My name is Shin Ayase.

You could say my life is already a mess.

I live alone. I’m still in high school.

And every single day feels the same—boring, suffocating… pointless.

That day was no different.

I was on my way home from school when I saw something strange.

A homeless man was running down the street, clutching something in his hand.

At first glance, it looked like a pen.

No…

The tip was sharp.

A needle.

Behind him, several men in suits were chasing him. Calm, organized—sunglasses, black suits. Not the kind of people you want following you.

The homeless man slammed into me.

“—!”

I barely reacted as he stumbled past and kept running.

The men in suits rushed after him.

And just like that… I was left alone.

“…What?”

Something felt off.

I looked down.

The object he was holding… was now in my hand.

“…Huh.”

I stared at it.

A syringe.

Clear liquid inside.

No label. No explanation.

Just… there.

I brought it home.

After taking a shower and changing my clothes, I sat on my bed and looked at it again.

There was a number engraved on the side.

260.

“Drugs…?”

That was my first thought.

Some kind of illegal stuff, probably.

I didn’t think too much about it.

Didn’t really care.

“…Whatever.”

My life wasn’t exactly worth protecting anyway.

So what if it was dangerous?

So what if it killed me?

Click.

The needle pierced my arm.

“…”

Nothing.

I didn’t feel anything at first.

But then—

My head spun.

My vision blurred.

“…Tch.”

I collapsed onto the bed before I even realized it.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Morning.

I opened my eyes slowly.

“…Huh.”

I looked at the clock.

7:30.

“…I’m late.”

I got up immediately and rushed to get ready.

No time to think.

No time to care.

Just another day.

On my way to school—

“Hey.”

A voice stopped me.

I turned around.

A girl stood there, her face hidden under the hood of her jacket.

“…What?”

She looked straight at me.

“Thief of 260.”

“…What?”

I frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

She stepped closer.

“You took it.”

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

I felt annoyed.

“I don’t know what you—”

“Come with me.”

“No. I’m late for school.”

“You need to come.”

“I said no.”

Then—

She said my name.

“…Ayase.”

My body froze for a split second.

“…How do you know that?”

She didn’t answer.

“Just come.”

“…Tch.”

I clicked my tongue.

Annoying.

But—

I followed her.

We ended up in a quiet place.

Away from people.

She finally spoke.

“That thing you took… it’s called a Colsenty.”

“…Colsenty?”

I looked at her.

“What is that? Some kind of drug?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

Her voice turned serious.

“It’s a substance created by a group called Zero.”

“…Zero?”

“Anyone who uses a Colsenty gets two possible outcomes.”

She raised two fingers.

“Death ratio.”

“50% chance to live.”

“50% chance to die.”

“…I already used it.”

I said it casually.

She didn’t look surprised.

“I figured.”

She crossed her arms.

“You don’t look like someone who values their life much.”

“…Yeah. Maybe.”

Silence.

Then she continued.

“Normally, users like you would be hunted.”

“…Hunted?”

“Yes.”

She looked straight at me.

“So… how about this?”

“You come with me.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“…And do what?”

“You get protection.”

“A place to stay.”

“Food.”

Her tone didn’t change.

“Everything you need.”

“…Sounds convenient.”

“It is.”

“…And in return?”

“Help us.”

“Do what?”

She paused.

“…You’ll see.”

I stared at her for a few seconds.

Then—

“…Fine.”

I shrugged.

“Not like I have anything better to do.”

As we walked, I asked,

“So this Zero group… what’s their deal?”

She answered without looking at me.

“They created more than 300 Colsenties.”

“For what?”

“To enhance the human body.”

“…Figures.”

“But we took them down. About five years ago.”

“…We?”

She ignored that.

“They scattered the Colsenties before they fell.”

“And now?”

“We’re collecting them.”

“…That’s it?”

I glanced at her.

“Just find them and done, right?”

“…No.”

Her tone shifted slightly.

“They’re still being produced.”

“…What?”

“We don’t know who’s behind it.”

“Even though they’re not as strong as the originals.”

“…Difference?”

“The original ones made by Zero—”

She glanced at me.

