Nifumi hauled Itsuki up with an easy grin, hand on his shoulder like nothing extreme had happened. "Not bad. You're growing fast. Just a little more control and you'll be quite strong, nephew."
Hayato and Ken came running , Hayato crouched beside Itsuki, eyes scanning him. "You okay?"
Itsuki pressed a hand to his ribs. "Yeah… it hurts. My head's exhausted. What was that? Nifumi looked like a demon and my eyes they felt different too."
Nifumi spread his hands, pleased. "That's Shintai."
Hayato's voice was low and steady as he explained, "One channels killing intent so purely it consumes all light around their perception."
Nifumi finished the line with a proud curl of his lip. "It's a technique only the highest-ranked assassins can touch. A perfect sync between mind, reflex, and killing intent. Not just speed phasing through awareness. No wasted movement."
Hayato added the warning, eyes never leaving Itsuki's face. "Its drawback is brutal. Extreme mental exhaustion afterward. The user's brain burns oxygen at dangerous levels."
Nifumi shrugged. "If you master it like me and Hayato you don't have to worry much. But that takes years. For now, just learn to control it."
Hayato's tone sharpened, the plan forming. "Help him gain control, Nifumi. Train him hard. Train Ken too. We have one week. After that, we move on the hideout."
Nifumi's grin hardened into something hungry. "I have no problems with that. But remember if they die it's not on me, I don't spare anyone. Mercy isn't in my vocabulary."
"You don't have to worry. Hayato put me through hell and I'm still here. I'll survive." Itsuki says tone flat
Ken's jaw set. "If I can't protect my sister, I'd rather die."
Nifumi flicked a lit cigarette out between his fingers and smiled at them like he meant it.
"Then prepare yourselves. From now on you'll wake up wishing you'd died. I'll tear you apart until you're ready."
Hayato stood, voice clipped with decision. "It's decided. Nifumi, take these two. Train them. Meet me in one week."
Itsuki's hand tightened on Miyu's picture in his mind. "I can't leave Miyu. You know that."
Nifumi's expression didn't soften. "You have no choice right now, nephew. Come with me. Miyu-chan isn't going anywhere. You gonna avenge her, or not?"
All of them head downstairs.
In Miyu's room, Aya was sitting on the edge of the bed beside Miri, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"My parents… they were murdered. Brutally. After that, we had nothing no money, no home. Ken and I lived in an abandoned factory for months." Her hands tightened in her lap. "I'm his big sister, but I couldn't do much for him. He did everything he could… joined gangs, took all the risk just so I could eat." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm so thankful to you guys for giving us shelter, food… for treating us like humans."
Miri wrapped her arms around Aya and pulled her close. "Hey, don't cry. It's all thanks to Hayato. He's a kind man. He took Itsuki in too when he had nowhere to go he's an orphan, just like you two."
Aya wiped her eyes, a small, weak smile breaking through. "Hayato-san… he's amazing."
Just then, the door opened and Itsuki and Ken stepped inside.
Itsuki walked straight to Miyu's bedside. He leaned down, brushing his thumb gently against her cheek before kissing her forehead. His voice was quiet, trembling just slightly.
"Forgive me… I have to leave your side for a while."
Miri, sitting nearby, grinned teasingly. "Hey hey, someone's being romantic, huh? Didn't expect this from you, Mr. Shy Hero!"
Itsuki blinked, startled. "Ah—Miri, I didn't see you there. Sorry."
Miri puffed her cheeks. "So rude!"
Itsuki chuckled faintly, looking at Miyu again. "Take care of her, Miri. I'll be staying with Nifumi for a while."
Ken moved closer to Aya and hugged her tightly. "I'm leaving with Itsuki. You take care of yourself, okay? And don't do anything reckless."
Aya smiled through her tears. "I'm the big sister here, remember?"
Ken smirked. "Yeah, yeah," he said, though his eyes flickered toward Miri for just a second too long.
Aya caught it instantly, elbowing him lightly. "What?" Ken asked, confused.
Aya folded her arms, pretending not to care. "Nothing at all," she said with a teasing smile.
Nifumi knocked on the door twice before pushing it open with his usual grin.
"Yo," he said casually, waving his hand like a playful kid.
Miri and Aya both turned to him and couldn't help but smile. "Nifumi, where are you taking these two?" Miri asked, half-curious, half-worried.
Nifumi crossed his arms, tilting his head with a mock-serious look before breaking into a grin. "I've got some things to do, and it requires manpower. So, I'm just borrowing them for a while. Don't worry, Miri-chan, Aya-chan. You both take care of yourselves, okay?"
He said it with a warmth rarely seen on his face a genuine, soft smile that somehow made the room feel lighter.
Ken, watching from the side, couldn't help but smirk to himself. At least this bastard can be nice to some people, he thought.
But in the blink of an eye, Nifumi's expression changed his warmth vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp look as he turned toward Itsuki and Ken.
"I'm waiting outside. Come once you're done," he said in a flat, commanding tone before waving to the girls again, his warm smile back on. "Bye-bye, Miri-chan, Aya-chan, Miyu-chan!"
He left the room, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall.
Itsuki and Ken exchanged a quiet glance part nerves, part understanding before stepping out of the room. Hayato was waiting with Nifumi in the hallway.
Hayato stepped forward without a word and pulled Itsuki into a hug. His voice was calm but heavy with emotion. "Take care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you."
Itsuki froze for a moment, then whispered, "I'll miss you… father."
Hayato's eyes widened slightly, and his breath caught but then he smiled, eyes glistening. "I'll miss you too, son."
He turned to Ken next and pulled him into a hug as well. For a moment, Ken stood stiff, not knowing what to do but as he felt the warmth in Hayato's embrace, something inside him eased. It was the kind of warmth he hadn't felt in years.
Ken smiled faintly, his voice low. "Thanks..."
Hayato chuckled softly. "Stay alive, both of you."
And with that, Nifumi gestured toward the exit, the faintest grin returning to his face.
Alright, boys. Let's get to work.