In one of the narrow alleys in the capital of Orakano Island, a teenage boy appeared. He wore a simple white shirt and dark blue pants. A white cap tilted to the left covered part of his face. His red hair was a bit messy but soft, and his gray eyes were calm. His face was perfect and very handsome. He walked slowly, like someone used to carrying the weight of the world.
His name was Ken… He had just turned sixteen this month, but he didn't care about birthdays. He stopped at a corner and leaned against the wall. Then he took a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lit it using a small flame from his finger. He took a slow puff and blew the smoke out.
Ken (thinking): "This world… The more I look at it, the uglier it gets. Fake faces, loud voices, fake justice… No one is clean."
He kept smoking slowly, like each breath helped him stay alive. Then he heard footsteps coming closer. The steps were loud and careless. Four teenage boys walked into the alley. They were a bit older and taller than him. They started laughing when they saw Ken.
Boy 1 (mocking): "Look who it is! Isn't that the genius from our high school? Ken the perfect student?!"
Boy 2 (teasing): "Always leaning on walls like a model… What's wrong? Think you're better than us because you don't talk much?"
Boy 3 (sarcastic): "I've been watching you since the start of the year. Always sitting alone or with Adam and Kaito—those losers! You don't laugh, don't look at anyone. You know what people say? That you're arrogant. You act calm and pure… but we know you're dirty like us… Yukaji Ken! Should I remind you what you did three years ago?"
Ken didn't speak or move. He just dropped the ash from his cigarette, raised his head slightly, but didn't look at them directly. Smoke left his mouth slowly as he ignored them.
Boy 1 (to the others, joking): "Look at his size… still short for his age. Does he need a chair to see the world from up high?"
They laughed loudly again. Across the street, Akio and Yoko came out of a café. They stopped walking when they saw the group in the alley.
Akio (squinting): "What's happening over there…? A group of guys surrounding someone?"
Yoko (focusing): "Wait…"
She stepped forward slowly, eyes wide, trying to see the face of the boy smoking alone. Even with the shadows and the cap, something about him felt familiar.
Yoko (shocked whisper): "No way… It can't be him…"
In the alley, the bullies got more excited. One of them moved closer to Ken and reached for his cap.
Boy 4 (grinning): "Let's see what you're hiding under that cap, genius… Afraid we'll see your crying face?"
But before he touched it… Ken lifted his head fully and looked at them all! His gray eyes weren't normal… his gaze was cold… deadly… empty. It was the look of someone who sees others as ghosts, not worth even hating. As soon as they saw his eyes, their laughter stopped.
Yoko (covering her mouth in shock): "This… can't be."
Her voice was low, but her body shook. No one moved. The air in the alley felt heavier, like Ken's eyes alone were choking the space. The boy who tried to grab his cap began shaking… then Ken slowly moved his left hand.
He reached behind his shirt and pulled out something long and shiny… a sword, hidden carefully in his back belt. The sound of metal broke the silence. Ken dropped the cigarette and stepped on it.
He raised the sword calmly in front of his face… then licked its edge. A thin line of blood appeared on his tongue, but Ken didn't even blink. Instead, he smiled… a twisted, scary smile. Suddenly, the sword caught fire. Dark red flames rose from the blade, as if answering his body. The fire clung to the sword but didn't burn it, dancing slowly.
One of the bullies stepped back and said with a shaky voice:
Boy 1: "W-what is this?! So the rumors are true?!"
Ken didn't answer. He stepped forward. A small flame exploded beneath his foot, like the ground was warning them not to play.
Akio (whispering): "What the hell…? Who is this guy?!"
Yoko (almost speechless): "Fire Vakin… and one sword… That's his style. It's him… Yukaji Ken!!"
Silence filled the place… but fear screamed in their hearts. Ken took another step. The burning sword lit up his face with dark red light. His eyes… weren't teenage eyes. They were the eyes of someone burnt from the inside, with only ash left.
The boys looked at each other in fear. Ken stared directly at the first boy.
Ken (scary tone): "You… Chin. Your mother still thinks you work at a candy shop after school… but you've been selling drugs in the back alleys with Retsu."
Chin froze.
Ken (to another): "And you, Retsu… You act like you don't care… but you cry at night when you remember your dad kicking you out."
Retsu: "What…?!"
Ken (looking at the third boy, pointing at Chin): "And you, Hagwar… This friend betrayed you with the girl you called 'your love.' Too bad you still laugh next to him."
Hagwar (shocked, looking at Chin): "What the…?!"
Ken (to the fourth): "And you, Ando… the weakest. You hang with them because you're scared to be beaten. But you won't escape."
Then suddenly… Ken disappeared. In an instant, he appeared behind Retsu and made a light strike with his sword on the ground. It didn't hit him, but fire shot up! Retsu fell to the ground, screaming. Ken stood behind him, calm, while fear filled the others' eyes.
Ken (quietly): "See?… All I need to beat you… is words."
Chin stepped back, pale. Hagwar's hands shook as he looked at Chin, feeling betrayed and angry.
Ken (to Hagwar): "Tell me, Hagwar… how many times did you laugh with him after he betrayed you? How many times did you think your friendship was real?"
