Chapter 16 - CHAPTER 14: Shape of my Heart

MEANWHILE - TRAINING CHAMBER B

Meanwhile, at the same moment in another wing of the academy, a different group was preparing for their own trial. Rukawa Hiroshi, the other rookie, would be mentored by Diana Marville and Simon Curtis.

As the metal door shut behind them with a hollow thud that echoed in the corridor, Simon felt adrenaline coursing through his body like electricity through circuits. His fingers twitched unconsciously—already itching to analyze, to decode, to understand.

Diana stood beside him, keeping her expression carefully composed despite the way her heart hammered against her ribs. Behind them walked Rukawa—the guy who spoke one word at a time, whose stoic features seemed carved from marble, and who possessed a dry humor so subtle you'd miss it if you blinked.

The guy she had a very inconvenient crush on.

As they stepped inside the training chamber, the setting mirrored the other group's exactly—a standard interrogation room with clinical precision. Four-seater table. One-way mirror stretching across the far wall. CCTV camera blinking its red eye steadily from the corner.

Rukawa was already assessing his surroundings with the efficiency of someone conducting a site survey. His dark eyes moved methodically—walls, floor, mirror, camera—cataloging every detail.

Surprisingly, he seemed used to the pressure this place brought. No tension in his shoulders. No hesitation in his stride.

He stopped in the center of the room, and for a moment, just stood there.

Then, quietly, almost to himself:

"Feels like home."

Behind him, Simon nudged Diana sharply with his elbow, dropping his voice to an urgent whisper. "Yo, Dinny—real talk, you think he's gonna be okay? 'Cause that 'feels like home' comment was either really zen or really concerning."

Diana nodded quickly, biting her lower lip—a nervous tell she couldn't quite suppress. "Yeah, I... I think so? Maybe?" Her eyes never left Rukawa's back. "He seems fine. More than fine, actually."

Simon leaned closer, his whisper taking on that teasing edge she knew too well. "Oh, you think he's fine? Or you think he's fine?" He waggled his eyebrows. "Come on, your heart's gotta be doing backflips right now.

You're literally staring at the back of his head like it's gonna give you answers."

Diana's head snapped toward him, her whisper sharp enough to cut. "Are you serious right now? We're supposed to be mentoring him, not—" She gestured vaguely, flustered. "—whatever you're implying! Can you be professional for like, five minutes?"

Simon raised both hands defensively, his grin never faltering. "Okay, okay! Geez, I'm just saying—timing's brutal, that's all. But fine, professional mode activated." He made an exaggerated zipping motion across his lips.

Then his eyes shifted back to Rukawa, studying him like a particularly interesting algorithm.

Simon chuckled, crossing his arms with satisfaction. "Gotta admit though, the kid's way too composed for a rookie. Like, suspiciously composed. He's either secretly a meditation master or he's hiding something major."

Diana raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "You're being weirdly optimistic today. Since when are you Mr. Glass Half Full?"

Simon's grin turned mischievous, his eyes practically lighting up. "Are you kidding?! This is exactly my kind of situation! We get to figure out what makes this guy tick!" He leaned closer conspiratorially, lowering his voice. "Think about it—stoic, mysterious, probably has some crazy backstory. It's like a puzzle begging to be solved. What if he's got hidden trauma? Secret abilities? Maybe he's secretly a genius, or—"

Diana swatted his arm, harder this time, her expression mixing amusement with warning. "Simon Curtis, I swear—he's not some coding problem you can debug. He's a person. A student who needs actual guidance, not you treating him like your personal mystery novel."

Simon clutched his chest dramatically, staggering back a step. "Ouch! Right in the heart!" But the grin remained plastered on his face. "But come on, you can't tell me you're not at least a little curious. Just a tiny bit?"

Diana opened her mouth to respond, but--

"Pardon the interruption."

Both mentors froze.

Rukawa was standing behind one of the chairs, his posture relaxed but oddly formal. His dark eyes looked at them both with patient curiosity. "Where should I sit?"

Diana's entire demeanor shifted instantly, her face warming as a genuine smile bloomed across her features. "Oh! Right, sorry—um, anywhere you'd like! Seriously, whatever's comfortable for you."

Simon, recovering from his dramatic performance, gestured at the chairs with a flourish that would make a game show host jealous. "Please, take your pick! We've got premium seating options—left side, right side, middle—all equally uncomfortable!" He paused. "Actually, that's probably not a great selling point."

Rukawa moved to a chair and sat down with deliberate calm, his movements economical. He raised one eyebrow at Simon—the most expression he'd shown so far.

"'Resident mystery.'" His tone was completely flat, but there was the ghost of something underneath. "Interesting designation."

Diana quickly took the seat directly across from him, leaning forward with an encouraging smile. "Just ignore him. Simon's incapable of being normal for more than thirty seconds at a time."

"Hey!" Simon protested, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I resent that! I'm extremely normal. Totally average. Completely mundane, even."

Diana turned to face him, channeling every bit of exasperated teacher energy she possessed. Her expression said everything: Sit down and behave yourself.

Simon immediately straightened, hands shooting up in surrender. "Alright, alright! Message received loud and clear." He dropped into his chair. "I'm sitting. See? Sitting. Being good."

A beat.

"For now."

Rukawa's gaze moved between them both—analytical, measured, like he was cataloging their dynamic for future reference.

"Understood." His voice was quiet but steady. "Shall we begin?"

Simon practically bounced in his seat, barely containing his excitement. "Oh man, yes! Okay, okay—so here's the deal." He rubbed his hands together. "First step is pretty straightforward—you gotta feel the room. And I know that sounds super vague and mystical, but trust me, it makes sense eventually."

Diana nodded, her voice warm and reassuring. "What Simon's trying to say—" She shot him a look. "—in his own chaotic way, is that you need to meditate. Just focus, breathe, and let yourself connect with the space. Think you can handle that?"

Rukawa considered this for exactly two seconds. "I can make the attempt."

"Perfect!" Simon leaned back, grinning. "Alright, so just close your eyes and like—I dunno, vibe with it? Let the silence do its thing. Don't force anything, just... let it happen."

Diana's tone softened further, almost motherly. "Exactly. Let go of everything else—all the noise, all the distractions. Just focus on right here, right now. You've got this."

Rukawa's eyes closed without hesitation.

His breathing evened out immediately—no adjustment period, no visible struggle.

Just... instant calm.

And then something shifted.

The air pressure changed. The atmosphere grew heavier, denser—like the moment before a thunderstorm breaks.

Simon and Diana felt it simultaneously, their eyes meeting across the table in wide-eyed shock.

"Oh shit," Simon mouthed silently.

Diana's expression mirrored his perfectly.

Inside Rukawa's mind, the world transformed:

The walls stood smooth and silent, their steel surface cold yet steady. Where most would flinch at their lifeless gleam, Rukawa found them strangely honest. No chaos. No noise. Just stillness.

The floor reflected a faint shimmer from the fluorescents above, grounding him firmly in the present. Every sound, every breath felt measured, controlled—like the calm before a perfectly executed strike.

The one-way mirror didn't unsettle him in the slightest. It watched, yes—but so did he. He met his own faint reflection in the black glass and felt nothing to hide. No shame. No fear. Just acknowledgment.

The light above hummed softly, centered on him like a spotlight during meditation. Its precision comforted him rather than exposed him—there were no shadows here, only truth laid bare.

And sitting there, perfectly unmoving, Rukawa felt an odd sense of peace wash over him like cool water.

Where others heard whispers or screams echoing from the walls, he heard only silence.

A silence that felt like home.

Then his eyes opened.

Calmly.

As if he'd just woken from a pleasant nap.

Diana's hand shot out and grabbed Simon's arm hard enough to leave fingerprints. Her voice came out as an urgent whisper. "Tell me you're seeing this. Please tell me I'm not hallucinating."

Simon's usual sarcastic demeanor had completely evaporated. His mouth hung open slightly, his voice hushed with genuine awe. "I'm seeing it. And I'm definitely not believing it." He shook his head slowly. "Nobody—and I mean nobody—connects like that on their first try. That's not... that's not supposed to be possible."

Diana's voice trembled slightly with a mix of amazement and concern. "He's not just different, Simon. This is something else entirely."

"Yeah," Simon breathed. "pWay beyond 'different.'"

Rukawa tilted his head, and for the first time, something close to confusion crossed his features—a tiny crack in his marble facade.

"Did I execute it incorrectly?" His tone was genuinely puzzled, like someone trying to understand feedback on a test they thought they'd aced.

Both mentors immediately shook their heads, almost comically synchronized.

"No!" Diana said quickly, leaning forward. "God, no—you didn't do anything wrong at all!"

Simon jumped in, his hands moving animatedly. "Dude, 'wrong' isn't even in the same universe as what just happened. It's just—okay, so most people? First time doing this? They're sweating bullets, freaking out, maybe crying." He gestured at Rukawa. "You just looked like you were taking a power nap in a spa. That's... that's not normal rookie behavior."

Diana nodded vigorously, her analytical side kicking in even as worry flickered in her eyes. "You're reacting completely differently than anyone we've ever seen. Not bad different—just... unprecedented different."

Simon leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with that intense focus he got when solving complex problems. "Okay, real question time—what exactly did you feel during that? Like, walk us through it. Details, specifics, whatever you can remember."

Rukawa took a moment, his expression thoughtful but calm. When he spoke, his voice was measured and matter-of-fact.

