Prologue

It was the scene of a war.

Of course, a regular middle-schooler living in modern Japan would have no idea what a battlefield actually looked like. But this was the only word he could use to describe that before him.

Bang bang bang!

"!"

Blood bloomed in every direction---

Snip!

".....!"

Pieces of flesh scattered---

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

".............."

The wails of a man resonated in the air.

This situation was like a ring of hell.

The winner and the loser was already decided. It couldn't even be called a fight, the scales were overly tipped in favour of one side.

"Here I come-----!"

The teenager disgustingly stuck out his tongue, and lunged towards the boys as if it were a prank.

"Boing-----! Hehehehehe----!"

Bam! Shmm! Zoom!

The teen's movements were so fast, it was hard to think of him as human. Run, hit, then bite.

These delinquents, logically, should already have been accustomed to fighting, but as if they were unable to react, they fell one by one into the pools of blood at their feet.

There was one more person ---

"How troublesome......"

A bespectacled teenager, looking wholly uninterested in anything on this planet, watched on coldly.

"Stop your so-called 'sweating'!"

Shmm! Pew!

At the sound of a gale of wind cutting through the air, the delinquents near him were tugged to the ground, like magic, one by one. It wasn't easy to see the bespectacled youth flick his wrist, as if throwing something out. But what on earth was it? He still couldn't make anything out. This person could defeat his opponents in between the lulls of silence. Compared to the other teenager, it made one feel profoundly terrified.

"Ah...... Ahh......"

His body was shaking uncontrollably, he couldn't stop even if he tried.

More than 50 delinquents were gathered in Kokuyo Healthy Land, yet only two of them were able to defeat them all, crushing them one by one to finish them off.

"How is it possible...... how is it possible......"

His hands clenched in fists, he screamed.

"Stop! Stop now! What do you get out of this?"

But his screams were no use, the two teenagers continued their assault on the delinquents.

"Violence is the worst! And it's one-sided...... Hey, listen to me! Hey!"

But his fervent shouts meant nothing.

Meanwhile, the sacrifices to the carnage only increased steadily.

"Damn it......"

He ran.

Ran towards the man sitting at the back of the room, his hands folded neatly, watching the fight.

"Rokudo Mukuro!"

The man glanced at him, and then returned his attention to the fight, as if uninterested.

"Listen to me, Rokudo! Stop Joshima Ken and Kakimoto Chikusa right now! You're their leader, right?"

"........."

"Say something! Yes, it was Yaginuma and his gang who first provoked you! But doing this is going overboard! You can't return violence with violence!"

"........."

"Rokudo! If you all don't stop, I'll......"

"What will you do?"

The man before him spoke for the first time, though his tone was calm, it was laced with malice.

A more intense wave of horror invaded his body.

This only meant one thing. Rokudo Mukruo --- how much blood and brutality did he fight his way out of, and what kind of person is he now?

"I...... I......"

What was he going to do?

The cruelty in front of him could not be ignored.

But what was he going to do to stop all of it?

He was...... very powerless.

"Why...... Why......"

Even as he shook, he remembered what things were like before he knew them, the scenes playing in his mind's eye like a trotting horse lamp. (1)

The him that burned purely for hope.

The him that believed in his own ability to make everything better.

Until he saw the scene that was difficult to even believe was real.

1

There's this thing called the Broken Window Theory.

As the theory goes, if one were to allow a single broken window to remain, it would incite more unsavoury occurrences, resulting in the environment and life in it to worsen overall.

In contrast, if one were to fix minor bad things, it was possible to prevent the major bad things.

Masato Hitsuji still remembered the motivation he got the first time he found out about the theory.

So even to that day, he continued to work hard.

He worked hard to become the President of Kokuyo Middle's Student Council.

"Huff huff...... Sorry, Prez. The instructor released us way too late......"

"It's alright, Kabane. I also just got here."

Masato let out a warm smile, welcoming the vice-president Kabane that had just entered the Student Council Office.

"But, even if you're in a rush doesn't mean you can run in the halls, you know! I won't stand for it, all these little details must be paid attention to."

"Ah! S-Sorry......"

"And your hair, it's standing up 'cause you slept too long, didn't you?"

"This isn't because of sleep, it's my hairstyle...... But anyway, this isn't against the school rules!"

"Hahaha...... sorry, sorry."

Kabane pouted as if throwing a tantrum, and Masato couldn't help his laughter.

"Okay, let's go!"

Masato picked up a bucket of water with a cloth draped over the rim, and stood up.

Kokuyo Middle School.

Notorious for its delinquency around the area.

Actually, a cursory look at the school campus said it all. The walkways were filled with rubbish, the walls were covered in graffiti, and the rate of broken windows were hard for the school to keep up with, hence the tape holding them together.

Moreover, whether student or teacher, everyone was resigned to this sight, with no one willing to think of solutions.

Except for one person --- Student Council President Masato.

"Sigh...... It won't come off!"

"Yeah, but let's keep at it!"

"If only there were more people willing to help us."

".............."

There was a twinkle of dejection in Masato's eyes.

The pair were currently trying their best to remove the graffiti in the school.

In order to improve the school environment, Masato had been working himself to the bone ever since he became the Student Council President. At first, his fellow Student Council members were supportive of his plans and helped out.

However, Masato's actions did not have any outstanding results. The weary members hence left one after the other, leaving them not even at half strength by the second half of the year.

But Masato still did not give up and persevered, believing that his efforts would pay off someday and that his beloved school would be changed for the better.

He believed this wish of his would definitely be fulfilled.

"Prez?"

Noticing that Masato had ceased his movements, Kabane called him.

"S-Sorry, I think I said too much......"

"No, no, don't mind me! Come, let's quickly wash these off."

Masato grinned, then doubled his efforts in the task of exterminating the graffiti.

Kabane kept looking at Masato.

"Uhh...... Prez......"

"What is it?"

