Sama, Rei, Josuke, and Fumiko arrived together, their footsteps echoing slightly on the marble floor. Their eyes scanned the crowd of unfamiliar faces—other newly licensed heroes from across the region, each with their own story, their own power, their own ambitions. Before Josuke could look for Raiden, a wet sensation slid against his arm. He shuddered.
"H-HIRO!" Josuke screamed as he jumped back, arms flailing wildly, only to see Hiro licking his arm with a vacant stare. The axolotl-headed boy's gills fluttered slightly as he blinked, seemingly unaware of how bizarre his behavior was.
Sama and Fumiko froze for a moment before bursting into laughter, the unexpected sight breaking through their composed exteriors. Even Rei chuckled slightly at the absurdity, the sound rare enough to draw surprised glances from his companions.
At the top deck, veteran heroes leaned against the railing, scouting the fresh talent with appraising eyes. Their conversations were hushed but animated, hands occasionally pointing toward particularly interesting newcomers. Some whispered among themselves, thrilled at the possibilities of new powerhouses joining their ranks. Others remained impassive, simply observing, measuring, judging.
Among them stood Shinjuu, his arms crossed over his chest, steel coating glinting under the auditorium lights. A deep scowl was etched into his metallic features as his eyes scanned the crowd with singular focus, looking for one person—Rei.
What did Haikito see in him? The question burned in his mind, fueling his resentment. The humiliation of the retrial was still fresh, the memory of Haikito's words cutting deeper than any blade could have.
A hush settled over the crowd as the heavy doors at the back of the auditorium opened with a resonant creak. A tall figure stepped in fashionably late, his entrance drawing every eye in the room. Clad in an expensive black trench coat that swirled around his ankles, Cartier shades glinting in the light, and alligator leather boots that clicked against the floor with each deliberate step, Kage Saito strolled in with the effortless swagger of a man who owned the room.
The crowd instinctively parted as he made his way through, conversations dying mid-sentence, heads turning to follow his progress. Without acknowledging anyone, he made his way to a far corner, leaning against the wall with an uninterested gaze, arms crossed over his chest.
Rei noticed Kage's entrance, the man's presence impossible to ignore. A flicker of something—curiosity, wariness, perhaps both—passed through his eyes. But before he could process his thoughts, the announcer stepped onto the podium, tapping the microphone twice to draw attention.
"Good afternoon to our new heroes!" His voice boomed through the speakers, reverberating off the walls.
The audience erupted into applause, the sound swelling to fill every corner of the vast space.
As the clapping subsided, the announcer continued, "It is tradition that as you receive your licenses, our honorary member, Mrs. Inosuke, evaluates your potential for the viewing audience. Unfortunately, Mrs. Inosuke was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, and we ask for prayers for her recovery."
A faint chuckle came from Kage's corner, barely audible over the sympathetic murmurs that rippled through the crowd. His gaze flicked briefly to Rei, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. That poor old hag must've really seen something in Vessel.
The announcer continued, his voice growing more formal as he detailed the academy's structure and expectations. The new heroes listened attentively, the weight of responsibility settling on their shoulders with each word.
"As newly licensed heroes, you will be assigned to a district where you are responsible for ensuring safety and maintaining peace. However, should you choose to live at the academy, your pay will be higher, but you will serve all of Japan instead of a singular district."
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The crowd murmured, weighing the decision, the financial incentives balanced against the comfort of a more limited patrol area.
"Additionally, the academy actively investigates ongoing threats. These assignments, called 'Jobs,' are divided into three tiers:
- Green Tier: Low-risk missions, ideal for gathering experience and earning smaller pay.
- Yellow Tier: Moderate-risk missions, often involving rogue sorcerers or criminal activity.
- Red Tier: Severe life-threatening missions requiring high situational awareness and skill."
A murmur ran through the audience at the mention of Red Tier assignments, some heroes exchanging excited glances while others shifted uncomfortably.
"Normally, only those who receive a four-star potential or higher from Mrs. Inosuke may accept Red Tier missions. However, due to her absence, any Tier 3 job must be personally approved by a high-ranking official."
Some new heroes exhaled in relief, others clenched their fists, eager for a challenge, determined to prove themselves worthy of the most dangerous assignments.