"Peace." He paused, as if searching for more precise language. "The room felt... grounding. Present, but not intrusive. The walls, the floor, even that mirror—" He gestured slightly. "—none of it felt threatening or oppressive. They were just... there. Existing alongside me."

Another pause.

"The silence was familiar. Comfortable, even. Like returning to a place I'd been before."

Simon's jaw dropped. "You're messing with me right now. You have to be." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "When I did this—my first time—it was sensory hell. Every electronic device within a hundred meters felt like it was screaming in my head. Keyboards clicking, hard drives spinning, phones buzzing—everything all at once, this overwhelming noise." He pointed at Rukawa with disbelief. "And you're sitting here telling me you felt... what, zen garden vibes?"

Rukawa's expression remained unchanged. He shrugged—a minimal movement. "I'm simply reporting my experience accurately. I felt peace. Calm. Familiarity."

A beat.

"Nothing more, nothing less."

Diana sat quietly, her eyes tracking between them like a spectator at a tennis match. But inside, her thoughts were racing at lightspeed.

He's not like the others. Not even close. There's something in his past—something that made this feel normal to him. Something he's either not aware of or not telling us.

She bit her lip, then made a decision.

"Hey, Rukawa?" Her voice was gentle but purposeful. "Would you be okay with us moving straight into the evaluation phase? Like, right now?"

Simon's enthusiasm returned instantly. "Yeah! Because honestly, we need to figure out what's going on in that brain of yours. This is fascinating in like, a slightly concerning but mostly amazing way."

Rukawa met both their gazes steadily, his expression unreadable but cooperative.

"I have no objection." He folded his hands on the table with deliberate precision. "If this process helps you understand me—or helps me understand this system—then proceed."

A pause.

Then, with the faintest hint of dry humor:

"Though I should warn you—normal results seem unlikely at this point."

Simon let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, no kidding. 'Normal' left the building about five minutes ago."

Rukawa's lips might have twitched. Might have. "Just managing expectations."

Diana leaned back in her chair, folding her arms as she studied him with renewed intensity. "You know what? I think we're barely scratching the surface with you, Rukawa. There's a lot more going on than you're letting on—or maybe even more than you realize."

Simon nodded emphatically, his grin returning full force. "Massive understatement. Like, galactic understatement."

Diana rolled her eyes but couldn't quite suppress her smirk. She glanced at Simon—a moment of shared understanding passing between them—before turning back to Rukawa.

"Alright then." She straightened, her mentor mask sliding firmly into place. "Let's get started with the evaluation. You ready?"

Rukawa nodded once, his posture perfectly calm. No nervous energy. No anticipation.

No fear.

Just... ready.

"Ready."

--

PHASE 1: EVALUATION PHASE

Simon leaned closer, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Don't worry—we'll start with something simple. Once you answer, we'll keep the momentum going until we survive this phase together. Got it?"

Rukawa simply nodded, his expression unchanging. "Proceed."

Simon chuckled, clearly pleased by how quickly Rukawa agreed without protest. "Alright then. Here's the first question:"

He leaned back in his chair, the smirk still firmly in place. "Tell us something no one knows about you. Something real."

Rukawa spoke calmly, without hesitation. "I love cute things."

Simon blinked rapidly, momentarily caught completely off guard by the unexpected answer. His smirk faltered. "Uh... what?"

Diana, meanwhile, couldn't hide her amusement. A small, genuine chuckle escaped her before she quickly composed herself again, pressing her lips together. "That's—actually kind of adorable."

Rukawa raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, the closest thing to surprise he'd shown. "You seem shocked, Mr. Curtis."

Simon shrugged, still appearing somewhat taken aback, his usual confident demeanor slightly rattled. "No offense, man, but I didn't exactly expect someone with your whole... stoic warrior vibe to be into cute things. You know, kinda throws off the image."

Diana shot Simon an amused look before turning back to Rukawa, her expression genuinely curious. "What kind of cute things do you like? Like, are we talking plushies, or...?"

A slight hint of a smile ghosted across Rukawa's lips—barely there, but unmistakable. "Animals. I really like animals, especially small ones." His voice softened almost imperceptibly. "The innocence of nature brings peace to my existence."

His gaze grew distant, filled with something that looked almost like wisdom beyond his years.

Simon blinked, clearly not expecting that level of depth. "That's... surprisingly philosophical, actually."

Diana nodded, a small but genuine smile warming her features. She seemed almost impressed by his sincerity. "It's an unusual preference for someone like you, but there's something really sincere about it. It's... refreshing, honestly."

Simon leaned back against his chair, studying Rukawa with renewed interest. "You know what? I'm dying to know—where did you get all that attitude from? Like, seriously." He smirked, his tone carrying a hint of challenge. "Most people would've cracked by now with all our questions, but you're just... unbothered."

Rukawa raised an eyebrow, his expression still completely unfazed. "You mean my lack of reaction to your attempts to provoke me?"

Simon chuckled, clearly amused. "Yeah, exactly that."

Diana interrupted quickly, her expression shifting to concern. "Simon... that's getting pretty personal, don't you think?"

Simon shrugged, still smiling like he hadn't just crossed a line. "Relax, Diana. This is literally what the evaluation phase does. We're supposed to dig deep. Stop worrying so much."

Rukawa shifted his steady gaze to Diana, his voice calm but firm. "Rest assured, Ms. Marville. I can handle myself." A pause. "Don't let your emotions interfere with your mentorship duties."

Diana felt momentarily caught off guard by Rukawa's directness, but she collected herself quickly, straightening in her seat. "Right... my apologies. You're absolutely right."

Simon cleared his throat, clearly enjoying the slight tension crackling in the air. "No need to get defensive, Rukawa. We're just trying to get to know you better. That's all this is."

Rukawa exhaled slowly, then nodded once. "I may have acquired this... particular set of personality traits because I was raised this way—"He paused, his expression hardening just slightly, like stone settling.

"—by my family."

Both Simon and Diana went quiet immediately, sensing the sudden shift in Rukawa's tone. For the first time since entering the room, his stoic mask seemed to falter—just for a moment, like a crack in marble.

Simon leaned forward, his expression now a mix of genuine intrigue and cautious understanding. "Your family..."

Diana's expression softened considerably, her eyes filling with empathy. "Did they... raise you in a particular way? With specific expectations?"

Rukawa's gaze dropped to his intertwined hands, and for just a moment, a flicker of something painful crossed his otherwise detached expression.

"They believed in discipline far more than affection. Emotions were considered signs of weakness in their eyes—liabilities to be eliminated." His voice remained steady, clinical. "I was taught early on to suppress my feelings, to remain unyielding no matter the circumstances. My reactions—or lack thereof—that you see now are simply the result of years of conditioning."

Simon blinked, processing. "Years of conditioning? What kind of family does that to a kid?"

Rukawa tilted his head slightly, his eyes staying steady as his voice dropped to something low and even.

"You're sure—" He let the silence hang in the air like a blade. "—you want to know?"

Simon and Diana exchanged glances, both sensing the weight of whatever was about to be revealed. Simon, despite his earlier skepticism, leaned forward, his curiosity clearly getting the better of him. "Yes. We're sure."

Diana nodded firmly, her expression solemn. "We need to understand."

Rukawa's next word landed like a gunshot in the quiet room. "Assassins."

Simon and Diana froze completely.

The silence that followed was thick, suffocating—like the air before a violent storm.

Simon's smirk vanished entirely, his eyes widening as he processed what Rukawa had just said. When he finally spoke, his voice came out quieter than before, almost reverent. "Assassins?"

Diana inhaled sharply through her nose, clearly stunned but desperately trying to maintain her composure. "That... explains so much, actually."

Rukawa nodded solemnly, his tone matter-of-fact. "I'm certain you heard me correctly. Assassins—the ones who kill for fortune and power."

Diana seemed to pale at his words, her expression turning grave.

Simon, still trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing, leaned back in his chair slowly. His earlier playful smirk had been completely wiped clean.

He spoke slowly, deliberately, his eyes never leaving Rukawa's face. "You were... raised by assassins? Like, actual professional killers?"

Rukawa nodded once.

Diana rubbed her temples, confusion and concern warring across her features. "But—but you don't seem harmful at all. Right, Simon? He seems completely normal!"

Simon couldn't help but chuckle dryly at her question despite the tension crackling through the room. "Well, apparently looks can be very deceiving." He looked directly at Rukawa, studying his still-calm expression with new eyes. "Right?"

Diana forced a smile, though worry still lingered in her eyes. "Can you, uh... please explain this further? We really appreciate you answering our questions, but we need to understand the full picture here."

Rukawa nodded cooperatively. "Understood." He shifted his posture slightly, preparing himself mentally for what came next. "I was raised by assassins—that's an undeniable fact. But I hated violence, even as a child." His voice carried a note of quiet conviction. "When I was young, they made me believe our clan was noble—that we fought for justice and righteousness. They told me we were samurais, honorable warriors protecting the innocent."

A pause, heavy with meaning.

"That's why I let them train me to become like them. I believed their lies."

Simon and Diana listened intently, their earlier shock now replaced by a complex mixture of awe, sympathy, and lingering confusion.

Simon's skepticism had softened considerably, his voice surprisingly gentle when he spoke. "So... you didn't even want to be part of this family business? They just... manipulated you?"

Diana leaned forward urgently, her eyes locked on Rukawa's face. "What kind of training did they put you through?"

Rukawa exhaled deeply, but his gaze remained unfazed, steady as bedrock.

