The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

For His Sake

Erika merely tilted her head as she continued, ignoring Misaki's plea. "What happened to you, Misaki? Ever since you met that boy—what was his name again? Oh yeah, Xavier. Ever since you met Xavier, you've completely changed."

"What happened to your Yamato pride, Misaki? Why have you degraded yourself to this level? You're not the little sister I once knew."

Hearing those words from her sister, Misaki gritted her teeth, anger flaring in her eyes. "'No longer the little sister you knew'? You never truly knew me to begin with. This family never cared about love or kinship—you all only ever prioritized power and the image of our clan. Nothing else ever mattered to you."

"You never knew me, Elder sister. So stop trying to play the role of something you're not."

Though Erika's face remained stone-cold, the sting of Misaki's words was undeniable. With a calm tone, she replied, "Misaki, if I didn't care about you, I wouldn't be here right now."

"I can't just let you go out at this hour. What if you disappear like that boy, Xavier? How do you think that would affect me—or Sayuri?"

Misaki froze, her breath catching in her throat. Hearing such concern from Erika—the sister she secretly admired alongside their grandmother, Lady Mai—left her momentarily speechless.

Erika continued, her voice tinged with an unfamiliar sadness. "Maybe I've expressed my care for you in the worst way possible compared to Sayuri, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you or your safety, Misaki."

"But if you still insist on going, you'll have to prove to me why I should let you."

Holding up Misaki's bag, Erika's gaze hardened. "Take this from my grip within the next fifteen seconds, and maybe I'll consider it."

A bead of sweat rolled down Misaki's chin as she clenched her fists, thinking anxiously. How am I supposed to do that? She knows damn well I don't stand a chance.

Then, realization struck. She's testing me. She wants to see if I'll back down before even trying—because she knows that I know the sheer gap between our worlds.

In that case, I'll show her. I'm not the little girl she used to know. I've changed.

Their eyes locked, an unspoken tension thickening the air. As the moonlight bathed them once more, Misaki shot forward, lunging for the bag in Erika's grip.

But in a blink, Erika vanished from sight.

Misaki's eyes widened—before she felt a swift, precise kick to her leg. Her balance shattered, she tumbled, her body skidding across the rooftop before slipping toward the edge. Her heart pounded as she barely caught the ledge in time, legs dangling over the vast drop below.

That was close... Misaki exhaled sharply, her fingers trembling as she hauled herself back up. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she wasted no time. She had to keep going.

The clash continued, each second feeling like an eternity. But only nine seconds had passed. Every move Misaki made, every strike, every tactic—it was useless. Erika danced around her effortlessly, evading each attempt, tripping her whenever she failed. It wasn't just a fight—it was humiliation. And it was infuriating.

As Misaki lunged again, Erika sidestepped with ease, countering with a sharp kick that sent her crashing backward.

"Five seconds left," Erika taunted, her cold gaze betraying a flicker of amusement.

Misaki growled in frustration, slamming her fist against the rooftop. I can't keep this up. I have to end this now. Everyone is waiting for me back there.