The Night Everyone Will Remember - Part 2: Awakening

Tokyo was a gaping wound, pulsing with chaos and terror. The streets, once brimming with life, were now haunted by desperate shadows, police officers with faces twisted by inhuman emptiness, and violet eyes glowing like infernal flames. Every siren was a scream of pain, every step an echo of madness.

Screams, cries, and the wailing of children echoed through the streets of Shinjuku and Shibuya, drowned by the relentless sound of gunfire.

In a nearby pub, the atmosphere was deceptively calm.

A few students from class 3-B, Kairo's classmates, were chatting and laughing without a care.

Hakura, Naoto, and Jun.

The three sat at a table, sipping on non-alcoholic drinks, enjoying their evening.

"Guys, I need to ask you something," said Jun, the athlete of the class, slamming his glass down. Naoto and Hakura glanced at each other, puzzled.

"Like what?" Naoto replied, adjusting his glasses.

"Have you noticed how weird Kai's been acting lately? And then, just like that, he didn't come to school today."

"Yeah, it's odd. He's always late, sure, but Kai would never skip school," added Naoto.

"Especially today, we had a Kendo lesson," Hakura chimed in.

"Something's off. Next time I see him, I'm gonna talk to him. We're friends. Our groups are close," Jun said, arms crossed.

"Especially a certain girl sitting at this table with a thing for Riven, haha," teased Naoto. Hakura blushed as red as a pepper.

The lighthearted atmosphere at the table even made the adult regulars envious.

The Baiku Pub was simple: a small wooden counter, a bottle shelf behind it, and a cheerful bartender whistling while chatting with a customer. Six round tables and a relaxed vibe made it the perfect spot for a peaceful evening.

Except tonight.

The flat-screen TV, the only piece of tech in the place, had been acting up.

"Stupid piece of junk. What's wrong with you today?" muttered owner Koto Sawa, tapping the screen.

Naoto, still being playfully scolded by Hakura, noticed the struggling man. "Need help from the new generation, Mr. Sawa?" he asked, getting up.

"Ah, thank you, Naoto. You're always so kind. It was working earlier... why do these gadgets always act up?"

"Let me take a look." Naoto fiddled with the wires but found nothing wrong.

"Strange," he sighed.

Suddenly, the screen lit up. Naoto smiled—until the pub fell silent.

A white background filled the screen. A hooded, masked figure appeared.

Azrael had arrived.

"Greetings, citizens of Tokyo," said the distorted, cold voice.

"Kid, change the channel!" growled Sawa, visibly uneasy.

Naoto grabbed the remote, but it didn't respond.

Azrael, as if he could see the boy, turned toward him. "I wouldn't do that, unless you want a nice little shock."

Naoto froze. The others' expressions darkened.

The pub's cheerful vibe dissolved into dread.

Naoto, braving the fear, reached for the power cord. A sudden jolt surged through him, flinging his body against the wall.

"NAOTO!" Hakura screamed, rushing to his side, tears forming in her eyes.

Jun jumped to his feet, eyes blazing. He stood in front of the screen.

"Who the hell are you, and what do you want?!"

Azrael chuckled. "Don't worry, I made sure the shock wasn't lethal. But now, I have your attention. I want two boys... classmates of yours."

A chill ran down Jun's spine as he looked at Hakura, then at Naoto lying motionless.

"I want the Kaiaba brothers," Azrael said, displaying images of Kairo and Yuto.

"They're at the Shinjuku Police Station. Bring them to me or..."

He stopped, staring toward the entrance.

Everyone turned, hearing strange noises.

"Hey, wait, what are you doing—" a muffled voice came from outside.

A man's body smashed through the wooden door, silencing the pub.

Two corrupted police officers stepped through slowly.

Jun froze at the sight of their glowing violet eyes.

The injured man tried to get up. One officer kicked him hard, sending him crashing into the counter.

Jun couldn't bear the injustice. "Hey! Stop!"

Before he could react, the second officer aimed a gun at his head and shoved him against the wall.

"Don't provoke them, hothead. My men are... temperamental," Azrael mocked from the screen.

The masked man nodded.

The officer released Jun and, without hesitation, fired three shots into the man on the floor.

Blood sprayed across the room.

The Baiku Pub had become a theater of horror.

Everyone crouched, covering their heads in sheer terror.

Jun turned to Hakura and gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her.

The TV glitched, and Azrael's voice deepened.

"If you don't bring me Kairo and Yuto Kaiaba by dawn... this won't be the last victim."

Then the screen went black.

Jun and Hakura understood—their friend was in grave danger. They had to act.

From his rift, Azrael watched the city and shared the broadcast from his smartwatch. In an instant, the Kaiaba brothers became public targets.

---

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the police station...

