He has never before permitted himself such a thorough transmutation. He doesn't know or care what the result will be. The only thing that matters is survival. He must live - for Saya's sake.

It's Nobuchika Ginoza's 30th birthday and the dark-haired enforcer has a special dinner guest. First course, of course: Akane.

The eyes in the painting watch him with the same bright fire he always saw there, challenging him to be someone other than who he pretended to be - someone he'd kept submerged for so long that he'd nearly forgotten who he was.