Present Day...
The memories faded.
The bar returned to silence.
Jirin looked at the man sitting across from him.
No longer the little boy chasing butterflies outside the bar.
Now—
the captain of the Blue Scarf Gang.
He let out a weary sigh.
"I don't know..."
"...if I made the right choice sending you to Kira."
His eyes lowered.
"I thought..."
"...you'd become a man who upholds the law."
Saito smiled faintly.
"I know, Grandpa."
"But..."
"I already made my choice."
Jirin nodded slowly.
"And let me guess."
He folded his arms.
"That's because you wanted to follow Kira..."
"...and Akami."
Saito's eyes lit up at the familiar name.
"...Oh."
"Akami."
A smile spread across his face.
"How is he?"
Jirin leaned back in his chair.
"He's free."
"For now."
Saito chuckled.
"It's been a long time."
"I wonder if he's still as noisy as before."
Jirin let out another sigh.
"I don't think that man knows how to be quiet."
A small smile escaped him despite himself.
Saito laughed.
"Sounds exactly like Akami."
The smile faded from Jirin's face.
He looked at Saito carefully.
"You still remember everyone."
Saito nodded.
"They're family."
Jirin didn't respond immediately.
He simply looked at his grandson.
The same boy he had once hoped would wear a police uniform...
now sitting proudly with a blue scarf around his neck.
Years earlier...
The afternoon was peaceful.
Young Saito wandered around the bar, looking at the bottles neatly arranged on the shelves.
Kira watched him with a gentle smile.
"Be careful, dear."
Saito nodded happily.
"I will, Mom."
As she returned to wiping the counter—
Kira suddenly froze.
A powerful wave of auris washed over the building.
Her eyes narrowed.
"..."
She immediately looked at Saito.
"Saito."
The boy turned around.
"Yes?"
"Go back to your room."
Saito looked at her confused.
"But—"
"Now."
He nodded.
"...Okay."
Without asking another question, he walked toward his room.
The front door slowly opened.
Creak...
A tall man wearing a long red leather coat stepped inside.
A sword rested at his waist.
He smiled casually.
"Nice to meet—"
Before he could finish—
SHING!
Kira's twin blade flashed from its sheath.
She lunged straight at him.
The man instantly drew his own blade.
CLANG!
Steel collided.
A burst of powerful auris exploded from the impact, shaking glasses on the shelves.
For several seconds—
neither of them moved.
Then Kira looked closer.
"...Akami?"
The man grinned.
"Jeez."
"So this is how you greet your old comrades?"
Kira let out a long sigh and lowered her blade.
"Why are you here?"
Akami sheathed his sword.
"To see you, of course."
"I heard you opened a bar around here."
"So I thought I'd stop by."
As he spoke, his eyes wandered toward the hallway.
Young Saito peeked around the corner despite being told to stay in his room.
Akami noticed him.
He blinked.
"...You already have a child?"
Kira followed his gaze.
"No, silly."
"He's my foster son."
She smiled faintly.
"But he's still my child."
Akami looked back at her with a teasing grin.
"So..."
"Still untouched?"
Kira's eyebrow twitched.
"I will smack your head, Akami."
Akami burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"There she is."
"The Mourning Blade I remember."
Young Saito slowly stepped out from the hallway.
He looked between the two adults.
"You know him?"
Kira folded her arms.
"Saito."
"Meet Akami."
She pointed at the man in the red leather coat.
"My annoying, jerk, bastard comrade."
Akami placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"Wow."
"That's a long compliment."
Kira gave him a flat look.
"It's not."
Akami laughed.
"Still as mean as ever."
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Anyway..."
"A drink, please."
Kira sighed.
"Coming."
She walked behind the counter.
While she prepared the drink, Akami turned his attention to Saito.
"How old are you, kid?"
Saito answered proudly.
"Nine."
Akami nodded.
"Young one, I see."
He extended a hand toward himself.
"I'm Akami."
"Leader of the Red Eye Gang."
"And..."
A grin spread across his face.
"Former member of the White Lion Gang."
Saito's eyes widened.
"So..."
"You were a White Lion member too?"
Akami nodded.
"Yep."
Then, with obvious pride, he added,
"And the strongest one."
Before Saito could respond—
Thunk!
A wooden cup landed squarely on Akami's head.
"Ow!"
He rubbed the top of his head.
Kira stood beside him with folded arms.
"Your drink, sir."
Akami looked up at her.
"...Was throwing it really necessary?"
Kira smiled sweetly.
"Absolutely."
Akami sighed.
"Some things never change."
He picked up the cup and took a drink while Saito giggled quietly at the exchange.
Akami took another sip from his cup.
Then looked at Kira.
"Anyway..."
"How did you end up with him?"
Kira smiled faintly.
"Jirin."
Akami nodded in understanding.
"I see."
"That old man trusts you that much."
Kira shrugged.
"What could I do?"
"He's a nice kid."
Akami looked at young Saito.
Then smiled.
"I can see that."
He rested one arm on the table.
"So..."
"What are you going to become in the future, Saito?"
Without any hesitation—
Saito answered proudly.
"A gangster."
Akami nearly choked on his drink.
"Hah!"
He laughed.
"You don't even know the price of becoming one."
Saito crossed his arms.
"Yes, I do."
Akami raised an eyebrow.
"No."
"You don't."
Saito frowned.
"Yes, I do."
Akami leaned forward.
"No, you don't."
Saito leaned forward as well.
"Yes."
"I do."
Kira sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Here we go..."
Harold chuckled from the next table.
"Two stubborn people arguing with a nine-year-old."
Akami pointed at Saito.
"I'm trying to teach him."
Saito pointed back.
"And I'm telling the truth."
Akami laughed again.
"I like this kid."
"He's got guts."
Kira looked at Saito.
Her expression became a little more serious.
"Being a gangster isn't just about carrying a weapon, Saito."
"It means every decision you make has consequences."
Saito listened quietly.
For the first time since the conversation began—
he stopped arguing and simply looked at Kira, waiting to hear more.
Akami leaned back in his chair.
"Nah..."
"There's a much bigger price than that."
Young Saito tilted his head.
"A bigger price?"
Akami simply smiled.
"You'll understand one day."
Saito thought for a moment.
Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait!"
Akami looked at him.
"What?"
"You're a gangster."
Akami nodded.
"Correct."
Saito pointed excitedly at him.
"Can I join your crew?"
Akami burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Absolutely not."
Saito blinked.
"Why?"
Akami smirked.
"You're weak."
"I don't invite weak people into my crew."
Young Saito immediately puffed out his chest.
"I'm not weak."
"I'm strong."
Akami rested his chin on one hand.
"Oh?"
"Prove it."
Without another word—
Saito hurried over to a wooden chair.
He grabbed it with both hands.
His face turned red from the effort.
"...Hng!"
Slowly—
he lifted it off the floor.
"There!"
"See?"
Akami looked at the chair.
Then looked back at Saito.
"...Everyone can do that."
Saito's jaw dropped.
"What?"
Akami couldn't help laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"You've got spirit."
"I'll give you that."
"But being strong isn't about lifting chairs."
Saito carefully set the chair back down.
"Then..."
"How do I become strong?"
Akami's smile faded slightly.
He looked at the determined little boy standing before him.
For the first time—
he answered seriously.
"When the day comes..."
"...that you're willing to carry the weight of protecting others..."
"...then we'll talk about strength."