Hanazawa gripped his makeshift shield tightly — a piece of bent, scratched metal torn from an electric panel. His breathing was shallow, and the wound on his shoulder throbbed.

He watched the two officers with blank expressions and jerky, unnatural movements — like puppets without strings.

"I can't give up now," he thought, heart pounding like a drum.

The corrupted officers stopped for a moment, studying the detective. Then, they smiled eerily.

Hanazawa raised his shield, ready to defend himself.

Then, a shadow emerged from the rooftop's concrete — like a swirling vortex of black smoke. A figure slowly took form: a black hood, a cloak woven from living shadows, and finally, a white mask. The figure kept emerging under Ien's stunned gaze, revealing black pants and dark sneakers.

Azrael materialized slowly, a dense shadow becoming flesh. A violet aura pulsed around him — an oppressive energy that drained all hope. His eyes, two pitch-black slits in the mask, locked onto Hanazawa like a predator eyeing its prey.

The two corrupted officers dropped to their knees, bowing in submission.

Azrael touched the rooftop's surface, releasing a crushing aura that made the entire building tremble.

A few floors below, Kairo and Yuto felt the suffocating pressure. Their breaths quickened.

"What the hell is this feeling?" Yuto asked, pressing a hand to his chest, struggling to breathe.

Kairo gritted his teeth, legs shaking, his hands reflexively gripping his katana.

"It's him..." Kairo whispered. His heart pounded so hard that his katana trembled in his grip. The air pressure pushed against him like the darkness itself wanted to swallow him whole. "He's even stronger now..."

Yuto turned to his brother. "S-so it's really him?"

"Yes, Yuto. It's Azrael," Kairo replied, barely able to stand.

Hanazawa felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him — far worse than anything he'd experienced, even when staring down a Yakuza boss.

"Detective, we finally meet," Azrael's distorted voice echoed across the rooftop. His aura, infused with dark power, cast a violet glow over the scene.

"So you're the infamous Azrael... the man from the broadcast," Hanazawa said, rising slowly, his stance defensive.

Azrael seemed amused by his resolve. "You're still standing? Impressive. Only one other person ever managed that," he said, clapping slowly with his gloved hands.

"If you have a problem with me, leave my colleagues out of it," Hanazawa growled.

"You don't fear me... Admirable," Azrael murmured, vanishing in a blur.

Hanazawa's eyes widened — he couldn't even follow the movement. One question echoed in his mind: Is he even human?

Azrael reappeared behind him.

Cracking his neck, he said, "But is it courage—"

His punch landed like a hammer. Hanazawa felt the air rush from his lungs as burning pain seared through him. His body was hurled back, slamming against the wall like a ragdoll.

"—or just stupidity?"

Ien spat blood, stunned by the overwhelming force.

Azrael loomed over him, eyes meeting through those void-like slits. "No... It's courage, I'd say. But let's see if it helps you survive."

He vanished into a cloud of black smoke, leaving Hanazawa with the corrupted officers.

Azrael's voice echoed like a whisper in the wind: "Kill him. Let's see if he survives."

One of the agents charged. Hanazawa blocked the attack, feeling the unnatural power behind it. He quickly used his walkie-talkie to send a shock to the second agent, who collapsed with an inhuman groan.

Turning, Hanazawa smashed the first attacker with a metal panel, knocking him down.

Panting, he tried to understand what he'd just faced. How can anyone hit like that and move so fast?

His mind circled back to the barrier.

It felt like we were here… but not here at the same time, he thought, picking up a fallen sidearm.

Two are better than one. I just hope I won't have to use them.

The second agent stirred, shaking from the shock. For a moment… the violet glow disappeared.

"Ugh... my head... where am I—Detective, you're hurt!"

Hanazawa eyed the man, cautious. He took a step back.

"So… an electric shock, huh?" he muttered.

Just then, two more officers arrived, placing their hands on the man. The glow returned.

The officer trembled as corruption spread through his body again.

His eyes met Hanazawa's. "Run, before they get you too..."

The man's movements reverted to the jerky puppet-like motions, tears in his eyes.

"Damn you, Azrael," Hanazawa growled, bracing himself.

But then, two familiar voices called from behind the corrupted.

The Kaiaba brothers arrived just in time.

"Detective!" Kairo shouted.

All three corrupted officers turned, lifeless gazes fixed on the boys.

"Kai, I don't think they're here to throw us a welcome party," Yuto joked nervously, aiming his taser.

"Looks like it's showtime," Kairo muttered, drawing his katana. His usual confident grin crept onto his face — the same look he wore before a serious match.

"Let's see if my plan works."

Yuto sighed, positioning himself behind his brother.

"Not the grin again... Please tell me that's not the grin."

Kairo turned, flashing his grin.

