Reiji's POV
For the next couple of days, Reiji found himself in a haze of uncertainty. After receiving the offer from the strange man in the suit, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being pulled into something far bigger than he could handle. The ring on his finger, the Dying Will Flame that had sparked briefly during his previous fight, weighed heavily on his mind.
He had tried to summon the flame again, desperate to understand its power, but each attempt had been met with silence. No flames, no rush of energy—just the frustrating emptiness that gnawed at him. The memories of that battle, how the flame had flickered to life when his back was against the wall, haunted him. What was the secret to controlling it? Why had it worked then but not now?
Reiji sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he stared out of his apartment window. The card the mysterious man had given him sat on the small table nearby, untouched for the past day. Maybe I should wait... he thought. Rushing into this without a plan wouldn't help, but the more he waited, the more restless he became.
While Reiji struggled to make sense of his new reality, unknown to him, the city was beginning to stir. Shogo's plan was already in motion, his carefully placed pieces moving into position. The man in the suit had done his job, planting the seed in Reiji's mind. Now, it was only a matter of time before the trap was sprung.
Shinya's POV
Two days later, Shinya Kogami patrolled the streets of Nishi-Tokyo, his sharp eyes scanning the familiar alleys and corners. He had noticed a strange pattern emerging in the past couple of days—some of the local thugs had been more active, moving in clusters, and their targets seemed more deliberate. It wasn't the usual petty crime; there was coordination, and that set off alarm bells in Shinya's mind.
He had followed the movements carefully, noting where they lingered, who they talked to, and most importantly, the direction they were heading. Something was brewing, and Shinya's instincts told him it had something to do with Reiji. He wasn't sure how, but the uneasy feeling from their last encounter lingered.
Tonight, Shinya followed his gut. The usual spots were too quiet—he could feel the tension in the air, a calm before the storm. And that's when he saw it: a group of men, huddled in an alley, not just ordinary thugs. Among them were a couple of SuperPower (SP) users —their movements gave it away, too controlled, too precise for ordinary street criminals.
Shinya's eyes narrowed as he followed them from a distance. The pattern he'd noticed in their activities had finally come together. And their destination? Reiji.
Reiji's POV
The streets were quieter than usual as Reiji walked, his thoughts clouded with confusion. The past two days had been an endless cycle of frustration, trying to understand the Dying Will Flame and what it meant for him. Every time he tried to control it, the flame slipped away, just out of reach.
But something else gnawed at him—a growing unease. The memory of the man's offer lingered, and part of him wanted answers. That's why he had decided to finally look into it. He couldn't sit idly by forever.
As Reiji made his way toward the location on the card, he felt eyes on him. He had been cautious, knowing the city was full of dangers, but tonight was different. He could feel the tension in the air, the threat lurking just beyond the streetlights.
It wasn't long before he found out why.
"Hey, kid," a voice growled from behind him. Reiji stopped in his tracks, turning slowly to see a group of men emerging from the shadows, their eyes fixed on him like wolves circling prey.
At first glance, they seemed like ordinary thugs, but Reiji's gut told him otherwise. He recognized a few of them—faces from the darker parts of the city. But two of them stood out. Their eyes glowed faintly, a telltale sign of SP abilities.
"You've been real hard to track down," the leader said, stepping forward. "Seems like you've got something we want."
Reiji's heart raced. SP users. This isn't good.
The leader's grin widened as his hand crackled with energy, faint sparks dancing around his fingers. "We heard you've got some interesting powers yourself. Let's see what you're made of."
Without warning, the leader lunged forward, his movements faster than any normal person. Reiji barely had time to react, dodging the first attack with a burst of adrenaline. But the second hit landed hard, sending him stumbling back.
Panic set in. The Dying Will Flame—where is it?!
Reiji's mind raced as the thugs closed in, their SP abilities amplifying their strength and speed. He fought back, using his Hyper Intuition to dodge and counter, but it wasn't enough. Every hit he took drained him, and the flame still wouldn't ignite.
A fist slammed into his side, knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for air, struggling to stay on his feet as the leader approached again, sparks dancing dangerously around him.