"I...... Ever since a long time ago, there's something that I've always wanted to ask Prez."

Though Kabane looked a little hesitant, he continued:

"Why do you keep doing these sorts of things?"

"Ah......"

"Ah, sorry, that sounds bad. But, I don't understand why Prez is so resolute and strong......"

"Strong...... I'm not strong at all. Though when I was in elementary school I learnt some karate, but I absolutely don't think that's anything impressive......"

"Not like that!"

Kabane looked at Masato seriously.

"If it were me, I would have given up long ago. The fact is, the graffiti hasn't lessened at all, and the people doing these bad things don't feel a thing...... I keep thinking, isn't it painful to keep going on?"

Seeing this junior that took everyone's business as his own and feeling sorry for them afterwards, Masato smiled ruefully.

Every time he looked into Kabane's eyes, he felt reassured, like he could let his hardened heart soften.

It must be because he's really kind!

"Well......"

After breaking out of his reverie, Masato very naturally began talking:

"Are you willing to hear me talk?"

"...... Ah?"

"Near my house, there was this older boy called Taku." (2)

"Ah, oh......"

Masato's unexpected storytime caused Kabane to scratch his head in confusion. But Masato carried on:

"Taku, not only was he kind to his core, he was smart too, the ringleader of us children. When he grew up, he entered this school and became the Student Council President. But, that was a long time ago."

Masato had a nostalgic expression on his face, eyes half-closed.

"I thought he was really cool, wearing the Kokuyo Middle School uniform. Kokuyo then was completely different from Kokuyo today; it was just a regular school. The people around Taku were also really great older sisters and brothers to us. One day, I will definitely also reach that wonderful world, and be able to be a really great middle schooler...... That's what I believe."

"Prez......"

Kabane looked at Masato pityingly.

The current state of Kokuyo was lightyears away from the ideal world he had so warmly described. When Masato had first entered Kokuyo, who knows how disappointed he was.

"Keep at it, Prez!"

Kabane's voice suddenly livened up, and he picked up his rag to fervently scrub at the graffiti.

"Kabane......?"

"I totally understand Prez's feelings! Because I too......"

Kabane's face turned red out of embarrassment.

"Really admire...... Prez."

His voice quietened until it could barely be heard. As if to hide his shy expression, Kabane restarted his earnest scrubbing of the wall.

Slightly taken aback for a beat, Masato smiled from the bottom of his heart.

"Thank you."

Then, he also started to scrub the wall.

And again, backbreaking work today, to advance one step. To welcome the tomorrow that is better --- Masato thoughts were like so.

But......

"Oi, Hitsuji."

"!"

Seeing the male with a fearsome expression, flanked by his lackeys, a shadow came across Masato's features.

"Yaginuma......"

"You're doing these kinds of things all alone again? Too bored?"

"...... What do you want from me?"

"I don't want anything from you, though I should say......"

Everything happened so fast. The boy named Yaginuma suddenly began kicking Masato's stomach with his foot.

"Uwah!"

"Just the sight of you is enough to make me angry. Putting on this 'only-I-can-do-good' act, what's the point of doing all these pointless things and pretending to be such a goody-two-shoes!"

"This isn't...... pointless......"

"Shut up!"

Thwump! He continued punting Masato in the abdomen.

"Hey, what's wrong? If you're mad, come at me!"

"I don't use violence...... ever......"

"Coward!"

Yaginuma kicked Masato even harder, hating the way Masato looked at him.

"Dammit! We still need to go to a fight later, this is just a waste of time. Let's get out of here!"

Yaginuma threw a look at the boys surrounding him, back turned on Masato, ready to leave.

"Wait...... Yaginuma......"

"Ah?"

"You just said...... you were going to a fight......"

"Yeah, that's right. Later we're going to teach a lesson to those stuck-up transfer students. I don't know who they were at their previous school, but I'm the boss of Kokuyo."

As he said this, Yaginuma's curled his hand into a fist and struck it into his other palm.

Joshima Ken.

Kakimoto Chikusa.

And, Rokudo Mukuro.

Masato had also heard the buzz about the students that transferred into Kokuyo three days ago. Typically, a transfer student wouldn't have left any particular impression, but when there's three of them, it was a different story. They weren't blood-related, but caused so much havoc in their previous school that, as if being banished, they were sent to where all the delinquents gathered - Kokuyo Middle School. Such was the rumour that had already made plenty of rounds in the school.

So upon hearing of this piece of news, the head of the delinquents Yaginuma immediately was on the move.

"According to the rumours, they seem to be pretty bad people themselves. But we have the numbers, no matter how strong they are, surely the three of them can't beat us."

"Stop it, Yaginuma! Why do you have to do this, is it really necessary?"

"Necessary? Don't talk all complicated. I just want to find out who's the strongest amongst us boys, that's all."

"Nothing of the sort! There are plenty of people who hate violence and can coexist peacefully! But you guys......"

"Shut up! If you continue saying such pointless things I'm really going to kill you."

Yaginuma glared at Masato, then left.

"A-Are you alright, Prez......?"

Waiting until after they could no longer see Yaginuma and his gang, Kabane timidly approached Masato.

"S-Sorry...... They dared treat Prez like that...... but I was so scared...... I couldn't do anything......"

"...... I have to stop them."

"Ah?"

"I have to stop Yaginuma and the others, they must absolutely not fight!"

2

"Be careful over there! There's a hole."

"Ah, okay...... Uwah!"

"Kabane!"

"I-I'm okay......"

Masato breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest.

The two had run to what was previously known as Kokuyo Centre, now a dilapidated area strewn with run-down entertainment facilities. The "undesirables" of Kokuyo gathered here, commonly using the premises as the location for their various misdeeds.

"You should head back, if anything happened to you......"

"I won't!"

Kabane's body was trembling, but he spoke resolutely.

"Prez's hurt, if what happened just now happened again...... I can't just sit and watch without doing anything!"

"Kabane......"