"I was taught basic martial arts and various combat skills—hand-to-hand, weapons, stealth tactics. But the majority of the training was psychological conditioning." His voice took on a colder edge. "They broke me down completely before building me back up in their image. They made it abundantly clear that emotions were weaknesses to be purged. They drilled into me relentlessly that expressing feelings was a vulnerability that could be exploited by enemies."

He paused, and something dark flickered behind his eyes. "They stripped me of my childhood—of the innocence that naturally comes with being a child. From an extremely young age, I was trained to be nothing more than a cold, calculating weapon."

Simon and Diana sat in stunned silence.

Diana's expression softened even more, genuine pain crossing her features. "That's horrible." Her voice cracked slightly. "What kind of parents do that to their own child? Force them to suffer like that..."

Rukawa shrugged with eerie composure, as if discussing the weather. "They didn't see it as suffering. To them, this was simply how things were supposed to be. This was tradition. Legacy. Duty."

A long, heavy pause followed before he added—almost dryly:

"But I disagree with their methods now. Fundamentally."

Simon nodded, visibly relieved. "Yeah... thank God for that. Seriously." He hesitated. "But how did you actually find out the truth? That your family wasn't noble samurais but actual..." He gestured vaguely. "...you know. Assassins?"

Rukawa leaned back slightly, his gaze growing distant, unfocused—like he was looking at something far away.

"I found out by accident. Pure chance, really." His voice was measured, clinical. "I overheard a conversation between my relatives when I was around eight years old. They were discussing an upcoming assignment—a job."

He emphasized the word with quiet bitterness.

"That's when I learned the truth about their profession and the real nature of the family I came from."

Diana's expression twisted with concern and disbelief. "You were just a child... That must have been incredibly difficult to process. Traumatic, even."

Rukawa nodded slowly. "Indeed it was."

A beat.

"That's why I decided to escape."

Simon's eyebrows shot up, his earlier intrigue returning full force. "You... escaped? Like, actively ran away?"

Diana seemed equally surprised, her eyes widening considerably. "From an assassin family? That sounds absolutely insane... How is that even possible?"

Rukawa's expression dropped noticeably, something heavier settling over his features.

"It was never easy. My family…" He paused, searching for words. "They were a chain I had to break." He looked away briefly.

"They wouldn't let me go willingly, so I had to find another way out."

Both Simon and Diana radiated shock mixed with deep empathy now. Simon leaned forward, his tone considerably quieter, all traces of humor completely absent.

"How did you actually manage it? Escaping from a family of professional assassins can't have been remotely easy."

Rukawa's gaze locked onto their eyes with unsettling intensity.

"It wasn't. It was a long, extremely difficult process." His voice remained steady, factual. "I had to be patient—meticulously so. Plan carefully. Gather intelligence. They weren't just going to let me walk away from the family legacy. I spent months preparing in secret—gathering information on their schedules and patterns, planning my escape route down to the smallest detail, waiting for exactly the right moment."

He paused. "When the opportunity finally presented itself, I took it without hesitation. And I never looked back."

Simon's curiosity suddenly peaked, his eyes lighting up. "That's incredible! Can you explain it in more detail? Like, step by step? I need to know how you pulled this off!"

Diana's eyes widened in surprise, her tone sharp. "Simon! That's way too much to ask! You can't just—"

Rukawa shook his head calmly, dismissing Diana's concerns with a wave. "Rest assured, I don't mind sharing."

Simon shrugged, clearly fascinated beyond reason. "Come on, Diana—you can't just drop a bomb like this and expect us not to want all the details. That's unreasonable."

Rukawa nodded once more, still perfectly composed. "I understand completely. But I will warn you—it's not exactly a pleasant story."

Diana exhaled sharply, visibly torn between curiosity and concern for Rukawa's wellbeing.

But Simon had already leaned in eagerly, eyes alight with intrigue and disbelief.

"Alright then," Simon said, his grin betraying equal parts excitement and morbid curiosity. "Lay it on us. We can handle it."

Rukawa's gaze flicked between them both, unreadable as always.

"Very well." He straightened slightly, every movement deliberate and controlled.

"It began with observation—careful, methodical observation over many months. I studied their routines religiously—when they slept, when assignments were active and the compound was less guarded. Weaknesses in their security protocols became increasingly clear over time."

Simon blinked, processing. "Wait—you were how old when you started planning all this?"

"Twelve," Rukawa replied flatly.

The single word landed like a stone dropped into perfectly still water.

Silence rippled through the room.

Even Diana flinched slightly, her breath catching audibly at the thought of a twelve-year-old child dissecting his own household like it was a case file to be solved.

Rukawa continued, completely unbothered by their horrified stares.

"The night I left coincided with a high-profile assignment—a major job that required most of the family's attention. The distraction was enough to mask my initial absence temporarily." His tone remained clinical, detached. "I took only what wouldn't be immediately missed: cash from secondary stashes they didn't monitor closely, non-traceable clothing, basic supplies. Burner phones I'd acquired during errands over the previous months served me well initially."

He stopped abruptly.

"But I was caught by my father while escaping."His voice dropped lower.

"I had no choice but to face him head-on."

Simon and Diana's eyes widened in absolute horror.

Simon leaned forward sharply, his voice barely above a whisper. "You—you faced your father? Directly? In combat?"

Diana covered her mouth with one hand, unable to hide her shock. "Oh my god..."

Rukawa nodded, his expression still eerily calm despite the gravity of the topic.

"Yes. It was a risky decision—a desperate measure, to be precise—but I didn't have any other choice in that moment. My father, as you can imagine, wasn't exactly thrilled to discover me attempting to leave. He immediately tried to drag me back by force."

Simon raised both hands quickly, trying desperately to process everything. "So—wait, hold on. Did you two actually... fight? Like, hand-to-hand combat? Father versus son?"

Rukawa nodded, his tone still maddeningly even and factual. "Correct. My father and I engaged in direct physical combat. It was a desperate struggle—one I genuinely wasn't certain I would survive."

Simon and Diana exchanged a wide-eyed look of complete disbelief, struggling to comprehend the sheer gravity of what they were hearing.

Simon found his voice first, though it came out strained.

"You... you actually fought your own father in combat? At twelve years old? That's absolutely insane! That must have been..."

He trailed off, unable to find adequate words.

Rukawa's next words were blunt,matter-of-fact.

"I lost."

Both Simon and Diana recoiled slightly at his admission.

Simon leaned back, his usual humor completely absent. "You... lost? But you said you got away, right? How does that work?"

Rukawa nodded slowly. "Yes. I lost the fight decisively."

A pause heavy with implication.

"But I still escaped... by gambling my life for death."

Simon and Diana's eyes widened in shock and mounting horror, their hearts seemingly dropping into their stomachs.

"What—" Simon's voice cracked. "What the hell do you mean by that?!"

Rukawa sighed quietly, as if explaining something simple.

"Once my father believed he had thoroughly beaten me—that I was defeated and broken—I allowed him to maintain that belief. When he finally turned away, thinking the matter settled..."

Rukawa's voice dropped to something almost whisper-quiet.

"I cast a spell. Before dying."

A beat.

"And after that... I was resurrected."

Simon and Diana sat completely motionless, frozen in absolute disbelief.

Simon was the first to find his voice, though it trembled noticeably. "You—you're telling us you actually died... and then came back? Like, legitimately died and were brought back to life?"

Rukawa's expression remained perfectly neutral as he nodded once. "That is correct."

Simon and Diana exchanged another incredulous look, their disbelief reaching entirely new heights.

"But—but that's impossible!" Diana finally burst out, her composure cracking. "People can't just... come back from the dead! That's not how reality works!"

Rukawa shrugged with infuriating calm. "Yet here I am. I was revived through the use of magic—specific techniques passed down through certain bloodlines."

Simon stared at him, his analytical mind refusing to accept what his ears were hearing. "Wait—hold on a second. You said you cast a spell before dying so you wouldn't stay dead?"

Rukawa nodded once more, expression unchanged. "Yes. I cast a resurrection spell to ensure my return. It was an act born of pure desperation and survival necessity."

Diana's head was spinning violently, struggling to process the impossible information. She shook her head slowly.

"Okay. Let me get this absolutely straight."

She spoke slowly, carefully. "You... died—actually, genuinely died—and then you used some kind of magical spell to bring yourself back to life..."

A pause. "All of this happened when you were twelve years old?"

Rukawa nodded calmly. "Is that too surprising for you?"

Both Simon's and Diana's jaws dropped simultaneously, their disbelief now mixing with grudging admiration.

"Surprising?! SURPRISING?!" Simon's voice rose. "This is more like... like mind-blowing, reality-shattering insanity!!"

Diana exhaled shakily, trying to ground herself. "Okay. Okay, okay, okay." She took a breath. "Are you being completely truthful right now? Because this sounds—"

Rukawa turned to face Diana directly, meeting her gaze with unwavering intensity.

"We are being trained as detectives, Ms. Marville." His voice was steady, challenging. "Now look directly into my eyes and tell me if you believe I'm lying."

Diana met his gaze, searching his eyes desperately for any hint of deception—any tell, any microexpression.

But found absolutely nothing.

Her expression softened slightly, though shock still lingered heavily. "I... I don't see any lies in your words. Your pupils aren't dilated, no eye movement suggesting fabrication..."

She trailed off. "But this is—this is unbelievable in the most literal sense."

Simon rubbed his temples dramatically before breaking into an almost manic grin. "Alright then! If you're not lying—and apparently you're not—we've got an official former assassin sitting right here! In our training chamber! This is the wildest day of my entire life!"

