After leaving the nurse's office, Takashi wandered aimlessly for a while, trying to process everything that had happened. The strange dream, the confrontation with the bullies, and his newly awakened power weighed heavily on his mind. He felt a sense of isolation despite his victory, unsure of what to do next.
Takashi walked toward the city streets, no longer staying in the academy or the orphanage. He had a small apartment he barely afforded by doing part-time jobs. As he walked through the bustling streets, the thoughts from earlier lingered in his mind. The black flames, the memories of the father figure, and the weight of the powers he'd just discovered felt heavier than ever.
"Why now? After all these years… What am I supposed to do with this?" he muttered to himself. People brushed past him, unaware of the internal struggle he faced.
When he finally reached his apartment, he opened the door to the familiar, yet still cold and unwelcoming room. Throwing his bag on the floor, he collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
He had always wondered why everything seemed to go wrong in his life. First his mother disappearing after giving birth to him, then losing the closest thing he had to a father. His dream of joining the Radiant Order had been shattered when his powers didn't awaken like the others.
Now, everything felt like it was spiraling even further out of control.
Just as he was thinking about his mother's disappearance and everything that had gone wrong in his life, Takashi suddenly fell into a fit of rage. He shouted, "Ahhh!" and without thinking, stretched his hand forward as if trying to punch the air. His fist mistakenly struck a box—his parents' keepsake. It tumbled over, spilling its contents across the floor.
Takashi stood still, staring at what lay before him. There wasn't much in the box—just a burnt-edged picture of his mother, his father's old journal (a reminder that his father had been an archaeologist), and a small, mysterious chest. The chest had been a puzzle to him ever since it came into his possession. The orphanage had tried everything to open it, using tools, brute strength, and even flames (The reason the orphanage were so desperate to open the box was because they hoped that it would contain some information about his father's whereabouts, or information about his family history, which has always been shrouded in mystery). It was wrapped in a strange, metallic material that no one could identify. The hardest flame-wielders in the orphanage, even an orange flame user, couldn't make a dent. All that was left were scratch marks and burnt edges from their futile attempts.
A sudden thought flashed across Takashi's mind. What if his newly awakened black flames could do something? He summoned the flames, feeling a strange connection to their power, and with a touch, the black fire licked across the surface of the chest. In an instant, the once-impenetrable metal began to melt, dissolving as if it were nothing but ice.
Stunned by how easily the black flames had succeeded where everything else had failed, Takashi peered inside the chest. There was only one thing within—a strange ring. It looked simple at first glance, but there was something odd about it, something that made Takashi hesitate. He lifted it, examining the smooth surface that felt unnaturally cool in his hand.
"Hmmm," he murmured. "I thought the black flame could melt anything, but this ring... it's completely unharmed."
Curiosity overtook him. Without a second thought, Takashi slipped the ring onto his finger, expecting some dramatic effect. Perhaps a surge of energy or some strange vision. But nothing happened. No sudden power coursed through him. No flash of insight. Frustrated, he tried a few exaggerated, cringe-worthy poses, hoping something would activate. Still, nothing. Feeling foolish, he sighed.
"Well... I'll figure out the effect later," he sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile and trying to play off his disappointment. But deep down, he knew that this ring was far from ordinary. Whether it was connected to his father's work as an archaeologist or his own strange new powers, Takashi could sense that it would be important.
But even though nothing seemed to happen, Takashi couldn't shake the feeling that this ring was important. It had resisted the flames that melted through everything else. It was tied to his father, to his past, and now, to the strange powers he'd unlocked. Though he didn't yet understand it, he knew this ring had a purpose.
The next day at school, Takashi found himself back in the classroom, pretending everything was normal. As the bell rang for lunch, he noticed that several of his classmates were whispering and casting curious glances at him. Word about the fight had probably spread, though no one seemed brave enough to ask him about it directly.
It wasn't until later, during a quiet moment between classes, that he found himself face to face with the class captain—Sato Rin, the girl with the pink flames. She approached him casually, leaning against the desk with a smile.
"Hey, Ren," she said, her voice friendly but firm. "You seemed pretty out of it yesterday. What's going on with you?"
Takashi hesitated, unsure how much to tell her. But before he could respond, she added, "By the way, I knew you knew my name. You're not as oblivious as you pretend to be."
Takashi blinked in surprise. "I—I wasn't pretending. I just didn't talk much, so I guess I seemed like I didn't care."
Rin chuckled. "That's what I figured. Anyway, you're not off the hook yet. You owe me a proper explanation after skipping the class meeting."
Takashi smirked slightly but then felt a pang of worry. He had to be careful. He couldn't reveal too much, not yet. There was still too much he didn't understand about his powers, about the black flames that haunted him.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, "maybe later."
As Rin walked off, Takashi knew it wouldn't be the last time she confronted him. But for now, he had bigger concerns. He needed answers, and he wasn't going to find them sitting in class.
After Takashi's brief conversation with Rin, he spent the rest of the day in class, zoning out. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about everything that had unfolded so far—his black flames, the strange ring, and the looming threat of the Radiant Order if they ever discovered his powers. The weight of it all hung over him like a cloud, and the mundane rhythm of the school day felt like background noise.
When school finally ended, Takashi didn't head straight home. Instead, he wandered through the city streets, trying to piece together what his next move should be. He couldn't keep avoiding his powers, but he didn't know who to trust. He briefly considered asking Hanae for help, but quickly dismissed the idea. She might be sharp, but he wasn't ready to drag anyone else into this.