Masato was heartened by Kabane's feelings. However, he knew how dangerous this place was. If these people were willing to do such a despicable act in a public area like school, they would surely not hold back at this place where there were no witnesses.

Masato had experienced these sorts of matters before, so he was well aware.

"But, it feels like all of this is useless...... This isn't like Prez at all. Prez's methods are to slowly improve things by tackling the small stuff, aren't they......"

"I know they want to fight, but I can't just sit idly by and watch. It's worse if I pretended I didn't see it."

"Prez......"

Kabane watched Masato's gaze, a mix of anticipation and worry.

The two ran on a small path littered with broken stones, finally arriving at a building labelled "Kokuyo Healthy Land".

"!"

Screams emanated from the building, frightening Masato so much his face turned stiff.

"Wait here for me, it'd be better for me to go alone."

"How can I! I-I also...... want to, together......"

"It's settled, you stay here!"

Masato firmly told Kabane, then ran into the building by himself.

Every step up the stairs brought him closer to the screaming sounds. His inner sixth sense was currently ringing alarm bells, which Masato ignored completely as he continued running.

"!"

And then---

Masato witnessed hell.

"..................."

---What will you do?

Being asked by Mukuro like this, Masato could not answer a single word.

The noises behind him were only that of endless brutality. Joshima Ken's and Kakimoto Chikusa's hands showed no signs of stopping.

"B......" (3)

What can he do to fix this---

The first thing he must do is acknowledge Yaginuma and his gang's awful behaviour.

But even so, there was no need to escalate matters to this degree.

"...... Please."

Masato knelt in front of Mukuro.

His hands were pressed to the floor.

"Please stop doing this......"

"Why are you able to go to such an extent for others?"

"They're not 'others', they're my schoolmates, so......"

"You really think that way?"

"!"

"If you really think that way, why do you not fight alongside your comrades?"

Mukuro's hushed words stirred up a wave of huge wave in Masato's chest.

"Oof!"

The agonised screams promptly came from behind him, causing Masato to look instinctively.

"Yaginuma!"

Yaginuma, face covered in fresh blood, collapsed onto the muddy floor. Then, the bespectacled teen -- Kakimoto Chikusa stepped on him coldly.

"Huff...... Wheeze...... S-Stop...... it......"

The leader of the delinquents, also the person with great ability and strength in the arena back when Masato was learning karate, Yaniguma, was crying for mercy like a liar caught.

"........"

Masato's heart rate picked up.

These boys, who couldn't even be budged with words, had been so easily swayed and cowed by violence.

"What are you going to do?'

"!"

Being asked such a question by Kakimoto, Masato's face froze.

"I want to finish this quick, if you're not going to move it, then go back."

Masato couldn't say a word, all the delinquents had been defeated, and were lying prone on the floor. But even if that were the case, no, exactly because it was the case, he couldn't let Mukuro and the others get away with it.

"Hey, look at this, Kakipi."

A relaxed yet excited voice called out.

"Aah!"

Masato let out a noise of surprise, and scrambled to his feet.

A boy with his tongue hanging out...... the person that Joshima Ken hauled in was Kabane.

"Kabane, how did you......?"

"S-Sorry...... But, I was really very worried......"

"He was hiding right behind that pillar, y'know? Hehe, what should we do?"

Seeing the shaking Kabane in his grip, Joshima's expression was like that of a cat bullying a mouse as he licked his lips non-stop.

"Stop! Let him go! He's got nothing to do with this!"

"But I don't want to. Why should I take orders from you! The only person that can give me orders......"

The nonchalant Joshima's gaze suddenly turned extremely serious.

"Is Mukuro."

"!"

Intimidated by his aura, Masato couldn't help but take a few steps back.

Though he still looked nonchalant as before, he also exuded the same type of primal bloodlust as Mukuro. It was the kind of demeanor that could only be made possible by enduring countless fights to the death.

Masato was completely forced to the edge.

Mukuro and his gang looked like they would never be persuaded otherwise. If it were up to them, Masato would not even be worthy of speaking to them as an equal party.

"I......"

Just what should be done---

Just what should be done to avoid the most serious consequence---

"I...... I......"

"Oi, Kakipi, can I eat him already?"

"Don't ask me, do what you want."

"Wha......!"

Masato's eyes were wide.

Joshima's mouth was also wide open, his long, beast-like canines pointed towards Kabane.

"Don't mind if I do!"

Kabane was shaking from fright as he kept looking at Masato.

His pleading eyes fiercely moved Masato's heart.

Then---

"Stop!"

Masato charged forward.

Before he could make up his mind, his body already started to move.

"Eh?"

Joshima looked dumbly at Masato.

Masato charged straight at him, and stopped right before him.

"Hoo!"

Masato inhaled shortly, then put his right fist by his hip.

His fist followed the momentum as he twisted his waist, striking forward.

He had been made by his father to participate in karate. Karate was also one of the reasons he despised violence...... By now, everything he had learnt before had not disappeared, but had simply become muscle memory.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Bam!

"Yaah!"

The sharp punch struck Joshima square in the face, causing him to let go of Kabane's hand and stumble backwards, falling to the ground.

"Huff...... huff......"

Masato stood rooted to the ground, breathing hard.

Before him lay Joshima, moaning in pain.

"..................."

Great---

The guy that even Yaginuma and the rest couldn't beat---

I used...... my own fist---

"Prez......"

"!"

Masato lifted his head, as if awakening from a deep dream.

He saw Kabane, looking at him with a face full of concern, and immediately took his hand and ran towards the exit.

"Ah, umm, Pr...... Woah!"

There was no time to care about the confused Kabane---

Masato fled the den of violence like a bat out of hell.

"I-I can't anymore..... I'm already......"

The exhausted Kabane collapsed onto the floor.

Leaving the old district in which Kokuyo Land stood, Masato and Kabane arrived at a newer district. There were more cars and people here, so stopping here should be safe.

