-ABANDONED PARKING STRUCTURE, DOWNTOWN SAPPORO-
-10:47 PM, JANUARY 21, 2017-
The cold here was different.
Sharper.
More metallic.
Snow gathered along the broken edges of the concrete parking structure, where shattered lights cast uneven shadows across the floor.
A crowd had gathered.
Not large.
But dense.
Men in heavy jackets.
Money exchanging hands.
Low murmurs drifting through the air.
"Is it true?"
"That kid came back?"
"He said he quit."
"Guess money talks."
In the center of the open floor—
Rikuu stood alone.
His knuckles were wrapped in worn tape.
His gray hair hung slightly over his eyes.
But his expression was calmer than usual.
Not excited.
Not angry.
Just focused.
Masayoshi stood near the edge of the crowd, arms folded tightly.
"You're an idiot," he muttered under his breath.
One of the organizers stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we welcome back the fighter some of you thought had vanished."
Scattered whistles.
"Arakawa Rikuu."
More murmurs spread through the crowd.
Across the concrete floor—
His opponent stepped forward.
Much bigger.
Older.
Broad shoulders.
A man known for ending fights quickly.
"Didn't think you'd come," the man said.
Rikuu rolled his shoulders once.
"I said I would."
"You're younger than I expected."
"And you talk too much."
The crowd laughed.
The organizer raised a hand.
"Same rules."
"Last man standing."
Snow drifted in through the broken upper level of the structure.
Cold air swirling through the concrete skeleton.
The signal dropped.
And the fight began.
The first punch came fast.
Too fast for most people to follow.
The larger man swung wide—
Rikuu ducked under it instantly.
His counterstrike hit the ribs.
Hard.
But the man barely moved.
"Cute," the opponent muttered.
The next hit landed clean.
A heavy fist slammed against Rikuu's shoulder.
Pain exploded down his arm.
The crowd roared.
Masayoshi swore.
"Move, idiot!"
Rikuu stepped back quickly.
Breathing steady.
Watching.
Waiting.
Another swing.
He dodged.
Another.
Blocked.
Then—
A clean strike to the jaw.
The crack echoed against the concrete walls.
Blood touched the snow-dusted floor.
But the larger man barely staggered.
"You hit like a kid," he sneered.
Rikuu wiped the corner of his mouth.
"…You're slow."
The man charged.
Too aggressive.
Too confident.
Rikuu slipped to the side.
His fist drove sharply into the man's ribs.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The third punch knocked the air from the man's lungs.
A pause.
Then a hook to the jaw.
The big man stumbled.
But he didn't fall.
Instead—
He grabbed Rikuu's collar.
And slammed him against a concrete pillar.
The impact echoed loudly.
Rikuu's vision flashed white.
The crowd erupted.
Masayoshi stepped forward instinctively.
"Break it!"
But the organizer held him back.
"No interference."
The large man grinned through heavy breaths.
"Still think I'm slow?"
Rikuu coughed.
Blood touched his lip again.
"…Yeah."
Then he drove his knee upward.
Hard.
The man's grip loosened instantly.
That single opening—
Was enough.
Rikuu stepped forward.
Left hook.
Right strike.
A final clean blow to the jaw.
The man collapsed.
Concrete shook slightly as he hit the ground.
Silence.
Then—
The crowd exploded with noise.
"He's down!"
"It's over!"
Masayoshi exhaled sharply.
"Idiot… you actually did it."
Rikuu stood still in the center of the floor.
Breathing hard.
Blood dripping slowly from his lip.
The organizer approached.
Smiling.
"Congratulations."
He handed over a thick envelope.
"Debt cleared."
Rikuu took it without looking.
"Our deal is finished," he said calmly.
The organizer nodded.
"Yes."
But his smile lingered longer than necessary.
"As long as you stay gone."
Rikuu turned away.
Fight finished.
Deal complete.
Masayoshi caught up with him near the exit.
"You look terrible."
"…Thanks."
"You're limping."
"Not broken."
"Still stupid."
Rikuu gave a faint shrug.
"…It's done."
Snow fell quietly outside as they stepped out of the structure.
The city lights of Sapporo glowed faintly through the winter haze.
For the first time in months—
The alley world was behind him.
-KOMORI RESIDENCE, BALCONY-
-10:49 PM-
At nearly the same moment—
Ichika stood outside her bedroom balcony.
Snowflakes drifted slowly past the railings.
She held her phone in her hands.
A strange uneasiness sat in her chest.
She couldn't explain it.
Nothing had happened.
But something felt wrong.
Like a distant tremor beneath ice.
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
Rikuu:
You awake?
She smiled faintly.
Yes.
A pause.
Then another message.
I'm done.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Done with what?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally—
Everything.
Her heart softened.
Come to the hospital tomorrow. Grandma will be awake.
Another pause.
Okay.
She leaned against the balcony railing.
Snow falling gently across Sapporo.
For the first time—
She felt hope.
The fights were over.
The danger gone.
The future clearer.
But far away—
Men who disliked losing profitable fighters watched quietly.
And sometimes—
The last fight isn't truly the last.