The air in the underground arena thickened. The lights dimmed slightly as if the shadows themselves leaned in to watch. Kaito stood on the throwing line, gripping his dart tighter than he meant to. Across from him, a tall figure with a snake tattoo coiling up his neck cracked his knuckles and grinned.
"Name's Jin. I don't miss," the man said with venom in his voice.
Kaito said nothing.
Bullseye match. Best of three. One loser walks home. The other doesn't.
The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers like a death sentence.
The match began. Jin's dart flew first — a flawless throw, dead center. The crowd roared.
Kaito stepped forward, the black card still tucked in his hoodie pocket. He hadn't realized until now, but it burned slightly against his chest — like it was reacting.
He breathed in. And as he raised his hand to throw, something inside him cracked open.
Time slowed.
The crowd blurred into shadows. All he could see was the dartboard. A faint glow traced its rings — a web of energy lines, pulsing softly like a heartbeat. His dart hand trembled… then steadied.
"You want to hit the bullseye?"
A voice, or maybe just a thought, whispered from within.
"Then aim not with your eyes. Focus your soul."
Kaito's pupils narrowed. His heartbeat synced with the glow. His mind emptied — no fear, no doubt. Just the target.
He released.
The dart cut through the air like lightning and slammed into the bullseye so hard the board rattled. The crowd fell silent for half a second. Then chaos erupted.
Jin's smirk vanished. "What the hell...?"
Kaito looked down at his hand. It tingled. No… It pulsed.
The announcer tried to hide his surprise. "Round one — draw!"
Backstage – moments later
Kaito splashed cold water on his face. The sink's mirror showed him something unfamiliar — his own eyes, faintly glowing with that strange violet-blue hue.
"What did I just do…?"
Behind him, the girl with the red-rim