We then transition back to Ryuko and Ren. They’re still in the sky cshing between darkness and the gray blue hue.

  We see Ren struggling to hold back the encroaching void. “That girl’s a Musabori Ryuko, you know what’ll happen to our organizations if you kill her.”

  Ryuko, hands in his pockets gives a sly smirk. “So am I old man. I said I was going to kill the boy first, but thank you for telling me this info on the girl as well. The boss gave me full permission to clean up anyone interfering. So whether she lives or dies, well… that’s just a matter of how long I feel like pying with my food”, he shrugs.

  This comment enrages Ren.

  “Our boss may not be a great man, but even he would avoid an all-out war at all costs! That doesn’t add up, Ryuko!”

  And then it hits him.

  Ryuko smirks, watching the gears turn in Ren’s head. “You’re starting to get it, aren’t you senpai?”

  Ren grits his teeth, refusing to believe it.

  Ryuko twisting his smile then says, “There won’t be an organization war Ren…. I mean it’d make no sense considering both organizations have the same leader.”

  Ren’s breath catches in his throat. For the first time in years, he feels something foreign creeping into his body—fear.

  His mind races to deny it, to call Ryuko a liar, but deep down, something in his gut tells him it’s true.

  “Both organizations…..Same leader?”

  The words twisted in his head, unraveling decades of certainty in a single instant. No. This can’t be right. The Ju Setai was created to counter the Musabori. They’ve been at war for decades. Kuroda… couldn’t possibly……Sato wouldn’t…….Unless this war was never meant to be won.

  Ren’s brain begins to spiral. Where the two men float, the sky had split into two warring forces—Ryuko’s creeping abyss of darkness cwing at reality, while Ren’s defiant, gray-blue aura burned against the void like a dying ember.

  A pair of eyes locked onto the battlefield from below. Watari skidded to a halt, panting. His wide eyes reflected the cshing storm above—a battle of light and shadow, flickering like a silent war between gods.

  “What the hell…?” he muttered under his breath. His fingers tightened into fists as he stood frozen beneath them.

  This wasn’t a fight between ordinary people. He had no idea what Ren had done to piss off the guy in bck, but this wasn’t some back-alley brawl. He had stepped into a new world. And Ren… Ren was struggling. Watari swallowed hard.

  He didn’t know what was happening. He didn’t understand the stakes. But he did know one thing. If Ren didn’t release his core now, he’d be leaving Yumi to fend for herself.

  Legs still shaking, he forced himself forward. A low, menacing chuckle pierced the sky.

  Ryuko stood motionless, hands buried in his pockets, watching Ren with amused, half-lidded eyes. The way his body shook… the way his expression hung between denial and realization—it was delicious.

  Then, his chuckle grew into a full-blown ugh. A ugh of absolute victory.

  “Ahhh, Ren, Ren, Ren… You really didn’t know? Old man Sato makes it pretty obvious.” he mocked, shaking his head. “That expression… I think this might be my new favorite memory.”

  Ren’s breath hitched. The words hung in the air, stretching time out like a bde being slowly unsheathed. That can’t be right... He took a step back, but his mind was somewhere else, scrambling to piece together the implications.

  They shared the same leader. His lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. His thoughts crashed against each other—memories of orders given, half-heard whispers in the dark, the overpping web of allegiances.

  The weight of it pressed against his ribs, making each inhale feel heavier. This changes everything.

  For a fleeting moment, doubt crept in. How much have I been missing? The realization coiled around his throat, tightening but then—Ryuko exhaled, shaking his wrist loose.

  “Well, now that I’ve thoroughly shattered your worldview… I think it’s time I end this charade. I’ve enjoyed this long enough.” He lifted his hand, fingers spreading toward Ren like a predator curling its cws.

  “Swallow him whole, Void.”

  The sky shuddered. A suffocating, bck aura erupted from Ryuko’s hand, twisting and swirling into a singurity. The sheer weight of it made the air colpse inward, as if the battlefield itself was being dragged into the abyss.

  Ren tensed—the darkness was aiming straight for his heart. He should’ve moved. He should’ve blocked, countered, done something.

  But he couldn’t. Both organizations… the same leader. His mind refused to accept it.

  “WHO SAID BURST?!”

  Teenage Ren stood in the middle of the panicked crowd, his voice raw, his hands clenched into trembling fists. His eyes darted from face to face, but no one would meet his gaze. “SAY IT! WHO THE HELL SAID IT?!”

  His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Why hadn’t he moved sooner? Why had he hesitated? Then— THUD. Something heavy hit the ground behind him. The rain began to fall. Then— SIRENS. Loud. Bring. Distant.

  The air was screaming. No— That was just the sound of Ryuko’s void, roaring toward him. Ren’s body still wouldn’t move. The same mistake. Twice.