Reiji sat hunched over an old, faded book in the back corner of the city library, the dim light flickering overhead as he sifted through pages of obscure articles and forgotten texts. The silence of the library was thick, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages or a soft cough from the librarian. His fingers grazed the worn edges of the paper, his eyes scanning each word with increasing intensity. He had been at this for hours, and though his search had yielded little so far, his instincts told him that he was close to something important.
He turned another brittle page, the faded ink barely legible. The book had a musty smell, as though it hadn't been opened in decades. Reiji squinted, trying to make out the words when something finally caught his attention. There, in the corner of the page, was a heading that sent a jolt through his body: "Strange Flames Seen in the Sky: A Local Rumor from Two Centuries Ago."
Reiji's heart quickened as he leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he read the article. The writing was fragmented and speculative, but there was something here—a glimpse into the past that felt important.
The article described an unusual event that had occurred roughly 200 years ago. It began with rumors of strange flames suddenly lighting up the night sky above Namimori Middle School. The witnesses, most of whom were out late, claimed that the flames had appeared suddenly, like a flashbang. The light was intense, bright enough to startle anyone nearby, and it lingered for a few seconds before vanishing as quickly as it had come.
The article stated that the event happened in the middle of the night, which made it all the more unsettling. Some passersby, curious about the source of the strange light, decided to investigate. One particular witness, walking toward the school, reported seeing a group of middle school students exiting the building just after the flames had disappeared.
The students, numbering four or five, looked like they belonged there, but something about their presence struck the witness as odd. It wasn't just that they were out in the middle of the night—some of them were bandaged, as if they had been in a fight or suffered injuries. The group seemed to be in good spirits, chatting and laughing quietly as they left the school grounds.
Feeling uneasy, the witness approached the group, asking if they had seen the strange flames in the sky. The students had exchanged glances and then laughed in a way that seemed almost too casual, as if they were trying to brush off the question. One of them had replied with a simple, "Yeah, that was weird, huh?" before they continued walking, their laughter echoing into the night.
Reiji's heart raced as he absorbed the details. The article didn't offer much else—just a brief mention that the incident was chalked up to a strange phenomenon and largely forgotten. But to Reiji, the vague description of those students—four or five of them, some of them bandaged, laughing off the appearance of strange flames—felt all too familiar.
Flames in the sky—it had to be connected to the Dying Will Flames. Even though the article didn't mention the Vongola by name, the implications were clear. Could the group of students have been the Guardians of the Vongola 10th generation? The description of the small group, laughing and walking away from the scene as if nothing unusual had happened, fit with what little he knew of the Vongola Guardians. The burst of flames, so intense and sudden like a flashbang, felt like it could only be the result of a battle involving the Dying Will Flames.
Reiji leaned back in his chair, his heart pounding. This was it—his first real clue. The Vongola were active in this city, but over 200 years ago, when abilities first became more apparent, something had led them to vanish from history. The flames, the students, and the school—it all pointed to something significant, hidden in the shadows of the past. But what had happened after that? Why had the Vongola disappeared, leaving behind only traces and whispers of their existence?
He flipped through the rest of the article, but it was short, more rumor than fact. Still, there was one final detail that caught his eye. The article mentioned the name of the school: Namimori Middle School. The school had been demolished about 150 years ago, and in its place now stood a complex of modern buildings. The area had lost its significance, becoming just another bustling district, but the article made a note that strange occurrences were still occasionally reported from the area.
Reiji's heart thudded in his chest as his thoughts raced. Could the school still hold some trace of the Vongola's presence? Even if the building was long gone, surely there would be something left—some remnant of the past that had been overlooked. It was a stretch, but if he could visit the location, there might be more to discover.
He glanced out the window of the library. The sun had already set, and the city streets were bathed in the orange glow of streetlights. He had been here for hours, but now, with this clue in hand, he knew what he had to do. The location still existed, even if the school was gone. And if the article was right, perhaps someone in the area—someone old enough to remember the rumors—might still know something.
Reiji stood up, his body stiff from hours of sitting in the dimly lit library. His mind buzzed with the possibilities the article had raised. Namimori Middle School, 200 years ago… The story of the flames, the students, and the lingering mystery surrounding the school echoed in his mind as he stepped outside into the cool night air.
The streets were bathed in the orange glow of streetlights, casting long shadows across the pavement as the city around him began to quiet down. Reiji pulled his jacket closer, his eyes scanning the path ahead. The article had mentioned the school's location, but it had also said that Namimori Middle School was long gone, replaced by a complex of modern buildings. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something might still be there, waiting to be discovered.
200 years was a long time, but it wasn't enough to erase everything. The Vongola famiglia had left their mark on the world, and Reiji was certain that if he could just get to the location, there might be clues left behind—something hidden in plain sight. His heart raced with anticipation, his footsteps quickening as he made his way through the quiet streets of the city.
