CHAPTER 1: ACQUAINTANCE

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Character Encounter: Akira Izumi, Denzuka Kirin, Zedd Harake

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The sun rose brightly over Clover Colleges, casting golden beams across the fresh, dewy campus. Excitement buzzed in the air—today marked the beginning of a new school year, and students filtered in with eager chatter, backpacks slung over shoulders, and fresh hopes for what lay ahead.

Near the main gate, Akira Izumi, 2nd year college student adjusted his satchel and scanned the crowd. His dark eyes lit up as he spotted a familiar figure weaving through the students.

“Good morning, Kira-san!” came a cheerful voice.

It was Denzuka Kirin—a younger than him, his childhood friend, batch mate and the one person who could make even the dullest day feel exciting. He jogged up with a wide grin, his hair tousled by the morning breeze.

“Good morning to you too, Denzuo!” Akira replied, smiling back.

Denzuka gave Akira a once-over, then gasped playfully. “Wow! You look amazing, Kira-san! New haircut? New clothes? You’ve really leveled up!”

Akira chuckled. “Haha, what do you mean? You look great too, you know.”

“I mean your hair, your clothes, your bag—you’ve changed a lot since last year!” Denzuka teased, nudging him.

“Really? Well, all credit goes to the vacation vibes,” Akira said with a grin. “Speaking of which, how was yours?”

As they began walking through the towering iron gates and onto the tree-lined path toward the school lobby, the conversation continued to flow.

“It was amazing!” Denzuka said with a sparkle in his eyes. “We went on a family trip to Spain. Visited my uncle, explored historic towns, walked by the Mediterranean—it was beautiful.”

“That sounds like an adventure. You owe me a lunch for not taking me with you,” Akira joked, crossing his arms dramatically.

“What?! Why?” Denzuka laughed.

“Because you didn’t invite me!” Akira pouted with mock indignation.

Denzuka snorted. “Hey, I texted you, remember? I asked if you had plans and you said you were staying home, so I didn’t want to rub it in!”

“Yeah, but you never said you were going to Spain!”

They both burst out laughing, their footsteps echoing across the polished tiles of the school building entrance. It was as if no time had passed between them.

“Are you mad now, Kira-san?” Denzuka teased, still chuckling.

“Not mad. Just hungry. That's why you owe me lunch today.”

Akira grinned and nudged him as they approached the front desk, where students were collecting class schedules. The air smelled faintly of fresh paint and coffee from the nearby staff lounge, and the sound of printers hummed behind the counter.

A few minutes later, both boys compared their timetables.

Denzuka’s eyes widened. “Kira-san! We’re in the same class!”

Akira raised his eyebrows, double-checked the sheet, and smiled. “You’re right, Denzuo! Looks like we’re stuck with each other for another year.”

They exchanged a look of shared excitement and bumped fists.

“Best friend!” Denzuka exclaimed.

“Best friend!” Akira echoed.

Their laughter carried down the hall as they walked toward the staircase, ready to face whatever the school year had in store—together.

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Just as Akira and Denzuka were about to leave the lobby, the atmosphere shifted. A group of seniors entered—fourth years with a distinct air of authority and danger.

Their presence turned heads instantly.

Denzuka stopped mid-step. “W-Whoa... Black X…”

His voice was barely a whisper, eyes wide as he stared at the intimidating group walking in formation. Each step echoed with purpose, their uniforms crisp, expressions unreadable. Akira stood calmly beside him, observing with mild interest.

“Yeah,” Akira muttered, unfazed.

One of the seniors, Zedd Harake—tall, sharp-eyed, and dressed slightly more stylishly than the others—walked straight up to them. His hands were in his pockets, posture relaxed but commanding. A subtle smirk played on his lips as he spoke.

Zedd: “You two. Move.”

The tone was smooth, but laced with arrogance.

Denzuka stammered, stepping aside quickly. “S-sorry! We didn’t mean to—”

Akira followed, equally caught off guard. “Our bad.”

Zedd didn’t break stride. “Tch. Just don’t stand like statues in the middle of the lobby next time.”

He brushed past them, the rest of Black X following behind him. As Zedd passed, he threw a sideways glance at the two—his grin sharp, calculated, and oddly unsettling.

Akira and Denzuka stood frozen for a moment before finally exhaling.

“Man…” Denzuka muttered. “We seriously blocked their path. I thought he was going to throw us out the window.”

Akira frowned. “What was with that grin? It felt… off.”

Denzuka nodded. “Like the kind of smile someone gives you right before tossing you into a shark tank.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Akira chuckled. “Still, they don’t seem like the average students.”

Denzuka leaned in. “Wait… are you saying they’re actually Mafias?”

Akira raised an eyebrow. “How do you not know that? We’ve been here a whole year. Everyone knows Black X runs half the underground scene around campus.”

Denzuka scratched his head. “I thought ‘Black X’ was just a weird club name or something. Like some edgy senior clique.”

Akira shook his head, amused. “You really need to pay attention. They said they're not just some high school bullies. They’ve got influence, power… and a reputation that keeps most people quiet.”

“Wow,” Denzuka said, eyes wide again. “So they’re like those cool Mafia groups in stories... the ones that protect people in secret.”

Akira rolled his eyes. “You mean the Legendary Reverse Mafia? That’s just fiction. Real mafias don’t save the world. They bend it.”

“But imagine if that were real,” Denzuka said dreamily. “A gang that fights evil instead of becoming it.”

Akira gave him a dry look. “Keep dreaming. Black X isn’t handing out hero capes.”

Denzuka smirked. “Still, I want to know more about them. Zedd looked... fascinating.”

“Fascinatingly terrifying, maybe,” Akira muttered. “Just don’t drag me into your weird obsession.”

Denzuka grinned. “Too late. You’re stuck with me, Kira-san. Whether you like it or not.”

Akira sighed with a smile. “You always drag me into your chaos anyway.”

“Of course. We’re best friends. What else are best friends for?”

With that, they exchanged a laugh and made their way to class, the strange encounter with Black X already stirring new curiosity in Denzuka’s mind—and a quiet sense of caution in Akira’s.

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