A high-speed train cut across the steel veins of the city. The midsummer sun reflected sharply off the glass façades of the towering buildin

A high-speed train cut across the steel veins of the city.

The midsummer sun reflected sharply off the glass façades of the towering buildings, and amid the sweltering afternoon heat, a sightseeing elevator slowly ascended the side of one of those skyscrapers.

"Kamigawa Kenta..."

From the rooftop of a building 760 yards away, across from the office tower, the elevator was climbing, and a lean man set up his sniper rifle.

Through the scope, he observed the rotund businessman inside the glass elevator, chatting casually with others.

Kevin Yoshino reviewed the information he'd received.

Kamigawa Kenta—a ruthless real estate developer who never left room for negotiation.

He relied heavily on intimidation, violence, and brute force to demolish residents' homes and pave the way for new developments. He amassed a fortune and used it to manipulate those in power.

A man whose death would likely be celebrated by many.

Without hesitation, Kevin pulled the trigger.

In the next moment, the man inside the elevator—mid-conversation—was shot through the head.

The bullet burst through his skull and splattered blood across the elevator panel.

The same shot also seemed to damage part of the control interface, causing the floor numbers on the display to flicker erratically. Then, the once-smoothly rising elevator suddenly froze in midair.

Through his scope, Kevin saw another passenger panic.

The man clutched his head, trying to find somewhere to hide.

Then he frantically pounded on the control panel, desperately trying to escape.

Suddenly...

The elevator, as if malfunctioning from his repeated slamming, plunged downward at a terrifying speed.

After confirming the target's death, Kevin Yoshino remained still in silence.

Again... just like before...

Every time he killed someone with his sniper rifle, there would always be someone else who died as if in a chain reaction.

But how?

Even in the blazing summer sun, Kevin felt a chill crawl up his spine.

After pondering in silence, he packed up his rifle and left the scene.

Riding away on his motorcycle, he made a call.

"The target is dead."

"Thank you, Mr. Kevin."

"Killing just two people won't change much."

"Of course. Kamigawa Kenta was only a puppet pushed to the front. There will be others to replace him. The real targets are those behind the scenes—the ones who opened every door for him just because he paid."

"Still, his death is a reason to celebrate."

"You know, Mr. Kevin..."

"Making the world a just place... may ultimately be nothing more than a fantasy. But the bright side is—we may not be standing at the end of that world... yet we're no longer stuck at its beginning either."

"...Send me the rest of the intel later."

Kevin Yoshino paused before speaking.

He was now carrying out hits based on orders received through phone calls.

It felt... strange.

Kevin Yoshino had never considered himself some sort of hero of justice.

Initially, all he wanted was revenge—for Hunter, the friend who had saved his life.

But once that revenge was complete, he found himself without purpose.

Then again... maybe this isn't so bad.

He hadn't been able to save Hunter back then,

—but now he was helping others who, like Hunter, had suffered unjust persecution.

That had to mean something.

He twisted the throttle, and his silhouette roared off into the distance.

Removing the voice-changer hidden in his tie, Hayashi Yoshiki hung up the call.

Kevin Yoshino was proving quite useful.

As a sniper, his skills were exceptional—especially after that mission at Blue Sky Pavilion where he took out Suzuki Tower.

It seemed to have awakened his true potential...

No wonder Gin had taken an interest in him.

Too bad Gin hadn't managed to bait him in—

He'd tried using Chianti to lure him, but failed.

And Chianti was still blissfully unaware—

Thinking Gin felt guilty for ditching her last time, and that's why he kept giving her more missions lately.

She had even bragged about it to Korn several times, practically glowing with smug delight.

After putting away his phone, Hayashi Yoshiki stepped outside.

Wearing a soft smile, he approached Ran, who was waiting in line.

Upon seeing him, the girl immediately stepped aside to let him take her place.

"Yoshiki-nii, it's almost our turn."

"Got it."

"Nervous?"

"Why would I be?"

He chuckled.

Before long, after a few others had their blood drawn, Hayashi Yoshiki rolled up his sleeve at the front desk and offered his arm to the nurse.

Today was his medical checkup.

Just like they had agreed last time, Ran had come with him.

Once the nurse finished the blood draw, the two headed to the waiting area and sat down.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yoshiki asked, pressing a cotton swab to the puncture.

"I was worried it might hurt you..."

"Do I really look that fragile to you?"

He smiled in amusement.

As they waited, Hayashi Yoshiki casually asked Ran about her school day.

It was Wednesday.

She had rushed over to the hospital right after school—skipping all clubs and even rejecting her best friend Sonoko's invite to go shopping.

She came running straight here.

Speaking of Sonoko...

Just thinking about her best friend—who still sometimes acted all flirty and starry-eyed around Yoshiki-nii—

Ran didn't know how she would even begin to explain their relationship now.

It was going to be awkward, for sure.

Sonoko might even bury her face in the sand from embarrassment, then grab Ran by the shoulders and shake her wildly... Follow current novels on NoveI(F)ire.net

...and after that, probably turn into an absolute drama queen.

That's... not gonna be pretty.

Ran gave a strained smile at the thought.

Still, she earnestly shared with Yoshiki everything that had happened at school that day.

They sat in the waiting room for a while longer, and soon it was time to collect the test results.

Hayashi Yoshiki picked up the report and glanced at it.

"Pretty much the same as before... Maybe a bit lower, but not by much."

"Still the same issue?"

Her eyes locked onto the red-flagged marker beside "serum testosterone levels", and Ran couldn't help but worry.

"Yeah, same as before."

"Should we ask the doctor about it again?"

"...Might as well."

In truth, after ruling out any disease-related causes, Hayashi Yoshiki had stopped worrying about the hormonal abnormality.

After all, his stamina and drive were far beyond the norm.

Perhaps that was just another side effect of his transmigration...