As Reiji walked, the world around him seemed to shrink, his focus narrowing to the path ahead. The city had always been a maze of alleyways, backstreets, and narrow lanes, but tonight it felt different—like the very air was charged with something he couldn't quite place. The streetlights flickered slightly, casting eerie shadows as he turned onto a quieter street.
Unbeknownst to Reiji, he was not alone. The shadows that flickered in the corners of the city were not just tricks of the light. Hidden from view, a group of figures moved silently, their eyes fixed on him. The thugs, tipped off by the jewel dealer who had grown suspicious of Reiji's sudden wealth, had been trailing him since he left the library. They had watched him, their curiosity turning to greed as they planned their next move. Reiji had no idea that he had become a target.
As he walked, his thoughts remained on the article. The image of those four or five students lingered in his mind. Who were they? He could almost picture them—middle schoolers, laughing off the sudden appearance of flames, some of them bandaged, as if they had just come out of a fight. The thought unsettled him, and yet it felt oddly familiar, like he had been on the verge of uncovering something important.
His mind drifted back to the flames. The article had described them as sudden and intense, like a flashbang in the middle of the night. It had to be connected to the Dying Will Flames. There was no other explanation. But why had the flames appeared in the middle of the night? And why were those students there? The deeper Reiji thought about it, the more questions arose.
The path to the location of the old school wasn't far, but as Reiji walked, an odd sensation began to creep up his spine—a feeling he couldn't quite place. It wasn't fear, exactly, but more of an instinctual unease. His steps slowed slightly, his eyes glancing around the empty streets. The city seemed quieter than usual, almost too quiet. The faint hum of traffic in the distance barely registered in his mind.
His instincts told him something was off, but he couldn't figure out what. Was it just the anticipation of what he might find at the old school's location? Or was there something more? Reiji shook his head, trying to dismiss the feeling. He had come too far to turn back now.
As he neared the area where Namimori Middle School once stood, the city's modern skyline loomed overhead. The area had changed over the centuries, and now the school had been replaced by tall buildings and complexes. The ground beneath his feet no longer held the same significance it had in the past, but Reiji knew that sometimes, the past left traces even in the most unexpected places.
Unseen by Reiji, the group of thugs closed in. They had watched him leave the library and had followed him quietly through the winding streets. Their leader, a man with a crooked smile and a dangerous gleam in his eyes, gestured for his men to spread out, blocking any possible escape routes.
They had been watching him for days, ever since he had sold the jewels. The dealer who had bought the jewels had tipped them off, and now, they were hungry for more. The boy walking ahead of them was no ordinary kid—he had come into something valuable, something they wanted to get their hands on. They didn't care where the jewels had come from, only that they were worth a fortune.
Reiji walked deeper into the district, unaware of the danger lurking behind him. His thoughts were consumed by the article, by the students and the flames. He was close to the spot where the school had once stood, and his heart beat faster in his chest. He couldn't explain it, but something was drawing him here—some instinct, some pull that had guided him to this moment.
He turned a corner, his eyes scanning the area. The buildings were tall, modern, and sleek, but there was an odd feeling in the air—an energy he couldn't quite place. He paused for a moment, taking in his surroundings, when suddenly, the prickling sensation at the back of his neck returned, sharper this time.
He froze.
Someone's watching me.
Reiji's eyes darted around, scanning the street for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. The streetlights flickered slightly, casting long shadows that made it hard to see. The feeling of unease grew stronger, his instincts telling him something wasn't right. His hand instinctively moved to the ring on his finger, the one that had connected him to the Dying Will Flame.
Before he could react, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking his path. Reiji's heart skipped a beat as he took a step back, his mind racing. The man before him was tall, his smile twisted with greed, and there was something unsettling about the way he carried himself. He wasn't alone. From the shadows behind him, more figures emerged, surrounding Reiji, cutting off any chance of escape.
"Hey, kid," the man sneered, stepping closer. "You've been flashing some interesting stuff around. How about you tell us where you got it?"
Reiji's eyes narrowed. The jewels. They must be after the jewels.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Reiji replied, keeping his voice steady, even though his pulse was racing.
The man's grin widened, and his eyes gleamed with malicious intent. "Oh, I think you do. Let's not make this harder than it needs to be. Just hand over whatever else you've got, and maybe we'll let you walk away."
Reiji's mind raced. There's no way they can know about the mansion, or the rings. But his instincts told him this situation was about to escalate. His hand tightened around the ring on his finger, the weight of the Dying Will Flame just beyond his reach. He could feel it, just out of reach, waiting for him to call upon it.
The air around them seemed to thicken with tension, and the shadows seemed to close in as the group of thugs surrounded him. Reiji's heart pounded in his chest, his eyes scanning for any possible escape route. But the path ahead was blocked, and the man's presence loomed larger with each passing second.
Reiji didn't have time to think. The fight was coming, whether he was ready for it or not.