Revenge

Souta and Ryouma sprinted down the hallway, their shoes skidding against the polished floor as they weaved past students who barely had time to react.

"Move, move, move!" Souta called out, laughing as she dodged around a startled underclassman.

"Why are we even running? We got time!" Ryouma grinned, his bag bouncing against his back as he kept pace.

Souta shot him a side-eye. "You didn't check the clock, did you?"

Right as they turned the final corner, the shrill ring of the bell echoed through the halls.

Ryouma groaned. "You gotta be kidding me—"

The moment they reached the classroom door, it slid open to reveal their homeroom teacher, Park Hae-jin, a sharp-looking woman in her late thirties with sharp eyes behind thin glasses. Her gaze flickered between the two, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"One minute," Hae-jin said, voice calm but edged with something that sent a chill down their spines.

"See?" Ryouma whispered. "We made it—"

Hae-jin turned her gaze directly at him. "Late is late, Ryouma."

Souta sucked her teeth. "C'mon, Mr. Im, it's just a minute."

Hae-jin adjusted her glasses. "That's sixty seconds too long."

Before either of them could respond, a voice chimed in from inside the classroom.

"Look at the dynamic duo getting their daily scolding," a familiar teasing voice rang out—Jung Min-seo, a girl with short hair and a mischievous glint in her eye, leaned back in her chair with a smirk.

Next to her, Kang Hyun-woo, the class rep, sighed as he pushed up his sleeves. "If you two spent half the energy you use running through the halls on getting here on time, you wouldn't be in this mess every morning."

"Oh, shut it, Mr. Perfect Attendance," Ryouma shot back, stepping into the room. "Maybe we just like making an entrance."

Souta flicked her brother's forehead. "We wouldn't have to if you actually woke up when I told you to."

Hae-jin sighed, rubbing her temple. "Just sit down before I make you both clean the gym after school."

As they slid into their seats, Min-seo leaned over with a grin. "So what's the excuse this time? Alien abduction? Time-travel mishap?"

Ryouma grinned back. "Would you believe me if I said we were fighting crime before class?"

Hyun-woo rolled his eyes. "More like fighting your alarm clock."

Souta and Ryouma exchanged looks before bursting into laughter, the tension of their near-tardy entrance fading as class finally began.

As the morning sun cast its golden glow over the schoolyard, Ryouma and Souta found themselves standing outside their classroom, each holding a metal bucket filled to the brim with water. Their teacher, an older, sharp-tongued woman named Park Hae-jin, had finally had enough of their antics.

"You two—out! And don't even think about stepping back in until I say so!" she snapped, slamming the classroom door shut behind them.

Souta sighed dramatically, adjusting her grip on the bucket. "Well, guess we're officially the class clowns now. Think we should start charging for entertainment?"

Ryouma rolled his eyes, shifting the bucket in his hands. "Hey, this isn't even my fault! You're the one who told me to try and make the substitute teacher cry!"

"And you actually did it! Who knew he'd break down after one joke about his haircut?" Souta smirked, watching as students peeked out through the windows, giggling at their punishment.

As they stood there, two other students walked past them—one being Jang Min-seo, the class representative, and the other, Kim Dong-hwan, the school's star athlete.

Min-seo adjusted her glasses, shaking her head. "It's only the second day of the week, and you two are already in trouble. I don't know why I even bother trying to keep the class in order."

"Because deep down, you enjoy our nonsense," Ryouma said smoothly, flashing a grin.

Min-seo scoffed. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Dong-hwan, on the other hand, clapped Ryouma on the shoulder. "Dude, I don't know whether to be impressed or embarrassed for you. Holding water buckets? Man, that's old-school discipline."

"Tell me about it," Souta muttered. "We're basically human statues at this point."

Just then, their homeroom teacher, Ms. Park, peeked outside with a stern expression. "I better not hear any talking! You two will stay there until you learn to behave!"