"T-Thank you, Prez."

Although he still had not caught his breath, Kabane straightened himself and bowed deeply in gratitude to Masato.

"Prez, you were so great! You even beat that crazy strong guy......"

"Don't say anymore!"

Masato suddenly burst out angrily, giving Kabane a fright.

"Forget it...... Everything that happened back there...... Forget it all......"

Masato's voice was shaking as he set off again.

His head was lowered, eyes staring constantly at his fists.

Proof of his abuse on Joshima remained --- his fist throbbed with that cruel residual heat.

"That hurts! Be a lil' gentler, Kakipi."

"If you don't want it, then I'll stop."

"Ah, okay, okay! I get it! Please be gentler."

"I'm done."

"Oh, thanks."

Kakimoto had helped stick a bandage onto Joshima's face, yet his expression remained battle-hungry as he licked his lips.

"Hey...... can that guy really not be eaten?"

"No."

"Not even a little bit?"

"No."

"Really not even a teensy bit?"

"No."

"Reeeeally just a little bit though."

"No."

"Argh----------! Nononono, you really are just a four-eyes that only knows how to say no!"

"---Why did you call me that?"

"That's because......"

"No need to explain, it's too troublesome."

"Uwah-------- I'm so mad I could die! I can't stop! Blood ritual, blood ritual-------!"

"You're thinking of going against Mukuro's orders?"

With that sentence alone, the agitated Joshima calmed down completely.

"I-I wasn't...... How can I go against him! Rather, I don't get it. Why must it be made so especially complicated?"

"Why, because it's a lot of fun."

"!"

The sudden soft voice made Joshima and Kakimoto stand up reflexively.

"Isn't it nice to just enjoy this world a little? We've not been out in such a long time."

"........."

The duo's expressions became veiled with a layer of shadow.

They had escaped just days ago from an Italian prison, though they had made it to Japan, there was no guarantee they did not have pursuers right behind them.

They themselves did not matter.

But only this person must---

"You two don't need to worry, the original plan is still in motion."

"But......"

"The preliminary gate has already been opened, we just need to wait and see what follows. I would like to watch just a bit longer."

"Watch?"

"Yeah......"

His right eye flashed devilishly with the character for "six".

"Watch...... these humans."

3

Masato hit someone for the first time when he was in his third year in elementary school.

He had a frail body, and with his father's persuasion, began attending karate classes. One day, against the most important basic rules he was taught, his fist had accidentally struck his sparring partner square in the face.

The feeling he had experienced then was something Masato remembered even to this day.

The sensation of warm flesh coming into contact with solid bone, of hitting someone like himself...... The mutual awareness of the same hot blood flowing through their body---

"Uhh....."

"!"

Kabane had stepped into the Student Council Room with a face full of fear, jolting Masato out of his reverie.

"H-Hello...... Prez......"

"Mm, hi......"

Kabane's attitude was very unnatural. So was Masato's.

Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Kabane spoke up.

"A-Are we going to continue today? Cleaning the graffiti on campus......"

"..........."

"Ah, is it fixing the windows today? Or replacing the flowers in the flowerbed? There's been litter piling up lately, should we......"

"..........."

"R-Right, it's real quiet today. A lot of students are on leave, because what happened yesterday really......"

"!"

Masato's expression changed in an instant.

"Ah......"

Kabane hastily covered his mouth with his hands, but it was too late.

"Kabane."

"Ah, yes!"

"What happened yesterday...... Have you told anyone?"

"N-No! I haven't told anybody!"

"Is that so......"

Masato was gripping onto his bangs, muttering tiredly under his breath.

Kabane looked at him worriedly.

Seeing Kabane's expression, his fitful heart became calm again, though he didn't know why.

Kabane has always been by my side! This strong conviction made Masato feel warm inside.

"Huff......"

Whatever it was, he must forget the previous day's events.

It was an accident.

He would never resort to violence again.

Peace and hard work, that was the true method to restore this school to its former glory.

"Yes...... This is the only method...... Today too I......"

"Oi, Hitsuji."

Just then, someone unimaginable walked into the Student Council Room.

"What the heck are you whining and muttering about alone? Oi!"

"Yaginuma......"

His head was bandaged and his face was swollen, but Yaginuma still stubbornly had his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Come, I have something to tell you."

The roof, like the area behind the main building, was a gathering place for delinquents.

But today only the lonely wind blew past, and the only two people standing there were Masato and Yaginuma.

"I have decided to follow Mukuro."

"!"

Yaginuma's words made Masato's entire body shiver.

"...... Are you serious?"

"What choice do I have!"

Yaginuma yelled, but flinched as his actions pulled on one of his wounds. His eyes were filled with fury and indignance.

"It all happened in a second, you know! We had fifty people but we were all taken out in just a second! This isn't a question of strength anymore! If we don't follow him...... we'll definitely die......"

A massive power had taken over Yaginuma, suppressing all other emotions.

It was --- utter terror.

"Why? Why are you telling me......"

“It's serious advice. Don't you go opposing Mukuro. As your old playmate, I'll pretend I didn't see what you have done so far, but Mukuro will definitely not do so."

Yaginuma's hand landed roughly on Masato's shoulder. He looked at Masato sincerely.

"Just be good and lay low, you'll be fine this way."

"......"

"Hitsuji!"

"...... I can't." Masato said weakly.

"If I don't, who's going to change this school for the better? What has everything I've done up to this point amounted to?"

"You need to wake up!"

Kerchunk!

Yaginuma violently grabbed the front of Masato's shirt and slammed him into the metal fence of the roof that prevented falls.

"From the beginning, everything you're doing is meaningless! You were always alone. Who even is on your side? What have you changed? Tell me!"

"Hng......"

"This is just how this place is! Scratch that, it's the same everywhere! The strong can do whatever they want! Those who cower like you, they can't do anything!"

"I won't give up...... Never......"

"Get it straight! Or do you think you are stronger than Mukuro?"

