The rooftop fell silent for a moment, only the sound of wind rustling through petals. Aoi stammered, her finger still frozen midair as her wide lavender eyes locked onto him.

“Y–You… it’s—you—!”

Ryo couldn’t help but laugh, his voice light and teasing. “Man, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

The others blinked in confusion, glancing between the two.

“You… know her?” Raito finally asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah,” Ryo replied with a smirk. “She’s the girl I mentioned last night. The one I walked partway home. You were the one accusing me of cheating on Reina, remember? So, I had to explain everything to her later.”

Raito’s face twitched slightly as he crossed his arms and muttered, “I didn’t accuse you. I just asked a question.”

Ryo chuckled again, then turned back to Aoi, his tone softening with amusement. “Told you we’d meet again, didn’t I? Guess I should do this properly this time. I’m Ryo Kazehaya—top leader of Sayonaki High.”

The words hit Aoi like a wave. Her face flushed red as she clenched her fists.  

“Well, you should have told me who you were from the get-go, instead of leaving me with the impression that you were nothing but a stalker!!”

Ryo laughed harder, holding his stomach. “Stalker? Wow, that’s new. I didn’t think I gave off that vibe.”

“That’s because you did,” Aoi shot back sharply, earning quiet giggles from Mei and Ayane.

Reina shook her head fondly, stepping beside Ryo. “That’s just how he is—never serious until he absolutely has to be.” Her emerald eyes softened as she turned to Aoi. “But I see you’ve been taking good care of the jacket I gave you. It really suits you.”

Aoi’s breath caught as her cheeks warmed.

Ayane’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to Aoi, “Hold up! You mean… this is Reina’s cropped uniform jacket?!”

“Yeah,” she murmured under her breath.

“No way. How did you even get it?” Rikuya adjusted his glasses, curiosity gleaming.

Aoi paused for a moment, her gaze distant. “It was the night before the entrance exams,” she muttered, her eyes narrowed slightly at the memory. “I met her at your dad’s store and was heading home when that group, Shikkari Batsuzoku, showed up and attacked me.” She turned to Ayane, “Fought them off for a while, until Misora, Asuka and Yura showed up.”

“Aoi! You don’t have to go into all the details!” Reina whispered, waving her hands frantically across her face.

“I already knew about that night brawl, Reina. There’s no need to hide it anyway,” Ryo interjected calmly, his tone suddenly firm. Misora stiffened beside him, arms crossed, but said nothing.

Reina let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of her head. “Ryo, you can be a bit overprotective sometimes,” she joked weakly, then turned to the others. “Anyway… Aoi isn’t from Sokyoshi, but she’s strong. I offered her my jacket and told her about Sayonaki High.”

Mei nodded, a serene smile curving her lips. “So, you came here through Reina’s recommendation. That’s quite an honor.”

Mitsuru grinned, nudging Rikuya. “Amazing. First day here and Aoi’s already got connections with the top ranks.”

Aoi groaned softly. “Please don’t make it sound like that…”

“Well, it is,” Ayane grinned, nudging Aoi’s arm playfully.

Raito’s gaze flicked toward her, his tone sharp. “So, you’re not from around here, huh?”

Aoi blinked, caught off guard, but Ayane beat her to it. “Nope! She’s from Urban Tokyo,” she announced proudly.

“Hey!” Aoi hissed, glaring at her.

“Urban Tokyo?” Rikuya adjusted his glasses, interest sparking in his eyes.

“Whoa, that’s huge,” Mitsuru added. “What’s someone from a city like that doing here in this dusty little town?”

Aoi exhaled softly, slipping her hands into her shorts’ pockets. “Nothing much,” she replied, eyes drifting aside.

Raito narrowed his eyes, his tone skeptical. “Doesn’t sound like ‘nothing much’ to me. You don’t just show up in Sokyoshi out of nowhere unless there’s a reason.”

