Chapter 5. KENJI
Mehn, it's probably nothing. Maybe I was just shocked that I actually felt good about fighting and winning. I can somewhat relate to some fighters now, Van thought, clenching his fists and tensing his body.
"Yo, bro, you alright?" Dame asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, man, I'm good," Van assured, shaking off the lingering thoughts.
As the truck rolled to a stop in front of the orphanage, a wave of relief washed over the three boys. Miss Lana stood at the entrance, waiting for them with arms crossed and a knowing smile.
Van glanced at his watch. Two minutes off from being punished. He exhaled and grinned. "At least we're still on time."
The three kids hopped off the truck and made their way to Miss Lana.
"Lana, the orphanage has done well in raising these two," Mr. Lee said, stepping out of the truck. "Keep at it. I'll discuss some things with you later." He shot a wink at Van before climbing back in.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Lee," Miss Lana replied, watching as the old man and his workers drove off.
"Alright, boys, welcome back. How'd it go?" she asked, hands on her hips.
"Well… much crazier than we expected," Van admitted, rubbing his neck.
"Yeah," Dame smirked, throwing a few playful punches in the air before grinning at Van.
"Did you get the items?" Miss Lana asked.
"Yup, I did," Dame said, lifting the bag slightly.
"Good," she nodded approvingly. Then her gaze shifted, softening as she noticed the third boy—the one in tattered clothing, his hollow eyes downcast, his entire frame radiating exhaustion and quiet despair.
"And who might you be?" Miss Lana asked, crouching slightly to meet his gaze. "You look tired. You must be hungry."
The boy hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "My name… my… my name's Kenji," he stammered, clearly anxious.
"Well, Kenji, come on in," she said warmly. "It's freezing out here."
The group headed inside, but Van couldn't shake the creeping sensation that they weren't alone. His instincts prickled. Something wasn't right.
He slowed his steps, scanning the area.
"Hm…" Van narrowed his eyes.
"What's up, Van?" Dame asked, noticing his shift in demeanor.
"Something feels… off," Van muttered, his gaze flicking across the dimly lit street, then up toward the rooftops. "Like we're being watched."
"You sure?" Dame asked, suddenly more alert.
"…It's probably nothing," Van muttered, forcing himself to relax. But the unease didn't fade.
—
Not far from them, perched on a rooftop, a man stood silently. His white hoodie fluttered in the cold breeze, the ominous red skull on his back almost glowing under the moonlight. His crimson eyes glinted as he observed the trio and Miss Lana below.
"Hm… Kenji," he muttered, his lips curling into a smirk. Then his gaze drifted to Van, and his expression darkened.
"…And that other kid… that kid feels like trouble."
"You and I both," a deep voice suddenly interrupted from behind him.
The man's smirk vanished as he whipped around—only to find Mr. Lee standing there, hands calmly folded behind his back, his gaze unwavering and sharp.
A chilling silence filled the air.
The man in the hoodie narrowed his glowing red eyes, his body tensing.
Without hesitation, his crimson aura flared, and in a burst of energy, he blasted into the sky, disappearing at blinding speed.
Mr. Lee watched him go, the corners of his lips tugging into a small smirk.
"There've been many Kenai lately…" he murmured, his eyes flickering with intrigue.
Later that night, Miss Lana carefully examined Kenji, her brow furrowing as she took in the extent of his injuries. Bruises, cuts, and deep scars marred his frail body. His skin was cold to the touch, his breathing shallow. But what disturbed her most was his eyes—lifeless, hollow, as if whatever light once existed in them had long been extinguished.
Damn… these aren't just ordinary wounds. He's critically injured, she thought grimly, pressing her lips into a thin line.
She swallowed hard before speaking. "Kenji… what happened to you?" Her voice was gentle yet laced with deep concern.
But Kenji didn't answer. He sat there, unmoving, his gaze fixed downward, as if he hadn't even heard her.
Miss Lana sighed, realizing he wasn't ready to talk. "It's safe here," she reassured him, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "Everything will be fine."
Still, no response.
After finishing the medical check-up, she stood and gave him a soft smile. "I'll run another check-up later, but for now, you should get some rest."
She guided him down the hallway to Dame's and Van's room, pushing the door open.
The moment Kenji stepped inside, Dame looked up from his bed and grinned. "Yo, look who it is! What's up, man? How you holding up?"
Kenji didn't answer. He walked in silence, his steps slow and heavy, before sinking onto the bed.
"Hang in there, man," Van said, his voice steady. "We've got your back. If you ever need someone to talk to… we're here."
Still, Kenji said nothing.
Dame glanced at Van, then back at Kenji. "…What happened to you, man?"
