The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the bustling streets of Kisaragi Town. Arai Takashi, a typical thirteen-year-old middle school student, ambled home with his backpack slung over one shoulder. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the day's events—math homework he hadn't started, a new anime episode that had just dropped, and the upcoming school festival that had everyone buzzing with excitement.

 "Hey, Arai!" called out a voice from behind him. It was his best friend, Kenji, running to catch up. Kenji was a short, energetic boy with messy hair and an infectious grin that could brighten anyone's day."Hey, Kenji! What's up?" Arai replied, turning to face him."Did you see the new game trailer? The one with the dragons and the epic battles? We have to play it together!" Kenji's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he animatedly described the game."Sure! But first, I need to finish my homework," Arai said with a laugh. "You know how Mrs. Sato gets if we don't turn it in on time."As they walked, their conversation flowed effortlessly between topics—favorite games, upcoming tests, and their shared dreams of becoming professional gamers one day. The world felt bright and full of possibilities.

 But as they rounded the corner onto a quieter street, Arai's heart sank. There, in front of a dilapidated convenience store, a group of older boys loomed like shadows. They were notorious in Kisaragi for their ruthless bullying and gang-like behavior. Arai recognized them immediately: Taro, the leader with a scar running down his cheek; Riku, tall and muscular; and Jun, who always wore a smirk that sent chills down Arai's spine."What are they doing?" Kenji whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

 Arai squinted and felt his stomach drop. In the center of the group stood his little brother, Haru, who was only ten years old. Haru had always looked up to Arai—his big brother was his hero. But now, he was surrounded by those who thrived on intimidation."Let's go!" Arai urged Kenji as they started toward the group. But before they could reach him, Taro pushed Haru back against the wall."Look at this little shrimp! Thinks he can just walk around here?" Taro taunted, his voice dripping with malice."Haru! Get away from them!" Arai shouted, panic rising in his chest.

 But Haru stood firm, his small frame trembling but determined. "Leave my brother alone!" he yelled back defiantly.Arai's heart swelled with pride for Haru's bravery but quickly turned to dread as Taro's expression darkened. "What did you say?" Taro stepped closer, towering over Haru like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury."You heard me! Leave him alone!" Arai shouted again as he rushed forward.In that moment of chaos, everything seemed to slow down. Taro lunged at Haru with a fist raised high. Arai screamed as he reached out desperately. But Haru didn't back down; instead, he stepped in front of Arai just as Taro swung.The punch connected with a sickening thud. Time froze for an instant as Haru crumpled to the ground like a marionette whose strings had been cut."No! Haru!" Arai cried out as he fell to his knees beside his brother.

 The world around him faded into a blur of colors and sounds—a cacophony of laughter from the bullies mixed with Kenji's horrified gasp.Haru lay still on the pavement, his small body motionless. Arai shook him gently, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Haru! Please wake up! Don't leave me!"But there was no response—only silence.The gangsters laughed at their handiwork before turning away, leaving Arai cradling his brother in his arms. "You're going to be okay," he whispered frantically, but deep down he knew it wasn't true.Kenji stood frozen nearby, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

 "A-Arai… what do we do?" His voice trembled with fear and disbelief.Arai felt rage boiling within him—a storm brewing in the depths of his heart. He looked up at Kenji through tear-filled eyes and saw fear reflected back at him. "We need to get help!"As Kenji ran off to find an adult, Arai remained by Haru's side, feeling utterly helpless. The vibrant world around him had turned gray; all he could see was his brother's lifeless face staring back at him.Minutes felt like hours before help finally arrived—a teacher from their school who had been passing by noticed the commotion and rushed over. The sight of Haru lying there sent her into a panic as she called for an ambulance while trying to assess the situation."Arai! What happened?" she asked frantically."They… they hit him," Arai stammered through sobs. "They just… they just hit him!"The sirens wailed in the distance as paramedics arrived on the scene. They quickly took over, checking Haru's vitals and preparing him for transport while Arai stood off to the side in shock.

 Hours later at Kisaragi General Hospital, Arai sat in a sterile waiting room filled with fluorescent lights that felt too harsh against his raw emotions. His parents had arrived—his mother was crying uncontrollably while his father clenched his fists in silence."Arai," his father said finally, voice low and strained. "What happened?"Arai opened his mouth but found no words could escape; all he could do was look down at his hands trembling in his lap—the hands that had failed to protect his brother.As night fell and darkness enveloped the hospital grounds, an ominous feeling settled over Arai like a heavy blanket. He couldn't shake off the image of Taro's cruel smile or the sound of Haru's laughter before everything changed so drastically.Finally, after what felt like an eternity filled with anxious waiting and whispered conversations among doctors and nurses behind closed doors, a doctor emerged from the operating room looking grave."I'm sorry," he said softly but firmly. "We did everything we could…"A wave of despair crashed over Arai like icy water; it stole away any remaining breath from his lungs as reality hit him like a freight train. His little brother was gone—forever lost because of someone else's cruelty.

 The days that followed blurred together into a haze of grief and anger. The funeral was held under gray skies that mirrored Arai's heartache; friends from school came to pay their respects but offered little comfort amidst overwhelming sorrow.In those moments of mourning surrounded by familiar faces turned somber by loss, something inside Arai began to shift—a seed of determination took root amid despair."I will make them pay," he whispered under his breath during one particularly quiet moment at home after returning from Haru's funeral service. The words tasted bitter yet sweet on his tongue—a promise not just to himself but also to Haru's memory.With each passing day filled with reminders of what had been taken from him—the laughter shared between brothers now replaced by haunting memories—Arai found himself consumed by thoughts of revenge against those who had wronged them.

 He began training secretly after school in an abandoned dojo near their neighborhood—a place where echoes of past warriors still lingered in the air like whispers urging him onward toward strength and resilience beyond what he thought possible.Each punch thrown against worn-out bags became cathartic release; each kick aimed at imaginary foes transformed pain into power as determination fueled every movement until exhaustion threatened to pull him under yet again—but never quite did!Weeks turned into months as winter melted into spring; blossoms bloomed outside while inside Arai nurtured an unyielding resolve forged from heartbreak—a resolve that would soon lead him down paths darker than any shadows cast upon Kisaragi Town itself…And so began Arai Takashi's journey—not merely one marked by loss but also one ignited by vengeance—a quest for justice that would change everything forever…