Diana exhaled slowly, then smiled warmly at Rukawa—genuine pride shining through her lingering shock.

"I'm really proud of you, Rukawa. For escaping. For surviving. For choosing a different path."

Simon scoffed playfully, still trying to fully process everything. "Proud? Seriously, Diana? The guy literally died and came back!"

Diana rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide her smile. "Oh come on, Simon. You have to admit it's incredibly impressive. Escaping from an assassin family and coming back from death? That takes serious guts, determination, and sheer willpower."

Rukawa nodded solemnly, acknowledging her words. "I appreciate your sentiment."

A pause.

"However—do you want to know what happened after that?"

Simon immediately leaned forward, his earlier shock now completely replaced by pure, unbridled fascination.

"Are you kidding me? Of course we do! Don't leave us hanging now!"

Diana smirked slightly at Simon's enthusiasm but nodded in firm agreement. "Yeah. I think it's safe to say we're completely invested at this point. You can't stop now."

Rukawa cleared his throat.

Was he... trying not to smile?

"Before we proceed further, I want you both to know something important."

A beat.

"Rukawa is not my real name."

Simon and Diana both froze completely, their expressions shifting instantly from intrigue to outright shock.

Simon blurted out first, his voice rising. "Wait—WHAT?! So you're telling us your entire name has been fake this whole time?! Who even are you?!"

Rukawa blinked, genuinely stunned by the outburst. "Calm yourself, please. This second name I currently use was given to me by my adoptive parents after my escape."

Simon and Diana stared at him, their panic immediately replaced by relief—though confusion still lingered prominently.

"Oh. Phew." Simon exhaled dramatically. "For a second there I genuinely thought you were pulling our legs about everything."

Diana shot Simon a pointed look before turning back to Rukawa, her curiosity clearly piqued.

"So... what is your real name then? Your birth name?"

Rukawa's voice was steady, clear.

"Rankiku Kinoshita."

Both Simon and Diana sat in stunned, absolute silence.

Simon's eyes widened to an almost comical degree, his playful demeanor evaporating instantly. "Wait. Wait just a minute." His voice came out strained.

"Did I hear that correctly...? Did you just say... Kinoshita?"

Rukawa raised his eyebrows slightly. "You recognize it?"

Simon scoffed, but there was no humor in it—only shock. "Recognize it?! Are you kidding me right now?! Of course I recognize it!"

He leaned forward intensely. "The Kinoshita Clan—the clan that colonized entire countries during ancient times using the most brutal, ruthless methods possible. The clan that built an empire on blood and terror."

A pause heavy with implication.

"And now a direct descendant is sitting right in front of us?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "That's absolutely absurd."

Diana's expression shifted from confusion to genuine, profound surprise. Her voice came out quiet, almost reverent.

"You're... you're a Kinoshita? Like—THE Kinoshita Clan? From the history books?"

Simon looked like he'd just been struck by lightning. His jaw hung open as he leaned forward in his seat, gripping the table.

"Wait—hold on. You mean the same clan that practically ran entire civilizations back in the day through sheer force, intimidation, and systematic terror?"

Rukawa nodded once, his expression still frustratingly neutral. "Yes. That would be correct."

Diana exhaled sharply, her eyes flickering rapidly between Rukawa and Simon as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"So... you're telling us that you—a direct descendant of arguably the most infamous, powerful clan in recorded history—managed to escape from them?"

Her voice rose slightly with disbelief.

"And not just escaped, but completely defied their entire legacy?"

A beat passed before Simon finally found his voice again, though it came out slightly strangled.

"...That might legitimately be the coolest thing I've ever heard in my entire life."

Diana exhaled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "No wonder you managed to escape from them. With that kind of lineage, you'd have the skills and knowledge necessary."

Simon let out a low whistle, shaking his head in pure amazement. "Yeah... no kidding. If I was raised by people who literally ruled through fear and systematic brutality for centuries?"He shook his head. "Yeah, I'd be trying to run too. Absolutely."

A beat of silence followed before Simon smirked at Rukawa—though there was now an undeniable note of genuine respect coloring his tone.

"So... does this mean we're basically dealing with former royalty here? Should we be bowing or something?"

Rukawa shot them the driest look humanly possible. "I don't consider myself one of them anymore. That life is dead to me."

Simon couldn't help but chuckle despite everything. "Alright, alright—fair enough. You're not exactly royalty anymore, I get it."

He grinned. "But you have to admit—the whole 'badass escapee from an ancient, legendary assassin clan' thing has a pretty incredible ring to it. Don't you think, Diana?"

Diana tried and utterly failed to suppress a genuine smile.

"You're completely hopeless, Simon."

Rukawa raised an eyebrow, his expression still deadpan but carrying the absolute faintest hint of amusement.

"I suppose some habits die harder than others."

A beat passed before Simon smirked and leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying this entire conversation now.

"Yeah. You could definitely say that again."

Diana's expression brightened considerably, her eyes lighting up with renewed curiosity. "Okay, so—let's move on to another question. What I really want to know is..."

She leaned forward slightly. "Did your life actually become more grounded after you left your biological family? Like, did things finally feel... stable? Normal?"

Simon jumped in before Rukawa could answer, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Yeah, and hold on—you mentioned you have adoptive parents now, right? When did you meet them? How did that whole situation even happen?"

Rukawa's gaze didn't waver, though his expression softened in a way neither mentor had seen before—like ice beginning to thaw.

"Honestly?" He exhaled quietly. "Pure luck. Complete chance, really." His voice carried an unfamiliar note of quiet gratitude. "I was completely exhausted—starving, dehydrated, on the verge of total collapse. I'd been running for days. When I stumbled onto their property, I could barely stand."

He paused, the memory clearly vivid.

"They found me collapsed on their doorstep at dawn. Half-dead, barely conscious, covered in blood and dirt." His voice dropped lower. "Most people would've called the police immediately, or at least turned me away. But they didn't do either of those things."

Another pause, heavier this time.

"Instead, they brought me inside without asking a single question. Treated my wounds. Let me sleep for almost two days straight. Fed me actual home-cooked meals." His expression filled with something almost like wonder.

"They showed me this... kindness that I genuinely didn't know could exist. Not without strings attached. Not without expectations."

Diana's entire face softened, her expression radiating warmth. "That's actually really beautiful, Rukawa. I'm so glad you found them." She hesitated, then asked carefully, "Are they aware of your past? Like, do they know about the Kinoshita Clan and everything?"

Rukawa's expression darkened slightly—not anger, but something more protective, guarded. "They know some of it. Enough to understand why I can't use my birth name publicly. Why I sometimes wake up from nightmares. Why certain things make me... tense." His voice remained steady, but there was an undercurrent of fierce protectiveness now. "But they've never demanded the full story. They don't push for details I'm not ready to share."

A meaningful pause.

"They've always completely respected my boundaries. No interrogations. No pressure. Just... acceptance."

Simon nodded slowly, processing the information with unusual seriousness. Then his expression shifted—became more focused, more analytical. The joking facade dropped entirely.

"Can I ask you something kind of heavy?" His tone was uncharacteristically serious.

Diana's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. She knew Simon could be serious when it mattered, but it still caught her off guard every single time.

Simon leaned forward, his eyes locked on Rukawa's face. "Your kindness—the compassion you just showed talking about your adoptive parents, the way you talked about loving animals earlier..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Do you genuinely believe you still have that inside you? Real kindness? After everything they conditioned you to be? After years of being trained to suppress emotions?"

Rukawa met his gaze without flinching, his voice measured but carrying absolute conviction.

"Kindness isn't weakness." He said it like a fundamental truth. "It doesn't mean I can't defend myself when necessary, or protect others when they're in danger. Those skills are still there—I can't just erase years of training."

A beat of heavy silence.

"But having the ability to be dangerous doesn't negate my capacity for compassion. For empathy. For caring about people and things that can't defend themselves."

Another pause, then he added—his tone absolutely bone-dry:

"And just for the record? Being trained as an assassin and being kind aren't mutually exclusive traits. If they were, I never would've had the moral compass to realize what my family was doing was wrong. I wouldn't have valued my own life enough to escape in the first place."

Simon burst into genuine, surprised laughter—the kind that's startled out of you. "Oh man—okay, you're officially way too good at this! That was the perfect answer!"

Diana rolled her eyes dramatically, but her smile was wide and genuine. "Right? He just casually drops profound philosophical statements while talking about his assassin training like he's discussing his favorite TV show or something. It's actually impressive."

The ghost of a smirk tugged at Rukawa's lips—barely visible, easy to miss if you weren't paying attention. He shrugged one shoulder in that minimal way of his.

Diana straightened in her seat, her playful expression shifting to something more serious. She uncrossed and then re-crossed her arms, squaring her shoulders.

"Okay. Final question." Her voice took on new weight. "And this one's really important, Rukawa. I need you to answer as honestly as you possibly can."

She met his eyes directly, unflinching.

"Do you love yourself? Right now, sitting here, after everything you've been through—do you genuinely love who you are?"

Rukawa's eyes flickered—genuine discomfort passing across his features for just a moment. The question had clearly caught him off guard, pierced through his usual armor.

The room fell silent. Even the hum of the fluorescent lights seemed to fade.

After what felt like an eternity—though it was probably only ten seconds—he answered. His voice was quiet but absolutely steady.

"Yes."

The word hung in the air like a declaration.