The moment she closed the door again, Ryouma leaned over to Souta. "So… wanna start placing bets on how long it'll take before she forgets we're even out here?"

Souta grinned. "Five minutes, tops."

The two snickered to themselves, already planning their next antics as the school day dragged on.

Souta leaned back in her chair, arms crossed behind her head, as the teacher rubbed his temples in sheer frustration. Ryouma, seated beside her, stifled a chuckle as he whispered, "I bet he quits after this semester."

"I'll give him two weeks," Souta smirked, spinning her pencil between her fingers.

"Alright, enough!" the teacher finally snapped, slamming his hands on the desk. "Souta! Ryouma! If you're going to be the class clowns, at least be funny!"

"Oh, we are funny. You're just old," Ryouma quipped with a grin.

The class burst into laughter, and the teacher groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just... just open your textbooks. Page seventy-two."

Souta shot Ryouma a glance, raising an eyebrow as if to say, "Mission accomplished." The two snickered before finally cracking open their books, content with their morning chaos.

Meanwhile, the night air was thick with tension as Kairi and her group moved like shadows through the streets of Seoul. The dim glow of streetlights cast long, distorted figures along the pavement, and the rhythmic sound of their boots against the concrete was the only noise breaking the silence.

She stopped in front of a quaint yet sturdy house, her sharp gaze fixed on it. The residence of Mio and Ren. Her siblings. Her past. Her history.

A man beside her—one of her most loyal enforcers—spoke up. "Boss, you sure about this? We could just burn it down. Easier."

Kairi turned her head slowly, her expression unreadable. Then, in a movement so fast the enforcer barely registered it, she grabbed him by the jaw, her fingers digging into his skin. "I don't need easy. I need satisfying."

A sickening crunch followed as she twisted his neck, letting his body drop like discarded trash onto the pavement. The rest of her crew stiffened but said nothing. They knew better.

She took a step forward, gazing at the house, her eyes narrowing. Memories flickered—Mio's laughter, Ren's nagging, the warmth of family dinners. And just as quickly, she erased them. The past was nothing more than a whisper drowned out by the present.

"Stay here. This one's personal."

She approached the house, a sinister smirk creeping onto her lips as she reached for the door handle.

Back at school, the final bell rang. Souta and Ryouma stretched as they exited the classroom, their usual antics earning a tired yet amused shake of the head from their classmates.

"So, ramen or convenience store junk?" Souta asked.

"Why not both?" Ryouma grinned.

But as they walked home, the atmosphere shifted. A chill ran down their spines, an unshakable feeling of being watched. Souta nudged Ryouma slightly, and without a word, they both turned down an alternate path, heading in the opposite direction of their usual route.

Unbeknownst to them, their home had just become a battleground. And the storm that was Kairi had already arrived at their doorstep.

The air in the lavish, dimly lit room was thick with cigarette smoke and the scent of fresh blood. Kairi lounged in a velvet chair, her posture relaxed, but her gaze sharp—calculating.

Across from her, bound to chairs, Ren and Mio sat, their faces unreadable, though Ren's fingers subtly tested the strength of his restraints.

Kairi exhaled a slow breath, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Kairi: "You know, it's funny. I spent all these years thinking about the past, about you two… and now here we are. After all the shit I've been through, we finally get our little family reunion."

Mio's eyes narrowed.

Mio: "Family reunion? We thought you were dead, Kairi."

Ren scoffed.

Ren: "And by the looks of things, maybe you should've stayed that way."

Kairi chuckled, tapping her fingers against the armrest.

Kairi: "Ouch, little brother. I expected a warmer welcome."

Mio: "Don't call us that."

Kairi's smirk didn't falter, but her gaze darkened slightly.

Kairi: "Oh? You don't want to claim me? I'm hurt."

Ren leaned forward as much as the restraints would allow, his voice low, edged with steel.

Ren: "Kairi died a long time ago. Whoever the hell you are now—she ain't you."

