Flashback...
Evening settled over Hiron Village.
The warm orange glow of the setting sun shone through the windows of the bar.
Kira finished wiping the last table.
She glanced toward the hallway.
"Saito."
No answer.
She smiled to herself.
"Saito."
"Dinner's ready."
Still nothing.
Her smile slowly faded.
She walked to his room and gently pushed the door open.
Creak...
The room was empty.
The blanket was neatly folded.
His wooden sword was gone.
Kira frowned.
"...Saito?"
She checked behind the door.
Nothing.
Under the bed.
Nothing.
She walked back outside and looked around the yard.
No sign of him.
Only the evening breeze rustled the trees.
Kira let out a slow sigh.
She turned toward the bar.
Akami was lazily sipping his drink with the rest of the Red Eye Gang.
She folded her arms.
"Great, Akami."
Akami looked up.
"Hm?"
"Saito disappeared."
A few gang members stopped talking.
Kira continued,
"Maybe because of you."
Akami shrugged without looking concerned.
"He'll be fine."
Kira narrowed her eyes.
"You told a nine-year-old he was weak."
Akami took another sip.
"I did."
"And now he's gone."
Akami set his cup down.
"If that's enough to make him quit..."
"...then he was never going to become strong."
Kira frowned.
"That's not the point."
Akami finally looked at her.
"If he's really the stubborn kid I've been watching these past few weeks..."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"...he'll come back."
Kira remained unconvinced.
She untied the apron around her waist and hung it on a nearby hook.
"I'm going to look for him."
Harold stood from his chair.
"I'll check the east side of the village."
Akami leaned back again.
"I'll stay here."
Kira shot him a sharp glare.
"You're unbelievable."
Akami simply smiled.
"I know."
Without another word, Kira hurried out into the darkening streets, calling Saito's name as the first stars began to appear above Hiron Village.
On a hill near Hiron Village...
The last light of the sun faded behind the trees.
Young Saito walked alone across the hill.
His hands gripped the broken wooden sword at his side.
Ahead of him—
two gangsters were resting beside a large rock.
Saito stopped in front of them.
"Hey."
The two men turned.
One blinked.
"...A kid?"
The other laughed.
"What are you doing out here?"
Saito tightened his grip on the wooden sword.
"Let's have a fight."
Before either of them could answer—
he charged.
"Hyah!"
The first gangster casually stepped aside.
Then—
Thud!
A single punch sent Saito crashing onto the ground.
The wooden sword flew from his hands.
Saito groaned, clutching his cheek.
The gangster laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"What were you thinking?"
"Lunging at a gangster?"
The second man looked Saito over.
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"...Maybe we can sell him at the market."
The first nodded.
"Not a bad idea."
Just as they took a step forward—
a calm voice echoed across the hill.
"Leave."
Both men froze.
Standing several meters away—
was Akami.
His red leather coat swayed gently in the evening wind.
The first gangster frowned.
"And why should we?"
Akami didn't answer.
Instead—
a crushing wave of auris spread across the hill.
The air itself seemed to grow heavy.
Both gangsters stiffened.
Cold sweat rolled down their faces.
Their knees trembled under the overwhelming pressure.
Akami's eyes remained fixed on them.
His voice was quiet.
"...Leave."
"Now."
The two men looked at one another.
"...Tch."
"Let's go."
Without another word, they quickly turned and disappeared down the hill.
The heavy pressure vanished with them.
Silence returned.
Saito slowly pushed himself into a sitting position, still holding his bruised cheek.
Akami walked over and stopped in front of him.
He looked down at the battered boy without saying a word.
Akami looked at the bruised boy for a few moments.
Then, without saying anything—
he turned around.
He crouched down.
"Get on."
Saito blinked.
"...Huh?"
"I said..."
"Get on."
A small smile appeared on Saito's face.
"...Okay."
He climbed onto Akami's back and wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
Akami stood up with ease.
"Hold tight."
Saito grabbed the back of Akami's red coat.