"Despite everything that's happened to me—the conditioning, the manipulation, the violence, literally dying..." He paused, making sure they understood the weight of what he was saying. "I love myself. I love who I'm becoming."

Simon and Diana exchanged glances, both clearly stunned by the directness of his answer.

Rukawa continued without prompting, elaborating in a way that was uncharacteristic for him. "I wouldn't be sitting in this room right now if I didn't love myself enough to fight for my own life. If I didn't believe—fundamentally, deeply—that I deserved something better than what they were turning me into." His voice grew stronger. "If I didn't think my life had value beyond being their weapon."

The silence that followed was profound—the kind that feels sacred, untouchable.

Simon was visibly taken aback, his mouth slightly open. All his usual quick wit had temporarily abandoned him.

Diana's eyebrows were raised high, her expression a mixture of amazement and something like pride.

Finally, Simon found his voice, though it came out quieter and more genuine than usual.

"I... wow. Okay." He shook his head slowly. "I'm not gonna lie—I totally expected you to either say no or at least hesitate way more. Maybe deflect with some dry humor."

Diana nodded emphatically, her voice soft with respect. "Same here, honestly. To hear you say you genuinely love yourself after everything you've survived—the abuse, the conditioning, the literal death and resurrection..."

She trailed off, shaking her head in wonder.

"That takes incredible inner strength. Like, seriously impressive levels of self-awareness and resilience."

A beat passed.

The atmosphere shifted noticeably—like stepping out of a heavy rainstorm into sunlight. Lighter. Warmer. More breathable.

Simon suddenly stood up, energy flooding back into his movements. "But now—the moment we've all been waiting for—we are officially, completely, one hundred percent DONE with Phase One!" He threw his hands up. "Evaluation complete! You survived!"

Diana beamed at Rukawa, her smile so warm it could melt ice. "You did amazing, Rukawa. Like, genuinely better than most people we've seen go through this. And honestly? I'm super excited to see how the system actually scored everything you shared."

Rukawa blinked, and for just a moment, he looked genuinely caught off guard by Diana's enthusiasm and warmth.

"Before we proceed to the results..." He hesitated—an unusual pause for someone usually so composed. "May I ask something?"

"Oh! Yeah, of course!" Diana nodded immediately, her expression open and encouraging. "Ask whatever you want. Seriously."

Rukawa drew in a slow breath, his eyes lowering for a moment as he carefully searched for the right words—something he clearly wasn't accustomed to doing.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than they'd heard all session. More vulnerable.

"After everything I've told you both today..." He paused, organizing his thoughts. "You reacted exactly how I expected initially—shock, disbelief, probably some fear. That's completely normal. Reasonable, even."

He looked up, his dark eyes moving between them both.

"But despite those completely natural reactions, you still accepted what I told you. You believed my story instead of dismissing it as impossible. You didn't treat me like a threat or a monster afterward."

His voice dropped even lower, almost to a whisper. "We only met three weeks ago when I first arrived at this academy. You were assigned as my mentors just today. Before this session, we were essentially strangers."

A pause heavy with emotion.

"Yet somehow, sitting here with you two after just these few hours... I feel accepted. Valued for who I am, not what I was trained to be." His voice cracked almost imperceptibly.

"I feel... loved."

The word hung in the air like something fragile and precious.

Simon and Diana exchanged a long, meaningful look. For once, neither of them had an immediate response. The weight of Rukawa's confession settled over them like snow.

Simon was the first to break the silence, and when he spoke, every trace of his usual sarcasm had vanished completely.

"Hey, you're absolutely right," he said quietly, his voice softer than either had heard before. "It should've been terrifying—hearing all that from someone we literally just started mentoring today. Finding out you're from this legendary assassin clan, that you literally died and came back to life, that you've probably... done things..."

He shook his head slowly. "Any rational person would probably be scared, or at least seriously uncomfortable. Hell, we've only known each other for three weeks total, and we only really talked for the first time today."

He leaned forward, meeting Rukawa's eyes directly.

"But here's the thing—when you're sitting here with us, talking about cute animals and your adoptive parents and figuring out what kindness means? You don't act like some dangerous weapon or trained killer. You act like Rukawa—just this guy who's trying to figure out who he is outside of what other people made him."

Diana nodded firmly, jumping in with equal sincerity.

"Exactly. And look—we might only be three months ahead of you in this program, but we've already seen so many people with completely extraordinary circumstances walk through these doors. People with impossible pasts, unbelievable abilities, trauma that would break most adults."

She met his gaze steadily. "You're not 'just a stranger' any more than anyone else is when they first arrive here. Yeah, we only met you three weeks ago, and yeah, we only became your mentors today—but from the moment we agreed to guide you through this, you became our responsibility. Our student."

A meaningful pause.

"And honestly, Rukawa? In just these few hours today, you're already becoming our friend. Whether you realize it or not."

Simon grinned—softer than his usual cocky smirk, but genuine. "Plus, like Diana said—we're your mentors now! So whether we like it or not—and just for the record, we really like it—we're gonna accept every part of you. The good, the complicated, the scary parts, all of it."

He squeezed Rukawa's shoulder.

"Just like your adoptive parents did when they found you bleeding out on their doorstep. Doesn't matter if we've only known you for three weeks or three years. We're not going anywhere."

Rukawa blinked once, slowly. His expression remained mostly unreadable, but if Simon and Diana were paying attention—and they absolutely were—they'd catch the tiniest softening around his eyes. A barely-there warmth that hadn't existed before.

"...That's a fair point," he conceded, his dry tone returning but with something almost like affection underneath. "I suppose that's simply how effective mentorship works in practice. Time doesn't necessarily determine connection."

Diana shook her head quickly, her cheeks suddenly flushing pink. "No, no—wait, it's not just about mentorship, Rukawa!"

She hesitated, visibly gathering courage.

"I—okay, look. I like you. As a person. I mean—" Her flush deepened to crimson. "What I'm trying to say is we're friends, right? Even if we just really met today, I feel like—I genuinely care about my friends. Like, a lot. I love my friends."

Her face was now completely red.

Rukawa raised his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly as he processed her words with visible confusion. Something shifted in his expression—like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.

Without fully understanding why, he'd developed this inexplicable soft spot for Diana over the ever since. Something about her warmth, her genuine care, made him feel... safe.

"Friends?" He tested the word carefully, like it was in a foreign language. "You mean... companionship? Mutual care? Even though we've only truly spoken today?"

Simon muttered under his breath, barely suppressing laughter. "Oh my god, this is painful. She literally cannot keep her composure when feelings are involved. This is like watching a car crash in slow motion."

Diana let out a nervous, slightly strangled laugh. "Y-yeah! Exactly! Whatever you want to call it, really! Friendship, companionship, mutual respect—all of the above! Sometimes you just... click with people, you know? Even if you just met them properly today!"

Internally, she was screaming: "He didn't catch what I actually meant. Thank GOD. Crisis somewhat averted. Maybe. I think?"

Rukawa broke the slightly awkward silence, his voice thoughtful and measured as always.

"I suppose friends can become family, in their own way. Regardless of how long you've known them." He paused, genuinely considering the concept. "And love..." Another pause. "I'm still actively trying to understand what that means. In all its forms. I'm learning."

Diana's face somehow flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. She turned away completely, facing the wall to hide her expression.

Internal panic: "DAMN IT, DIANA! What the HELL are you doing?! Get it TOGETHER! You're supposed to be the PROFESSIONAL one!"

A beat of absolutely beautiful awkward silence passed.

Then Simon threw an arm around Rukawa's shoulders with exaggerated enthusiasm, clearly enjoying Diana's suffering immensely.

"Damn right we're a trio now! The best trio in this entire academy!" He squeezed Rukawa's shoulder. "Way better than whatever Gwen, Richard, and of course to Javi have going on! We're the superior group, hands down! And we've only been working together for one day!"

He grinned widely.

"Now come on—let's go check your score already! Time for my favorite part of this whole process!"

Rukawa nodded simply, his expression returning to its usual composed calm. "Please proceed, then."

Diana finally turned back around, having mostly composed herself. She nudged Simon with her elbow, a genuine smile back on her face. "Go ahead, Simon. Show off your tech skills. This is where you get to be dramatic and I know you're dying to do your whole theatrical thing."

Simon snapped an exaggerated military salute, clicking his heels together. "Aye aye, Captain Diana! Preparing to access classified evaluation results!"

With practiced theatrical flair, Simon hopped up onto the table's edge, then walked confidently across it toward the one-way mirror. As he approached the reflective surface, he raised both hands, hovering them along the sides in a specific pattern—almost like conducting invisible music.

The CCTV camera beeped loudly—three sharp, insistent tones.

Simon took a deliberate step backward, grinning like a magician about to reveal his best trick.

The one-way mirror rippled like liquid mercury, distorting their reflections.

Then, with a soft electronic hum, it transformed completely into a massive flat-screen display. The surface became smooth, seamless, glowing with potential.

Simon spun around to face them, rubbing his hands together with obvious relish as loading bars began appearing on the screen behind him.

"Alright, Rukawa—brace yourself, my mysteriously stoic friend," he announced dramatically, gesturing at the screen like a game show host. "Because this next part? This is where we find out if you're genuinely detective material and belong here..."

He paused for maximum dramatic effect, waggling his eyebrows. "...Or if you're just incredibly, impressively good at lying to your mentors for the past couple of hours."

A beat.

He winked obnoxiously.

"No pressure though! Just your entire future potentially hanging in the balance. Super casual!"

