Blueblade and Trickster now stood face to face.
"To what do I owe the honor of a visit of the Master of Spectacle at this hour? Is something big about to happen?" Blueblade said with a calm tone.
"You already know me too well, monsieur. Un spectacle comme nul autre indeed."
"So, what is it about?"
Trickster began to circle Blueblade slowly, his movements theatrical, while Blueblade remained perfectly still.
"Fantastic! You don't want to waste any time. In that case, allow me to prepare you for the grand act that's about to unfold."
Trickster stopped in front of him after completing a slow circle, then clapped his hands sharply.
"Three heroes will take la scène to face a threat greater than most. His dark mana will turn into a poison that engulfs everything, and his slashes will cut down all within sight. Many will fall before him… but in the end, one among those three heroes will shine the brightest."
"I see, so a great foe is approach—"
Blueblade was cut short when Trickster raised a single finger, a silent gesture commanding him to wait.
"Monsieur, s'il vous plaît… let me finish."
Trickster brought one hand to his mouth and cleared his throat.
"…one among the three heroes will shine the brightest. And you, Blueblade… will not be among them."
Blueblade's eyes narrowed slightly, though his voice remained calm.
"That is most interesting… In that case, Trickster, why the walk here? I know how much you value your time. Why waste it on someone who isn't even an 'actor' in your show?"
Trickster let out a light laugh before continuing, his tone playful yet deliberate.
"Because, monsieur… even if you have no place in la grande pièce, you will still have your own story in the chapters that follow."
Blueblade tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"My own story, you say… intriguing. And if what's to come has caught the interest of the Master of Spectacle himself, then I have all the more reason to look forward to it. Thank you."
"Ohh, but there's no need to thank me," Trickster said with a playful smile. "After all, it is a director's job to prepare his actors."
As he spoke, he began to retreat slowly, giving an elegant bow while tilting his hat.
"Until we meet again."
With that, Trickster vanished into a swirl of smoke rising from his hat, leaving only the faint scent of spectacle behind.
"My own story, huh?"
A gentle breeze swept through his hair as he raised his head toward the moon.
On an empty road, the sound of an empty can being kicked could be heard from time to time. Kaito was silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.
How could that happen to Drastei?
He clenched his fists.
That damn witch... I'm going to make her pay for what she did!
As he was caught up in his thoughts, Kaito didn't realize that he had passed two boys.
"Ohh, look who it is! Kaito, are you just going to pass us without saying anything?"
The boy in the red jacket said as he got up from the staircase of a block, heading toward Kaito, who just stopped when he heard him, without saying anything.
"Kaito, I never thought we'd see you around here at this hour. Where's your new friend?" the boy in the baggy jeans said, approaching him as well.
"..."
"The silent treatment, huh? That's cold, man. So, he left you? That's cruel."
The boy in baggy jeans put an arm around his neck.
"You don't need to worry. You know we'll always be here for you. Right, men?"
The other nodded as he looked at them. Only Kaito was still staring at the ground.
"You know, I always knew that guy wasn't good company. But it's alright—you've got us, after all."
Both were now next to him.
"But you know, man, since the last time we hung out, we kind of ran short on money. So what do you say, can you give us some, man?"
Tsk, these fuckers. They're always like this. They pretend they're your friends just to take your money, and if you don't…
Memories floated through Kaito's mind.
"Hey man, can I borrow some money?" the same guy in baggy jeans had asked him back then.
Kaito refused, only to be beaten by the guy and have his money taken anyway.
And not just once.
Kaito remembered how countless times the same thing had happened, until Drastei met him one morning, right when the guy tried to take his money again.
Drastei punched the guy in the baggy jeans, launching him into a pile of trash. From the day that happened, the bullies never approached Kaito again.
Until today, Drastei was eliminated by Irina, leaving Kaito alone with the same people who had made his life hell.
With both surrounding him, Kaito slapped the hand of the guy in the baggy jeans off his neck.
"Man, you shou—"
Before the guy in the baggy jeans could finish, Kaito punched him right in the face, sending him crashing onto his back.
No more. I promised him I wouldn't run anymore.
For the first time, Kaito responded to their bullying.
One down, now—
When Kaito looked at the other one, he prepared to throw another punch, but he was quickly faced with the crude reality.
The guy in the red jacket was quicker to react, punching Kaito right in the stomach, making him double over in pain, followed by a kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
Why…
The guy in the baggy jeans recovered, and both of them now looked down at Kaito from above.
"You fucker! What do you think you're doing?" the guy in the baggy jeans shouted as he kicked Kaito, who was lying on the ground.
"You really think you can take on both of us? Without your trash 'hero,' you're nothing!"
As the guy in the red jacket said that, they both kept kicking him without holding back.
But why? Even when I stood up for myself, this happens.
A tear formed in the corner of his eyes.
"Hey, boys, don't you think you're going too far? He'll die if you keep this up."
Huh, who is she?
Kaito tried to look at her, but his vision was blurred.
From around the corner, Killa appeared, making the boys stop.
"Huh, who's that girl? Another friend of yours?"
"Man, she's a beauty."
The guy in the baggy jeans stepped up to Killa and stopped in front of her.
"I don't know what relation you have to that loser. But how about we forget about him and you come with us? I can guarantee you'll have more fun."
"Is that so?"
In the next moment Killa manifested her sniper rifle and pointed it right at his face.
"Man!" the guy in the baggy jeans cried, raising his hands in fear.
"Well, my kind of fun involves a clean shot and a big mess. Do you think you can satisfy me now?" Killa said with a smile on her face.
"We are sorry, we…" The guy in baggy jeans tried to apologise.
"Miss me with your bullshit! You have three seconds to get out of my sight. If you don't…"
Killa put her finger on the trigger.
"One…"
Killa began to count. When the boys heard her, both scrambled, running as fast as they could.