"Oh my god, it's really you!"
Manzu hugged Ekko hard, pounding his back like he was trying to make sure he was real.
"You're still alive? Shorty, where the hell have you been all these years? By Janna—do you know we were looking for you not long ago? We've formed an organization now!"
Manzu let him go. Seeing Ekko staring at him like he'd gone blank, Manzu burst out laughing. "What's with that face? Damn, Ekko—you don't recognize me anymore, do you?"
"That's messed up. I remember your face perfectly, and you forgot who I am?"
"Y-you…"
Ekko stared at that familiar face, a bold guess forming in his head. He tried it anyway. "Manzu?"
Manzu smiled and nodded.
"It really is you? Holy shit—Manzu, when did you get so tall?!" Ekko said, overjoyed.
What the hell?!
It was actually Manzu!
When they were kids, Vi looked after Ekko too, but Mylo in their crew couldn't stand him. Ekko was too young—he was even a year younger than Powder. He was small, couldn't fight, and worst of all he was timid, so Mylo never wanted to bring him along.
So the kid who got left behind would often end up playing with Marsen and Manzu and the other kids.
In the Lanes, Ekko was the only kid who had contact with both Marsen's circle and Vi's crew. So seeing Manzu now, Ekko couldn't help getting excited.
After Vander died, the kids of the Lanes scattered. Ekko gathered a group of people and founded the Firelights, protecting the last spark the Lanes still had.
"Yeah, it's me. And don't just talk about me—look at you. You got taller too. And those muscles… damn, when did you get so jacked?" Manzu said happily, clapping Ekko's shoulder. "Come on—come with me, Ekko. I'm taking you somewhere!"
"Where? Wait—Manzu, I need to ask you something. How did you end up joining the Spirit Blossom Gang?"
"Stop asking so much. Just come with me—when we get there, you'll understand!"
"Trust me—everyone's going to be thrilled to see you! We've got a home again." Manzu laughed.
He grabbed Ekko and started dragging him along. Zeri saw that and immediately jogged after them.
No way was she getting left behind!
What the hell—Ekko said he didn't know the Spirit Blossom Gang, but… their captain knows him?!
Ekko, you liar?!
————
"Where are we even going?"
"To the Spirit Blossom Gang. To meet our boss."
Our?
Ekko wanted to say something, but seeing how excited Manzu was, he kept his mouth shut.
"Your boss?"
"Is it Marsen?"
But as soon as Ekko said it, he didn't really believe it himself.
Marsen… sure, Ekko had run with him when they were kids and treated him like the leader. But with Ekko's eyes now, Marsen was just a normal guy. There was no way he could've built a gang that big—and driven the Shark District crew out.
"Marsen? He's not the boss. He's the one who brought me into the Spirit Blossom Gang, yeah, but he's just a small-time lieutenant, same as me. But Ekko… you know our boss too. You'll never guess it's him."
"I know him?" Not Marsen, but I know him?
No—back then, in Marsen's group… was there really anyone that impressive?
Ekko's curiosity spiked.
"Ekko, you know the Spirit Blossom Gang's boss?" Zeri had been listening the whole time. She edged closer and whispered to Ekko, "You do?"
Ekko looked at her, just as confused. "Do I?"
Zeri: "...?"
"Vi! Look—guess who's here!" Manzu suddenly shouted.
Ekko jolted, instantly looking toward where Manzu was waving.
The next moment, Ekko's eyes filled with disbelief.
By the barricaded wall in the distance, a red-haired woman in a red jacket stood with one hand in her pocket, talking to someone. When she heard the shout, she turned—and revealed a face Ekko knew far too well.
"..."
Far away, Vi turned too—and froze, shock hitting her all at once. Her pretty face went blank, her rosy lips parting. Then she yanked her hand out of her pocket and charged forward, striding hard as she ran, shouting:
"Oh my god—Ekko? Is that you?!"
"By Janna… you're alive!"
She flew past Manzu and Zeri in long, fast steps and wrapped Ekko in a crushing hug, hauling him into her chest. In an instant, Ekko felt warmth.
"Ekko… I thought something happened to you too." Vi's voice started to break.
"..." Ekko didn't speak. His hands just hung stupidly at his sides, like his mind had shorted out.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Vi let him go, grabbed his shoulders with both hands, and looked down at him, frantic. "It's me—Vi. The one who hosed you off at the scrapyard when you bathed. Don't tell me you don't even recognize me now? You used to run around naked yelling my name, and now you don't know me?"
Ekko's voice went hoarse. "Yeah. You're Vi… so where have you been all these years?"
"Me?" Vi froze for a beat. Then she looked at his face—at the weariness that didn't belong on someone his age, and the small scars scattered across him—and she understood.
Softly, she said, "I'm sorry, Ekko. My story… it's complicated. I—I can't explain it in a sentence or two."
Then she hugged him again. "But seeing you again… I'm really happy, Ekko."
"I thought something happened to you too."
"I'm sorry. When you needed me, I wasn't there."
Held by her again, Ekko lifted his arms this time, and hugged her back.
"Do you even know what's happened these past few years…"
"The Lanes are gone. Everyone's gone. Even Powder is already…"
Ekko was the Firelights' leader. He'd led hundreds of people trying to survive in Zaun under the Chem-Barons. To give them hope and build a perfect home, Ekko—who wasn't even an adult yet—had already become the one everyone leaned on.
But right now, in front of Vi, hearing what she'd just said, Ekko was dragged back into everything that had happened.
He hadn't been strong and capable from the start.
If—if Vi hadn't disappeared. If the Lanes were still there… maybe he would've gone up to Piltover to study. Maybe he would've been a worker with a wrench, fixing machines. Not a leader swinging clubs at gangs. He really didn't like violence.
In front of Vi, Ekko turned back into a kid.
Without thinking, he poured all that bitterness out at her—along with the urge to tell her what had happened to Powder.
But then, a voice spoke up right beside him.
"You calling me?"
The moment he heard it, Ekko shoved Vi away. The hurt on his face turned into pure terror as he looked at the girl who'd tiptoed closer, head cocked, hands twisting behind her back.
She wore a denim jacket, with a crop top underneath that showed her stomach. Her pants were long and black, but covered in pink doodles. Her pretty face was clean and pale, and two long blue braids slanted together as they trailed down. Her big eyes were full of curiosity.
"Fuck!"
Ekko instantly hurled whatever was clipped to his belt—throwing it with all his strength straight at her.
He moved so fast that even Vi, standing closest, didn't react in time. She stared—and then screamed, "No!"
What Ekko threw was a chunk of metal. If that smashed into Powder's face—
"Smack—"
A hand shot out and slapped the metal block away from in front of the girl.
Jinx let out a breath, looked up, and saw Logan's face. Then she immediately got smug. "What's the matter, shorty—wanna fight?"
"Come on! You think I'm scared?!"
Jinx raised her little fists, swaying back and forth.
Logan looked at the cocky Jinx like it was hilarious, pulled her into an arm around her shoulders, then looked over at Ekko—who was panting hard, staring like he'd just seen a ghost.
"Relax, Ekko."
"I can explain."
"Explain my ass!"
"You're all Silco's people!"
Ekko shouted.