Diana smacked his arm. "Simon! Don't stress him out!"

"What? I'm being encouraging!"

"That's the opposite of encouraging!"

Rukawa simply stared at them both, the faintest hint of amusement flickering across his features.

"I see your definition of 'encouragement' is... unconventional."

Diana and Simon's expressions filled with anticipation, their bodies leaning forward unconsciously like they were watching the finale of their favorite show.

Rukawa remained perfectly calm, his posture unchanged—though his eyes tracked every detail appearing on the display with laser focus.

--

Phase 1 Evaluation Summary – Rookie Division

Name: Rukawa Hiroshi (Registered as Rankiku Kinoshita)

Class: Edogawa

Instructor: Prof. Desmond Graves

Status: Phase 1 Completed

Endurance: 95% – Exceptional

Composed under every form of stress. Adapts with precision and calm, displaying unmatched physical and psychological control.

Honesty: 90% – Excellent

Revealed his past in full detail, including his escape from his assassin lineage through a resurrection spell. Speaks with clarity and complete integrity.

Diana nodded slowly as the results filled the screen, her expression a mixture of intrigue and deep satisfaction. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the glowing numbers.

"He's honest," she murmured quietly, almost like she was talking to herself. "Like, completely transparent despite having literally every reason in the world not to be."

Simon let out a low whistle, his eyebrows shooting up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. He leaned forward even more, practically pressing his nose to the display. "Dude, and his scores are absolutely insane. Like, through the stratosphere." He glanced over at Rukawa with genuine appreciation. "You know what? I'm starting to think you're way more honorable samurai than cold-blooded assassin at this point. Like, seriously."

Rukawa blinked, his head tilting slightly as he processed the compliment. "That's... impressive?"

"Extremely," Diana confirmed immediately, her voice carrying conviction.

Then the next metrics appeared on screen.

Genuinity: 87% – Controlled

Authentic but reserved. His truths are sincere, though emotionally distant and carefully measured.

Self-Awareness: 98% – Outstanding

Understands his identity and purpose completely. When asked "Do you love yourself?" Rukawa replied simply: "Yes."

That one word carried no pride, no doubt, no hesitation—only absolute certainty.

Simon's jaw literally dropped open. "Holy shit," he breathed out, leaning so close to the screen he was practically touching it. "He's got insane genuinity scores and his self-awareness is basically perfect. Like, ninety-eight percent? That's not normal. That's not even close to normal for a three-week student!"

Diana's eyes went wide, her analytical brain immediately spinning into overdrive. "Those aren't just high scores, Simon," she said quietly, almost reverently. "Those numbers are exceptional—like, borderline unprecedented—especially considering his background and years of emotional conditioning."

Simon shook his head slowly, letting out a disbelieving chuckle. "Damn. Just... damn." He paused for effect. "That self-awareness score is legitimately higher than Gwen's. And she's like, terrifyingly self-aware. She knows exactly who she is and will roast you for breathing wrong."

Diana's eyes went comically wide as she whipped around to glance nervously at the observation room door. "Oh my god, Simon—do NOT let her hear you say that!" Her voice dropped to an urgent whisper. "She will literally make the rest of your time here a living hell. Like, creative, psychological torture-level hell."

Simon grinned completely unrepentantly, waving his hand dismissively. "Eh, you know me—keeping my mouth shut has never really been my strong suit, Diana." He shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. "Plus, come on—she's not gonna hear us all the way from here. She's not superhuman or anything. Just super grumpy and mildly terrifying."

Diana rolled her eyes so hard it probably hurt. "You're impossible."

"That's why you love me," Simon shot back with a wink.

Then the next section materialized on screen, and the playful atmosphere evaporated.

Weakness:

Emotionally distant. Operates with logic and instinct, yet lacks depth in empathy and emotional interpretation. Struggles to connect feelings to observations.

Rukawa's eyebrows raised noticeably, and for the first time since entering the chamber, his expression showed genuine annoyance—just a flicker across his features, but unmistakably there.

And then the final section loaded on screen.

The verdict.

Final Remark:

RUKAWA HIROSHI: OVERQUALIFIED.

Subject demonstrates mastery far beyond Phase 1 parameters. Neurological scans and instinctive responses suggest an early manifestation of Cerebral Instinct—unprecedented for a three-week student.

Note: Phase 2 – Standard Progression DENIED.

Phase 2 Standard Progression is NOT AVAILABLE for this student.

--

A beat of absolutely stunned silence.

Complete, total quiet.

Then—

"What the—" Simon's jaw literally dropped open so wide it looked painful. His eyes went comically huge as he stared at the screen in pure, unfiltered disbelief. "W-wait, what?! Hold on, hold on—" He blinked rapidly like his brain was buffering. "I've never—and I mean NEVER—seen a result like this! Not once! Not even close!"

Rukawa's eyes widened too—just slightly, barely perceptible to anyone not paying close attention—but enough to show genuine concern rippling beneath his calm exterior. His tactical mind was already racing, calculating potential complications.

"This doesn't look good at all," he muttered under his breath, his voice tight. "Unusual results create problems. Always."

Diana seemed to cycle through about five different emotions in rapid succession—frustration, confusion, worry, disbelief—all crashing together. Her hands gestured wildly at the screen.

"What the hell is this?!" Her voice rose with each word. "Is the system glitching? Are we experiencing some kind of technical malfunction? This can't be right!"

Simon shook his head vigorously, still staring at the display like it might spontaneously change. "No, no—this is real, Diana. It's completely legit. The system's working fine." His voice dropped lower. "This is actually happening right now."

Diana's face cycled through more emotions as the implications slowly sank in like cold water. "But... but if he's officially overqualified..." She spoke slowly, carefully, like she was defusing a bomb with words. "And the academy is actively denying him from Standard Progression into Phase Two..." Her voice trailed off as the horrifying realization hit.

Simon's eyes went wide as the same thought struck him. His voice filled with sudden panic. "Oh shit—our mentorship is gonna fail! Like, spectacularly crash and burn!" He gestured frantically. "How the hell are we supposed to teach someone who's apparently already operating at a level above us?! That's like asking a middle schooler to tutor a PhD student! It doesn't work!"

Diana's expression darkened considerably, the weight of the problem settling over her like a heavy blanket. "That's... that's a really serious problem. Like, potentially academy-record-level serious."

A beat of heavy, suffocating silence followed.

Then Rukawa spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension with calm determination.

"Then we adapt." Simple. Direct. "If the academy won't allow me Standard Progression through conventional channels and procedures—then there must be alternative paths we haven't considered yet. Workarounds. Exceptions."

His eyes moved between his two mentors.

"I refuse to accept that this ends here."

Suddenly, without warning, the screen erupted into violent static—loud, crackling white noise that made all three of them flinch.

"What the—?" Simon started.

Then the image cleared completely, shifting to something entirely different.

The screen flickered back to life, now displaying a live video feed of an entirely different location—the school's cafeteria kitchen. The background was surprisingly warm and cozy; copper pots hung from hooks, fresh herbs dried in bundles, and every utensil and condiment was arranged with meticulous, almost maternal care.

The group's expressions shifted to identical confusion.

Then recognition slowly dawned on their faces.

"Wait—is that...?" Diana started.

"Oh no," Simon groaned, but he was grinning.

It was that kitchen. The legendary one. The place that filled their stomachs with incredible comfort food and their minds with Mrs. Caroline Yuro's cryptic wisdom disguised as casual conversation.

Rukawa muttered knowingly, his tone carrying resignation, "Knew it. I knew she'd be involved somehow."

Diana couldn't help but smile despite her confusion—it was half exasperation, half genuine fondness. "I guess she's checking up on us. Classic Mrs. Yuro."

And then she appeared on screen in all her cheerful glory.

Mrs. Caroline Yuro, with her characteristic warm smile that could light up the darkest corners and make you feel like everything would somehow be okay.

"Hello there, my dearest babies! Having some trouble? Do you need Mama Yuro's help?"

Both Simon and Diana perked up immediately, their surprise and confusion rapidly morphing into a complicated mix of relief, curiosity, and residual panic.

Simon was the first to find his voice, though it came out slightly strangled. "Uh—hi there, Ms. Yuro! That's, uh... that's actually you, right? Like, live streaming right now? Not a recording?"

The cheerful woman's smile somehow widened even further, her eyes absolutely twinkling with that warm, knowing mischief they'd all come to recognize. "In the flesh, sweetheart! Well, digitally speaking, but you get the idea." She chuckled warmly. "Now then—shall we discuss this little predicament of yours? Because we have much to talk about!"

Simon quickly threw both hands up in mock surrender, his eyes narrowing with intense curiosity. "Okay, wait—hold up, hold up! Time out!" He gestured emphatically. "How did you even know we were having trouble here?! The results literally just appeared like, what, forty-five seconds ago? Are you psychic? Do you have the room bugged?"

Mrs. Yuro chuckled warmly, the sound like comfort food in audio form. She casually flipped her spatula with practiced ease, completely unbothered. "Oh, Simon dear—I know because Desmond and I were fully expecting this exact kind of outcome from our young Rukawa here." She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We've been monitoring the situation closely."

Simon let out a disbelieving scoff, though his tone carried genuine amusement. "Mr. Graves, huh? So you two are like, what—coordinating behind the scenes now? Running secret operations? Skipping all the normal bureaucratic procedures?"

Mrs. Yuro giggled like he'd just told her the most delightful joke. "Oh, sweetie—you and that wild imagination of yours! So dramatic!" She shook her head fondly. "Desmond handles his assigned responsibilities and students, and I handle mine. We simply coordinate when the situation calls for it."