"!"

The awful scenes from the previous day surfaced in his mind.

In that room filled with the scent of blood --

He had....... knocked Joshima down.

"No!"

Masato shouted desperately as held back his trembling fists.

Watching Masato, Yaginuma snorted nonchalantly.

"See, aren't you clear of it yourself? There's nothing to be done about it all."

"No...... I......"

"All you have is your mouth! Actually, nothing has changed, huh, all you are is a wimp who only knows lip service!"

"I'm not...... I'm not......"

Masato shakily began to stand up from where he had been on the floor.

That feeling was fear. Not at Rokudo and his gang, neither was it at Yaginuma.

He feared his own thoughts, feared that his very being was being opposed.

Then, he feared that to reject it all, he was about to awaken the "beast" within him.

"Suit yourself. If you're going to be like that, you'll be alone forever. No one is going to care about you!"

Yaginuma's scolding rang cruelly in his ears.

"You weren't like this in the past. Not only did you spar with me in karate without caring about ranks, you were awe-inspiring for all of us! Now look at you! You're such an idiot that that word isn't even enough to describe you......"

"Enough!"

An anguished wail cut through the air.

"Don't look down on me...... Don't...... look at me like that......"

Masato swayed as he stood up.

It -- couldn't be stopped anymore.

His high-strung emotions made him tremble uncontrollably. He glared at Yaginuma.

"You have no right to lecture me! The person that cried and begged like a baby after getting beaten by Rokudo's underlings, has no right to lecture me!"

"You!"

Yaginuma became agitated in an instant.

Using his bandaged hands, he attacked Masato.

"Wuahhhh!"

But at that moment, Masato blocked Yaginuma's fist with his left forearm and swung his right fist in a counter-attack.

Bam!

It was dead-on.

Straight into Yaginuma's face.

"Wuoooo!"

Yaginuma had fallen on his back on the floor. Masato immediately jumped on him and continued to pummel his face.

"Wuahhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

Relentlessly--

The screams of pain mixed with overflowing tears--

On and on--

Masato...... kept on punching.

Thump, thump, thump.......

The sound of someone descending the stairs from the roof echoed through the empty space.

Having seen the gruesome scene on the roof, his face was etched with agony. Then, as if trying to hide it all, he pulled his student cap down further over his face.

"Why, isn't this a rare sight to see, you coming to school."

"!"

A sound suddenly came from behind him. He jumped and quickly turned his head.

"When did you......"

"I noticed you. But, peeking isn't allowed, you know."

"Wha......"

He ground his teeth in hate, and glared at the smiling teen.

"Why are you in school?"

"Why? Isn't it natural for a student to come to school? I'll have you know I'm a model student! I haven't missed a single day of school ever since I transferred here!"

"Drop the act! What on earth do you want......"

"Why are you so angry?"

The question was asked so calmly, yet it struck him deeply in his chest.

"Have you lumped him together with your past self? That's why you came to watch?"

"..............."

"I'm right, aren't I...... Prez?"

"!"

Prez -- the term was like a demon hovering by his ear whispering sweet nothings, driving him insane.

"Hng.... hng........"

"Ahh, don't be so miserable. I have no such intentions. But, please stop interrupting our little fun time. Hm, but nothing's off the table."

The teen's gentile face was momentarily overcome with a hateful shadow.

"You are my servant, Lancia."

The teen's voice, warm yet brimming with darkness, made his ears ring continuously.

4

A few weeks had passed.

The Kokuyo High campus was very lively after school on this day.

"Prez, where do I put the inflammmable trash?"

"Ah, it should be right over there by Ushikubo." (4)

"Prez, is there anything else to be done?"

"Yup, are you done with sweeping over there? You're a great help, Baba." (5)

The students were cleaning up, brooms and trash bags in hand. They were surrounding a smiling and sweating Masato.

It was the All-Out Cleanup Day as organised by the Student Council. But these days, there were very few people that littered, so the cleanup was quickly finished today as well.

"Phew...... Alright, we will be all done once we take the trash out."

"Yessir!"

"Good work, everyone!"

Under the brilliant sun, Masato's upbeat voice resonated across the school yard.

"Excuse me."

Masato walked into the teacher's office, illuminated by the sunset. The head teacher of the middle school was all smiles.

"Ah, you've arrived, Hitsuji."

"I'm sorry I'm late. It was because of the cleanup."

"No no, it's fine. Really, thank you. To be honest, we should have thanked you a long time ago."

The teacher watched the setting sun, as blinding as it was.

"To be honest, I really didn't think your efforts would pay off. I really didn't expect...... this school to even become like this one day."

The gratitude in the teacher's voice warmed Masato's heart.

That's right, he had succeeded.

The violence in school and the blatant violation of school rules had been eradicated at once, and the school was now a place where everybody could come to happily to attend classes.

His dreams had become reality.

"Yes yes, my bad, my bad, I got off-topic all of a sudden. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about your recommendation letter for high school."

"Ah......"

The high school that the teacher was talking about was Masato's dream school, as well as a very renowned one.

"But I......"

"What are you talking about! It's because it's you that you are able to go there!"

The teacher patted Masato's shoulder assertively.

"This good-for-nothing school was only able to get back on its feet because of you. To me, your capability greatly deserves recommendation. All the teaching staff think the same."

"Teacher......" (6)

"You'll accept it, right, Mitsuji?"

Being on the receiving end of the teacher's expectant look, Masato was moved. His eyes began to well up and he dumbly nodded.

He felt so light.

It was probably the first time he felt so weightless as he walked down the hallway.

The sounds of the clubs using the field for their activities drifted in through the window. It was as if he was surrounded by the picturesque scene of a regular middle school after lessons ended. But for all of this, it truly cost his blood, sweat, and tears.

The graffiti that wouldn't be washed off no matter what he tried, was now not even visible.

Neither was there the sound of any windows breaking.

The destructive and trouble-making delinquents were also nowhere to be found.