"Yup. It's the grin," Yuto said, resigned.

"What are you two thinking? Run now!" Hanazawa shouted.

Kairo and Yuto shared a look as the three officers charged with electrified batons.

"Sorry, Detective," Kairo said, intercepting all three with masterful deflection. "But I'm done hiding."

He moved with grace, dodging the first two like he was dancing. His leather jacket shimmered in the moonlight.

Kairo struck the third with the flat of his blade, knocking him out.

The first two lunged again, but Yuto zapped one with the taser while Kairo slid beneath the second's legs and struck him from behind.

One by one, Yuto neutralized the rest with his taser, breaking their corruption.

Hanazawa stood frozen, amazed by the brothers' coordination.

"How... how did you do that?" Ien asked Kairo.

"Well... let's just say I practice a lot of kendo," Kairo replied, a bit sheepish.

"That's more than just athleticism. You fight like a warrior," Hanazawa noted. He turned to Yuto. "And the taser idea?"

"He's the nerd, reads a lot of comics," Yuto said, laughing.

"Stan Lee saved your butt then," Kairo joked.

Yuto ignored him and reactivated the map on his smartwatch.

"We need to get out of here. Now."

"Agreed. Detective, what about you—wait, you're injured!" Kairo noticed the blood.

"Just part of the job," Ien said, touching his wound.

Suddenly, Yuto's eyes locked on the screen.

"Kai... you need to see this."

They leaned in. What they saw made their blood run cold.

Azrael appeared on the screen again, mask staring back at them.

Their phones buzzed. They hadn't touched them.

Azrael's voice echoed through every device. Even the public screens outside lit up with his face.

"Citizens of Tokyo," he began, voice chilling. "As you've seen, I now command the entire police force. I've ordered them to shoot on sight."

Hanazawa and the brothers stared in horror.

"If you want this massacre to stop… if you wish to save your city and the souls of these corrupted officers… there is a way."

Kairo clenched his katana. Yuto swallowed hard.

"These two boys, Kairo Kaiaba and Yuto Kaiaba, have seen too much. They must be surrendered. You have until dawn."

The image shifted to show their faces. Azrael continued.

Then, as if turning just slightly, Azrael added:

"Oh, and one last thing, young Kaiaba..."

The screen showed Aenna and Lyra. Riven running. Sayuri inside the station.

"I see everything. Meet me in Shibuya. Two hours. Or people will get hurt. I'm waiting, Kairos."

The screens shut off.

Kairo and Yuto had saved Hanazawa... but the nightmare was far from over.

Hanazawa placed a hand on Kairo's shoulder.

"Kaiaba… I don't know what's going on, but I'll help you. Just promise to help me too."

Kairo didn't look up. His hands shook around the katana — not from fear.

But rage.

The vision he'd had in the school infirmary felt closer than ever.

But instead of terror… fury consumed him.

He laughed.

Yuto and Hanazawa stared at him, stunned.

Hanazawa felt a static shock where his hand touched the boy, quickly pulling it back.

Yuto was sweating. He had never seen his brother like this. It terrified him.

"Kai...?"

Kairo remained still, trembling, laughter escaping his lips. Then, he spoke:

"First, you haunt me."

A silver glow shimmered from his body, the air thickening.

"Then you try to kill me. Fine, I could handle that if it was only me."

A cold wind blew across the rooftop. The silver light intensified.

He raised his katana to the sky and screamed:

"BUT IF YOU EVEN TOUCH THE PEOPLE I LOVE — I'LL KILL YOU, AZRAEL!"

The light blazed. Yuto and Ien shielded their eyes as the ground cracked beneath Kairo. An aura burst outward, shaking the rooftop.

On his right hand, a faint symbol formed: A treble clef entwined with a sword.

"Shibuya, huh? I'm coming for you, Azrael."

The light faded. The wind stilled.

Kairo turned to the detective.

"Please, take care of my brother," he said, bowing deeply. "Protect him from this broken world."

Yuto was about to object but stopped. Kairo's eyes burned with determination.

Hanazawa stepped forward. "Fine. But you can't go alone. It's a trap."

"I know. But it's the only way."

He ruffled Yuto's hair, smiling. "I'll be back. I promise."

Yuto watched him walk away, then shouted:

"You better come back in one piece, idiot!" a tear sliding down his cheek.

Kairo didn't turn around. He raised his fist, smiling, and vanished into the stairwell.

Elsewhere, far from Tokyo, the girl from the vision sipped her tea beneath a white gazebo.

"He's finally awakened," she said playfully.

"Kairo Kaiaba... let's see if you still deserve this power."

On Kairo's phone, a message flashed:

Memory Drift: 0% — Curse of Oblivion removed — Awakening of Remembrance Akai Seitan: COMPLETE.