Belita hurried through the hall, the basket of food in her hands swaying slightly. As she turned a corner, she suddenly collided with someone, and the basket toppled to the ground. Her wide eyes looked up in horror.
"Oooh… young master Ren!" she gasped, bowing deeply, her face flushed with panic. Her jet-black hair, tied neatly with a braid on each side to frame her delicate features, shone in the light. Her vivid amethyst eyes, a striking contrast to her hair, were filled with anxiety. "This lowly maid humbly asks for forgiveness for tainting your shirt with my filth."
Ren's expression twisted in disgust as he slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed through the corridor.
"You," he growled, grabbing her by her long black hair. "Who do you think you are?"
The commotion drew the attention of the thirty servants working in the house. They hesitated to intervene, held back by the ten guards who flanked Ren at all times.
Ren raised Belita off the ground by her hair, her feet barely touching the floor, and slapped her again. "Are you blind to see what you've done?" he sneered, slapping her a third time. "A lowly maid—"
Before he could strike again, a firm grip stopped his hand mid-air. Ren turned, his face pale as he met Bruce's gaze.
Bruce's rare golden eyes, glowing with rage, locked onto Ren. His light black hair seemed to flow in an unseen breeze, adding to his intimidating presence. The sheer bloodlust in his expression made Ren instinctively freeze.
"Hey…" Bruce said, his voice low and dangerous. "What are you doing?"
Ren felt his fear deepen. *'A lion that bares its fangs is not to be trifled with,'* he thought instinctively. He released Belita immediately, letting her drop to the floor.
"I am Ren Kozuki Hanma," Ren stammered, trying to reassert himself. "The son of Kozuki Hanma and an elder of the—"
Bruce interrupted him, his voice sharp and venomous. "I don't give a damn about who you are. Answer my question right now—what were you doing to Belita?"
Ren's composure faltered as he struggled to keep his bravado. "Damnit… all of you keep testing my patience. What does it seem like I'm doing? I'm putting this lowly maid in her place, as she deserves! Are you blind, or are you just trying to act cool?"
Bruce clenched his fists, his body trembling with anger. He raised his arm, ready to strike, when Minato suddenly appeared.
"Bruce, calm down," Minato said smoothly, placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "This is just a misunderstanding." His voice was deceptively light, but there was an undertone of warning.
Minato turned to Ren, his expression unreadable. "Right, Ren?"
Ren flinched, his body stiffening as he realized Minato's presence. *'Where did he come from? I couldn't even sense him!'* he thought, a cold sweat forming on his brow.
"Minato Hanma…" Ren stammered, shivering. "A-a-aa… yes… yes, of course. Sorry, my bad."
Minato gave him a strained, awkward smile. "See? All cleared up."
Bruce ignored Minato's attempt to diffuse the situation and bent down, gently lifting Belita into his arms. She was silent, her face buried against his chest.
"Three slaps," Bruce said coldly, his voice dripping with promise. "I'll make sure you receive it."
Without another word, he carried Belita away, leaving Ren trembling under Minato's watchful gaze.
---
Minato exhaled a puff of smoke, his sharp gaze fixed on Ren. "Now, let's forget this little scuffle and head to my office to talk, shall we?"
Ren hesitated, the tension visible in his clenched fists, before nodding reluctantly. "Y…yeah."
Minato's lips curled into a sly smile. "But, you know, Ren, it's never a good idea to make enemies of the next head of the Hanma family on your first meeting."
Ren's brows furrowed. "What are you implying?"
"A word is enough for the wise," Minato replied smoothly, taking another drag of his cigarette.
Ren's frustration bubbled over, his voice rising. "You'll watch how you address me. I am here as an envoy from the branch family!"
Minato tilted his head, his one visible eye gleaming with amusement. "And have you forgotten who the branch family works under?" His tone turned icy. "A frog in a well, reaching for the sun. Know your place, you vermin."