As he walked, the familiar hum of city life surrounded him. Vendors shouted out prices for street food, children played in the park, and people went about their business. Takashi watched them with a sense of detachment. It was strange how normal everything looked when his world felt like it was falling apart.
Eventually, Takashi found himself at a quiet park near the edge of the city. He sat down on a bench and stared up at the sky, watching the clouds drift by. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, but as the sun began to set, the shadows around him grew long and cool. Just as he was about to get up and head home, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I was wondering when we'd cross paths again."
Takashi turned to see a figure stepping out from behind a tree. It was Kurogane Akira, the captain of the Radiant Order. His red flame-wreathed eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and his presence immediately set Takashi on edge.
"Captain Kurogane," Takashi said cautiously, his muscles tensing as he instinctively prepared for a confrontation.
Kurogane's gaze was piercing, but his expression remained calm. "You've been keeping a low profile, Ren. After what happened with the Crimson Collective, I expected more from you."
Takashi's heart raced, and he clenched his fists, trying to suppress the panic rising in his chest. Did Kurogane know about the black flames? Had he somehow found out about what happened with the bullies? Was this it? The moment the Radiant Order came for him?
"I don't know what you're talking about," Takashi said, his voice steady, but inside, his mind was spinning.
Kurogane raised an eyebrow, studying him. "You're still learning to control it, aren't you? That power inside you."
Takashi's breath caught in his throat. He knew. Of course he knew. But how much did he know?
"I've seen it before, Ren," Kurogane continued. "A power like yours… It's not something you can run from. And it's definitely not something you can hide. The Radiant Order may not have figured it out yet, but it's only a matter of time."
Takashi narrowed his eyes. "So what do you want? Are you going to turn me in?"
Kurogane's expression softened slightly. "If I wanted to, you wouldn't be standing here. I came to offer you something—guidance. You're not like the others. The black flame… it's dangerous, yes, but it can also be a tool. If you learn to master it."
Takashi remained silent, trying to process what was happening. The captain of the Radiant Order, the man who had sworn to eradicate any rogue flames, was offering to help him?
"I know what you're thinking," Kurogane said. "But the Radiant Order doesn't always know what's best. I've seen too many people destroyed because they couldn't control their power. You don't have to be one of them."
Takashi hesitated, unsure of whether to trust him. Kurogane's offer sounded too good to be true, but something about the captain's words struck a chord deep within him.
"What's in it for you?" Takashi asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Kurogane sighed before replying, "You may not know this, but my twin sister is your school's nurse. She felt something strange and informed me about the dark flames, and I tracked them back to you."
Takashi's eyes widened. The nurse? His mind flashed back to his visit to the nurse's office after the fight with Igarashi. He hadn't realized Kurogane had such a personal connection to the school. Then he thought to himself "now that I think about it, they look similar".
Kurogane continued, "She also asked me not to hurt you. She mentioned you've always been bullied."
Takashi frowned, unsure of how to respond. I thought she didn't believe that the black flames are real?, he said to himself.
Kurogane's face softened, and he spoke in a way that was more personal than Takashi had expected. "Also, not everyone may know this because the cathedral covered most of my history, but I was a late bloomer like you. I know what it's like to be bullied because of it."
Kurogane lifted one hand to the back of his neck, wearing an expression that hinted at past pain. "I get it, Ren. I know it feels like the world's against you. But it's not always going to be like this."
Takashi narrowed his eyes, still skeptical. "So, why are you telling me this? You expect me to believe you just want to help?"
Kurogane nodded. "It's okay if you don't believe me. But I'm telling you the truth—I'm just trying to help. My sister asked me to. And I know what it feels like to be in your shoes."
Takashi remained skeptical, though. "So what? You're here out of pity? Or are you trying to recruit me for something?"
Kurogane shook his head. "I'm not asking for anything right now. I'm offering you a way to control your powers before the Radiant Order finds out. If they do, it won't be just bullies you'll have to deal with. It'll be worse."
Takashi stared at the ground, fists clenched. Kurogane's words echoed in his mind. The threat of the Radiant Order coming for him felt real now. And the idea of having someone who understood, who might help him control the black flames, tugged at him.
"Why are you really doing this?" Takashi asked, his voice low.
Kurogane sighed, looking off into the distance. "Let's just say… I owe my sister. She's helped me more than I can repay. And she thinks you deserve a chance, even if you don't believe in yourself yet."
I also have my own reasons for wanting to keep you off the Order's radar. I can teach you how to hide your power, how to control it. In exchange, you help me when the time comes."
Takashi frowned. "Help you with what?"
"All in due time," Kurogane said cryptically. "For now, think it over. But don't take too long. The Radiant Order won't wait forever."
With that, Kurogane turned and began to walk away, his red flames flickering briefly as he disappeared into the evening shadows.
Takashi stood frozen, the captain's offer echoing in his mind. He had no idea what Kurogane's real motives were, but the promise of learning to control his black flames was tempting. It could be the only way to avoid the Radiant Order's wrath, and maybe even unlock the mystery of his powers.
As the night deepened, Takashi knew that his path had just become even more uncertain. Whatever decision he made next would shape his future—and perhaps the fate of the world around him.
With a heavy heart and a mind full of questions, he turned toward home, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges.