Renjiro raced through the school, his mind a whirlwind of calculations. Katsuro had vanished into the maze of hallways, but Renjiro wasn't about to let him slip away. He activated the tracker he'd planted on Katsuro's briefcase earlier, a small dot blinking on his watch.
"East wing, second floor," Renjiro muttered, changing direction.
"Renjiro, what's happening?" Kaito's voice crackled in his earpiece.
"Katsuro's on the move. He left something behind in the auditorium. I need you to send a team to disarm it," Renjiro replied.
"Copy that. And Renjiro... don't engage him alone."
Renjiro smirked. "No promises."
He reached the second floor, the tracker leading him to an abandoned classroom. The door was slightly ajar, and Renjiro approached cautiously, peering inside. Katsuro stood at the far end of the room, the briefcase open on a desk. Inside was a sleek device, wires and blinking lights indicating its ominous purpose.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" Katsuro said without turning around.
Renjiro stepped into the room, his body tense. "You're not walking out of here with that device."
Katsuro laughed, finally facing him. "You're brave for someone so young. But bravery doesn't win wars."
"Neither does underestimating your opponent," Renjiro shot back.
Katsuro's smirk faltered, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then, with lightning speed, he lunged at Renjiro.
Renjiro dodged, his training kicking in. He countered with a kick, knocking Katsuro off balance. The older man recovered quickly, drawing a concealed knife from his jacket.
"Is that all you've got?" Katsuro taunted.
Renjiro didn't reply. He grabbed a chair and swung it, forcing Katsuro to step back. Using the opening, Renjiro dashed toward the briefcase.
Katsuro tackled him, slamming him into the wall. "You're out of your league, kid!"
Renjiro gritted his teeth, delivering an elbow to Katsuro's ribs. The man staggered, and Renjiro seized the opportunity to grab the briefcase.
"You won't stop it," Katsuro snarled, pulling out a remote.
Renjiro's heart sank as the device in the briefcase began to beep rapidly.