Chapter 1: The Dragon Symbol 🐉
🌅 Tokyo — 7:30 a.m.
Tokyo was beginning to wake up.
Trains crossed the city, the streets were filled with students, and the stores were just beginning to open.
Among all those people walked a 14-year-old boy.
Zeru Isami.
He wore a dark cap with a small embroidered dragon and a green and black jacket.
Zeru looked at the time.
—No way...
He was late again.
—I’m going to be late!
Zeru started running.
🏫 The School
Zeru entered the building just as the bell rang.
—Zeru!
Zeru turned around.
A boy was running toward him.
It was Raju.
—Wait for me, idiot!
—Are you late too?
—No. I’m late because I was waiting for you.
Zeru looked at him.
—Liar.
Raju smiled.
—Okay... yeah.
Behind them, Leo appeared, walking calmly.
—You two are going to get us expelled someday.
Raju shrugged.
—As long as they don't expel us today...
Leo looked at Zeru’s cap.
—You're wearing that symbol again.
Zeru touched the dragon.
—Yeah. Why?
Leo became thoughtful.
—Nothing.
But it didn't seem like nothing.
🌸 In the Classroom
Zeru sat in his seat.
Two girls were sitting nearby.
Aisha was reading a book.
Hana was talking to her.
Raju sat behind Zeru.
—Hey, Zeru.
—What?
—Have you ever wondered what that dragon means?
Zeru looked at him.
—My father gave it to me.
Raju stopped smiling.
—Oh...
Leo intervened.
—Did he ever tell you about Kyoryu-Kai?
Zeru frowned.
—What is that?
Leo looked surprised.
—You've never heard that name?
—No.
Aisha looked up from her book.
For a second, she seemed worried.
Hana looked at her.
—Aisha?
—Nothing.
She closed the book.
—I just feel like I've heard that name before.
Zeru looked at her.
—Where?
Aisha hesitated.
—I’m not sure.
👁️ Someone Is Watching Them
During class, Zeru looked out the window.
There were many people in the street.
But one person caught his attention.
A man dressed in black.
He was standing in front of the school.
Looking directly at him.
Zeru froze.
The man raised one hand.
And pointed at the dragon on Zeru’s cap.
Zeru opened his eyes wide.
—Who is that...?
Raju looked out the window.
—Who?
The man was already gone.
—Nothing.
Leo came closer.
—What did you see?
—A guy.
Aisha asked:
—What did he look like?
Zeru looked at her.
—Why are you so interested?
Aisha remained silent.
Hana watched them both.
Something wasn't right.
🌆 After School
The five of them left school together.
Raju walked while eating a candy.
—So, are we going to the arcade?
Leo shook his head.
—I have to study.
Raju looked at him.
—Study? Who does that?
Hana laughed.
—You should try it sometime.
Raju looked offended.
—I do study!
Zeru was distracted.
Aisha watched him.
—Are you still thinking about the man?
Zeru answered:
—Yeah.
Aisha lowered her gaze.
—Then be careful.
Zeru stopped.
—Why?
Aisha didn't answer.
🏚️ The Abandoned Building
That afternoon, Zeru received an anonymous message.
“If you want to know the truth about your father, come alone.”
Below it was an address.
Zeru stared at the message for several seconds.
—Dad...
He put his phone away.
But when he left his house...
Raju was waiting for him.
—Where are you going?
Zeru was surprised.
—What are you doing here?
—I know you. When you make that face, it means you're about to do something stupid.
Leo appeared behind him.
—And I brought my phone in case we need to investigate something.
Hana arrived with them.
—You're not going alone.
Zeru sighed.
—And you?
Aisha appeared last.
She looked at the address.
Her expression changed.
—I know that place.
Everyone looked at her.
—What?
Aisha answered:
—That building belonged to Kyoryu-Kai.
Silence.
🐉 The Symbol
The five arrived at the building.
It was completely abandoned.
At the entrance, there was a huge symbol.
A dragon.
Zeru approached it.
Raju murmured:
—It's the same one as the one on your cap.
Leo took out his phone.
—I’m going to look for some information.
Hana looked around.
—We're not alone.
Zeru touched the symbol.
CLACK.
A hidden door opened.
Everyone was surprised.
Raju:
—Okay... this definitely isn't normal.
They went down the stairs.
📜 The Secret
They reached a room filled with photographs.
Leo began looking at them.
—Look at this.
There were photographs of former members of Kyoryu-Kai.
Hana found some documents.
Raju found old training weapons.
Aisha stood looking at a photograph.
Zeru walked toward the center of the room.
And then he saw it.
His father.
He was wearing the same dragon insignia.
Zeru stood completely frozen.
—Dad...
Underneath the photograph was an inscription:
ISAMI — LEADER OF KYORYU-KAI
Zeru stepped back.
—No...
Leo came closer.
—Zeru...
—My father never told me anything about this.
Aisha lowered her gaze.
—Because he probably wanted to protect you.
Zeru looked at her.
—How do you know that?
Aisha didn't answer.
👤 The Stranger
Suddenly...
CLACK.
The door closed.
The five of them turned around.
A man was standing in the darkness.
—You made it, Zeru Isami.
Raju stepped in front of Zeru.
—Who are you?
The man slowly stepped out of the shadows.
—My name is Kaito.
Zeru looked at him.
—What do you want?
Kaito looked at the symbol on the wall.
—I want to tell you something your father never could.
Zeru clenched his fists.
—What?
Kaito answered:
—Your father didn't disappear.
Silence.
Zeru's eyes widened.
—What...?
Kaito continued:
—And you didn't find Kyoryu-Kai by chance.
He looked directly at Zeru.
—They've been waiting for you.
The imaginary camera slowly pulls away.
The five of them remain standing in front of the enormous dragon.
END OF CHAPTER 1 🐉🔥
