At a prestigious all girls school, the students are leaving happily. St. Anne's Girls' Academy is an elite high school for the daughters of wealthy families. A young woman with long hair walks through the courtyard while the others watch her in awe. Her classmates say goodbye to her, calling her Shido and wishing her a good day.
With a kind smile she waves back and tells everyone to be careful on their way home. The girls are completely charmed by her beauty and her kindness, sighing wherever she goes. She is the most popular girl in the school, admired by all her peers.
Across the street, Kei watches the scene from afar with his phone in his hand. He reviews the file on Akari Shido, daughter of the late head of the Shido syndicate. She is the sole heir to one of Japan's biggest underworld groups. Her father was the third boss of the organization, and left behind a legacy of power and toughness.
And that is exactly why the garden organization is trying to get rid of the girl.
The main character reflects that right now, he is just a student up against a global syndicate. His enemies have sway over the political and corporate elite of dozens of nations, and their operatives possess inhuman special skills that make them incredibly dangerous. That is why he will use that girl's crisis as the starting point for his master plan. Amidst the flames, the garden's symbol burns, showing his sheer determination. He is going to use this chance to build the foundation that will burn the garden to the ground.
Across the street, he keeps watching Akari as her friends say their goodbyes. He finds it funny that a mob boss's daughter studies at such a strict and refined school. With a sarcastic smirk, he walks up to her bodyguard and teases the man about his job. He calls the guy a bodyguard in a challenging tone, even though the man's back is turned.
The man confronts him, saying their world is no place for rookies. He warns that a punk who has never held a weapon would be eaten alive out here. With a threatening glare, the kid says he is ready to make his grand comeback.
Before a fight can break out, another man shows up and says that is enough. The newcomer asks who he works for and why he is going after the young miss. The main character replies that he was not exactly targeting her, but rather them. The bodyguard says he does not need a straight answer and gets ready to brawl. With clenched fists, he steps up, saying he will beat the truth out of him.
The man throws a heavy kick, but the main character dodges it with ease. Using the experience from his past life, he recognizes that fighting style as boxing. The security guard charges him with a flurry of fast and furious punches. Annoyed that his strikes keep missing, he curses the kid, calling him a cocky brat. Then he tries a low sweep to throw his opponent off balance, but the youth just takes a step back, showing far superior agility. The bodyguard yells at him to stop playing around and throws a straight punch.
The main character catches the man's fist with one hand, stopping the attack cold. With a quick move he pins the guard's arm and sets up his counterattack. Next he grabs the guy by the neck with his other hand, cutting off his air. The security guard is stunned by the power and technique of that young student. With a single move, the kid slams him to the floor, leaving him totally out of action.
Then he steps closer and tells him to relax, because he is not his enemy. The bodyguard is confused, unable to react to the situation.
Suddenly a firm voice yells for them to stop fighting right now. Down on the ground, the guard is surprised to see the young miss standing there. Akari walks toward them with confident steps and a very serious look. She glares at the main character and orders him to let Katagiri go instantly.
In his mind, the guy smiles, thinking the girl has a lot of nerve. He agrees to let him go, as long as she listens to what he has to say. So he invites her for tea, saying he really wanted to talk to her.
Akari closes her eyes for a second, weighing that unexpected offer. Making up her mind, she tells him to follow her, and leads him to a more private spot. They walk down a narrow alley until they reach a hidden location. The sign reveals the place's name, a café bar called Savannah.
Inside the bar, he compliments the atmosphere, but notes that it does not seem to fit a young lady. Annoyed, the bodyguard curses at him, but Akari cuts him off and tells the stranger to get straight to the point. She takes a cup of tea and gets ready to hear what he has to share. She asks him straight out for the reason for his approach, and what he actually wants.
The kid reveals that she is not his target, but rather the mercenary who is hunting her. He says she probably already has an idea why she is being targeted, and that not even her bodyguard could protect her from the Funeral Flowers.
The young woman is surprised to hear the name of that legendary syndicate. He explains that their master operatives and a whole mob army would stand no chance against them. With a serious, suspicious look, Akari stares at the kid, trying to process it all. She asks who he is, and what he knows about everything that is going down.
The main character stares right back at her with a calm, mysterious air. Then he states that he is not her ally, but rather the enemy of her enemy. With a confident smirk, he offers to clear out the Funeral Flowers for her.
Outraged, the bodyguard stands up to object, but gets cut short. With a threatening glare, the kid tells him he would not do that if he were him. His eyes glow red, and an intimidating aura completely paralyzes the guard. The man is left speechless, unable to react to that crushing pressure. So he sits back down, recognizing how dangerous the youth in front of him really is.
Still worried, Akari asks why she should take his word for any of it. The guy reveals that it was the Funeral Flowers who eliminated three executives in Yokohama. The bodyguard is shocked, since that incident never hit the news. He explains that there was an information blackout, that the targets were taken out with a Desert Eagle, and that the one responsible is a syndicate operative going by the code name Dahlia.
Katagiri panics and asks how he knows so many highly classified details. The main character then tosses Dahlia's gun onto the table and reveals that he was the one who neutralized him. He suggests they run the ballistics on the weapon through their police contacts, and adds that the cleaners meant to scrub the scene were also handled by him.
The guard accuses him of being the real culprit behind the executives' fate. With heavy sarcasm, the kid asks if he seriously thinks he would go through all of that just for Akari.
Akari's eyes widen as she finally grasps the whole picture. Making her choice, she says she will trust his story, which leaves Katagiri stunned. She then orders Katagiri to get the car ready, because they are heading back to the estate. Hesitant, the guard agrees to comply, and they take off for the Shido residence.
Back at the house, Akari and her bodyguard wait in a room with a very tense atmosphere. Katagiri is totally against letting a suspicious jerk into the house. Right then the kid walks in and compliments the grandeur of the mob estate. With a sarcastic smile, he asks if the tricolor ceramic in the hall is the real deal. Akari confirms that it is, and the guard yells furiously, demanding to know who let him wander around.
Ignoring the bodyguard, the main character sizes up the location's security with just one glance. He notices the guards patrolling the garden and the mansion's front gate. He also spots the security cameras and the man working the monitor room. Katagiri is floored by how fast he analyzed the entire security grid. The kid points out that the body armor Akari is wearing is basically just a lucky charm. Akari is surprised that he caught so many details in such a short amount of time.
He warns them that the incoming operatives are not your average thugs, and advises clearing everyone out of the house.
In a dark, damp place, a rat squeaks right before it is crushed under a high heel. A figure walks with elegance and purpose through the shadows. It is a woman in traditional clothes, carrying a heavy, intimidating aura. With a twisted smile, she readies her blade and prepares for the hunt.