This was just as he envisioned -- what a campus should look like.

"Hah...... hahahaha......"

The laughter naturally flowed from him, he couldn't stop it if he tried.

In this manner, he walked into the Student Council Room and put his bag down.

"......Ah."

Noticing that there was someone in the room, he stopped laughing. He coughed softly, then opened his mouth first.

"Long time no see, Kabane."

"Yeah...... Long time no see."

Kabane smiled weakly as he replied.

"What's wrong? You haven't been to the Student Council Room recently. Are you busy with something?"

"No...... Nothing special......"

"Then why not? I've been lonely without you. Oh yeah, the Student Council members have all returned. Now you won't need to work so hard, so......"

"Ah, um......!"

Kabane blurted out, seemingly with a great deal of effort.

"Uh...... That is......"

"What's wrong, Kabane."

"I have something...... I want to ask......"

"Something to ask? Sure, if I can give you an answer I definitely will."

"It's just a rumour...... Just a really lame rumour......"

"I heard Prez uses violence...... is it true?"

Masato's expression flipped.

His smile remained but it was very obvious that the atmosphere was all wrong.

"......P-Prez?"

"Where did you hear that rumour from?"

"S-Sorry! I shouldn't have paid any attention to such rumours! Even if it was from a good friend, Kashima......"

"Was it Kashima?"

"!"

Kabane looked at Masato in shock.

"Ah, I-I, said it out loud...... No, it's not! I didn't hear it from Kashima......"

Kabane frantically looked for an excuse, all the while the smile had not slipped from Masato's face.

"Sorry, I have something to take care of."

"Ah......"

"Goodbye, Kabane. Let's chat properly next time."

"Prez!"

Kabane called Masato beseechingly, halting him in his tracks.

"So is it true? Prez really......"

"................."

Masato remained silent.

And silently --- he locked the door.

"!"

Kabane's face turned pale.

"W-Why did you...... lock the door......"

"Because I don't want someone else to interrupt."

Masato approached Kabane with a smile.

"Uh......"

Kabane started to step backwards, shaking.

But Masato's footsteps continued, pressing Kabane against the wall.

"P-Pr...... Prez......."

"I was wrong."

"Ah......?"

"It's only been a few weeks; only a few weeks...... was able to change this school that couldn't be changed for months."

Masato, with an innocent expression on his face, then asked: "Doesn't this show that I was wrong?"

Kabane could only tremble fearfully.

Masato watched him, the "beast" within his chest starting in a frenzy.

"Speaking of which, I must thank you. Do you still remember Rokudo Mukuro and the rest? When I beat them up to save you...... how do I put it, I felt like my power was overflowing from my body. Doesn't the saying go 'the pen is mightier than the sword'? Decades ago, it may have been the case, but today the sword is far more practical!"

"Then...... then, it is true? The rumour that Prez used violence to make the delinquents listen is true?"

"It's true!"

"!"

Kabane's eyes were filled with agitation.

"How can it be......"

"Actually, it was only after the act that I realised it's pretty easy! The fact of the matter is, they will follow the strongest individual. Since this is the case, then it's only logical to let the one that's doing the right thing stand on top of the rest. So everyone did what I told them to do, and the school has become so peaceful."

"I can't believe it......"

"What?"

"All of this! Didn't Prez hate violence? Didn't Prez say you can't return violence with violence? This isn't the Prez that I respect! The person I respect......"

Smack!

"......!?"

A slap out of the blue.

"Ah......"

Kabane hesitantly touched his swelling cheek, tears already falling from his eyes.

Seeing him, Masato softly smiled.

"Could you please stop mentioning the past?"

"Ah...... Sob......"

"And I hope you can promise me that this will not be told to anyone else?"

"Hic......"

"No problem, right? You didn't say much in the past either, did you?"

"Sob..........."

"Come on, say it, say that you will keep this secret, say it!"

Smack!

"Say it!"

Smack! Smack!

"What's wrong? Say it! If you don't, I'm not going to stop! Hurry up!"

Bam! Bam!

The open palms became fists --

Masato's eyes were hot...... but he continued his beating.

5

This morning, Masato came to Kokuyo Middle with a spring in his step as always.

"Good morning!"

"Morning, Prez!"

Masato waved in response to his juniors greeting him.

Those reverent gazes made him feel good.

They looked like they saw Masato as a saviour, the saviour who changed the school that just a few weeks ago was a complete mess, into the state it was in now.

The deep sense of accomplishment within him made Masato feel warm and fuzzy.

His dream of restoring the school to its former glory has come true.

Even his letter of recommendation for high school was settled.

It was simply the best.

--- But everything stopped that morning.

"...... Hm?"

Masato noticed that there was a crowd around the noticeboard in front of the school building's entrance and came to a halt.

".............."

He had a bad feeling about this.

He dispersed the crowd, and what was stuck on the noticeboard was --

"What......!"

Photos.

Of the rooftop, after school. Masato was beating up Yaginuma.

"Hng!"

Masato immediately ripped all of the photos down. His face was ghostly, and his brain was running frantically: 'Why do these photos exist? Is it Yaginuma? No, that guy wouldn't have any spare manpower to do so. Then who could it be......'

As he walked away from the noticeboard, he calmed his head.

'No, stay calm, finding the culprit can wait. Whatever it is, the first thing to do is to get rid of these photos......'

The bad thing was that some students had already seen the photos. If they were to spread it by word of mouth, it would only take a while for the whole school to find out.

If this continued, his letter of recommendation and his position as the Student Council President would go up in smoke.

'What should I do...... What should I do......'

The troubled Masato tore the photos apart.

"......!"

Masato realised something very important.

If he looked closely, only his back could be seen in the photos. None of the photos had a clear shot of his face.

'If that's the case..... No, but......'

There was a possibility.

Maybe someone could recognise Masato from his back alone. If this sort of rumour even gets out, it would be a great blow to him.