Ren froze. He had always been on top, always the one commanding respect. To be spoken to like this was unbearable. Gritting his teeth, he bowed stiffly.
"I come bearing a message from my father, Kozuki Hanma, the head of the branch family."
Minato smirked. "Getting straight to business, are we?"
Ren straightened, his voice regaining its composure. "The message is as follows: It has been declared that the annual Sky Summit will take place once again this year. The main house should have its representative ready. As usual, it will occur on the 15th day of the year. I extend my father's greetings to the current head of the Hanma family." He paused, glancing around. "That is all. I will now take my leave."
Without another word, Ren called his guards and departed. The servants, under Narberal's orders, quietly returned to their duties.
Minato watched Ren's retreating figure, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. "What an ill-tempered brat. How does a tail dare to order the head?" His smirk grew sharper. "Well, now that the fish has taken the bait, all that remains is to carefully reel it in and slaughter it."
---
In Bruce's room, the atmosphere was far from calm. Belita sat gingerly on his lap, her cheek red from Ren's earlier assault. Bruce held a small jar of ointment, his fingers gentle as he applied it to her bruised skin.
"Does it hurt?" Bruce asked, his voice soft yet gruff.
Belita hesitated, her eyes cast downward. "A little…"
Both spoke at once. "I'm sor—"
Bruce chuckled, his rare smile breaking the tension. "You go first."
Belita fidgeted. "I'm sorry. If it weren't for my incompetence, you wouldn't have had to quarrel with the young master."
"Bell…" Bruce said, his tone firmer now. "Who is your master?"
Her gaze flickered to his, hesitant. "You are."
"As your master," Bruce said, his voice steady, "I want you to promise me something." He took her hand and placed it gently on his head. "Promise me you won't bow to anyone else but me."
Belita blinked, her lips trembling slightly. Then, with unexpected resolve, she nodded. "I, Belita, the maid of Young Master Bruce Hanma, swear on my life that I'll never bow to anyone other than my master."
For a moment, silence hung in the room. Then, realizing the intimacy of their position, Belita's face turned crimson. "C-can you let go of me now?"
Bruce chuckled softly, though he didn't immediately release her. "One more thing."
Belita looked up at him, confused.
"Stop calling yourself lowly," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "You're not as bad a person as you think."
Her eyes widened, and she quickly slid off his lap, muttering something incoherent before rushing out of the room.
---
Minato leaned casually against the wall outside Bruce's door, lighting a cigarette. He chuckled to himself, exhaling smoke into the air. "How good it is to be young."
From the hallway, Narberal's voice cut through the quiet. "You're not so old yourself."
Minato glanced at her, his expression turning bemused. "You always seem to ruin the fun in everything."
Narberal ignored his comment, her tone sharp. "Still pining after that vixen?"
The mention of Hinata made Minato's expression darken. He turned away, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. "Her name is Hinata," he said through gritted teeth, "and it's none of your business."
Narberal's gaze was unwavering. "Don't be mistaken, young master. That vix—I mean Hinata—has Benimaru Hoshino with her now. That's the bitter truth."
The cigarette fell from Minato's lips as his fist slammed into the wall, sending cracks rippling through the plaster. The entire house seemed to shudder from the force. Servants stumbled as the floor beneath them shook, and Bruce glanced up, alarmed.
"Don't give me that crap!" Minato growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You were the one who separated us in the first place!"
Narberal bowed deeply, her voice calm but tinged with regret. "This servant humbly apologizes. I only did it in your best interest, young master."
Minato glared at her, his tone cold. "Apologizing a million times doesn't change what you've done."
He turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving Narberal standing alone. Slowly, she straightened, her expression solemn.
"I know," she murmured to herself. "Which is why I'll spend every moment of my life making amends."
---
Bruce, who had been quietly peeping in on their conversation, frowned slightly. **What was that all about?**
Evening came, and the dining table was set. Bruce sat across from Minato, the maids efficiently serving them dish after dish.
"Bruce," Minato said, taking a sip of wine, "do you know about the Annual Sky Summit?"