Kairi let out a mock gasp, placing a hand over her heart.

Kairi: "Damn, Ren. That almost made me feel something."

Then, her smirk vanished.

Kairi: "But I didn't come here to reminisce."

She leaned forward, eyes gleaming with something dangerous.

Kairi: *"Where are my mistakes?"

The words dripped with venom, and for the first time since walking into this hellhole, Ren and Mio stilled.

Mio: "Your… what?"

Kairi exhaled, annoyed.

Kairi: "Souta and Ryouma. My little accidents. Where are they?"

Ren clenched his jaw.

Ren: *"They're not accidents."

Kairi's face twisted with disgust.

Kairi: "Please. Let's not pretend I ever wanted them."

Mio's fists tightened.

Mio: "You're their mother."

Kairi let out a cold laugh.

Kairi: "Mother? Oh, no, sweetheart. I was just the unfortunate bitch who had to carry them. I don't see them as anything but… nuisances."

Her smile widened, but there was no warmth.

Kairi: "Which is why I need them dead."

Ren's entire body went rigid.

Ren: "You don't mean that."

Kairi snapped her fingers.

Kairi: "Kill them."

The room erupted into movement.

The moment Kairi's gang members stepped forward, Ren snapped his wrist, shattering the chair arm, breaking free in a single motion.

Mio followed instantly, twisting her body as she snapped her own bindings using the sharp edge of the chair leg.

The gang members hesitated for a second too long.

Ren lunged first, grabbing one of the goons by the collar and slamming his forehead into the man's nose with a sickening crack. Blood splattered onto the floor.

Mio, more precise, snatched a knife from one of Kairi's lackeys, spinning it in her fingers before driving it straight into the man's throat.

Kairi didn't even flinch.

Kairi: "Cute."

She stood, rolling her shoulders.

Kairi: "But if you think you can actually win—"

Ren didn't wait.

He charged.

Their fists clashed mid-air, the impact reverberating through the room.

Ren's fighting style was brute force, military precision, and raw, unrelenting aggression. Every punch was meant to break bone, every move meant to kill.

But Kairi—she was something else entirely.

She sidestepped effortlessly, her counters almost playful, as if she was toying with him.

Then, she slammed her knee straight into his ribs.

Ren grunted, pain blooming in his side, but he didn't fall.

Mio moved in—a flurry of sharp, calculated strikes. Unlike Ren, she fought with grace, like a dancer with knives.

Kairi parried with ease, but for the first time, she looked mildly entertained.

Kairi: "Oh, you two have improved."

Ren wiped blood from his lip.

Ren: "And you're still a piece of shit."

Kairi smirked, lunging forward.

Fists met flesh.

Bones cracked.

The room descended into chaos.

And for the first time in years, the siblings fought—not as family, but as enemies.

A chilling silence filled the room as Kairi's men stood back, waiting for their leader's next move. The dim overhead light flickered, casting eerie shadows on the blood-stained floor. Kairi, standing between her long-lost siblings, tilted her head slightly, a sick smile forming on her lips.

"So," she murmured, eyes flicking between Mio and Ren. "Will you beg? Will you cry? Will you fight?"

Ren clenched his fists, stepping forward. "You haven't changed. You're still the same monster from years ago. No… you're worse."

Kairi chuckled. "Worse? Ren, dear, I thought you'd be happy to see your big sister. You know, I've been reminiscing about the past lately… trying to remember if I ever regretted my choices." She tapped her chin mockingly before her expression darkened. "I don't."

Ren didn't waste another second. With a sharp inhale, he lunged forward, sending a precise and powerful palm strike into Kairi's stomach. The impact was enough to make any normal person stagger—but Kairi only grinned, her breath hitching for a second before she let out a deep, guttural laugh.

It wasn't just a laugh—it was the laugh of someone who had abandoned all traces of humanity. The laugh of a demon.

Ren gritted his teeth. "You're insane."