“—have around a 40% chance of granting abnormal abilities.”

“Like controlling water… or transforming.”

“…And the new ones?”

“Only around 20%.”

She opened a door.

“And if you’re unlucky—”

“You just get enhanced physical abilities.”

The door creaked open.

A dim light spilled out.

“…That’s all.”

I looked inside.

A bar.

Underground.

And something about it felt… wrong.

I followed her into the bar.

From the outside, it looked ordinary.

Inside—

It wasn’t.

The air felt heavy.

Quiet… but not peaceful.

There were two people inside.

A large man stood behind the counter, casually preparing a drink. His build was massive—broad shoulders, thick arms.

In front of him sat a woman dressed entirely in white.

Even from a distance, she stood out.

Not because she was flashy—

But because she was calm.

Too calm.

“Boss.”

The girl beside me—Rein—spoke.

“This is the user of 260. I think he can be useful for us.”

The woman in white turned her gaze toward me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then—

She smiled.

“Hello, kid.”

Her voice was gentle.

“I had Rein keep an eye on you.”

She placed her chin lightly on her hand.

“My name is Shiro.”

“I’m the leader of Hustler.”

“…Yeah.”

That was all I said.

She studied my face for a second.

Then let out a soft chuckle.

“I didn’t expect you to look this tired.”

“…Can we skip the small talk?”

I sighed.

“What is this place? And what do you want from me?”

Shiro didn’t seem offended.

“Alright.”

She leaned back slightly.

“In this world… there’s an underground.”

“A place that hosts games. Shows. Tournaments.”

“High stakes.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“And high rewards.”

I stayed silent.

She continued.

“The audience?”

“Mafia. Officials. The wealthy.”

“People who enjoy watching others risk their lives.”

“…Figures.”

“And the ones fighting there…”

She looked straight at me.

“Are people like us.”

The room felt colder.

“For those who enter… safety is guaranteed.”

“A place to stay. Food. Protection.”

She paused.

“But in return—”

“You fight.”

“Life and death.”

“…And no one knows who runs it?”

I asked.

Shiro shook her head.

“No one.”

“But we have our suspicions.”

“…Colsenty producers.”

“…Yeah.”

She folded her hands.

“The place is called—”

“Holders.”

The name lingered in the air.

“We want you to join us.”

She said it simply.

Like it was obvious.

“…And if I refuse?”

I asked.

Shiro didn’t hesitate.

“You’ll be eliminated.”

Her tone didn’t change.

No threat.

No emotion.

Just a fact.

I stared at her.

“…That’s harsh.”

“It’s reality.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Besides… I don’t think you’ll refuse.”

“…Oh?”

“Your older sister.”

My eyes narrowed.

“She’s connected to Holders.”

Silence.

“…What.”

For the first time—

my voice shifted.

Just slightly.

Shiro didn’t explain further.

She didn’t need to.

I looked down.

Thought for a moment.

Then exhaled.

“…Fine.”

I shrugged.

“I’ll help you.”

“Good.”

Shiro smiled again.

“Then let’s start with introductions.”

She gestured behind the counter.

“The big guy making drinks—Sulfur.”

The man raised his hand slightly.

Didn’t say a word.

“The girl who brought you here—Rein.”

She didn’t react.

As usual.

“A tall one over there—Zurich.”

I glanced to the side.

A young man leaned against the wall, smirking faintly.

“…So you’re 260, huh.”

“And that drunk woman—Lany.”

I followed her gaze.

A woman slouched on a chair, half-asleep with a bottle in her hand.

“…Hah.”

I looked around again.

Something felt off.

“…Those aren’t your real names, are they?”

Shiro smiled.

“Of course not.”

“We all use codenames here.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“So—”

“What about you?”

“…Me?”

“Pick one.”

I paused.

Thought for a bit.

Shin.

Shenanigan.

“…Shenanigan.”

I said.

“…Just call me Shen.”

Zurich chuckled.

“Not bad.”

Shiro nodded.

“Then welcome to Hustler, Shen.”

For the first time in a long while—

I felt like something had started.

And maybe—

Just maybe—

My life was about to change.