Akira woke to the low hum of machines.
Pain followed immediately.
A groan slipped from his throat as his eyes cracked open. White ceiling. Fluorescent lights buzzing softly overhead. The sharp, sterile bite of antiseptic filled his nose. Bandages wrapped his torso, arms, legs—tight, restrictive, grounding.
Still alive.
"…Ow," he muttered.
The hospital door slid open.
A nurse peeked inside, her face lighting up the moment she saw his eyes open. "Oh—good, you're awake," she said warmly. "I'll let them know."
Before Akira could ask who they were, she slipped back out, the door sealing shut behind her.
A second later, it opened again.
Ito burst in first, arms stretched wide, grin threatening to split his face in half. Draped over his forearms was a long scarf—black fabric threaded with gold, a crow stitched mid-flight at its center.
"Akira!" Ito said proudly. "Look at this."
Gaku followed behind him, hands tucked into his pockets, giving a single approving nod. Sora entered last, quieter, her eyes immediately scanning Akira's condition—bandages, breathing, posture.
Ito leaned closer and handed the scarf over. "Team colors. Had it made."
Akira took it carefully, fingers brushing the embroidery. He folded most of it and slipped it into his pocket, letting one end hang loose.
"…Nice," he said. Then, after a pause, "That officially makes Team Ito a real military force now."
Ito blinked. "Wait—really?"
"We finally got a solid four."
As if summoned by the words, the door creaked open again.
Jackson stepped inside.
The room grew heavier.
"Even though that was a good fight," Jackson said, arms crossed, voice calm but firm, "I still can't find something I truly want to risk my life for, so—"
"He's joining us," Ito interrupted instantly.
Jackson froze.
Ito grinned as he'd just won a bet. "That was the request you earned when you beat him. Consider it fulfilled."
Akira groaned and sank deeper into the pillow. "Great. That's awesome. Really."
He cracked one eye open. "But could you all get out of my room? I'm pretty sure this many Taoists in one place is messing with the other patients."
The next day.
Near the coast of Newland.
The sea was calm.
Until it wasn't.
Wood exploded upward as Yokai tore through the docks, claws ripping planks apart like paper. Screams echoed through the streets as people scattered in every direction.
A boy fell.
Too small.Too slow.
He looked up, sobbing, calling for his parents as a Yokai loomed over him—jaws stretching wide—
Hands covered his eyes.
"Hey," a soft voice said. "Don't look."
The impact shook the ground.
When the boy peeked through his fingers, Sora stood in front of him. Purple energy clung to her like ash, disintegrating as the Yokai behind her collapsed into nothing.
She smiled gently and took his hand.
"Let's find your mom."
The sky screamed.
"AZURE!"
Akira fell like a meteor.
He struck the ground in a pillar of blue flame, the explosion ripping outward and vaporizing multiple Yokai in an instant. Heat warped the air. Stone scorched white.
When the flames faded, only silence remained.
Jackson stepped forward, placing himself between the remaining Yokai and the civilians.
He slammed both hands onto the ground.
"Formless."
The street shifted.
Spikes erupted upward, impaling Yokai mid-charge, their bodies locking in place before collapsing lifelessly.
Something massive roared.
A Yokai larger than the rest—lobster-like, its shell hardened and jagged—lunged forward.
Gaku dropped from above.
No flair.No hesitation.
His blade came down clean through the creature's head.
It didn't even finish screaming.
The streets went quiet.
Then the cheers came—people crying, shouting thanks, crowding the edges of the destruction. Akira stood there breathing hard, faint blue embers still flickering around him. Jackson glanced at his iron arm… then at the civilians.
…This feels different.
A voice crackled through the Hunter ID tucked into both Jackson's and Akira's pockets.
"Akira Yamato. Jackson."
Akira pulled the device free, reading aloud. "New assignment… Yokai activity reported in an abandoned city."
Jackson frowned. Sora's eyes narrowed.
"…That's strange," she said quietly. "Yokai don't linger where there are no people."
Gaku shrugged. "Might've just been born there. That could explain it."
Akira didn't hesitate.
"I'm in."
Jackson looked at him.
Akira clenched his fists.
The fire inside him still burned—hot, restless, alive.
"I dosen't matter, I'll grow stronger," he said. "Any way I can."
Jackson nodded.
Before anyone could respond, A car pulled up beside them.