"This is over, kid."
Shinya's POV
Shinya had been watching the fight unfold from a distance, still unsure of what exactly he was dealing with. Reiji's flame—if that's what it was—had sparked only briefly before, but now the boy was struggling, unable to tap into whatever power had saved him the first time.
As the SP users circled around Reiji, Shinya decided it was time to step in. He drew his special firearm, loaded with bullets designed for situations like these—when normal officers had to fight against SP enemies.
Taking aim, Shinya fired, dropping one of the non-SP thugs instantly. The rest turned toward him, their expressions a mix of surprise and fury.
"Hey, kid," Shinya called out as he approached, his tone calm but edged with urgency. "Where's your flame? Use it."
Reiji, panting heavily from the beating he had taken, glanced up in confusion. His body ached, and his mind was clouded with frustration. "I... I can't!" he gasped.
Shinya frowned, leveling his gun at another thug. "Can't or won't? You had it before—whatever it was. You need to use it now."
Reiji grit his teeth, the words stinging. Shinya didn't understand—the flame wasn't something he could just call upon at will. It had only appeared when his life had been on the line. But now, with Shinya here, watching, he felt the pressure mounting.
Reiji's POV
Reiji forced himself to his feet, every muscle screaming in protest. Shinya's sudden appearance had given him a second wind, but the fight was far from over.
The leader sneered, sparks crackling more violently around him. "You think you can take me? Even with your friend here, you're outmatched."
Reiji's hand tightened into a fist, and something inside him shifted. The frustration, the fear—it all boiled over, and for a split second, he felt it. The flame.
It roared to life, igniting on his forehead, not burning, but fueling him with a strength and clarity he hadn't felt before. The world slowed, his movements becoming sharper, more deliberate. It was just like before—he could feel his body moving with precision, as though every punch, every dodge was guided by something deeper.
The leader charged at him, electricity surging from his hands, but this time, Reiji was ready. He ducked under the attack, moving with the speed and agility of a seasoned fighter, and landed a solid punch to the leader's gut, sending him staggering back.
The other SP user moved in, but Reiji sidestepped effortlessly, his Hyper Intuition guiding him as he countered with a flurry of blows. The fight was turning in his favor.
But the flame, though powerful, was draining. Reiji could feel his energy slipping away with each strike, and he knew he couldn't keep it up for long.
Shinya's POV
Shinya watched as Reiji fought, the flame glowing brightly on his forehead. The kid was holding his own, but the flame was clearly taking its toll. Shinya stepped in, drawing his sidearm. He wasn't using standard ammunition—this situation called for something more. The thugs they were up against included SP users, people who were far more capable than ordinary criminals. That's why Shinya carried SP2 bullets , designed to neutralize dangerous superpowered individuals.
With calculated precision, Shinya aimed at the leader, who was charging at Reiji again. The leader's body crackled with energy, far beyond what a regular bullet could stop. Shinya fired, the SP bullet cutting through the air. The moment it hit, the energy dissipated, and the leader's eyes widened in shock before he collapsed, the life snuffed out in an instant. The bullet had done its job—neutralizing the SP's enhanced abilities and delivering a fatal blow.
Reiji, panting and barely able to stand, looked at the scene in shock as the last of the thugs were taken down. The flame on his forehead flickered out, leaving him exhausted.
Shinya holstered his gun and walked over to Reiji, his sharp eyes scanning the boy. "You did good, but it's obvious—you've just awakened that power, haven't you?" His tone was steady, but there was an edge of curiosity. "You can't control it, and that's because you didn't awaken naturally. A natural SP user can usually use their powers without much effort."
Shinya's brow furrowed slightly as he continued. Experiment? The thought nagged at him, but he didn't voice it out loud. Was Reiji a result of some kind of enhancement or test? The way the kid struggled with his abilities wasn't typical of a natural-born SP.
He pulled out his radio, speaking into it. "This is Kogami. I need reinforcements at my location. We've got criminals to detain."
As he finished, Shinya glanced back at Reiji. "These guys are coming with me. But I'll meet you again, kid. Next time, we'll talk. I feel like I might be stuck with you."