Kairi wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, the laughter still lingering in her breath. "And you're predictable."

In one swift motion, she turned toward Mio, who had been frozen in place, fear evident in her widened eyes. There was no time to react—no time to scream. The blade flashed through the air like lightning.

A single, clean slice.

A wet, gurgling sound.

Mio's hands shot to her throat, trying to stop the crimson river that spilled from her neck. Her body convulsed as she fell to her knees, eyes pleading for help that would never come. Kairi simply watched, expression unreadable, before letting out a soft hum.

Ren's entire body went rigid, his mind failing to process what had just happened. One second, his sister was alive. The next, she was a bleeding corpse at Kairi's feet.

His world cracked.

"YOU BITCH!" he roared, eyes bloodshot with rage as he charged toward her.

Kairi sidestepped effortlessly, her blade already swinging down. Ren barely managed to evade the first strike, but Kairi was faster. Stronger. More merciless than she had ever been before.

A deep slash across his back.

Another across his chest.

A stab to his side.

He dropped to his knees, gasping for breath, his blood pooling beneath him. But even as the pain burned through his body, he didn't beg. He wouldn't give her that satisfaction.

Instead, with shaking hands, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

Katarina picked up immediately.

"Ren?"

His voice was weak but steady. "Find Souta… Ryouma… Get them somewhere safe."

"Ren, what's happening? Where are you?!"

"Tell Karin… I love her."

Kairi's blade plunged into his gut, twisting cruelly. Ren let out a choking gasp, the phone slipping from his grasp.

"Ren? REN?! TALK TO ME!" Katarina's panicked voice screamed through the speaker.

Kairi smiled as she crushed the device beneath her heel, silencing the frantic voice on the other end. She turned to her men, who had watched the massacre unfold in stunned silence.

"Let's move," she ordered, wiping her blade clean on Ren's jacket.

Before leaving, she kneeled beside the lifeless bodies of her siblings. Dipping her fingers into their still-warm blood, she smeared a crude emblem onto the wall—a twisted insignia of her new reign.

By the time an hour passed, the once-peaceful home was nothing more than a crime scene.

An Hour Later—Outside the House

Flashing red and blue lights painted the night in chaotic colors. The street was lined with officers, firefighters, and medics. Neighbors stood outside, murmuring in hushed tones, horror evident in their faces.

Among them, Souta and Ryouma rushed toward the house, their hearts pounding.

"What the hell is going on?" Ryouma muttered, his stomach twisting in unease.

They pushed past the crowd, stopping dead when they saw her—Katarina.

She was standing near a police cruiser, her face pale, her lips pressed into a tight line.

"Aunt Katarina?" Souta called out, her voice wavering. "Where's Mom? Where's Uncle Ren? Where's Aunt Mio?"

Katarina's lips parted, but no words came out. The pain in her eyes said everything.

Ryouma felt his blood turn to ice. "No…"

Katarina took a deep breath, trying to keep herself composed. "Listen to me. Go inside, grab your things, and get in my car. We don't have time to waste."

Souta took a step back. "What the hell are you talking about? Where are they?!"

Katarina clenched her jaw. "They're gone."

Silence.

Souta and Ryouma's world shattered in an instant.

"No…" Souta whispered, shaking her head violently. "That's a lie. That's a damn lie!"

Katarina placed a firm hand on her niece's shoulder. "I wish it was."

Ryouma's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. "Who?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Who did this?"

Katarina hesitated. "…Your mother."

Another silence.

Souta and Ryouma felt like their lungs had been ripped from their chests.

Kairi. Their mother.

The person who was supposed to protect them.

The person who had abandoned them.

The person who had just murdered their family.

A cold fury settled in Ryouma's bones. Souta felt her legs tremble beneath her.

Katarina tightened her grip on them. "Get in the car. Now."

Neither of them resisted.

As the engine roared to life and the house they once called home faded into the distance, one thought burned in their minds:

This wasn't over.

{Episode End}