Other than silencing Yaginuma more seriously, what else should be done --

"Hitsuji......"

"!"

Someone called him all of a sudden. Masato turned around to see Yaginuma looking at him timidly.

Perfect timing. Starting with Yaginuma--

Malice flashed in Masato's eyes as he approached Yaginuma.

"W-Woah, hold on. I have news for you."

"You have something to tell me? Great, let's go to the Student Council Room to have a good......"

"Mukuro and the rest are back!"

"!"

Masato sucked in a breath.

"Someone saw them going into Kokuyo Centre this morning! It's true! Many people saw it!"

"Rokudo...... Mukuro and the rest......"

For Masato, this was no small setback.

Rokudo Mukuro and his gang had disappeared from school for unknown reasons after the bout in Kokuyo Centre.

Yaginuma and the others that had wanted to pledge allegiance to Mukuro had lost their objective. Hence why they had surrendered in such a short time to Masato's brutality.

"Hey, you okay, Masato? Do you really have a plan to defeat them?"

"Of course I do, I actually managed to win against Joshima......"

Masato's words died on his tongue.

He pondered in silence for a while, then suddenly the corners of his mouth quirked upwards.

"...... Right, there's still that method."

"Hitsuji?"

"Yaginuma, gather everybody after school."

"Ah?"

Yaginuma looked uneasy since Masato had just sprung that on him.

"For what? All of a sudden....... You don't mean......."

"Yep, I mean that exactly!"

Masato announced his unwavering resolve.

"We are going after Rokudo Mukuro."

Kokuyo Healthy Land.

It had been a while since Masato had stood in front of this building. There was a huge difference between then and now.

Back then, he was alone.

But now, with Yaginuma as his vanguard, he had dozens of comrades.

This was power.

Masato felt this intensely.

"H-Hey, Hitsuji...... Are you really going to fight Mukuro and the others......"

Bam!

"Wheeze......."

Masato's fist landed beautifully on Yaginuma's face.

"If you say anything else discouraging, I won't be this nice."

Yaginuma held his bleeding nose and nodded a good number of times.

"I already said it just now. You guys are too weak to defeat them, so I'm not telling you that you have to win. Just focus on blocking Kakimoto and Joshima, then I'll take the opportunity......"

Masato's eyes flashed with the prospect of a good battle.

"To get Rokudo."

His words were dripping with confidence, which sealed away all the delinquents' doubts. They hence followed Masato obediently into the building.

'Rokudo Mukuro...... You came at the right time!'

Masato had one thing on his mind.

When he saw that photo of him using violence.

He decided to pin it all on Mukuro.

All he needed to do was instruct Yaginuma and his lackeys to testify, and it would all go away. As for Mukuro, Masato only needed to brutalise him into listening.

'I won't let anyone destroy my perfect school...... So, I need you, Rukudo, to become my living sacrifice.'

As Masato thought this, he felt not an ounce of guilt.

It was all for his ideals, for his desires to run free.

"Rokudo Mukuro......"

Opening the door to the top floor, Masato saw his target. Masato's eyes gleamed.

Like the last time he saw him, Mukuro was sitting deep inside the room, silently watching Masato.

That pressure, like that of a warrior who had experienced a hundred battles, also had not changed.

But for Masato who had awakened his strength, this level was not worth him wavering.

He quickly looked around.

Joshima and Kakimoto weren't there. He didn't know if they had gone out. Whatever it was, Mukuro was alone right in front of his eyes; it was the best-case scenario.

"Long time no see, Rokudo."

Masato said intimately.

Rokudo didn't reply, but Masato didn't care either, and continued: "Ever since meeting you, my world has made a complete one-eighty. It was you guys that made me realise. Talking and some little efforts are completely unable to change anything, only overwhelming power is needed. Just with that, the world will change."

Masato was drunk on his own voice as he slowly approached Mukuro.

"I......"

Masato clenched his fist tightly, happily putting it behind his hip.

"Believe in violence."

The fist was thrown.

It was ruthlessly aimed at Mukuro's face.

Crack!

The sound of something breaking resonated through the large room.

But--

"!"

It was stopped.

The sitting Mukuro only had to raise a hand to easily end it all.

".... Hng!"

Masato's shaking face became one of pain.

Mukuro, holding onto his fist, gradually increased his strength.

"L-Let go! Let go now!"

Masato's left foot swung towards Mukuro's head. But because his body was off-balance, he wasn't able to kick properly, ending up on the floor as he lost his balance completely.

"Oof...!"

The pain from the impact on his back travelled through his entire body.

At that moment--

"!"

Mukuro stood up.

He was going to counter-attack! Masato immediately used his forearms to block his head.

But Mukuro had no intention to attack Masato.

He only looked down at him with despair in his eyes.

"Why......"

"...... Ah?"

"Did you..... end up like this?"

The genuine question flabbergasted Masato.

"Why did you......"

"Because he's a human."

Having been interrupted, Mukuro raised his head in surprise.

Masato raised his head and followed Mukuro's line of sight.

"Kabane!"

He was standing at the door, a face he couldn't be more familiar with.

And at his feet, Yaginuma and the others. There wasn't any pain on their faces, they looked as if they were simply asleep.

"Wh-Why, Kabane? What's wrong with Yaginuma and......"

"Wasn't it quick? The amount of time he needed to fall."

Kabane was disregarding Masato's existence, speaking instead to Mukuro, whose expression looked more crestfallen than before.

"The human world isn't so easily changed, but he fell for it so easily, thinking he could use his own power to change the school. That world, that time...... it was clearly just an illusion I created."

"!"

Illusion --

Kabane's words shook Masato intensely.

What did Kabane just say?

What.... What was an illusion---

"You planned all this?"

Mukuro spat out.

Kabane smiled blandly and replied, "I only opened that door and helped him pave the way. It was he himself that chose to carry on without hesitation. Being soaked in fresh blood and brutality was his own decision. If he wanted to stop, he could have at any time. But he just kept going on......"