Bruce swallowed a mouthful of food before replying, "Grandpa mentioned it once."
Minato sighed, shaking his head. "You've got an odd type of anemia, you know that."
"I don't know…" Bruce muttered, scratching his head. "It feels like something is blocking parts of my memory."
"Anyway," Minato said, leaning back in his chair, "the Sky Summit is an event that takes place on the 15th day of the new year when all the children from the six branch families come of age."
"How many branch families are there?" Bruce asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Just six," Minato answered, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "But here's the thing—among them, only the Hoshikawa Hanma clan carries the blood of the founding ancestors. The rest? They're just fallen anomaly clans the founder brought under his wing. They share the Hanma name, but they still bear their ancestors' surnames."
"So…" Bruce paused, chewing thoughtfully, "this ancestor is a very generous person? Like a hero?"
Minato smirked. "He is… but it seems their balls have grown bigger over the years. They dare to challenge the one who feeds them."
Bruce choked, struggling to swallow as he burst into laughter. "You said balls," he managed, his voice faint.
Minato ignored him and continued. "The six families are the Kozuki Hanma clan, the Takahashi Hanma clan, the Ishiguro Hanma clan, the Okamoto Hanma clan, the Hoshikawa Hanma clan, and the Yamashiro Hanma clan. There have only ever been five recorded ancestors of the Hanma family, making it a family with a very short lineage. Your father was meant to be the sixth."
Bruce blinked. "Wait… I have a father?"
Minato raised an eyebrow. "Of course. A lot of issues arose because your father didn't want to uphold his position. It all started when he refused to marry the only daughter of the Hoshikawa Hanma clan—a tradition, since the founding ancestor married one. That's also why only women are allowed to lead their family."
Bruce leaned forward. "So what happened?"
"They tried to use your father's refusal to dethrone the main family," Minato explained, pouring himself another drink. "They approached your grandfather, but he diffused the flames. That's how the Sky Summit was established. Your grandfather gave them an ultimatum: 'If any of your heirs can defeat my son, you may have the throne.' But since they all lost, your grandfather retained his position after your father disappeared."
Bruce's fork paused mid-air. "So… you're saying I'm going to compete with the other children of the branch families and get engaged at the same time?"
Minato chuckled. "Oh, so you were listening. Anyway, that's the gist of it. The program takes place in six days."
Bruce's gaze hardened. "Ren Kozuki Hanma… will he be there?"
Minato's smirk returned. "That brat? Oh, he'll definitely be there."
---
Minato leaned back in his chair, the usual sly smile dancing at the corners of his lips. "What do you plan to do to him?"
Bruce didn't hesitate. "I'm gonna kill him."
Minato exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice almost mocking. "Then unfortunately for you... it can't take place at this event."
Bruce furrowed his brow. "Why'd you say that?"
"You'll find out once we're there," Minato replied cryptically, swirling the wine in his glass.
"Where is it going to take place?" Bruce asked, still puzzled.
"In the Hanma family arena."
Bruce's eyes widened. "We have an arena?"
Minato smirked. "Follow me."
As the maids cleared the table, the two men made their way outside into the garden. The evening air was cool, with only the soft chirping of crickets filling the silence.
"Bruce, bring your palm," Minato commanded, a knife materializing in Narberal's hand as she appeared silently at his side. Without hesitation, Minato made a shallow cut across Bruce's palm.
The moment Bruce's blood touched the earth, a brilliant magic circle illuminated the garden, glowing with a fierce intensity. The ground trembled beneath them, and with a low rumble, a massive arena rose from the ground. Its grandeur was overwhelming, its walls stretching high into the air.
"Damn, it's huge," Bruce muttered, eyes wide in awe.
"There should be two anomalies guarding this place," Minato remarked, handing the knife back to Narberal. "But I guess you could say we're short on staff."
Narberal bowed slightly, her expression calm. "I'll have this arena cleaned and ready for the event."
