The wind roared atop the village's tallest building, swirling around a solitary figure cloaked in dark fabric, his hood fluttering wildly as he stood unwavering against the gusts. From this lofty perch, his piercing gaze locked onto the hospital far below, its warm lights cutting through the gathering dusk. He could just make out the faint shapes of Naomi, Selena, Haruto, and others moving within, oblivious to his silent vigil. A smirk tugged at his lips, hidden beneath the shadow of his hood, as the cold air danced through his cloak.
A voice broke the stillness behind him, soft yet weighted with reverence. "My liege." The man turned to see Hayato, his trusted subordinate, kneeling with his head bowed low in respect.
"How did the match go?" the man asked, his smirk widening as he leaned slightly forward. "You were in the arena, weren't you?"
Hayato lifted his eyes, a flicker of astonishment in his expression. "It unfolded just as you foresaw, my liege. I never imagined Renjiro could stand against Tetsuya for so long."
The man let out a low chuckle, the sound mingling with the wind. "And the bloodlust—did you feel it, being so close?"
Hayato's face paled, a shiver running through him as his voice trembled. "It was… incredible, my liege. I've never encountered anything so overwhelming. I don't understand how he harbors such tremendous bloodlust. Did you feel it too?"
"Yes," the man replied, his tone steady yet tinged with curiosity. "Even from here, I sensed it—a raw, unshakable force."
Hayato hesitated, then ventured, "My liege, why are you so interested in this battle? Especially in someone without a core?"
The air thickened with sudden menace. The man's voice sharpened, cutting through the wind like a blade. "It's none of your business, Hayato." The weight of his words pressed down, an invisible force that stole Hayato's breath and made his body quiver uncontrollably. The cold bit deeper as he struggled to steady himself.
"Y-Yes, my liege," Hayato stammered, his voice barely audible over the howling gusts. "I… I understand."
The man's gaze returned to the hospital, his anger fading as swiftly as it had risen. "What of Haruto and Selena? Their potential?"
Hayato swallowed hard, forcing his voice to level out. "They're extraordinary, my liege. I can sense the immense power within them—untapped, but potent. They lack proper training, but with it, they could rise to the top. Especially Haruto. And Renjiro… for someone without a core to wield such strength—it's beyond reason. I can't fathom how powerful he'll become once he awakens."
A genuine smile spread across the man's face, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "I'm waiting for you, Renjiro Yoruha," he murmured, his words carried off by the wind like a promise.
Inside the hospital, Haruto stood near a window, his hands resting on the sill as an oppressive pressure settled over him. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, stirring an unease he couldn't shake. He turned to the group—Naomi, Selena, Kaito, and the others—his voice low but firm. "Renjiro and I… we've always kept things from you all."
Kaito, leaning against the wall, tilted his head slightly. A strong presence, he thought, his senses prickling. It's nearby—watching us.
Before Haruto could continue, Yuki burst into the room, her face flushed with urgency. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the door. "Come with me—now!" she hissed, dragging him into a small, shadowy storage room down the hall. The door clicked shut, muffling the hospital's ambient noise.
"Are you an idiot or something?" Yuki snapped, her hands planted on her hips as she glared at him, exasperation etched into her features.
Haruto brushed off her grip, frowning. "I'm not an idiot. Why'd you stop me?"
Yuki's teeth clenched, her voice dropping to a fierce whisper. "If you tell them about you and Renjiro, you'll both be in serious trouble. You know what's at stake!"
Haruto's gaze hardened. "I know what we've done. But they deserve the truth before they uncover it themselves."
"It's not the right time," Yuki countered, shaking her head. "We'll tell them someday—just not now."
Haruto studied her, suspicion creeping into his thoughts. Why's she so rattled? How does she know about Renjiro? His tone edged with irritation. "How do you know about him?"
Yuki raised her hands, urging calm. "Relax, Haruto. Renjiro told me about himself one day. I felt that bloodlust in the village once—it's unforgettable."
Haruto's brow furrowed deeper. "He told you? Why? Now I'm even more confused."
Yuki sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "We'll discuss it later. Let's just get back."
"Why did he need to tell you?" Haruto pressed, his frustration bubbling up.
"Don't forget—I'm his friend, too," Yuki said, her tone resolute.
Haruto rubbed his temples, exhaling sharply. "Fine. Let's go. But I'm asking Renjiro about this later."
Back in the waiting area, Kaito's eyes widened as he watched Yuki pull Haruto away. "What's wrong with Yuki? Why'd she stop him?"
Tetsuya, standing nearby, glanced over. "Is that your daughter?"
"Yes," Kaito replied, his voice clipped.
Himari, hovering close, tilted her head. "Why'd she stop Haruto like that?"
Takeshi leaned forward, his tone speculative. "Maybe they know something about Renjiro—something they don't want us to know."
Selena's mind raced as she observed the exchange. Haruto didn't even blink when Renjiro got so excited in that match, she thought. Does he know something? And Yuki—does she know, too?
Naomi waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. I'll ask Haruto myself later."
Before anyone could respond, a nurse hurried in, her face flushed with urgency. "Renjiro's awake—he's regained consciousness!"
