Ryker's eyes burned with rage.
"Oh? Then you die here," he growled, igniting his fist.
"Infernal Phoenix: Fire Punch!"
He launched forward like a blazing comet.
The masked man barely dodged as Ryker unleashed a barrage of fiery strikes.
Caught off guard, the masked man raised his arms to block—but Ryker's swift kick slammed into his chest, sending him crashing back.
From behind the trees, a young boy whispered, shocked,
"Ryker… he's too strong…"
Ryker didn't hesitate. His eyes glowed.
"Infernal Phoenix: Chop."
A flaming blade of energy crashed onto the masked man's neck. He collapsed, unconscious.
Ryker turned away coldly.
"I don't need answers from the weak."
He disappeared into the night, heading home.
Moments Later
Aria-sensei rushed from the shadows to the fallen masked man. He knelt and tried to wake him.
After tense moments, the man stirred, groaning in pain.
"Who are you?" Aria-sensei asked, eyes narrowed.
The man coughed, blood at his lips.
"Who I am… that's not important," he said weakly.
"Then tell me this," Aria-sensei demanded.
"Is Ryker's mother alive?"
The man looked up, barely nodding.
"…Yes. She's in prison."
Aria-sensei's eyes widened, heart pounding.
Ryker… you still don't know the full truth, do you?
Ryker stepped through the doorway, his coat still singed from the battle.
Aisa sat up on the couch, a blanket over her shoulders. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
"You're back…" she whispered, relieved.
Ryker gave a small nod. "Yeah."
From the kitchen, Sol leaned against the doorway, arms crossed.
"Where were you, Ryker?"
Ryker didn't meet his eyes. "Nowhere important. Just... walking."
Sol narrowed his eyes, sensing something wasn't right.
"That walk got you burnt?"
Ryker turned away slightly. "Drop it, Sol."
The room fell silent. Only the quiet hum of the night remained.
Aisa reached out, gently touching Ryker's hand.
"I'm glad you're safe," she said softly.
Ryker didn't speak—but his hand didn't pull away either.
The tense air finally lifted as the team gathered in the main room.
Aisa, now fully recovered, clapped her hands with a smile. "Alright! Enough gloom. Let's talk about the fun stuff."
"Like what?" Arisu asked, stretching on the couch.
"Like building a swimming pool!" Aisa grinned. "And hosting a launch dinner. We deserve it after everything."
Celica nodded eagerly. "I'm in. Let's make it big—candles, music, everything."
Shin opened his notebook. "I'll design the pool. Rectangular? Or should we go with a more elegant shape?"
"Make it a dragon shape!" Amelia said, half-joking.
Sol laughed. "Let's just start with something we can swim in without getting lost."
Ryker sat quietly on the side, listening. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax.
Aisa leaned toward him. "You're joining us, right?"
Ryker glanced at everyone… then gave a faint smirk.
"Yeah. Why not."
The room burst into excitement as plans began forming—drinks, food, fireworks. A moment of peace in their chaotic world.
Everyone splashed and laughed in the pool, enjoying a rare moment of joy. The sunset cast a golden glow over the water, reflecting the light off their smiling faces.
Suddenly, heads turned—Ryker stepped out from the poolside cabin, his towel draped over his shoulders. As he walked toward the water, the conversation stopped for a moment.
Minami whispered, "Damn… he's built like a statue."
His body was lean, strong, and scarred—a mix of perfection and the battles he'd survived. Even Sol raised an eyebrow with a grin. "Well, that's unfair."
Ryker casually slid into the water like it meant nothing.
Nearby, Amelia splashed King playfully.
"It's fun, right?" she said, laughing.
King smiled, nodding. "Yeah… it is."
But as she looked at him, her laughter softened. She mumbled quietly, "He never understands my feelings…"
She glanced across the pool—her eyes on someone else.
King didn't notice. He just floated beside her, oblivious.
The snow fell softly across the quiet town in Hokkaido, blanketing rooftops, trees, and roads in delicate white. It danced in the air like forgotten memories, settling gently over the world. A bitter wind whispered through the pines, but the group's arrival brought warmth, laughter, and a flicker of something unspoken.
Bundled in coats and scarves, boots crunching the snow, they approached the rented lodge—a cozy haven nestled beside a frozen lake. The windows glowed with golden light, a sharp contrast to the winter chill outside.
For a moment, it felt like the world had paused for them.
Outside the Lodge – Evening
Ryker stood near the frozen edge of the lake, hands tucked into his pockets. His breath clouded in the air as he stared across the wide, glassy surface. Pine trees surrounded the lake like silent sentinels, their snow-laden branches swaying in the wind.
Behind him, the others had begun to settle in.
Sol chased Shin with a snowball, shouting threats that echoed into the woods. Yumi's laughter followed, light and infectious. King sat on the porch steps beside Amelia, both sharing warm snacks and teasing glances. Moi struggled to carry bags, while Arisu barked orders beside him.
Ryker remained apart, silent. Still.
He didn't turn when he heard her approach. He didn't have to.
Aisa's footsteps were light, careful, but familiar.
"You always find the loneliest spots," she said, stopping beside him.
"I just like the cold," he answered.
She smiled softly. "Is it the cold… or the silence?"
He glanced sideways. She was watching him—not with judgment, but with quiet understanding. He looked away again.
"…Both," he said after a moment.
They stood in silence, the wind playing with strands of Aisa's hair. Then she reached into her coat and pulled out a small object.
A charm.
Two birds carved from wood, tied with red string.
"I found it in a shop near the station," she said. "The owner told me it's for protection. For people who've lost something… or someone."
He took it gently, staring at the carved birds in his hand. For a second, his expression cracked—just a flicker.
"Thank you," he said.
Aisa shook her head. "I didn't give it to you for thanks."
He looked at her.
"I gave it to you because you're still here, Ryker. And because someone has to say it to you—"
She stepped closer, voice softer now, yet unwavering.
"You're allowed to live. Not just survive."
For a long moment, he said nothing. The cold wind brushed past them again—but this time, he didn't feel it.
That Night – Lodge Fireplace Room
The fire crackled, casting warm shadows on the wooden walls. The lodge's main room was filled with heat, laughter, and the clatter of mugs and snacks.
Arisu sat cross-legged on the floor, determinedly roasting marshmallows with the precision of a scientist. Saki and Izumi debated the logic of ghost stories while Shin, in dramatic flair, attempted to terrify them all with tales from haunted temples.
Minami sat quietly in a corner, her eyes occasionally drifting to Ryker and Aisa as they sat beside the fire. There was a stillness between them now—a peace that hadn't been there before.
Celica whispered something to Sol across the room. He smirked, replying with a glance toward Ryker that earned him a light shove.
Then, out of nowhere, Yumi stood.
"Let's play a game!" she declared. "Truth or dare: winter edition!"
Groans erupted from half the group, laughter from the other.
"I'll play," said Moi. "If Ryker plays, I'm in!"
"That's exactly why I shouldn't," Ryker muttered under his breath.
But he stayed.
As the wind howled gently outside and snow piled against the windows, the group drew closer to the fire—closer to each other. The game began. Dares were made. Embarrassing truths were confessed. And somewhere between laughter and warmth, they forgot the weight of the world for one evening.
And in the flickering firelight, beside Aisa's quiet smile and a charm tied with red string, Ryker began to feel… human again.