Hagwar (shaky voice): "You… you don't know anything…"
Ken (walking closer): "But I do… I listened to you every day. I sat far away, watching you all fall."
Ken stopped in front of Hagwar, slowly raised the sword, and lightly touched his white shirt with the blade. In one swift move, he made a shallow cut. A thin line of blood appeared. It wasn't deadly… it was a warning. Like Ken was saying: "I could kill you… but you're not worth it."
Ken (whispers): "Now… you bleed so you'll remember this fear… every time you look in the mirror."
He lowered the sword and stepped back, the fire still burning on the blade.
Ken (turning his face): "Go… before I change my mind."
He didn't need to shout. He knew the four boys would run away without saying a word. Their steps were shaky and weak. Yoko was still watching from afar, covering her mouth with both hands, tears gathering in her eyes.
Akio (low voice): "That's the scariest person I've ever seen…"
Yoko (whispers, emotional): "That's him… Yukaji Ken I was looking for."
After the bullies ran away, Ken looked up at the sky for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The fire on his sword went out quietly, and he put the sword back on his back without saying anything.
But light, quick steps ran toward him.
Yoko left Akio behind and ran toward Ken with all her heart. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she came closer—she knew him from before!
Yoko (crying): "Ken… Ken… It's really you…!"
Ken stood still. His eyebrows lowered slightly, like something inside him shook. Before he could speak, Yoko threw herself on him and hugged him tightly.
Yoko (crying into his chest): "I missed you… I can't believe I found you after all these years…"
Ken stayed still. Her voice felt familiar, but his memories were foggy. He looked up slightly, then whispered coldly, but confused:
Ken: "Who… are you?"
Yoko froze. Then she slowly raised her head and looked into his eyes.
Yoko (shocked and hurt): "I'm Yoko… Don't you… remember me?! We… we escaped the war together!"
Silence. Even Akio, who just caught up, stopped moving. He looked at them in awe, then blinked and said excitedly:
Akio (with childlike excitement): "You're amazing!!! How did you make that fire? And how did you say all those things? And… and… that moment when—"
But Ken didn't answer. He kept staring at Yoko's face—full of tears, but looking like something buried deep in his memory.
Ken (very quiet): "Yoko?"
When Ken finally said her name, something shook inside Yoko. His tone wasn't gentle… but it wasn't cold either.
Yoko (pulling back): "Sorry… I know I rushed in… I just… when I saw you in the fire, I knew it was you. I couldn't stop myself…"
She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, trying to calm down. Ken stayed silent, his eyes still on her, but his face was cold as always.
Then Akio came closer, excited as usual, waving in front of Ken's face.
Akio (bright smile): "I'm Sakamoto Akio! And I have to say… what you did was legendary!! The sword, the fire, the silence, the deadly stare, waah!"
He crossed his arms and looked at him with admiration.
Akio (excited): "You know? I thought I was cool with my lightning… but now? I officially admire you!"
Ken didn't answer, but looked at him for a moment, then said dryly:
Ken: "You talk too much."
Akio (laughing): "I know! Everyone says that!"
He stepped closer and held out his hand excitedly.
Akio: "What do you say we become a team? You're fire, I'm lightning… Just imagine the destruction we could make!"
Ken looked at Akio's hand, then at his face… then back at the hand. He raised one eyebrow and sighed slowly, like all this excitement confused him more than impressed him.
Ken (sarcastic tone): "A team? Why would I join someone who never shuts up?"
Akio (pointing to himself): "Because I'm awesome! Fast, strong, and future Shogun!"
Ken (turning away): "That's the dumbest dream I've ever heard."
Akio (grinning): "But admit it… if you were me, you'd say yes right away."
Ken (coldly): "That's why I'm not you."
Yoko giggled a little despite the situation. She was still trying to calm down after the surprise, but watching them talk brought back some warmth.
Akio (to Yoko, smiling): "At least you tell me… Doesn't it make sense we work together?"
Yoko (calmly): "Honestly… you're an unexpected mix… but a dangerous one."
Ken (half interested): "Dangerous?"
Then he turned and walked toward the alley.
Ken: "I don't join teams. I don't fight for other people's dreams."
Akio frowned a bit but didn't give up. When he saw Ken walking away, he ran after him with light steps and walked beside him like he didn't hear a thing.
Akio (smiling): "It's okay, you don't have to fight for my dreams… Just walk with me, and you might find you were looking for something like this too."
Ken (sharp side glance): "Are you always like this? Saying deep stuff like a little wise man?"
Akio (cheerfully): "Oh no, that only happens when I talk to people I admire!"
Ken sighed as he kept walking. Akio's presence was annoying… but not enough to push away.
Behind them, Yoko walked slowly, her eyes still on Ken's back.
Yoko (thinking silently): "What happened to you, Ken…? Where's the boy who laughed when he tripped? Where's the voice that dreamed with us under the moon? Is this really you… or did life destroy you completely?"
But she said nothing. She just followed, hoping that what remained of Ken… was enough to bring him back, even just a little. In this moment… three strangers walked the same road. Each one carried something broken inside… but the next step… would start a journey that changes everything.
To be continued…