Naomi's eyes brightened, and she dashed toward his room, the others following close behind. Selena's heart pounded, a mix of relief and worry propelling her forward.
Renjiro lay in a sterile hospital bed, bandages wrapped snugly around his chest. His head ached, and a fog of confusion clouded his mind. What happened? Why am I here? The last memory he grasped was the arena—the clash with Tetsuya's summoned soldier, the explosion, the arrow piercing his flesh.
The door burst open, and Naomi rushed in, wrapping him in a tearful embrace. "I was so scared!" she sobbed, her voice trembling.
Renjiro blinked, utterly perplexed. What's wrong with them? He glanced around and froze. Selena stood in the doorway, tears glistening in her eyes—Selena, who'd never once cried in his presence. Beside her, Misaki wailed loudly, rubbing her eyes with tiny fists.
Selena stepped forward, her voice shaky as she hugged him tightly. "Don't do something so reckless again, Renjiro."
He stiffened, stunned. Selena, who's always teasing me, crying? Realization sank in. "I… I won't, Selena," he said softly, his throat tight.
Wiping his own tears, he turned to Misaki with a weak grin. "Hey, little monster, come here."
Misaki sniffled, shuffling closer. "Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I've never seen you hurt this bad," she mumbled, her voice breaking. "If you died, who'd carry me on their back?"
Renjiro ruffled her hair, forcing a smile despite the ache in his chest. "I'm not dying, I promise."
"It's a promise?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"It's a promise," he confirmed.
He scanned the room—Reina, Takeshi, Himari, Kaito, and Himari's parents, Ryu and Hoshimi, all watching him. His gaze settled on Kaito. "It's been a while, Mr. Kaito.
Kaito chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "You've stopped dropping by home lately. How's your body holding up?"
Renjiro flexed his arms. "No pain. The healers did their job, I suppose." He turned to Tetsuya. "That was an incredible battle, Tetsuya."
Haruto and Yuki entered, relief washing over their faces. Haruto grinned. "You bastard, I thought you were dead."
Yuki stood with her hands on her hips. "I was terrified when you passed out. Don't be so reckless."
Renjiro ruffled his own hair with a sheepish laugh. "I won't, Yuki."
Tetsuya stepped forward, a rare smile playing on his lips. "It was a thrilling fight. I haven't felt that kind of excitement in years."
"Yeah," Renjiro agreed, his eyes gleaming. "I got pretty excited, too."
Naomi tilted her head, watching her son. "Is this really my boy? I've never seen him so excited."
"Yeah," Renjiro agreed, his eyes gleaming. "I got pretty excited, too."
"Yes, ma'am," Tetsuya replied. "He was."
Himari approached, concern in her voice. "Are you okay, Renjiro? Your injuries—do they hurt?"
"Nope," he said cheerfully. "I'm fine, thanks to the healers."
Reina frowned, her tone soft but firm. "Don't scare me like that, okay? I was so worried watching you fight that hard."
Renjiro shrugged. "What's wrong with battling hard?"
Takeshi stared at him, incredulous. "Dude, do you really not know what you did in the arena?"
Renjiro blinked, clueless. "I don't know." He turned to Haruto. "What did I do?"
Haruto smirked. "I'll explain later. I've got questions for you, too."
"What kind?" Renjiro asked, curiosity piqued.
Yuki interjected, "Take it easy, Renjiro. You need rest."
Tetsuya cleared his throat. "As I promised, I'll give you a reward."
Renjiro frowned. "But I didn't win."
"Win or lose, it's not the point," Tetsuya said, his voice steady. "The way you fought—your battle instincts, your resilience—it was extraordinary, especially for someone without a core. I didn't expect such strength. I'd planned a reward, but after that match, I've decided on something greater."
"Is it okay to take a reward after losing?" Renjiro asked, hesitant.
"It's fine," Tetsuya assured him. "It's a legendary item—but you'll need to find it."
Renjiro's eyes widened. "A legendary item?"
Himari piped up, "What kind of item?"
Haruto tilted his head. "I didn't expect you'd offer a legendary item."
Tetsuya's gaze shifted to him and Selena. "I'll give one to you and Selena, too. I'll explain later."
"Why us?" Haruto asked, surprised.
"You both have tremendous potential," Tetsuya said. "For your futures, I want to reward you."
Tetsuya glanced at the others. "What are your names?"
Reina smiled. "I'm Reina." She pointed to Himari. "That's Himari, and this is Takeshi—the most brainless guy in our group."
Takeshi groaned. "It's not nice to insult me, Reina."
Reina grinned. "Oh, so you're an intelligent boy now, are you?"
Himari sighed. "Don't fight, you two."
Renjiro beckoned Yuki closer, whispering something in her ear. Himari noticed a flicker of jealousy crossing her face as Yuki stood so near him.
Yuki shook her head at Renjiro. "No."
In the corner, Ryu leaned closer to his wife, his voice a low murmur meant only for her ears. "I can't believe Tetsuya's doing this—offering a reward to that boy. A legendary item, no less."
Hoshimi's lips tightened. "I can't stand that he's getting attention—someone without a core, no less."
She turned to Kaito. "We need to see the battle footage—how Renjiro fought Tetsuya."