitation.
His name began to spread.
He became known in the assassin world.
Until one mistake.
A girl was on the list.
Kaito stood in front of her… and didn't strike.
Instead, he saved her.
Back at home—
A sharp slap echoed.
"Why did you save that brat!?" his father shouted. "You know they reported it to me!"
Another slap.
Kaito clenched his fists. "But… dad… she's just a kid."
His mother's voice was cold. "Just a kid? She's on our list. Do your job right."
Kaito clicked his tongue. "Tch… fine. I'll leave this house."
His father turned away. "Good. Then your mother and I won't have to worry about our name."
Kaito didn't reply. He turned and walked toward the door.
"Don't come back here," his father added coldly. "Unless you want to be tortured."
Kaito stopped for a brief second at the front door.
Then he left.
The night air hit him as he ran into a dark alley.
He slowed down, then finally sat on the cold ground.
Silent.The memory faded.
Back in the present, Saito sat quietly, looking at Kaito.
"You have a harsh past," he said.
Kaito clicked his tongue. "Tch. I don't care now. I live with my name."
Saito took a bite of his burger, then said, "Until you quit…"
Kaito stayed silent for a moment.
Then he spoke calmly, "That was… another thing."After paying the bill, Saito and Kaito walked out of the restaurant.
"Well, now our tummies are full… let's do—" Saito stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening.
A familiar figure stood ahead.
"Tina?" he said.
Tina's eyes lit up. "Oh! Sir Saito, you're here too!"
Saito smiled. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to buy a present for my mom's birthday," Tina replied.
"Oh… I see," Saito said, nodding.
Tina's gaze shifted to Kaito. "Who is that?"
Saito chuckled softly. "Oh… this grumpy one? He's Kaito. He's my friend now."
Tina's face brightened. "Oh, nice to meet you, Sir Kaito!"
Kaito stayed silent, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.
Tina turned back to Saito, hopeful. "So… Sir Saito, could I borrow your money again to pay for the present?"
Saito grinned. "Sure."Saito and Tina walked into a small shop, looking around at the presents displayed neatly on the shelves.
Outside, Kaito leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Tch… why am I following this kid… he thought.
I thought he was going to fight big gangs… but now he's just playing with a kid. Maybe I was wrong about him.
Inside, Tina's eyes sparkled as she looked at a beautiful bag. "Wow…"
She turned to Saito. "This is beautiful, Sir Saito."
Saito glanced at it and nodded. "You're right."
Tina then moved her gaze to a set of necklaces. "What do you think fits her?"
Saito shrugged slightly. "You know her better. Buy her favorite shape."
"Favorite shape…" Tina murmured, thinking.
Her eyes landed on a necklace shaped like a leaf. She picked it up gently. "Mom likes this."
Saito looked at it and nodded. "Hmm… it's beautiful."Saito paid for the necklace.
Tina held it carefully, her face bright with happiness. "Thank you, Sir Saito!"
Saito waved it off with a small smile. "Take care."
Tina nodded and walked away, clutching the present tightly.
Saito stepped outside and looked at Kaito. His expression turned a bit serious. "Come on… why the serious face?"
Kaito didn't answer. He simply turned and started walking away.
Saito blinked, then quickly caught up to him.
"Hey, don't ignore me," Saito said, walking beside him.
Kaito's phone rang.
He glanced at it, then spoke calmly, "I just got a task. You go first."
Saito frowned. "Wait, I want to follow you."
Kaito stopped, then drew his knife slightly, the blade catching the light. "It's best for you to stay out."
Without another word, he turned and walked into a nearby alley.
Saito watched him leave, then shrugged. "What's wrong with that guy… I just want to be nice…"
He looked up at the sky, eyes narrowing slightly.
"But… I feel like something's going wrong."
Saito let out a quiet breath, then started walking straight down the path ahead.
Tina walked down the street, holding her present tightly in her hands.
Suddenly, a group of thugs stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"That present looks expensive, kid," one of them said with a grin. "How about you give it to us?"
Tina clutched it tighter. "No… this is for my mom."
The thug mocked her in a childish tone, "This is for my mom," before laughing with his friends.
He then drew his knife, the blade glinting. "This is not a request."
Tina crouched down, trembling. "Sir Saito… help me…"
Suddenly—
A sharp flash.
The thug's body jerked as a cut appeared.
Before anyone could react, Kaito stood in the middle, calm and silent, his knife already lowered.Kaito stood still, his presence cold. "Get lost."
The thugs froze, their faces pale. "S-Silent Killer… he's real!"
Without another word, they turned and ran.
Tina looked up, relieved. "Sir Kaito… thank you!"
Kaito didn't respond.
Instead, he slowly raised his knife… pointing it at Tina.
Tina's eyes widened in shock.
"Sorry, kid," Kaito said calmly. "You're on my list."
Tina trembled. "Sir Kaito… what are you doing?"
"Just stay still," Kaito replied. "It won't take long."
He lunged forward.
But before the blade could reach—
Clang.
A sword blocked the strike.
Kaito stepped back slightly.
Saito stood in front of Tina, his sword raised. "Tina, get behind me."
Tina quickly moved behind him.
Saito's expression hardened. "What's going on with you?"
Kaito looked at him calmly.
"Rookie…" he said quietly, "please just let me do my job."