She winked directly at the camera.

"So in simpler terms—he's currently in charge of monitoring and guiding Gwen's group with that emotional Javi boy, and I'm in charge of yours with our special Rukawa here. Division of labor, dear!"

Diana's entire expression flooded with visible relief, her shoulders dropping about three inches as tension drained from her body. "Oh thank god—seriously, thank Heaven and Earth and everything in between!" She pressed a hand to her chest. "We genuinely had no idea what to do next. We were completely lost. Thank you so much, Mrs. Yuro!"

Simon couldn't resist adding his characteristic commentary, grinning widely. "Yeah, for real—'cause Mr. Graves might literally put us six feet under in actual graves if we somehow screw up mentoring his special case student. You know? Graves, graves? Get it?" He looked way too proud of himself.

Diana groaned audibly, covering her face with one hand. "That joke gets exponentially worse every single time you make it, Simon. Please stop."

"Never," Simon replied cheerfully.

Mrs. Yuro chuckled warmly once more, clearly completely amused and endeared by their natural banter. "Oh, you precious children—there's absolutely no need to thank me just yet. Not until you hear what I'm proposing."

She leaned slightly closer to her camera, and her expression shifted into something more mischievous. "Especially since what I'm about to suggest might surprise all three of you quite significantly."

Both Simon and Diana immediately exchanged very wary, uncertain looks—this was definitely not heading in the direction they'd anticipated.

Simon voiced their shared confusion first, his tone cautious. "Uhh... surprise us? In what way exactly, Mrs. Yuro? Good surprise or 'oh no' surprise?"

Mrs. Yuro's smile softened into something more meaningful as she shifted her warm gaze directly to Rukawa through the screen. "I mean, dear Simon, that this old lunch lady is extremely intrigued to see how your particular group dynamic will progress forward through Phase Two. Very, very intrigued indeed."

Diana leaned forward, her analytical curiosity genuinely piqued now. "But what's the specific reason for your personal interest, if you don't mind us asking? Why are you so invested in our group specifically? There are other mentor groups, right?"

Rukawa finally spoke up after a prolonged period of silence, his voice characteristically calm and matter-of-fact. "Mrs. Yuro is the person who originally brought me to this academy in the first place." He stated it like a simple fact. "That's the most logical reason why she'd want me monitored and guided so closely."

Mrs. Yuro positively beamed at Rukawa, her entire expression radiating warmth and pride. "Oh, Rukawa—you are so wonderfully perceptive! Always connecting the dots before anyone else!" She clasped her hands together. "Always thinking three steps ahead!"

Simon's ears literally perked up like a dog hearing a treat bag open. His eyes went wide with renewed fascination. "Wait, wait, wait—hold on a second! Back up!" He pointed between Mrs. Yuro and Rukawa repeatedly. "Did I hear that correctly? You—the cafeteria lunch lady—personally recruited him here? You brought our resident former legendary-clan assassin to this academy?"

He leaned forward intensely. "How does that even work?! You just stumbled across him somewhere? Did you hunt him down? This is wild!"

Rukawa raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone perfectly flat and distinctly unamused. "Is there a problem with that particular arrangement, Mr. Curtis?"

Simon immediately backpedaled, shaking his head so fast it looked like it might fly off. "No! Nope! Absolutely zero problems here whatsoever! Completely cool with it!"

But then his curiosity completely overwhelmed his self-preservation instincts. He leaned forward even more eagerly.

"But now—oh man, now I'm really, really, really curious about the full story!" His eyes were practically glowing. "Like, seriously—how and why exactly did you recruit Rukawa specifically? Where did you even find him? Was it fate? Coincidence? Secret lunch lady network? There's gotta be an amazing story here and I need to know it!"

Diana exhaled in complete exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose hard. "Simon, I swear to god—can it please wait until later?!" Her voice carried that special kind of exhausted patience. "We still have way more important, time-sensitive things to focus on right this second! Priorities!"

Simon pouted dramatically, his bottom lip sticking out like a child. "But I need to know the mysterious backstory! It's killing me!"

Diana shot him her sternest glare—the one that could make freshmen cry.

"Later."

Simon deflated visibly but relented under the force of Diana's mom-level stare. "Alright, alright—fine! I'll pipe down and be good. For now." He paused. "But I'm definitely coming back to this later! This conversation isn't over!"

Mrs. Yuro nodded, clearly satisfied with the momentary peace. "Now then—where was I before we got delightfully sidetracked? Ah, yes!"

Simon grinned mischievously despite just being scolded, gesturing dramatically at the empty space beside them. "Right here with us mentally, of course! Blessing us with your infinite wisdom!" He clasped his hands together. "And maybe, if we're really lucky, some of that legendary cafeteria coffee you make that's somehow better than anything from actual coffee shops."

Diana couldn't help but smirk at Simon's shameless antics before turning more seriously to Mrs. Yuro. "But really, though—we would genuinely, deeply appreciate any input or guidance you can offer on how to properly handle this really unusual situation. We're kind of flying blind here."

Mrs. Yuro's playful expression gradually shifted into something more focused and serious—her "actually getting down to business" mode that they rarely saw.

"So, as I was saying before certain curious individuals got distracted—" She gave Simon a pointed but fond look. "—we need to take a completely different kind of approach for Rukawa's Phase Two training."

She looked at each of them meaningfully, her gaze lingering.

"It won't follow standard protocols or established procedures. It'll be unconventional, experimental even. So I need to ask you both directly—are you willing to try something that's never been done before? Something outside the normal curriculum?"

She paused for emphasis. "Because if we execute this properly, your mentorship won't fail at all. It'll just look... very, very different from everyone else's."

Simon exchanged a long, weighted look with Diana. Despite their concerns and the mounting pressure, curiosity clearly burned in both their eyes. "A different approach?" Simon's tone carried equal parts intrigue and nervous excitement. "That definitely sounds interesting. Potentially absolutely crazy and career-ending, but interesting."

Diana nodded slowly, her analytical mind already trying to puzzle out what Mrs. Yuro might be suggesting. "Very intriguing, actually. What exactly do you have in mind, Mrs. Yuro? What's this unconventional method?"

Rukawa tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing with focused analytical intensity. His tone remained as polite as he could manage while clearly demanding answers. "Are you absolutely certain this alternative approach will actually produce results?" His voice was measured but firm. "I need to understand the underlying logic and reasoning before I commit. What's the success rate? What are the risks?"

Mrs. Yuro's warm smile returned, radiating both reassurance and playful mystery in equal measure. "Oh, my dear, cautious boy," she said with a gentle, knowing chuckle. "I would never, ever suggest something if I wasn't absolutely confident it could work. I don't gamble with my students' futures."

A meaningful pause.

"But listen carefully—this unconventional method is specifically for Phase Two only. We'll have plenty of time to adjust, adapt, and figure out the details as we progress together. This isn't set in stone."

A beat of silence fell over the training chamber as the atmosphere shifted noticeably—became heavier, more serious, weighted with importance.

Mrs. Yuro's characteristic warm smile gradually faded, replaced by genuine, focused seriousness.

"Here's what we need to do—and I need you all to really listen and understand this." Her voice carried new weight. "We need to teach Rukawa how to properly understand, process, and feel emotions. That's my surprise proposal."

She let that sink in for a moment.

"You see, children—not everything in detective work needs to follow rigid procedures and pre-established protocols. It's like cooking, really." She gestured with her spatula. "You need the right ingredients, absolutely—but the method? The technique? The actual art of it? That's always in your hands. That's where true mastery comes from."

Diana blinked rapidly, processing the implications. She slowly turned to look at Rukawa with dawning understanding, her expression shifting completely.

"Wait—you mean..."

Rukawa's eyebrows raised slightly, and his expression showed he immediately understood exactly where this was heading. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Mrs. Yuro nodded in firm, decisive confirmation.

"Exactly, Diana dear. Since our truly remarkable rookie here is already far, far ahead in every single aspect of instinct, observation, tactical analysis, and strategic thinking—we all recognize his one significant limitation now."

She paused meaningfully, letting the words settle. "His emotional range and depth are severely restricted by years of intensive conditioning. He can observe emotions in others, but he struggles to truly understand or feel them himself. That disconnect is his weakness."

Both Simon and Diana's expressions softened considerably as they turned to look at Rukawa with entirely new understanding—not seeing limitation or failure, but rather untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.

Simon nodded slowly, his voice unusually thoughtful and genuinely sympathetic. "Yeah... okay, that actually makes complete sense when you really think about it." He gestured carefully. "He was literally, systematically trained from childhood to suppress and eliminate emotions as dangerous weaknesses. Of course that's his blind spot."

Diana chimed in quietly, her tone gentle and carefully chosen. "It's almost like..." She searched for the right analogy. "He's got this incredibly powerful computer in his head—amazing processing power, perfect memory, instant pattern recognition—but he's missing the emotional processor to properly interpret the human element of what he's observing."

She looked at Rukawa directly.

"You have all the data, but you're missing the context that makes it meaningful."

Mrs. Yuro's warm, approving smile returned like sunshine breaking through clouds. "Precisely! Exactly right, Diana!" She nodded enthusiastically. "So—for Phase Two specifically, do you both understand now what needs to be done? What your actual goal is?"

Both Simon and Diana nodded, and you could practically see the gears turning in their heads as plans and ideas began forming.

