The sun was beginning to set over the city of Yorigakure, and the sea reflected the last shades of light.

On one of the largest hills on the outskirts of the city stretched a wide park.

On the bench overlooking the sea sat Kaito.

—Only one entrance— he repeated.

—It has a multi-level structure, but no openings—

«That prison seems intent on hiding what happens inside it», he thought.

He grabbed the backpack Genzō had given him and took out a notebook.

He made a sketch of it.

«Going in from the front is not a good idea», he observed, looking at the drawing.

«With the Spirit Slayer at fifty percent, I don’t think I can break through the wall», he said, drawing the blade.

«If I had the other one too... together with the spiritual block I’d be stronger.»

The child’s words echoed again in his head.

«I’ll take you in there myself», he had said.

Kaito leaned his head back against the bench, staring at the clouds drifting slowly across the sky.

—How can a child know how to get into a prison like that...?—

«It’s a nice place, isn’t it?» A female voice caught him from behind.

Kaito turned sharply.

«You...?»

It was the same girl who had been singing in the club.

She smiled faintly at him, stepping closer to the bench.

«You know me?»

The girl rested her hands on the wood.

«I saw you perform....» Kaito replied, keeping his distance.

She tilted her head slightly.

«I wanted to ask you something...»

Kaito looked at her in silence.

«What is the most wanted criminal in all of Yorigakure doing here?»

The boy sprang to his feet, his hand ready to draw his blade.

«Did you come to catch me?» he asked, taking a fighting stance.

«What? No, no, sorry!» She quickly raised both hands.

«Huh?»

«I didn’t mean it in a disrespectful way», she hurried to clarify.

«After all... you and I know each other indirectly.»

She smiled again, trying to reassure him.

«What do you mean by “indirectly”?» he asked.

«I mean you’ve already met my brother, Lio», she explained.

«Your brother...?» Kaito repeated.

Then he understood.

«Wait. Your brother wouldn’t happen to be that kid, would he?!»

«Ding-ding, correct. Good job», she said with a half-smile.

Kaito took a deep breath and relaxed a little.

«Then I guess meeting you wasn’t a coincidence», he said, sitting back down.

The girl did the same.

«Before we begin, let me introduce myself.»

She paused briefly.

«I’m Rika.»

Kaito studied her for a moment, then asked:

«So tell me, Rika... what do you want from me?»

«Well...» She paused briefly.

«First of all, I didn’t like the way you treated my little brother», she admitted.

«He’s so full of energy I’d almost like to rough him up», she added, getting excited for a moment.

Then she turned serious again.

«Anyway... I want to ask you the same thing Lio asked you.»

She looked him straight in the eye.

«Let’s cooperate.»

—They really want to save their brother that badly...— Kaito thought in an instant.

«Before I answer», he finally said, with a hint of suspicion in his voice,

«tell me why he was arrested.»

Rika hesitated for a moment.

«Well... my brothers and I weren’t born into luxury.»

Her tone changed.

«In fact... we’re not even blood-related.»

She lowered her gaze for a moment, then went on.

«Lio was born with a spirit. When he became part of our “family”...» She swallowed.

«We used him in the thefts we carried out.»

Her gaze drifted toward the horizon.

«And during one of them... Lio killed someone.»

Silence fell between them.

«And Isao took the blame...» she concluded.

«So this Isao is your brother too?» Kaito asked.

She nodded.

«You ask for my help, but part of the blame is yours too», he said coldly.

«It’s known that a possessor, especially one without control, is extremely dangerous.»

—And besides, something in this story doesn’t add up— he thought.

«It may have been our fault, but Isao had nothing to do with it...» she said through gritted teeth.

«Could you help us... Kaito?» She clenched her hands, almost pleading.

The boy stood up.

«Why keep up this charade?» he said.

«What...?» she looked at him, puzzled.

«Your story is full of contradictions.»

He leaned against the fence.

His gaze fixed on her.

«The Reikeitai conducts meticulous investigations...»

He thought back to the circumstances that had brought him to cross paths with Akizame.

«They would have realized right away that Isao wasn’t the real culprit.»

He stared at her.

«So he must be in prison for another reason.»

«Not to mention that in Yorigakure only the worst criminals are locked up...»

A cold breeze rose from the sea.

The girl’s pleading expression vanished from her face.

«You’re right...» she admitted.

«In fact, I could have made up a better story.»

She smiled, but there was no gentleness left in it.

«If Yorigakure has the largest prison in the entire Fuyoku region...»

The wind moved her hair.

«Then it also houses the highest number of criminals from the region’s underworld.»

Her gaze darkened.

«And Isao is not a victim.»

She paused briefly.

«He’s the leader of one of those gangs.»

She lifted her eyes toward Kaito.

«Also my brother», she added.

«Does the kid know too?» he asked her.

«He lost his parents when he was very young... and yet, even though he knows who we are, he still considers us his family...» she revealed in an anguished tone.

Kaito looked at her.

Then he made his decision.

«It doesn’t change anything. I won’t help you. I won’t help criminals.»

He began to walk away.

Night had already fallen.

«You can say that... but deep down you know it... that prison deserves to collapse...»

Kaito stopped at her words.

«What do you mean?»

«Inside, the prisoners are beaten. They suffer hell.»

At those words, Kaito’s expression changed.

«What are you talking about?»

«You heard me. The person you’re looking for won’t be doing well.»

A shadow fell over her, the blade pointed at her throat.

«Tell me how to get in there», he said through clenched teeth.

«I’ll do it... if you agree to cooperate.» She remained cold.

Kaito did not answer.

«Our plan will come to fruition in two days.»

«We have several soldiers, not all of them are possessors. If we want to win, we need someone strong...»

«And you’re the only candidate...»

Kaito pulled back his Wakizashi.

«Why me, specifically?» he asked, his voice tense.

«Because you are the same person who destroyed... and stopped the Fuyumi family.»

The words hit Kaito like a punch.

«Then... you know what happened in Shinkase...» he murmured, his gaze fixed on her.

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