Ichiro, Lucas, and Slych had gathered around Kurogami Residence's living room.
Lucas and Slych had a heated discussion about the upcoming Battle of Cities, and they will most likely face each other there.
The living room and whole house were decorated with colors to celebrate the black-haired youth's birthday.
Alena, Iris, and Azumi talked in the kitchen while the food was being cooked and boiled.
From the upstairs, cheerful laughter echoed, coming from Ayako and Leia, doing who knows what.
And Azura was alone in Ichiro's room, doing last birthday preparations, no one knowing what.
''Will you join the Military Academy?''
''Yeah.'' Slych nodded at Lucas' question about Military Academy.
''I thought for a long time, and I thought it would be the best place for me,'' Slych said, and after Ichiro's rejection to go there, Mars was very desperate to get Slych there and managed to get him to join.
Lucas nodded, ''I heard that Mars might be one of the instructors there?''
''He might be.'' Slych nodded, ''Not for too long, maybe a few months. He still has a lot of responsibility, and Gensa is a large country. Many need him in their cities.''
''True.'' Lucas nodded; he glanced at daydreaming Ichiro. Even Gensa suffered from Abyss's death, and it wasn't on a small scale.
However, Mars and Mad King's quick actions saved many.
*Brr*
Ichiro flinched after feeling vibrations coming from his pocket. He took his phone out and checked the message.
His face turned serious, and he stood up, ''I… I have somewhere to go.''
''Oh, is it urgent?'' Lucas asked and saw Ichiro's face being unusually serious.
''Kind of,'' Ichiro said while slipping the phone back into his pocket. He left the living room and the building.
Slych and Lucas watched him leave before continuing their talk.
Outside the building, Ichiro saw Eiji and Luke having a discussion around a small table.
''Ah, you are going somewhere?'' Eiji noticed his son leaving the building and asked.
''I will take a quick visit in store; I will be back soon.'' Ichiro cooked up a quick lie and left the yard.
His figure soon has disappeared from view.
Ichiro strolled, going past the countless buildings, past excited citizens who saw him, until finally, he reached a small playground.
He hopped over the fence and walked on the sand ground until he reached the bench, where he sat down and started waiting.
The fresh air, surrounding calmness, and birds' chirping made the scene very peaceful and relaxing.
Soon, however, another person appeared on the playground and sat right next to him.
Ichiro straightened his back and looked at the person who had arrived.
The person was Amanda, who was looking at him with her beautiful blue eyes.
''Sorry for calling you so suddenly.'' She apologized with a slight bow.
''It's alright.'' Ichiro replied and looked away from her, ''You said… There was something important?''
''Yes.'' Amanda took her phone out and showed him a photo.
It was a photo of a brown-haired man talking with…
'Marshall!' Ichiro internally exclaimed after recognizing the former Police Commissioner, ''Where did you get this?''
''My… Dad did.'' Amanda said, ''He works in the harbor and one night, saw two shady-looking guys in there and decided to go look.''
''When he got closer, the light coming from nearby machines gladly lightened up the area enough for Marshall's face to be shown. He quickly took a picture and left.''
She explained as calmly as she could, even though a single misstep could have killed her father.
''I see…'' Ichiro looked at her and had another question, ''Why didn't you go to the police?''
''Well…'' Amanda bit her lip and answered truthfully, ''With this way, I have an excuse to talk to you, also… I know it was you who stopped that red being back then.''
Ichiro's brow rose in surprise, ''I see…''
Amanda typed on the phone and sent the photo to Ichiro's phone, ''Maybe… This picture will help you to find him.''
Ichiro felt vibrations coming from his pocket, ''Thanks…''
Amanda smiled and stood up to leave, ''Be careful.'' She jumped over the fence and, with hurried steps, left the playground.
Ichiro looked at her retreating back, and once she had disappeared from the view, he took out his phone and glanced at the photo.
''Marshall…'' Several months ago, Ichiro was trying to find where he had gone hiding. However, couldn't find a trace.
Now, for some unknown reason, Marshall had returned.
''I will stop him….'' Ichiro sighed, ''Then return to Coldland…''
He left the playground and rushed back to the Kurogami Residence.
Once he arrived, Eiji and Luke were still talking.
Ichiro entered the house and saw the scene being relatively similar before he left.
He went straight upstairs and saw the door to his room was open.
In there, Azura was sitting at his desk, writing something.
Ichiro entered the room and closed the door behind him.
''Hmm?'' Azura took off her earpods and looked at Ichiro, ''Ichiro?''
Ichiro laid down on the bed and asked, ''What do you think about Coldland?''
''Shit,'' Azura replied with one yet effective word.
''Yeah…'' Ichiro sighed and closed his eyes, ''Only one thing left to do there… Finish school…''
''Are you alright?'' Azura asked after seeing his downcast look, ''You seem down.''
''I met with Amanda.'' Ichiro sat up and saw Azura's face turning in a split second into shock.
''W-W-What did she want?'' She asked with her lips going dry and her heart going on overdrive.
''Showed me a picture.'' Ichiro leaned on the wall, ''Marshall had returned.''
''What?!'' Azura exclaimed, ''Why is he here?''
''Not sure, but I will hunt him down.'' Ichiro suddenly stood up and went into his wardrobe.
After opening the doors, he grabbed a bag from there and unzipped it.
In the bag, several different weapons were neatly lined up.
Ichiro grabbed the first thing that came to his mind; it was a hatchet, ''He seems to be with Underworld folks. They don't have good intentions.''
''You are planning to go chase after them? Now?!'' Azura stood up in a hurry and tried to stop him, ''Today is your birthday, please, don't go!''
''It won't take long.'' Ichiro strapped the hatchet to his waist and threw it back inside the wardrobe, ''Once I have returned, show me your birthday present.''
Azura opened her mouth, and she still wanted to tell him to do it the other day. However, she knew he wouldn't risk Marshall slipping through his fingers.
''I-I understand.''
Ichiro raised her chin and did a quick peck to the lips, ''Keep the door closed; they wouldn't come knocking after what happened last time.''
Azura's cheeks reddened, ''I-It was your fault!''
Ichiro chuckled and opened the window, ''Who was the one who stripped me till I was naked?''
He didn't wait for his girlfriend's shout and jumped out of the window.
He landed in the backyard and quickly jumped over the fence. His figure moved like a streak of lighting, and soon, he had disappeared.
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