Flashback...
Young Saito hopped off his chair and hurried toward the counter.
Kira was wiping a glass with a cloth.
She looked down as he approached.
"Mom?"
Kira smiled.
"Yes, dear?"
Saito looked up at her with wide, curious eyes.
"...You're a gangster, right?"
The cloth in Kira's hand stopped moving.
For a brief moment—
she was silent.
Then she slowly nodded.
"...Yes."
"I was."
Saito tilted his head.
"You must've been really cool."
Kira blinked.
"...You're not scared?"
Saito looked confused.
"Why would I be?"
He grinned.
"You're amazing."
A smile slowly spread across Kira's face.
She chuckled softly.
"Yes indeed..."
"I am."
She set the glass down.
"I was once a member of the White Lion Gang."
"A long time ago."
"Before Captain Arthur died."
Saito listened without blinking.
Kira folded her arms.
"Back then..."
"People called me..."
'The Mourning Blade.'
Saito's eyes sparkled.
"Wow..."
"That's so cool!"
Kira laughed.
"Of course it is."
She placed a hand on her hip with playful confidence.
"Your mother here could take down hundreds of men by herself."
Saito stared at her in complete awe.
"Really?!"
Kira smirked.
"Really."
Harold, listening from his table, shook his head with a laugh.
"She's bragging again."
Kira glanced at him.
"It's not bragging if it's true."
Harold raised both hands.
"Fair enough."
Saito looked back at Kira, admiration written all over his face.
To him—
she wasn't just the woman who cooked his meals and tucked him into bed.
She was a legendary warrior.
Young Saito looked at Kira with excitement shining in his eyes.
"Can I become like you?"
Kira's confident smile softened.
She knelt so they were at the same height.
Then gently placed a hand on his head.
"No."
Saito blinked.
"...No?"
Kira smiled warmly.
"Just be who you are."
She lightly tapped his chest with a finger.
"You have your own life."
"And your own choices."
"Don't become me."
"Become the person you want to be."
Young Saito listened carefully.
Then a determined grin spread across his face.
"Then..."
"I'll become even better than you."
For a moment—
Kira simply stared at him.
Then she burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
She ruffled his hair.
"I'd like to see you try."
Saito puffed out his chest proudly.
"I will!"
Harold laughed from across the room.
"Careful, Kira."
"You might create a monster."
Kira looked at the boy standing before her.
His eyes were full of determination.
She smiled.
"If he does..."
"...then I'll be proud of him."
The front door of the bar opened.
Creak.
A familiar voice echoed through the room.
"Hello."
Young Saito's face immediately lit up.
"Grandpa!"
He ran across the room and hugged Jirin's leg.
Jirin smiled warmly.
"There you are, my boy."
He gently patted Saito's head.
"How are you?"
Saito looked up with a bright grin.
"I'm fine!"
Jirin nodded.
"Good."
Saito tugged lightly on Jirin's coat.
"Grandpa..."
Jirin looked down.
"Yes?"
"Can I have a piggyback ride with you?"
Jirin chuckled.
"Of course."
"Anything for you."
He carefully lifted Saito onto his back.
Young Saito wrapped his arms around Jirin's shoulders.
"Yay!"
Jirin stood up straight.
"Hold on tight."
"I got you!"
Saito laughed happily as Jirin walked around the bar with him on his back.
Harold smiled into his drink.
"He sure spoils that kid."
Kira crossed her arms with a faint smile.
"He always has."
Jirin glanced back at Saito.
"Comfortable up there?"
Saito nodded enthusiastically.
"The best!"
Jirin laughed softly and continued walking, the little boy's cheerful laughter filling the bar.
Jirin slowly lowered Saito from his back.
"There we go."
He gently set the boy onto a chair.
Saito immediately pouted.
"Aww..."
"I want to go again."
Jirin laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry, Saito."
"Your grandpa just got back from work."
"I'm a little tired."
Saito nodded reluctantly.
"Okay..."
Then his curiosity returned.
He leaned forward.
"Grandpa."
Jirin smiled.
"Yes?"
"What's it like to catch a bad guy?"
Jirin leaned back in his chair.
"It's an amazing job."
A grin crossed his face.
"Today I beat the crap out of one very arrogant man."
Saito's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Jirin nodded.
"He kept running his mouth."
"So I had to teach him a lesson."
Saito burst into giggles.
"Hahaha!"
"Did he cry?"
Jirin pretended to think.
"Hmm..."
"Maybe a little."
Saito laughed even harder.
Kira, listening from behind the counter, shook her head.
"You shouldn't be telling a kid stories like that."
Jirin shrugged.
"I left out the boring paperwork."
Harold chuckled into his tea.
"Now that's the part that would put him to sleep."
The three adults laughed together.
Saito looked from Jirin to Kira with admiration in his eyes.
To him—
his grandfather caught criminals.
His mother had once fought as the Mourning Blade.
Both of them seemed larger than life.
Jirin took a slow breath.
Then forced a small smile.
"How about..."
"You go play outside for a while first."
Young Saito nodded.
"...Fine."
He hopped down from the chair.
"See you later, Grandpa!"
Jirin waved.
"Have fun."
The front door closed behind the boy.
Click.
The smiles disappeared.
Jirin immediately turned toward Kira.
"Were you the one who persuaded him?"
Kira folded her arms.
"I'm not."
"He made that choice himself, Jirin."
Jirin frowned.
"Become a gangster?"
"Are you kidding me?"
He shook his head.
"That's the last thing I want for my grandson."
His eyes shifted toward Harold.
"And you?"
"You didn't do anything?"
Harold calmly took another sip of tea.
Then set the cup down.
"If he wants to be kind..."
"...what's wrong with that?"
Jirin stared at him.
Harold continued.
"At least he already has a motto to live by."
Jirin immediately shook his head.
"No."
"No."
"Gangsters are bad."
Kira looked directly at him.
"Say whatever you want, Jirin."
Her voice remained calm.
"But whatever choice Saito makes..."
"...I'll stand beside him."
"No matter what."
Silence filled the room.
Jirin looked at Kira for several long seconds.
Then quietly replied,
"...That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
Outside the bar—
young Saito laughed as he chased a butterfly across the grass.
Completely unaware that the adults inside were arguing over the future that would one day become his reality.
Jirin let out a quiet sigh.
Then walked toward the door.
Outside—
young Saito was still playing in the grass.
"Saito."
The little boy turned around immediately.
"Grandpa!"
He ran over with a bright smile.
Jirin knelt down in front of him.
"I'm heading off."
Saito's smile faded slightly.
"Already?"
Jirin nodded.
"I have another mission."
He gently patted Saito's head.
"We'll play again next time."
Saito nodded.
"Okay."
Jirin smiled.
"And make sure you eat well."
Saito tilted his head.
"Why?"
Jirin chuckled.
"Because you're going to need it..."
"...to become a police officer."
Saito looked at him for a second.
Then smiled innocently.
"Yes, Grandpa."
Jirin smiled back.
"That's my boy."
He stood up.
Gave Saito one last pat on the head.
Then walked away down the road.
Saito stood there waving both hands.
"Bye, Grandpa!"
"See you next time!"
Without turning around—
Jirin simply raised one hand in farewell.
As he disappeared into the distance, a faint smile remained on his face, believing that one day his grandson would follow the same path he had chosen.