Flashback...
The next morning—
The front door of Kira's bar swung open.
One after another, a group of gangsters walked inside laughing loudly.
At their head was Akami.
Behind him followed several members of the Red Eye Gang.
Kira looked up from behind the counter.
"You brought your whole gang?"
Akami grinned.
"Of course."
"This is the best bar in Hiron Village."
Kira rolled her eyes.
"Yeah..."
"Whatever."
One of the gang members waved.
"Morning, Kira."
Kira smiled politely.
"Hi, everyone."
Another member nudged Akami with an elbow.
"Wow."
"Looks like you finally met your crush."
Akami nearly spat out his drink.
"You jerk."
"She's a friend."
The whole table burst into laughter.
"Sure she is."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Akami groaned.
"You people are impossible."
Across the room—
young Saito looked around, searching through the crowd.
A large man noticed him.
He had broad shoulders and a scar across one cheek.
The man smiled.
"You lost, kid?"
Saito shook his head.
"No."
"I'm looking for Akami."
The man pointed toward the corner.
"Boss is over there."
"I'm Gaaran."
"His right-hand man."
Saito nodded.
"Thank you."
He hurried across the room.
Akami looked up as the boy stopped beside him.
"Oh?"
"What is it?"
Saito proudly puffed out his chest.
"Akami."
"I trained."
"I'm strong now."
Akami raised an eyebrow.
"With what?"
"A stick."
For a second—
Akami stared at him.
Then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"That doesn't count."
One of the gang members leaned over.
"Who's the kid?"
Akami pointed toward Kira.
"Kira's child."
Another member smiled and waved.
"Hi, kid."
Saito waved back happily.
"Hi."
Gaaran sat down beside Akami.
Akami looked back at Saito.
"How about training with a wooden sword instead?"
Saito tilted his head.
"But..."
"Where do I find one?"
Akami shrugged.
"Figure it out."
Saito frowned.
"But I already trained for hours."
Akami smirked.
"Hours?"
He chuckled.
"Try weeks."
"You're still weak."
Then he stuck out his tongue playfully.
Young Saito immediately pouted.
"That's not fair!"
The entire Red Eye Gang laughed, while Kira watched from behind the counter with an amused shake of her head.
Young Saito crossed his arms.
"Fine."
"I'll train."
He pointed confidently at Akami.
"And then you'll let me join your crew."
Akami leaned back in his chair.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"In your dreams."
The entire table burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Saito puffed out his cheeks.
"I'm serious!"
Akami pointed a finger at him.
"So am I."
"When you can beat me..."
"Then we'll talk."
Saito clenched both fists.
"I will!"
Akami laughed even harder.
"I like your confidence, kid."
Gaaran shook his head with a smile.
"You're a cruel one, Boss."
Akami shrugged.
"If I make it easy for him..."
"He'll never grow."
Gaaran looked at young Saito, whose determined expression hadn't changed.
Then he smiled.
"Looks like he isn't giving up."
Akami glanced at Saito and chuckled.
"I noticed."
Young Saito turned toward the door.
"Just wait."
"I'll become strong."
"And then I'll prove all of you wrong."
Without waiting for a reply, he marched out of the bar.
The Red Eye Gang watched him leave.
Akami rested his chin on his hand.
"...He's stubborn."
Kira smiled faintly as she wiped another cup.
"I wonder where he got that from."
The entire table looked at her.
Then they all started laughing again.
Outside the bar—
Young Saito held a wooden sword with both hands.
His face was covered in sweat.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
He stepped toward a small tree.
Then swung.
Thack!
Again.
Thack!
And again.
Thack!
"I'll prove Akami wrong..."
Another swing.
Thack!
At that moment—
Harold walked down the path carrying his coat over one shoulder.
He noticed the boy immediately.
"What are you doing?"
Saito stopped and looked over.
"Uncle Harold!"
Harold smiled.
"So?"
Saito raised his wooden sword proudly.
"I'm training."
"To prove Akami was wrong."
Harold chuckled.
"He really got under your skin, didn't he?"
Saito nodded firmly.
"I'll become strong."
Harold laughed.
"Good luck, kid."
Saito grinned.