"Yeah," Van added, his gaze sharp. "Why were those bastards messing you up like that?"
Silence.
Kenji lay back on the bed, his body curling slightly, his dead eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
Something about the way he looked—so defeated, so empty—made Van's chest tighten.
Then, his expression darkened.
His jaw clenched as he took a step closer.
"I saved you," Van muttered, his tone colder than before. "I was the one who pulled you out of there. You at least owe me some info…"
His fingers curled into fists.
"…Like what the hell led to that ugly event?"
---
At dusk, deep within what looked like a reinforced underground training room, a boy stood alone. He was dressed in all black—hoodie drawn over his head with a yellow skull painted across the chest. One of his eyes glowed like a demon's, and his body crackled with a yellow lightning aura. Fangs peeked through his clenched teeth as energy swirled around him.
He shut his eyes. The lightning aura around him grew fiercer, denser. From his hands, a massive ball of yellow electricity began to form, humming with violent intensity.
"Be gone," he growled.
He hurled the massive lightning sphere at a suspended punching bag. The impact vaporized the target instantly, the walls trembling from the sheer force.
"You're getting the hang of that power, Kuvin," came a cold voice from the shadows. A tall man stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Just don't hesitate. Destroy anything that stands in your way."
"Y-yes, Father," Kuvin responded, his voice firm but uncertain.
"Specimen 0687… Kenji… has been found." The man circled his son like a predator sizing up prey. "Whether you let him escape by accident or on purpose, I don't care. The Skull Mongers are going after him. But I sense… variables. So I'm sending you with them. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, Father…"
As the man walked away, Kuvin clenched his fists.
Kenji… I hope you're still running. Because I'm afraid… even I can't help you this time.
He turned to a suit displayed on a hanger—sleek, black, laced with nano-tech and a blood-red skull insignia on the chest. He slipped into it with silent resolve.
Run, Kenji. Run from the devil…
---
The morning sun burned hot over the orphanage, but today felt different. Something was off. Whispers swirled through the halls as the kids gathered around one boy—Kenji.
"Who's this guy?" one of the boys asked, staring.
"I heard he got hit by a bus… but Dame saved him," another chimed in.
"Hah! Dame couldn't even save himself from a fly," someone joked.
Laughter exploded around the room.
"So, new kid, what happened to you? Can you talk about it?"
"Uhm… uhm…"
Click-click.
The dining hall doors opened. A tall, curvy woman with a stern face entered. Miss Lana.
"Can y'all stop bugging him already?" she said sharply.
"Huh? But he was just about to talk," one kid muttered innocently.
"Hmph. Now's not the right time. Especially not on an empty stomach," Miss Lana replied, arms crossed.
"Yaaawn… what's the commotion?" Van dragged his feet into the hall, rubbing his eyes. "Why's Marco staring at Kenji like he's some kind of experiment… or specimen?"
Before anyone could answer, Kenji let out a sharp scream, like he was waking from a nightmare.
"Ahhh!"
The kids jumped back in shock.
"What's going on?!" Miss Lana shouted.
"Kenji, stay calm! Everything's okay!" she tried to soothe.
"Specimen…" Van muttered carefully, eyes locked on Kenji's.
Kenji's head snapped up. Something in him changed. His eyes turned lifeless—like a corpse awakened—and his hands twisted into claw-like shapes.
"You… You won't harm me again, you sick old fool!" he roared and lunged at Van with beast-like fury.
To everyone's surprise, Van managed to dodge every swipe.
Woah… I can feel his movements. My body's reacting faster… It's like I'm someone else entirely… But he—he's changed too.
Kenji growled, wild, unrecognizable, the energy around him flaring. Van held back instinctively.
"Kenji! Calm down!" Dame shouted and rushed in, splashing a large bucket of cold water over Kenji's head.
Kenji froze. The water drenched him. He staggered… then collapsed, unconscious.
Miss Lana rushed in, grabbing a towel and quickly drying him off. Her hands trembled slightly.
"Ricky, Saheer—help me carry him to one of the rooms," she said softly, her tone laced with worry.
As they moved him, Van turned to Dame.
"How… how did you know what to do?"
Dame looked serious. "Didn't you see it? When I said specimen, his eyes… they changed. Like that word haunted his entire life."
Van nodded slowly. "There's definitely more to Kenji than meets the eye. His eyes… It was like he was in some kind of dream-like state. He wasn't really here. Something's locked inside him."
"Speaking of haunting… I've had a bad feeling ever since I saw those red skull guys bullying him."
"You think they're still after him?" Dame asked.
Van didn't answer immediately. He looked toward the hallway Kenji had just been carried down.
"There's definitely more to Kenji than meets the eye," he said again, voice low. "