«Hurry, this way!» the boy said, pointing the route as he ran through the tunnels.

«Yeah…» he replied without slowing down.

—Can I know who this is?—

—Do I really want to trust him…?—

—I still remember how it ended with Kagura…—

He rounded the corner and found himself facing a dead end.

«Where do we go from here?» he asked, stopping.

«We’ll go up this staircase and come out on the eastern side of the city.»

The boy began climbing the iron ladder fixed to the wall.

A little later, the two of them emerged from a manhole.

«Come on, this way.» the boy said, starting to walk again.

Kaito’s hand closed around his arm.

«Wait a second.»

He let go.

«Why are you helping me? I’m a criminal here. You know that, right?»

The boy lowered his gaze.

«I don’t care.»

He suddenly raised his head.

«I… need your help.»

«My help?»

«I can’t explain it here.»

His expression turned serious, determined.

«Please, follow me.»

Kaito passed him and resumed the path he had been about to take earlier.

«Thank you…» the boy murmured behind him.

Meanwhile, at the place where the clash between Kaito and Neriwa had taken place…

Neriwa was listening to the report from her men.

«He disappeared into one of the sewer branches!»

reported a guard standing at attention.

«What a pity…» she commented, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.

«He was exactly my type.»

—She’s really beautiful…— thought the man, watching her as a faint blush rose to his face.

«Uhh…» the girl sighed, getting up with a small hop from the rubble.

«Inform the citizens that they can return to this street.»

She turned as she walked away.

«And make sure the funds for repairing the damaged structures are allocated.»

«Yes, ma’am!» they replied in chorus.

Neriwa slipped a hand into the pocket of her uniform and pulled out her phone.

«I’m going to have to call Enma…» she murmured, with a faint smile.

The phone rang.

«Hello?»

His voice came from the other side, calm, distant.

«Enma… the situation got out of hand,» Neriwa admitted.

«He got away?» he asked, as if he were doing something else at the same time.

«Yes. I’m not sure how we should proceed.»

«Don’t worry.»

A brief pause.

«Go back to the prison. It’s your turn to re-educate the prisoners.»

Neriwa narrowed her eyes.

«And you?»

«I’d say it’s time for me to take a walk.»

The sound of a chair being moved was heard.

A slight smile of happiness appeared on Neriwa’s face.

«I see.»

«See you later, Neriwa.»

The line went dead.

At the same moment, Kaito and the boy found themselves in front of a small bar, hidden among the city’s alleyways.

Around the entrance, overflowing trash bins and carelessly abandoned garbage bags were piled up.

—This is definitely no place for a child…— Kaito thought as he entered anyway.

Inside, the room was lit by soft lights.

Oval tables with cushioned sofas occupied the space, while at the back, beside the bar counter, stood a small stage, empty and silent.

The air was thick with smoke and sweet scents.

«Let’s sit here,» the boy said, pointing to a secluded table.

Kaito watched him for a moment, then sat down without taking his eyes off the room.

The lights on the stage suddenly turned on.

«Finally!» a man shouted, raising his beer mug.

An instant later, darkness.

Then a figure stepped onto the stage.

A single beam of light struck her.

«Are you ready?!» she asked.

«Yeah!» the room answered in chorus.

With the guitar in her arms, she began to play.

The volume exploded.

The sound was powerful, but surprisingly harmonious.

She wore her hair down, streaked with purple strands.

Her black eyes, heavily made up, and her dark lipstick gave her a rebellious air.

She wore a white shirt with a purple pattern and tight black jeans.

«Amazing, isn’t it?» the boy whispered.

«I’m not here for that,» he cut him off coldly.

«Why do you want my help?» he went straight to the point.

«What is your goal?»

The boy hesitated for a moment.

«Several days ago… I saw your wanted poster,» he began.

«I thought that if the Reikeitai was after you, then you had to be really strong.»

He lifted his gaze.

«And today… I saw you fighting them. Easily.»

He paused, swallowing hard.

Then he squeezed his eyes shut.

«My brother was arrested by the Reikeitai….»

His voice trembled.

«Help me save him.»

Kaito remained silent for a few seconds.

«And what makes you think I’d help you?» he said at last, coldly.

«W-what…?»

«I don’t gain anything from it,» he continued.

«And if he was arrested, there must have been a reason.»

«You’re wrong!» the boy snapped, agitated.

«He’s a good person…»

He lowered his head, clenching his fists.

«You want to break into the prison, don’t you?» he suddenly said.

«Otherwise, what other reason would you have for being in Yorigakure!?»

Kaito’s expression turned icy.

«None of your business.»

He paused briefly.

«Even if I agreed to help you…» he said, considering the possibility.

«How would we get into the prison?»

The boy raised his head.

«I can take us there… trust me.»

«You?» Kaito arched an eyebrow.

«And how would a child take me there?» he asked.

The boy hesitated for only an instant.

Then he clenched his jaw.

«I’ll only tell you if you agree to help me.»

«So?» he pressed.

Kaito did not answer.

He slowly stood up from the table, his gaze already far away.

«No.»

He turned to leave.

«What do you mean, no!?» the boy raised his voice.

«You’re my only chance!»

Kaito did not stop.

He did not even turn around.

The boy remained alone, his hands clenched around the edge of the table.

«Are you okay?»

A voice he knew well startled him.

Meanwhile Kaito began moving through the city’s crowded streets.

He pulled his hood over his face, blending into the crowd.

—I’m sorry, kid… but taking you in there would be like condemning you to death—

The boy’s words came back to him.

—Yume would never want anyone to get hurt for her…—

He lowered his head slightly, continuing to walk.

Several minutes passed.

In the end, Kaito stopped.

Before him stood the imposing gate of the facility, cold and menacing even in daylight.

«So this is it…»

His voice came out low, almost a whisper.

«The prison of Yorigakure…»

His face remained hidden beneath the hood,

but his gaze was already beyond those walls.