"Thanks, Uncle Harold!"
Harold waved and continued toward the bar.
He pushed the door open.
Creak.
The laughter inside stopped instantly.
Every member of the Red Eye Gang turned toward the entrance.
One of them nearly jumped out of his seat.
"...Crap."
"Lieutenant Harold!"
Several gangsters instinctively reached for their weapons.
Harold simply smiled.
"Red Eye Gang, I see."
Akami calmly raised a hand.
"It's okay."
"He's Kira's ally."
The gangsters looked at one another.
Then collectively let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew..."
Harold chuckled.
"I wasn't planning to arrest anyone today."
He walked to a chair near the counter and sat down.
Looking at Kira, he smiled.
"One drink, please."
Kira nodded.
"Coming right up."
Behind the window, the sound of Saito's wooden sword striking the tree continued.
Thack!
Thack!
Thack!
After hours of training—
Saito finally lowered the wooden sword.
"Haa..."
"Haa..."
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
He wiped it away with his sleeve.
Kira stepped outside carrying a cup.
"Want a drink?"
Saito smiled brightly.
"Thanks, Mom."
He accepted the cup and took a long sip.
"Ahh..."
Kira looked at the worn wooden sword.
"You trained hard."
Saito nodded proudly.
"Of course."
"I want to show Akami he was wrong."
"He said I'm weak."
Kira smiled slightly.
"Of course you are."
Saito froze.
"...Huh?"
A familiar voice came from inside the bar.
"She's right."
Akami leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed.
"You are a weak one."
Saito frowned.
"Shut up, jerk!"
Kira immediately looked at him.
"Saito."
The boy's shoulders stiffened.
"Don't use bad language."
Saito lowered his head.
"...Sorry, Mom."
Kira gently patted his head.
"Better."
Akami smirked.
"At least you know how to apologize."
Saito glared at him.
"One day..."
"I'll beat you."
Akami laughed.
"I'll be waiting."
He turned and walked back inside the bar, still chuckling, while Saito tightened his grip on the wooden sword, even more determined than before.
Several weeks later...
The front door burst open.
Young Saito ran inside, breathing heavily.
In his hand was a broken wooden sword.
"Akami!"
The Red Eye Gang looked up from their drinks.
Akami raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Saito proudly held up the broken sword.
"I already trained!"
Akami looked at the cracked wooden blade.
A grin spread across his face.
"Wow."
"That's a good one."
"Nice job, kid."
Saito beamed.
"So..."
"I can join your crew now?"
Akami stroked his chin.
"Hmm..."
"Alright."
"I'll give you a test."
Saito immediately straightened up.
"I'm ready!"
Akami reached into his pocket.
He placed three wooden cups upside down on the table.
Then took out a single bean.
He showed it to Saito.
"Watch carefully."
He placed the bean beneath one of the cups.
Then began sliding the cups around the table.
Left.
Right.
Forward.
Back.
His hands moved surprisingly fast.
After a few moments—
he stopped.
"So."
"Which cup has the bean?"
Saito stared at the cups.
Then his eye twitched.
"...Is this a joke?"
Akami blinked.
"Hm?"
"I trained for weeks."
"And the test..."
"...is this?"
Akami nodded seriously.
"Solve it first."
Saito sighed dramatically.
"...Fine."
He pointed confidently.
"This one."
He chose the left cup.
Akami lifted it.
Nothing.
"No bean."
Saito frowned.
"...Then this one!"
He pointed at the middle cup.
Akami lifted it.
Still nothing.
Saito's confidence vanished.
"...Then..."
"The last one!"
He quickly lifted the final cup himself.
Empty.
"...What?"
Saito looked under the table.
Then around the floor.
"...Where did it go?"
Akami smiled.
"What's that on your head?"
Saito blinked.
"My head?"
He reached up.
Akami casually plucked the bean from Saito's hair.
"...Here it is."
Saito's jaw dropped.
"What?!"
"That's cheating!"
Akami tossed the bean into the air and caught it.
"No."
"It's not."
The entire Red Eye Gang burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Even Kira had to hide a smile behind her hand.
Saito folded his arms and pouted.
"...I'm never winning against this jerk."