The match was over, but the tension lingered in the air. Kaito stood on stage, still catching his breath. The sound of the crowd, the applause, the adrenaline — it all felt distant now. The victory was real, yet something inside him remained unsettled.
The announcers echoed through the arena, their voices booming from the speakers:
"And that marks his seventeenth consecutive win... This young man is becoming a true legend!"
Kaito didn't react. He simply stared forward. Victory wasn't the end — it was only the beginning of something much bigger. He could feel it.
Then, a new voice took over the mic.
A tall man in a black blazer and a cap stepped onto the stage, holding a microphone. His smile was confident, but his eyes... sharp.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Give it up for our newest champion — the legendary darter, Kaito!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, but Kaito wasn't smiling. That man — whoever he was — didn't seem to care about celebrating. There was something behind his words… something calculated.
"But let's not forget — the game of darts has many faces. This young man may have conquered this match... but the greatest challenges are still ahead of him."
Kaito heard it all, but his focus drifted. He had no interest in theatrics. Not now.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure.
Kurumi.
His rival. Always watching. Always waiting.
Kurumi didn't say a word — just gave Kaito a sharp glance before disappearing into the crowd.
They would face each other again. Kaito knew it.
---
As Kaito walked down the corridor, something shifted in the air. A presence. Familiar, cold... curious.
He felt it before he saw her. And then — Arisa.
She stood silently by the exit, her gaze locked with his. For just a moment.
She said only one thing.
"Don't be afraid, Kaito. The real journey is only beginning."
And Kaito? He just walked past her. No response. No words.
As if she was just another face in the crowd.
But her words echoed behind him.
And she stayed behind, watching.