Simon grinned, his natural energy and enthusiasm flooding back as the challenge crystallized into something concrete. "Oh yeah—I think we've definitely got it covered now! This is actually gonna be super interesting!" His eyes lit up. "Teaching emotions to someone who was trained not to have them? That's like, next-level mentorship challenge!"

Diana chuckled, her expression growing determined and laser-focused. "We absolutely won't make any mistakes this time. Phase Two will be a success—just a completely different kind of success than what the standard curriculum expects."

Rukawa muttered under his breath, his tone carrying resignation mixed with apprehension. "This is probably going to be extremely uncomfortable for me. Emotionally and psychologically."

Simon couldn't help but laugh warmly, but there was genuine understanding in the sound. "Well, yeah—that's literally the entire point of growth and development, you know?" He shrugged. "Nobody ever got stronger by staying comfortable and safe in their little bubble. Growth requires discomfort."

Diana added more gently, her voice taking on that reassuring, nurturing quality. "But you won't be alone in that discomfort, Rukawa. We're going to be right beside you through every single step of this process." She met his eyes directly. "We'll make sure the discomfort stays manageable, productive, and doesn't become overwhelming. You have our word."

Mrs. Yuro's expression filled with warm amusement as she watched Rukawa's reluctant acceptance.

"You're going to be absolutely fine, my dear boy. More than fine." Her voice carried absolute confidence. "You have these two lovely, genuinely caring mentors with you—young people who've already accepted your incredibly complicated past without a shred of judgment or fear."

She paused, then her gaze intensified with particular focus on Rukawa.

"I know that you don't see emotions as weakness, honey. You're far too intelligent and perceptive for that kind of simplistic thinking." Her voice softened like a grandmother's. "But sometimes—sometimes—you have to be willing to adapt and change in order to truly grow into your full potential. And real growth? That requires vulnerability. Opening yourself up."

Rukawa's expression remained mostly stoic, carefully controlled—but something flickered in his dark eyes. Something that suggested Mrs. Yuro's carefully chosen words had struck deep, touched something he usually kept locked away and buried.

He exhaled slowly, then met her gaze directly through the screen with unwavering intensity.

"Do you genuinely believe I'm capable of that?" His voice was quiet but serious. "Of developing actual emotional depth and connection after literal years—over a decade—of systematic conditioning specifically against it? Is that even possible?"

Mrs. Yuro's smile softened into something incredibly warm and filled with absolute, unshakeable confidence.

"Oh, sweetheart—I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that you are fully capable of experiencing, understanding, and expressing genuine emotions." Her voice carried conviction. "The capacity has always been there inside you, honey. It was never destroyed or removed—just suppressed, buried, locked away. But it's still there, waiting."

Diana nodded firmly, jumping in to reinforce the point. "And besides, Rukawa—it's not just about learning how to identify and recognize emotions in yourself and other people. That's only part of it." She leaned forward. "It's also about learning how to properly manage them, regulate them, express them in healthy and productive ways. It's a skill set like literally anything else you've learned."

Simon couldn't resist adding a slightly teasing comment, though his grin was fond. "You know what people always say, right? The first step to solving any problem is admitting you have a problem in the first place!"

Diana immediately elbowed him in the ribs. "Simon! Not helping right now!"

"What?! I'm being supportive and motivational!"

"That's literally the opposite of supportive!"

Rukawa simply stared at their bickering for a moment, then spoke with quiet but unmistakable determination. "Whatever it takes to unlock my full potential and capabilities, I will pursue it." His voice was steady, resolved. "I actively seek growth and improvement. That's why I'm here."

Diana's expression transformed into something warm and genuinely proud. "That's exactly the right mindset to have, Rukawa. Really." Her smile was encouraging. "Growth is always a journey and a process, never a single destination—and with consistent dedication and patience, you'll absolutely get there. I believe that completely."

Simon reached over and patted him firmly on the back, his grin wide and genuine. "And hey—don't you dare forget that we're gonna be right here beside you, guiding and supporting you through every single step of this weird, uncomfortable journey!" He squeezed Rukawa's shoulder. "You're stuck with us now, buddy! No escape!"

Rukawa sighed, but there was the faintest hint of acceptance—maybe even gratitude—in his tone. "Then this will probably make me significantly more flexible and adaptable in life overall." He paused thoughtfully. "Interesting prospect."

Simon added enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "And hey—if your instincts, observations, and analytical skills are already absolutely killer-level amazing right now?" He gestured emphatically. "Just imagine—seriously, try to picture it—how much more incredibly powerful and effective they'll become once you add proper emotional intelligence, empathy, and human understanding into the mix!"

He grinned widely. "You'll be completely unstoppable! Like, legendary-tier detective material!"

Mrs. Yuro clapped her hands together decisively, clearly satisfied with how the discussion had progressed and the group's understanding and agreement.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect, my dears!" Her smile was radiant, practically glowing. "But before I say my goodbyes and let you three continue bonding, I would like to formally congratulate both Diana and Simon for being excellent mentors today."

She looked at them with obvious pride.

"Truly exceptional work. This will absolutely reflect extremely positively in your official performance evaluations and permanent records. You should both be very proud."

Then she turned her warm, affectionate gaze specifically toward Rukawa.

"And you, my dear Rukawa—thank you. Thank you for your honesty today, for your trust in these two, and for your willingness to grow and change despite how uncomfortable that must feel."

Both Simon and Diana blushed noticeably at Mrs. Yuro's direct, heartfelt praise, though they quickly tried to regain their usual composed, professional demeanor.

Diana nodded gratefully, her voice absolutely sincere. "Thank you so, so much, Mrs. Yuro. We'll do our absolute best to continue guiding Rukawa forward properly. We won't let you down."

A beat passed before Simon grinned and added with his typical theatrical flair, "And seriously—don't worry about a single thing! We definitely, one hundred percent, won't let this kid down! That's a promise we're making right now! You can hold us to it!"

Rukawa gave a small but genuine nod—barely there, easy to miss, but unmistakably real. His personal, understated version of expressing appreciation and gratitude.

Simon immediately clutched his chest with both hands, staggering backward dramatically like he'd been shot. "Ouch! A silent thank you?! Just a nod?!" He looked wounded. "I see exactly how it is! My poor heart is absolutely shattered! Wounded beyond repair!"

A knowing smirk tugged at Diana's lips as she elbowed him in the ribs again. "Oh, come on—let's just be grateful he didn't verbally roast us alive for once today. That's honestly a huge win in my book."

Mrs. Yuro gave one final, cheerful salute through the screen, her expression warm and encouraging. "Goodbye, everyone! Best of luck with Phase Two! I'll be watching your progress!"

Then the television screen flickered once.

Twice.

And went completely dark.

Silence filled the training chamber for a long moment—heavy but not uncomfortable. Just... present.

Simon broke it first, his characteristic grin spreading slowly across his face like sunrise. "Well... that was definitely enlightening. And completely, utterly unexpected in the best possible way."

Diana chuckled softly in agreement, shaking her head with fond exasperation. "That's absolutely for sure. I definitely did not see that intervention coming at all. Mrs. Yuro always knows exactly when to appear."

Rukawa's expression remained carefully guarded and unreadable as always—his default protective setting. "So what happens now? What's the immediate next step in this unconventional process?"

Simon clapped his hands together decisively, the sharp sound echoing off the steel walls. He was clearly energized by the new direction, practically vibrating with barely contained excitement.

"Ohhhh, man—this is gonna be so incredibly fun!" His eyes were practically sparkling with mischief now. "Okay, okay—I officially, formally call dibs on teaching Rukawa how to properly interpret sarcasm, humor, and when people are just messing with him!"

He pointed dramatically at Rukawa. "That's gonna be absolutely hilarious watching you try to figure out when people are genuinely serious versus joking around!"

A knowing smirk tugged at Diana's lips as she shot Simon a pointed, warning look that said behave yourself. "And I'll be handling the absolutely crucial job of making sure he doesn't accidentally hurt someone physically when they use sarcasm at him and he misinterprets it as a genuine threat, insult, or challenge."

She looked at Rukawa with genuine seriousness. "Because that's honestly a real, legitimate concern given your training."

Rukawa exhaled audibly through his nose, his tone flat and thoroughly resigned. "This is going to be an extremely interesting and profoundly uncomfortable week."

--

And with everything that had transpired in that single, intense session, the group had revealed a complete and fascinating contrast to the other training chamber across the hall.

Yet despite their differences, profound lessons had been learned. Diana and Simon had discovered that sometimes the most broken students aren't the ones who cry—but the ones who can't. And Rukawa had learned that perhaps, just perhaps, opening up wasn't the weakness his family had taught him it was.

In the process, the ice around Rukawa's carefully constructed emotional fortress had begun to crack. Not shatter—not yet. But crack. Just enough to let a little light seep through. Just enough to let two determined mentors start chipping away at years of conditioning.

But of course, all people possess both differences and similarities. Strengths and weaknesses. Light and shadow.

Now Rukawa Hiroshi—formerly Rankiku Kinoshita—faced an entirely new kind of trial. One that wouldn't test his body, his instincts, or his tactical mind.

But something far more terrifying:

Facing himself.

Confronting his own suppressed emotional landscape with the guidance of two mentors who somehow, impossibly, had already started to care about him.

Could he really pull it off? Could a warrior trained to feel nothing learn to feel everything? Could someone conditioned to see emotions as fatal weaknesses learn to embrace them as strengths?

Could the assassin become fully human?

Let's find out soon enough.