Akira's eyes snapped open.
White panels swam above him. One buzzing light. Too bright. Too clean. The smell hit next—antiseptic, metal, something sterile enough to make his stomach twist.
A hospital.
He sucked in a breath. His ribs screamed in protest.
"Where…" His throat burned. "Where am I?"
Careful hands brushed his hair back as he pushed himself upright. The blanket slid down. Bandages wrapped his torso, tight and itchy. Beneath them—bruises, torn muscle, skin that felt wrong. Healing. Forced.
He swallowed.
A Torii gate, carved from ink-black Tao, flickered into existence at the foot of the bed.
The air snapped cold.
A man stepped through.
Red hair pulled into a high ponytail. An eyepatch over his right eye. Armor stitched in black and gold, pristine and worn at the same time. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
The room felt smaller.
"Ito Yoru," the man said calmly. "Supreme General of War for the Yoru Kingdom."
Akira's breath caught.
"…Ito Yoru?"
The name carried weight. Not fame—authority.
"You saved me?" Akira asked.
Ito tilted his head slightly. "You're awake. That's unexpected." A pause. Then, casually— "Did you have any final wishes, boy? Anything you want to do before you die?"
Akira's hand moved to his chest without thinking. His fingers brushed scarred skin beneath the gown.
"…Am I going to die?"
Ito waved the question aside. "No. I misspoke."
Akira exhaled sharply.
"You work for me now," Ito continued. "So I'm asking—what do you want to do while you're under my command?"
Akira frowned. "Work for you?" His jaw tightened. "I don't work for anyone. I'm going to be King."
Silence.
Then—
Ito's eyebrow lifted.
"…Yeah," he said slowly. "You do seem desperate to become King."
Akira shifted back instinctively. "What makes you say that?"
Ito pointed—directly at Akira's chest.
"The crown you carved into your skin."
Akira yanked the hospital gown up. "No— I've always had this."
Ito stared for a moment.
"…Interesting."
He turned away, clearly losing interest. "Back on topic. You either pay your hospital bill—" He typed a number into his phone and turned it around.
Akira's stomach dropped.
"…You're joking."
"I'm not."
Akira clenched his fist against his thigh. "…Fine. What do I have to do?"
Ito stood. His shadow swallowed half the room as he paced once.
"You know about princes?" he asked. "My sister is Yoru's current prince."
Akira blinked. "Okay… and?"
"I don't care what kind of ruler she wants to be," Ito said flatly. "I care that she survives long enough to become one."
Akira frowned. "And I fit into that how?"
"Wait. I'm not finished."
Ito's voice sharpened.
"You've heard of the Battle for the Crown."
Akira shook his head.
"Fifty years ago. All four kingdoms. A bloodbath that reset the world's balance." Ito's eye narrowed. "Afterward, Yoru lost that balance fighting Sao. The war ended in a truce."
Akira nodded. "Yeah. No casualties, right?"
Ito stopped walking.
"…Wrong."
Akira stiffened.
"Our greatest assets died," Ito said quietly. "The Seven Shades. Every one of them." He turned back. "We lied. Told the world it was a clean ending. Because if they knew the truth—Yoru would have been torn apart."
Akira clenched his teeth. "So you want to fix that."
"Yes."
Ito's gaze burned. "My sister is a target. So I will rebuild the Seven Shades."
Something twisted in Akira's chest.
That debt would ruin me forever.
But another thought followed immediately.
I can't stand next to a throne… and not reach for it.
He lifted his head.
"I'll join," Akira said. "But once my debt is paid—I'm coming for the crown."
Ito studied him.
Then—
A sharp grin.
"As long as you don't hurt my family," Ito said, amused, "you can try."
The tension lingered.
Then Ito turned and stepped out of the room.
Two figures waited outside.
A tall, pale boy with blond hair and dark circles beneath his eyes. He stood stiff, unsure.
Beside him—a younger girl, maybe fifteen. Light brown skin. Sharp eyes. Her stance was relaxed, confident.
Ito tapped both of them on the shoulders.
"Good news," he said. "It went well."
He glanced back toward Akira's room.
"We have a new member."