Brazen Youths Arc

The **Brazen Youths Arc** is the second story arc. It is the arc where Kazuki’s Take-down Squad faces off against Xiomara’s The Brazen Youths.

## Summary

Word has gotten out around the school about Kazuki’s win against Axel at the end of the A Mere Human arc.

## Chapter List

### Chapter 5: The Mysterious Squad

Kazuki convinces Sherbet to go to Axel's dorm room. There Axel apologizes to the both of them for what put them through, explaining how that dark power of Kazuki’s isn’t something to be taken lightly. The werewolf warns that Xiomara and her people will soon make their attack before ending their rendezvous by ensuring that his Cheer Squad will do their best to protect them.

Later, when Kazuki is alone in his dorm room, he wills himself to enter the space within his heart and mind to talk to Rouge. Kazuki expresses his distrust of her causing Rouge to reason that he wouldn’t believe her even if she told him the truth. Rouge warns him that one day, he’ll come to see that ignorance is bliss and uses her powers to send him back to the real world.

### Chapter 6: The Brazen Duo

The next day, Axel summons Kazuki for what he calls "special training" in the gym but is interrupted when Xiomara and Blanc enter uninvited. Axel challenges his sister to a sparring match which she surprisingly accepts. However, Xiomara is revealed to be far stronger than anyone expected even in her normal form as she evaded Axel's were-attacks and dislocated his arms.

### Chapter 7: A Buried Past

Kazuki has a mental breakdown and spends a week in his room after learning the truth of his existence. Kazuki snaps at Sherbet when she and Axel visit him to try to get to the bottom of what is wrong. Sherbet is hurt by his words and runs away in tears.

### Chapter 8: Black Shuck Elliot (Part 1)

Sherbet is ensnared by Elliot's **Pandora's Box** ability. While searching for Sherbet, Axel runs into Ember who promptly attacks him. However, their fight is constantly interrupted by the many lightning strikes conjured by Elliot's **Pandora's Box**. Meanwhile multiple shadow cobras spawn in Kazuki's room. With his fighting-spirit replenished, Kazuki mows down all the vipers with his bladed tonfas and leaves his dorm to assist his friends.

### Chapter 9: Black Shuck Elliot (Part 2)

Axel is struck by one of the lightning bolts but he fortunately transforms most of his body to lessen the impact of the blast. Axel summons Conrad to take his place in the fight before passing out.

Kazuki eventually joins the battle at the same time Elliot does with Sherbet under his control. Ember retreats from the battle after realizing that Elliot is a cryptid canid breed. Kazuki begins to suffer from the poison released by the corpses of the shadow cobras. Elliot manipulates Sherbet's body, making her attack Kazuki with her kusari-fundo. Against her will, Sherbet strangles Kazuki with the weapon's chain.

Ember retreats while Conrad uses his aerokinetic powers to trap Sherbet a small whirlwind which he lifts into the air. The boiling of Kazuki's demonic blood cancels out the effects of the poison. Kazuki and Conrad combine their powers to kill Elliot. Sherbet is released from the tiny whirlwind after Conrad vanishes with Axel. Kazuki cries as he apologizes to her while putting himself down. The tanuki stops his self-deprecation and Sherbet informs Kazuki that he is forgiven before leaving like nothing happened.

### Chapter 10: Duel for Love

The next day, Axel reveals that he will be joining Kazuki and Sherbet's squad. Xiomara seeks out Kazuki with her two main assassins to plead with him to join her league of assassins. This causes Blanc to become jealous and he challenges the human to a duel to the death but Kazuki doesn't want to hurt anyone else. Kazuki uses his tonfas to shield himself from all Blanc's icicles and paralyzes both of his hands with his **Numbing Burst**. However, this was unable to stop Blanc’s wrath as multiple ice pillars shoot out of the ground and close in on Kazuki. Sherbet shields Kazuki and is impaled through her solar plexus and passes out. Blanc passes out not long after but not before being blessed with his commander telling him he fought well.

### Chapter 11: Axel's Hidden Feelings

The Brazen Youths retreat and Sherbet is taken to the infirmary where her wounds are treated. There Sherbet is reminded of how much of a essential part she plays in the team and the Take-down Squad is named. Conrad asks to speak with Kazuki in the hallway where he gives him advice on defeating Xiomara. This is when Conrad reveals to Kazuki that there is no headmaster and that Xiomara is using her squad to gain maximum over the school. Back inside the infirmary Axel reveals to Sherbet that he has feelings for Kazuki. Sherbet is overjoyed when she hears this and devotes herself to being his wingman but Axel is hesitant.

### Chapter 12: Their Fateful Encounter

A long while after the conclusion of his fight with Blanc, Kazuki tries to sleep but is interrupted by Rouge asking him if he's in love with Axel. Kazuki becomes flustered at this but his anger soon melts into sadness as love between a human and a canid breed was destined to fail. Rouge apologizes for her question and allows the human to sleep. As Blanc is recovering in the dorm shared by the main three members of The Brazen Youths, Xiomara looks up at the blood red moon which tells her that the end is near.

### Chapter 13: Xiomara's Brazen End

Xiomara and Kazuki fight at schoolyard. After some hesitation, Kazuki wins by using his forbidden **Zipping Burst** which heavily injures Xiomara. Kazuki was going to pass out, but one of Xiomara’s assassins grabs him by the collar. However, Xiomara stops the assassin before he could do anything and announces that Kazuki is the victor before falling back down but Kazuki catches her just in time. Xiomara questions why Kazuki is treating her so nicely, causing the human to remind her for his promise to Axel that he would return her back to her senses. Xiomara facetiously remarks that her brother has really stolen his heart which makes Kazuki blush. As Xiomara was being carried away by Blanc, she bids Kazuki farewell and says that she accepts his truce.