Her lavender eyes flicked back toward him, lips curving into a small smirk. “Oh? Didn’t take you for the type to pry.”

“Since it involves someone like you,” he shot back, jaw tight, “I’d say I have every reason to.”

A tense silence fell as their gazes locked, an invisible spark crackling between them. Ayane let out a nervous laugh, inching back. “O-Okay, we’re doing this again…”

Mitsuru scratched his head awkwardly, while Rikuya sighed. Reina blinked in confusion, glancing between the two. “Uh… are they always like this?”

“They haven’t exactly been on friendly terms since the day they met,” Mei replied with her calm smile.

“Funny. Raito never mentioned having a scuffle with someone… let alone a girl.”  Ryo looked genuinely surprised before letting out a loud, exaggerated sniffle. “My little brother… finally arguing with a girl! I’m so proud~!”

Ayane and the others sweat-dropped. “Why would you even be proud of that?” she muttered.

“Tell me what you’re hiding, bluehead!” Raito barked, pointing at Aoi. “And make it believable!”

“Make me, shadow boy!” she snapped back instantly.

The air thickened as the two barely lunged forward, but Ayane and Rikuya quickly grabbed Aoi, while Mitsuru held Raito back by the collar. “You two are like oil and fire!” Rikuya groaned.

Mei chuckled softly from the sidelines. “It’s actually quite entertaining to watch them.”

Meanwhile, Ryo clasped his hands dramatically. “They’ve even given each other nicknames~! Mom’s gonna love this story!”

Reina chuckled, patting his shoulder while Misora let out an exhausted sigh. “Every time,” she muttered under her breath.

Reina’s gaze softened as she watched the chaos. “You know…” she murmured, “these groups might turn out to be something special.”

Ryo smiled faintly beside her. “Yeah. They’ve got spirit, that’s for sure.”

Misora’s eyes lingered on Aoi’s stubborn glare, Ayane’s laugh, and Raito’s frustrated scowl before she looked away, a faint smirk ghosting her lips.

………

The afternoon sun shimmered over the endless sprawl of Urban Tokyo. Cars sped along neon-lined streets as crowds buzzed through sidewalks, laughter and chatter filling the air. School bells chimed in the distance—students in crisp uniforms walked home in pairs, stopping by arcades and ramen shops, while others disappeared into karaoke bars. The city pulsed with life and noise—so different from Sokyoshi’s quiet, unpredictable rhythm.

A fair-skinned woman sat gracefully at a window-side table of an upscale café, her every movement refined and deliberate. Her long silver-gray hair was tied into an elegant bun, a few curled strands framing her poised face. The faint shimmer of eyeshadow highlighted her icy blue-gray eyes, and her lips gleamed with a perfect shade of crimson. A delicate pearl necklace rested against her collarbone, matching her earrings. Her light teal dress and white shawl exuded quiet luxury as she crossed one leg over the other, sipping her cappuccino with unhurried grace.

Her calm, however, didn’t reach her tone. “It’s reckless to summon me here in broad daylight,” she said coolly, setting her cup down with a soft clink.

“Yet, that’s what makes it the perfect time,” replied the girl seated across from her.

The younger woman contrasted her sharply — long, dark burgundy hair streaked with black, flowed loosely down her back, with a stray bang veiling one crimson eye rimmed with gold. Dressed in a gray hoodie and fitted tactical pants tucked into black boots, she lounged carelessly in her chair, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Takane Sakuraba exhaled, unimpressed. “Straight to trouble as always, I see. So, what do you want this time?”

Kumori tilted her head, her grin widening. “Come on~. That’s no way to greet an old partner. It’s been, what… a year and a half?”

“Not long enough,” Takane muttered, lifting her cup again. “So? Why the sudden reappearance?”

“Oh, nothing special.” Kumori leaned back, her tone casual but her eyes glinting. “Just thought we could… catch up.”

Takane let out a dry laugh. “You? Making small talk? Don’t insult my intelligence. You vanish for a year, and now you show up out of nowhere? You’re after something.”

