As Sho walked out of the Colosseum, his body still ached from the battle. The cheers of the crowd had faded, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.
He had barely taken a few steps when he heard Kyoko's familiar voice behind him.
"Sho."
He turned to see her walking toward him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, he felt a sense of relief—she was here, safe. But then he remembered... she had left the tournament.
"Why did you withdraw?" Sho asked, trying to understand her decision.
Kyoko lowered her gaze. "I don't want to fight you, Sho. That's all."
Sho studied her for a moment. He could sense that wasn't the full truth, but he didn't press her. Instead, he smiled slightly. "I see... Well then, how about this? Want to spend tomorrow with me? A whole day—just the two of us."
Kyoko's eyes widened for a second before softening. "Sure."
Before they could say more, an energetic voice called out from behind them.
"Oi! You two forgot to add me in?"
Sho and Kyoko turned to see Kuki jogging toward them, grinning as usual. His presence was always lively, but Sho noticed something different in his tone—a hint of concern.
"You guys seem a little down," Kuki said, crossing his arms. "By the way, I haven't seen Daigo anywhere. Where is he?"
The question hit harder than expected. A silence fell between Sho and Kyoko, the weight of Daigo's absence pressing down on them. Sho clenched his fists.
Kyoko was the first to speak, her voice quieter than usual. "He's gone, Kuki… He sacrificed himself to protect us."
Kuki's usual cheerful expression faltered. "Wait… what?"
Sho exhaled sharply, remembering it all too well. The Rivers of the Forgotten. The collapsing cave. The rush of water. Daigo pushing them away at the last second. His final words drowned out by the raging currents.
Kyoko looked away, her fists trembling. "We tried to save him… but the river took him."
For the first time, Kuki was speechless. His fists tightened. "Damn… Daigo… he was a true warrior."
Sho nodded. "Yeah. And that's why we keep going. We fight not just for ourselves, but for him too."
Kuki exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah… You're right." His grin returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Well, we'll have to talk about this more tomorrow. You two are meeting up, right? Count me in."
Sho smirked. "Of course. Meet us at the café near your Kazan Clan."
Kuki gave a thumbs-up. "Got it. But for now, I need some rest. See you tomorrow!" He waved and walked off.
Sho and Kyoko were left standing there. The weight of Daigo's sacrifice still hung between them.
"What should we do now?" Kyoko finally asked, her voice quieter than before.
Sho stretched his sore arms and sighed. "Maybe... let's take some rest. I'm exhausted."
Kyoko nodded. "Yeah… me too."
She turned to leave the Colosseum, her footsteps light yet heavy with emotions. Sho watched her go before making his own way back to his clan's palace.
Tomorrow, they would take a break from battle.
NEXT DAY
The morning sun cast a soft golden glow over the village as Sho and Kyoko arrived at the small café near the Kazan Clan's territory. The air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of blooming flowers and the distant aroma of tea. It was a peaceful day, a much-needed break from the chaos of the tournament.
Sho stretched his arms as he took a seat outside, glancing around. The café was quiet, with only a few villagers sipping their morning tea. He looked at Kyoko, who seemed deep in thought, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden table.
"He's late," Sho said with a small smirk, breaking the silence.
Kyoko sighed, but there was no irritation in her voice. "It's Kuki. Are you really surprised?"
Sho chuckled. "Not really."
They sat there for a while, enjoying the calmness of the morning. It was rare for them to have a moment like this—no battles, no strategies, no pressure. Just a simple day with friends.
After what felt like an eternity, a familiar voice called out to them.
"Oi! Sorry I'm late!"
Sho and Kyoko turned to see Kuki jogging toward them, slightly out of breath. He stopped at their table, bending over with his hands on his knees. "I overslept," he admitted with a sheepish grin.
Sho shook his head. "Of course you did."
Kyoko smiled softly. "It's fine. You're here now."
Kuki plopped down on the chair, wiping his forehead. "Man, I needed this break. Tournament fights are intense."
Sho leaned back. "Yeah. Let's just enjoy today. No fights, no training—just a peaceful day."
With that, they ordered tea. The warm, fragrant drink soothed their tired bodies. For a while, they simply sat there, talking about meaningless things—childhood memories, funny training mishaps, and stories from their clans. Laughter filled the air, something that had been missing for too long.
After finishing their tea, they set out to explore the mountains nearby. The towering peaks stood tall against the bright blue sky, their snow-capped tips gleaming. The three of them hiked up a narrow path, breathing in the fresh mountain air.
"I used to come here with my grandfather," Kyoko said as she walked beside them, her gaze distant. "He taught me how to read the wind, how to predict storms just by watching the clouds."
Kuki grinned. "Sounds like a wise old man."
Kyoko nodded. "He was."
They continued their journey, climbing higher, until they reached a ridge where they could see the entire valley below. Villages looked like tiny dots, rivers winding through them like silver threads. A gentle breeze ruffled their hair, carrying with it the scent of pine trees.
Sho took a deep breath. "It's beautiful."
Kuki stretched his arms. "Yeah. But we're not done yet. Let's go to the garden next."
Their next stop was the lotus garden—a serene place where a small lake was covered in blooming white and pink lotuses. The water was so clear that they could see small fish swimming beneath the surface.
Kyoko knelt down, touching a lotus petal gently. "It's peaceful here," she whispered.
Sho sat beside her. "Makes you forget about all the fighting for a moment."
Kuki smirked. "Don't get too soft on me, guys. We still have battles ahead."
Sho rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just enjoy the moment."
After spending time at the garden, they made their way to the village market, where people bustled about, selling everything from fresh fruits to handmade weapons. The air was filled with the sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children laughing, and musicians playing cheerful tunes.
Kuki immediately ran toward a food stall. "You guys HAVE to try this!" He returned with skewers of grilled meat, handing one to Sho and Kyoko.
Sho took a bite and his eyes widened. "Whoa. This is amazing."
Kyoko nodded in agreement. "I didn't know you had good taste, Kuki."
Kuki placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. "How rude."
They laughed again, the lighthearted atmosphere making them forget about the battles that awaited them.
As the sun started to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, they walked along a quiet path leading out of the village. The day had passed too quickly, but the warmth of friendship lingered.
Sho looked at his two closest friends and smiled. "We should do this again. No tournaments, no fighting—just us."
Kyoko nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Kuki grinned. "Then it's a promise."
With that, they made their way back, the sounds of the village fading behind them. Tomorrow, the battles would continue. But for today, they had found something just as important—peace, friendship, and a moment to breathe.