The two began walking down the hill toward Hiron Village.
For a while—
neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed along the quiet path.
After several minutes, Saito spoke softly.
"...Am I doing it wrong?"
Akami glanced slightly over his shoulder.
"Say what now?"
Saito lowered his head.
"Challenging those gangsters."
Akami nodded.
"Yep."
"You could've gotten yourself seriously hurt."
Saito tightened his grip on Akami's coat.
"But..."
"I wanted to prove to you..."
"...that I can survive in that world."
Akami was silent for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
"There are plenty of ways to prove yourself."
He looked ahead as they continued walking.
"...This wasn't one of them."
Saito listened quietly.
Akami continued,
"Picking fights with strangers..."
"Especially when you know you're weaker..."
"Isn't courage."
"It's recklessness."
The evening wind blew gently across the path.
Saito looked down.
"...I didn't think about that."
"I know."
Akami's voice wasn't mocking this time.
It was patient.
"That's why I'm telling you now."
"If you want to survive as a gangster..."
"The first thing you need to learn..."
"...is how to stay alive."
Saito nodded slowly.
"...I understand."
Akami smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Because dead gangsters don't get a second chance to become strong."
The two continued walking toward the warm lights of Kira's bar, where worried faces were already waiting for Saito's return.
The door of the bar opened.
Creak...
Kira immediately looked toward the entrance.
She froze.
Akami was carrying Saito on his back.
The boy's cheek was bruised, and dirt covered his clothes.
Kira's eyes widened.
"Saito!"
She rushed over.
Without even looking at Akami, she carefully lifted Saito down and began checking his face and arms.
"You're hurt."
She gently touched the bruise on his cheek.
"Does it hurt?"
Saito gave a small nod.
"...A little."
Kira sighed in relief after seeing there were no serious injuries.
Akami smiled.
"No need to worry, Kira."
"He'll be okay."
He glanced at Saito.
"Right, Saito?"
Saito looked at Kira and smiled weakly.
"I'm okay, Mom."
Kira let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"...Thank goodness."
She gently brushed the dirt from Saito's clothes.
Then looked up at Akami.
"What happened?"
Akami shrugged.
"He challenged two real gangsters."
The room fell silent.
Harold slowly lowered his cup.
"...He did what?"
Saito lowered his head.
"I wanted to prove..."
"...I wasn't weak."
Kira closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she gently hugged him.
"You don't have to prove anything by throwing your life away."
Saito quietly hugged her back.
"...I'm sorry."
Kira rested a hand on the back of his head.
"I'm just glad you came home."
Akami watched the two of them for a moment.
Then he reached down to the sword hanging at his waist.
With a smooth motion, he drew a plain metal training sword.
It wasn't sharp enough for battle—
but it was much heavier than Saito's wooden one.
"How about we make a deal, kid?"
Saito looked up.
"What kind of deal?"
Akami held the sword out.
"Here."
Saito blinked.
"...For me?"
Akami nodded.
"Use this."
Saito carefully accepted the metal sword with both hands.
The weight surprised him.
"W-Whoa..."
"It's heavy."
Akami folded his arms.
"Take it to the trees nearby."
"Practice with it."
He pointed toward the woods outside the village.
"And make sure every swing..."
"...is perfect."
"No rushing."
"No showing off."
"Just one good swing after another."
Saito looked down at the sword.
Then back at Akami.
"If I do that..."
"Will you admit I'm getting stronger?"
A grin spread across Akami's face.
"I'll admit it."
"But don't expect me to let you into my crew that easily."
Saito smiled with renewed determination.
"Deal!"
Akami nodded once.
"Good."
"Now go earn that confidence instead of talking about it."
Saito tightened his grip on the sword.
"Yes!"
Without another word, he hurried toward the door, carrying the heavy blade with both hands.
Akami watched him leave.
Gaaran stepped beside him and smiled.
"So you finally decided to teach him properly."
Akami kept his eyes on the doorway.
"He has determination."
"Now let's see if he has patience."