Kumori’s smirk softened into something colder — almost serpentine. “Wow, you still know me too well, Mrs. Sakuraba. I do have something… interesting.”

Takane’s fingers froze on her cup. “Get to the point.”

“Our little rat,” Kumori began, her tone low and deliberate, “is still alive.”

The words struck like glass shattering. Takane’s eyes widened — the mask of composure slipping for the first time. The porcelain cup trembled in her hand, spilling a drop of coffee as she set it down sharply.

“Impossible,” she hissed. “You’re bluffing. Don’t waste my time with—”

“Bluffing?” Kumori interrupted, pulling a small photo from her hoodie pocket and sliding it across the table. “See for yourself.”

Takane hesitated before picking it up. Her eyes scanned the picture — and her breath hitched. The photo showed a familiar blue-haired girl walking beside a silver-blue-haired young man, both mid-conversation, the evening glow casting their shadows long behind them. A chill ran through her.

Kumori crossed her arms smugly. “Now you believe me?”

Takane’s jaw tightened, fury flashing in her gaze. “So that little brat really is alive,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “I thought she’d vanished for good.”

“Oh, please.” Kumori chuckled darkly. “You of all people should know Aoi Sakuraba doesn’t disappear from the face of the earth that easily.”

Takane’s nails pressed into the photograph before she crumpled it and tossed it aside. “So she ran, and yet she’s still breathing. Typical.”

“She’s been living in a quiet town called Sokyoshi,” Kumori said lightly, tracing the rim of her glass. “And, interestingly enough, she’s now attending a certain school — Sayonaki High.”

The woman groaned, pressing her fingers to her temple. “One nuisance after another…”

“I figured you’d want to know. After all, she is your stepdaughter.” Kumori’s grin widened, mock-sympathy dripping from her voice.

“Watch your tone, Kumori,” Takane snapped, her icy stare piercing.

The girl lifted her hands in mock surrender. “Easy now. I’m just doing my civic duty — keeping my favorite client in the loop. And besides, you can’t exactly hurt your own blackmailer, can you?”

Takane’s lips twitched into a faint scowl. “You overestimate your importance.”

“And you underestimate mine,” Kumori countered smoothly.

The woman gave her a cold glare. “You keep feeding me information, but I know you’re after something. What’s your real game, Kumori?”

“No game,” she said, swirling her latte. “I just like watching the pieces move.”

Takane leaned back, folding her arms. “Do they know about her yet?”

“No one does. She’s kept her secret well for the past year.” Kumori tilted her head with a sly smile. “But I’m patient. I prefer slow burns.” Silence lingered for a beat, broken only by the faint hum of café chatter around them.

Takane finally spoke, voice quieter but sharper. “You’ve been following her for a while, haven’t you?”

Kumori’s grin returned. “A full year, actually. Watching. Listening. Waiting.”

“Then why not finish the job?” Takane’s tone dripped venom. “You had your chance.”

“One step at a time,” Kumori said with a playful shrug. “I don’t like rushing art. Besides, I’ve discovered things about your precious Aoi that even you don’t know yet.”

Takane arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”

Kumori smirked, taking a deliberate sip of her drink. “Now, now, Mrs. Sakuraba… where’s the fun if I ruin the suspense?”

Takane exhaled sharply, leaning back in her chair with arms crossed. “You’re testing my patience.”

“I’m testing your curiosity,” Kumori corrected, her eyes glinting like crimson glass. “And so far, it’s working.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “You do realize that the drink you’re so proud of was ordered before you called me out of nowhere?”

Kumori laughed softly. “That’s what makes it fun — you knew I’d show up anyway. Oh, and by the way—” she added, flashing a teasing grin. “You’re covering my transport fare.”

Takane’s icy glare could have frozen fire, but Kumori just sipped her latte, humming softly, before pulling out her phone, making a few calls.