"Take care of yourself, Aiichiro," his mother's voice called out from the kitchen.
Aiichiro was already at the front door, frantically tugging on his boots. He looked like he was in a desperate rush. "You too, Mom! See you tonight!" he shouted back, grabbing his blade and sprinting out into the morning air.
At seventeen, Aiichiro didn't look like much of a warrior, but the sharp black suit he wore and the sword strapped to his hip told a different story He arrived at the heart of the city, panting heavily in front of the most imposing skyscraper in the skyline. In golden, shimmering letters, the entrance bore the name: "NECK."
He barely made it through the main gates before a stern, elderly officer intercepted him, pulling him into a private office."How many times do I have to tell you?! Wake up early!" the old man barked, his voice echoing off the walls. "You think you can save people with this attitude? Stop standing around like a statue! Hatori needs backup.
" I'm sending the coordinates to your phone now. Move!"
Aiichiro quickly summoned two other soldiers, and they sped off in a military-grade car."Overslept again, didn't you?" one of the soldiers teased.
"Yeah, but that old man just loves taking his anger out on me," Aiichiro replied with a sigh. "Plenty of others show up late too."
"Don't say that," the soldier chuckled. "He's still our senior."
The conversation died down as they reached their destination—a desolate, crumbling shell of a building. It looked like a graveyard of concrete; not a single window pane was intact, and the silence was suffocating.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered. A body crashed through an upper-story window, hitting the pavement with a sickening thud. They rushed over and realized with horror that it was a fellow NECK soldier.
"Sato! Get him to the car and patch him up!" Aiichiro commanded. Without waiting for a response, he and the other soldier charged into the dark, decaying building.
On the top floor, the air was thick with dust and the smell of iron. Four men were swarming a single soldier—Hatori. He looked battered, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he was desperately clinging to his resolve, fighting all four at once.
Aiichiro's eyes darted to the corner of the room. A young girl was huddled there, trembling, her eyes wide with terror.
"SATO! Save the girl!" Aiichiro yelled. "I'll handle Hatori-senpai's side!"He blurred into motion. Just as one of the thugs swung a rusted blade toward Hatori's exposed back, Aiichiro's steel flashed through the gloom. With a heavy clank, he parried the strike and sent the attacker stumbling across the floor.
"About time," Hatori wheezed, leaning heavily on his sword. "I thought I was a dead man."
Aiichiro looked back at him and flashed abright, confident grin. "Let's take these three down together, Senpai!"
But behind that smile, Aiichiro's heart was hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. He could feel the cold sweat slicking his palms. He wasn't nearly as brave as he acted, but he knew if he showed fear, they were both finished.
The thugs were a bizarre, terrifying group: amassive, shirtless brute; a wiry, hollow-cheeked man who looked like a common vendor; a muscular powerhouse; and their arrogant leader.
Steeling his nerves, Hatori dodged a lethal swing and drove his blade deep into the chest of the closest attacker. Blood sprayed across the floor as the man collapsed.
On the other side of the room, Sato reachedthe girl. She was as cold as ice, her gaze fixed on something invisible.
"Are you okay? Talk to me!" Sato urged, reaching out.
"It's all over..." she whispered, her voice devoid of life. "Everything is gone."
Then, her eyes rolled back, and she slumped into unconsciousness.