"Lastly, the Academy has introduced a Mentorship Program to help integrate newer heroes with seasoned veterans. You will be training alongside some of the academy's finest."
Josuke leaned over to Rei and whispered, his breath warm against Rei's ear, "I swear if I get stuck with Mya, I'll—"
The announcer continued reading the team assignments, his voice clear and methodical as he worked through the list.
"Shinjuu's team will consist of Bernard, Josuke, and Mya."
The entire auditorium turned as Josuke's scream of despair echoed through the hall, bouncing off the high ceiling and reverberating through the stunned silence that followed. The live broadcast camera zoomed in on him as he threw a tantrum, falling to his knees dramatically, hands clutching at his hair as he wailed. His exaggerated reaction drew laughter from the crowd, breaking the formality of the ceremony.
Sama leaned toward Rei, eyebrows raised in amusement. "Uh... what's that about?"
Rei, who had somehow produced a snack and was chewing on it with his usual deadpan expression, replied simply, "Long story."
The announcer cleared his throat, fighting back a smile as he continued down the list, eventually reaching, "Kage Saito's team will consist of Rei, Raiden Fujiwara, and Hiro Ito."
The announcement sent ripples through the crowd, particularly among the older heroes who recognized the names involved.
"That's the shadow guy," one whispered, eyes wide.
"A Fujiwara is in the Academy?" another murmured, impressed.
"Who's that lackey with the dead face?" a third questioned, glancing at Hiro.
From his corner, Kage sucked his teeth in irritation, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. Great. Babysitting duty. The assignment was clearly not what he had hoped for, but he maintained his disaffected pose, not giving anyone the satisfaction of seeing his displeasure.
Far Beyond the Academy...
In a secluded, shadowed den hidden deep within the Assassin's Guild compound, a group of figures watched the live feed of the academy ceremony on multiple screens. The dim glow from the monitors flickered against their faces, casting harsh shadows that accentuated their severe expressions. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and tension, glasses of amber liquid sitting half-empty on the table before them.
A gruff voice growled, breaking the tense silence, "That son of a bitch... Kage of the Shadows actually left." The speaker was a massive man, his heavily scarred face contorted with disgust as he downed his drink in one gulp.
Another figure chuckled darkly, the sound devoid of any real humor. "I wonder if he's gone soft now?" This one was leaner, with quick, darting eyes that never seemed to rest on any one spot for long.
From the darkest corner of the room came a sound—bones grinding against one another, like stone on stone—as a tall, gaunt figure leaned forward into the dim light. Unlike the others who sat casually, this man's posture was unnaturally rigid, his skin stretched too tight across his face. When he placed his hands on the table, his knuckles protruded sharply beneath his skin, as if something beneath was pushing to break free.
"It doesn't matter if he's soft or hard," the man said, his voice deep and eerily mechanical, devoid of emotional inflection. "The Guild's code is absolute. His failure to complete the contract against Haikito has consequences."
As he spoke, the skin along his forearm rippled, and what appeared to be a small, needle-sharp fragment of bone momentarily pierced through his flesh before receding, the wound sealing instantly without bleeding. None of the others reacted to this display—they'd seen it countless times before.
"You've been itching for a shot at Kage for years, Bone," the massive man said with a smirk. "Don't pretend this is just about the code."
Bone's expression remained impassive, but his fingers flexed slightly, the bones beneath cracking audibly. "My personal feelings are irrelevant. What matters is that I don't know what Haikito is doing with him, but if Kage can't finish the job..."
Silence followed, heavy and charged, before Bone's voice dropped into something near a whisper, the quiet delivery somehow more threatening than any shout could have been.
"Then they're both dead."
On the screens, Kage stood in the corner of the Academy auditorium, unaware of the deadly promise being made against him. Bone's eyes fixed on Rei's figure standing near Kage, studying the boy with cold calculation.
"And anyone connected to them," he added, a slight movement beneath the skin of his jaw suggesting teeth grinding together.
The screens continued to flicker, casting their cold light on faces now hardened with resolve, the celebration at the Academy continuing in stark contrast to the dark plans being formed in this hidden corner of the world.