He looked at the stunned Masato with a mirthful gaze.

"To the point that when he was beating up his important junior, he felt nothing."

These words were quietly yet completely invading Masato's entire being.

'Ka......bane......?"

Why is saying this?

This was all Kabane's plan? How was it possible!

How could the feeble Kabane plan to setup the senior he respected so much?

Kabane had always ---

Always ---

'...... Always?"

Masato began to sweat.

When was it...... that Kabane showed up by his side?

He can't remember. Masato can't remember anything.

When he was toiling away alone and wanted a comrade, Kabane was always there beside him, but now he couldn't recall a single thing about Kabane---

"!"

--- You're doing these kinds of things all alone again.

--- What the heck are you whining and muttering about alone, oi.

--- You were always alone. Who even is on your side? What have you changed?

"A...... Alone......?"

Alone ---

Yes...... he was always alone.

He had entered the heart of the lonely and shaken Masato in that way.

Everytime he looked into those eyes, Masato would forget all the suffering and feel comforted.

And then those eyes --- had released the desire inside Masato.

"Kabane...... Who...... are you......"

"I'm your ideal partner. As well as the corpse of the dream that you murdered with your own hands...... Kabane." (7)

"!"

Masato faced Kabane.

In his right eye --- surfaced the character for 'six'.

"Roku......" (8)

As he murmured to himself, Masato's complexion became deathly pale.

"Rokudo...... Mukuro......"

...... Masato didn't know why he said this name either.

But Kabane nodded.

"That's right, my name is Rokudo Mukuro. The person called Kabane doesn't even exist, you only believed he was your partner with my influence."

"How...... Isn't there a Rukudo Mukuro over there......"

Mukuro...... No, the person Masato had always assumed was Mukuro, stepped out of his line of sight.

That movement was confirmation of the fact that he was not Mukuro.

"How...... How......"

Masato's chest swirled with utter despair and confusion.

The person he, Yaginuma and the others had thought was Mukuro wasn't Mukuro; the real Mukuro had been beside him masquerading as Kabane, playing his partner-in-arms.

So from the beginning, he had been watching Masato's descent......

Masato hysterically checked his phone and realised something unbelievable that made his eyes widen.

The date displayed was only three days after the confrontation between Yaginuma and Mukuro.

To Masato's awareness, however, it had been a few weeks after the fact.

"A dream...... This is all a dream...... Even the school becoming my ideal was......"

"Only one thing wasn't a dream."

"Ah!"

Masato lifted his head, hanging onto the last shred of hope---

"It's your dive into violence."

As he coldly said this, he extended his right hand.

"Listen well, I'm going to snap my fingers next. Then what will happen? The 'obey Masato' command these guys are under will vanish. Well, then they will only remember how cruelly they were treated before."

"W...... What......?"

Masato's body began to tremble.

Were Yaginuma and the others under his influence too? Did they not submit to him because of his own strength!?

"Once the influence is lifted and they come to...... What do you think will happen to you?"

"S-Stop....... Please stop......"

"What are you so scared of? Don't you believe in violence? If so, then lifting the influence won't be a problem, right? Okay, I'm going to let them go~"

"H-How...... I-I......"

"Three......"

"P-Please...... No more......."

"Two......"

"P-Please...... Please...... Sob......."

"One......"

"Stoppppppppppppppp!"

"Zero."

The sound of the snap echoed through the area.

And then --- The time of hell began.

"Heyo, is it over? Mukuro."

Kabane --- the real Rokudo Mukuro smiled when he saw Joshima and Kakimoto walking into the room.

"Mmhm, it just ended. I wish you could have seen it."

"I also wanted to see it, but Kakipi stopped me."

"Ken's presence would have caused more problems."

"Grrr-----! You're still saying things like this, it's really infuriating, you four-eyes!"

"...... Don't call me that."

"Alright, alright, you two."

Mukuro dispelled the very tense atmosphere building between them.

"Sorry, it was boring for you guys."

"Nah, we had some rewards too."

Crash!

Kakimoto carelessly threw down a boy bound in rope.

"Ranking Futa. Looks like he knows the Tenth Vongola."

"Oh, is that so."

Mukuro cheerfully came closer to the gagged Futa.

"The Ranking Futa, whose accuracy in ranking makes him so sought-after in the Mafia...... His information won't be wrong."

Though Futa was terrified, he glared at Mukuro with steely resolve.

Mukuro grinned even wider, and looked at Joshima and Kakimoto.

"This game ends here. Once this kid spills, we move out."

"Woo! Here we go----!"

Joshima somersaulted around, his spirits high.

Behind his glasses, keen fighting spirit ignited deep in Kakimoto's eyes.

Through this little incident, Mukuro has completely taken over Kokuyo Middle School. Secretly, he had used his powers of persuasions to get into the hearts of the delinquents. On the surface, they were the President's agents who caused all the violence.

Together with the capture of Futa, the source of information, what's next was the beginning of the real objective.

"I'll need your help again, Lancia."

Mukuro faced the tall and solemn man --- the one who took on his identity.

"....... This is so cruel."

"What?"

"Why did you have to take it this far? If you just wanted to conquer the school, it would have been a walk in the park for you."

"Yup, it would!"

"Then why......!"

"But isn't this necessary before battle?"

"Necessary......?"

"Living sacrifices to pray for victory."

With that, he walked off.

He walked towards the scene of wretched revenge, where the blood had yet to dry.

"Wait, Mukuro! Why, why did it have to be that boy? Could it be that you were unable to accept him and his pretty words? Mukuro!"

"No, it's just that, that's right.....he was named so well."

"Name......?"

A boy was lying in the mud, face no longer recognisable as a face, having been severely disfigured. Many of his bones had been broken, and he was on his last breath. Mukuro knelt beside him ---

And whispered softly.

"Humans are the best, aren't they, Hitsuji, my little lamb?" (9)