Minato nodded. "See to it."
With a graceful movement, Narberal disappeared into the shadows, leaving the two alone.
"What about Belita?" Minato asked, lighting another cigarette.
Bruce shrugged. "I don't know. She's probably doing the dishes or something."
"Are you planning to leave the mountain?"
"Yeah," Bruce admitted, his voice quieter now. "Maybe once all these branch families' issues die down. I'm going to look for Grandpa. I don't want to be tied down to this mountain... or to you, for that matter."
Minato smirked, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I guess that's one way to put it."
"But Minato..." Bruce hesitated, his gaze lingering on the distant horizon. "Why exactly are you helping me?"
Minato stayed silent for a moment, allowing the evening breeze to carry his thoughts. The rustling leaves seemed to respond, and their quiet conversation faded into the calm night, leaving the air thick with unanswered questions.
---
Minato's Reflection
Minato leaned against the garden railing, puffing another smoke as the evening breeze carried the scent of the earth freshly stirred by the arena's magic circle. His one good eye glimmered with a faint melancholic light as he turned to Bruce.
"I guess you could say we're alike, somewhat," Minato began, exhaling a puff of smoke into the air. "Back in the day, I was the poster child for freedom. Did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. But things happened… and then I became a typical 'mumu for love.'" He chuckled dryly, shaking his head.
Bruce raised an eyebrow. "'Mumu for love'? What's that supposed to mean?"
Minato smirked, taking another puff. "A fool blinded by emotions. I lost everything to my best friend—all because of my carelessness. My left eye is a reminder of all the good things I threw away in pursuit of something I never should've reached for. But that's all in the past now. It was around that time I met your grandfather and my master, Tora Hanma-san, the man who taught me everything I know today."
Bruce blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Tora Hanma? I've never heard much about him."
Minato's voice grew somber. "Tora-san was a man of great importance to the world. Even though he mostly stayed in the shadows, his decisions left an unshakable impact. The world didn't always know his name, but it felt his presence." Minato took another drag of his cigarette, gazing into the distant horizon. "And now that he's disappeared, a storm is brewing. People may not know it yet, but the balance he kept is on the verge of breaking."
Bruce frowned. "Wait. He disappeared? When?"
Minato nodded. "It was shortly before your accident—on the 263rd day of the 526th solar year. A week before, to be exact. I should've realized something was off. He sent me a letter out of nowhere, something he hadn't done in years. His timing… it wasn't a coincidence."
### A Glimpse of Tora Hanma
The scene shifts to a dimly lit study. A flickering lantern cast a warm, uneven glow on the desk where a man with a powerful, aged build sat. His face remained obscured by shadows, but his weathered hands moved deftly, writing with a steady rhythm.
Tora Hanma dipped his pen into the ink, his lips curling into a faint smile as he spoke to himself.
"Hey, Minato. It's been a while," he murmured, his voice deep and gruff, carrying the weight of countless battles and years of wisdom. "How's Narberal doing? Are you still hung up on your old flame, Hinata? … Man, I've got so many questions for you. But those questions will have to wait."
The lantern flickered again, its light briefly illuminating the sharp intensity in his aged eyes. Tora folded the letter carefully, sealing it with the Hanma crest.
"Take this to Minato," he instructed someone unseen in the shadows.
Back to the Present
Minato stubbed out his cigarette, shaking his head. "I should've paid more attention to the letter when I got it. Maybe I could've stopped what happened. Maybe I could've found him before he disappeared. But regrets don't fix anything, do they?"
Bruce stared at Minato, his usual casual demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "So… what was in the letter?"
Minato smirked slyly, his expression softening just a bit. "Maybe if you win the sky summit, I'll tell you."
Bruce blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, seriously?"
Minato chuckled, turning away as he lit another cigarette. "Guess you'll have to give it your all, huh, kid? man, it really sucks to be you right now"
The faint hum of the evening breeze filled the silence that followed, carrying with it the unspoken weight of Minato's words.