I walked with Kaito dragged behind me quietly, he streetlight cast a soft glow on the pavement as our footsteps echoed side by side. Kaito didn't speak, not a word, he hadn't said anything since we left Ike's place. And even if I wasn't expecting a conversation, it still felt like he wanted to say something but he just kept walked like a silent shadow. I figured he was going the same direction, maybe passing through. But as we kept walking, a strange realization hit me, he wasn't just passing through.
His steps never drifted, he was going home and the strangest part? His door was right around the corner from mine, I stopped for a second, surprised. How come I never notice this before? This dude is my neighbour just a few blocks. Kaito finally stopped at his door, then, in that quiet tone of his, he asked out loud, "Do you like Ayumi?"
His voice was unexpected and startled me more than the question, I didn't even think about it. "No," I said flatly, and continued walking past him.
But in my head, I couldn't help but ask: Where did that come from? And… does he like Ayumi? Not that I cared so I shook the thought off and kept walking but when I got home, something felt… off. My mother always welcomed me at the door, always. But tonight, the house felt oddly quite, I stepped inside, calling out, "Mom?" No answer, I walked a few more steps in, my young brother was seated in the living room, his eyes red and teary.
I blinked. "Hey… what's wrong?" He looked up at me, voice trembling. "Mom's sick… Dad took her to the hospital." Everything stopped, my mind shattered like glass.
For a second, it felt like he'd said something else, like she was gone, my heart raced, I couldn't breathe. My head filled with every memory I ever had of her, her smile, her voice, her warmth. My world left the ground. I was floating over the clouds, lost in fear, my eyes teary as my feet trembled. Then I heard someone call out, at first, faint, then louder.
"Brother! Brother!" my brother shouted. I snapped back, my feet hit the ground again.
He stood up. "I was waiting for you… so we could go together, to the hospital." Right, he said she was sick not… dead. I clenched my fists.
"I'm coming," I said, steadying my breath. Because this time, she needed us. As I turned to head back out with my brother, I heard it, her voice from the kitchen.
"Nasuke? Is that your brother who just came in?" I froze, then, like magic, my mom appeared from the hallway.
The moment she saw me, her face lit up like a curious cat that had just spotted something intriguing, she practically bounced in place, asking how my day went, eager to hear every little story I had to tell before I'd even stepped fully through the door, arms around me, squeezing tight.
"I'm so sorry I didn't welcome you at the door, sweetheart, I was feeling a little tired. But guess what? I made your favourite Chiken-rice porridge!" I blinked. Then chuckled, more out of disbelief than anything, I turned slowly and looked at Nasuke.
That brat was grinning, he saw my face and burst into the kind of laughter that could shake walls. "You should've seen your face," he said between wheezes, almost doubling over. "I got you again! I got you again!" He laughed like tomorrow didn't exist. I wanted to swallow his head whole.
Mom looked at both of us, confused. "What is going on?" I shook my head, part fuming, part trying not to laugh. Did this kid just fake mom'shealth? Like is he insane?! I looked at her with mock jealousy. "Why do you keep this stranger in the house? Why not just take him for adoption or something?"
She laughed and ruffled my hair. "Did he prank you again?"
"He didn't just prank me," I said with a scowl. "He killed someone with his mouth." It seemed I had forgotten exactly what he had said because all I could remember was the word "dead" She giggled, "You really keep falling for his pranks every time."
I grumbled. "It's because he acts so serious, like how do you even deny something when he looks that convincing?" She just shook her head with that "you two are impossible" smile. "Oh, and your father was asking if you're back, I think he is on his way too."
---
Meanwhile...
Across Lumia City, on Hoshizora Street, the dim streetlights shimmered softly, their glow drawing lazy clusters of night flies beneath them. Inside one of the quiet homes, Ayumi twisted beneath her blanket, her brows furrowed as though her dreams were heavy, a muffled whimper escaped her lips. Then she jolted upright, breathing hard, she scanned the room, chest rising and falling like she'd just escaped something dark. Her eyes landed on a figure sitting quietly on the couch a distance from her bed, barely outlined by the faint moonlight seeping through the curtains.
"…Kai?" Her voice was unsure, still laced with sleep. "Is that you again?" The figure didn't respond, Ayumi sat up straighter. "Kai, is that you?"
Finally, he stood and stepped closer, the wooden floor gave a faint creak under his feet. "Why did you wake up?" he asked softly, crouching beside her bed. "Was it another nightmare?"
She nodded. "I… I was scared," Ayumi whispered. Without hesitation, Kai reached out and gently pulled her against him, her head rested against his chest, where she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"…Why did you come into my room so late?" she asked, her voice muffled.
"I came to say goodnight," he murmured. "But you were already asleep. So I waited... until you'd wake."
Ayumi blinked up at him, lips twitching into a faint pout. "And what if I had woken up in the morning instead?"
Kai smiled faintly. "Then I would've said good morning." There was a pause. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, then asked gently, "What was the dream about?"
She exhaled shakily. "…Sheki. It was one of those nightmares again." Kai didn't say anything, he just pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her protectively.
"It's okay," he whispered, tightening the hug. "I'm here."
Outside, the wind rustled the trees. And for a while, the only sound in the room was the quiet comfort of two hearts beating close.
---
Back home... the front door opened again, Dad stepped in, looked around then locked eyes with me. "Nageya, I am coming with you tomorrow to the dungeons, son," he said. "Sure, dad." I replied.
I wondered why he had decided to come along, the president himself, this is bad, maybe he heard what I did there, of course no one else would know it was me, but he would. And his face… he wasn't smiling nor was he angry either, it was something in between a look I'd seen only a few times before, when something was wrong, he was serious, whatever it was, I had a feeling this wasn't just about protecting me. Something was up and tomorrow, I'd find out what.
There was still some time left before our online studies deadline, my brother, full of energy, turned to Dad and said, "Come on, Dad, let's spar, just a quick one." But Dad didn't even hesitate before replying.
"A match between me and you would just be me knocking you around. That's not sparring, that's punishment."
Nasuke grinned, clearly unfazed, so Dad turned to me instead. "You spar with him. You both need the practice." Great, just great, that kid may be younger, but he's got the strength of a full-grown man. If I even blink the wrong way, I'll be eating dirt.
Still, I couldn't say no, the three of us walked to the sparring ground a few miles away from home, the place was wide, flat, and open like a house-sized patch of ground with nothing but the wind and the sky above us. Dad stopped at the edge of the space. He didn't say a word, just pocketed his hands and leaned against a post, his eyes sharp ready to watch.
And we were ready to begin, we stood a few meters apart, eyes locked, the wind whispered across the yard, carrying dust that swirled between us like smoke before a fire.
Then—SNAP—he moved.
Nasuke dashed forward, his foot slamming into the ground, cracking the dry dirt with a sharp crunch. I twisted aside just in time, his fist sliced through the air, missing my face by inches. I rolled, boots skidding over gravel, and popped back to my feet, heart pounding in my ears.
He came again—FAST—his right fist aiming straight for my nose, I tilted my head just enough to dodge, but before I could recover, a sharp left side-kick shot toward my ribs.
I caught his leg mid-air, both hands gripping tight. I spun into a counter-kick with my left foot, aiming for his head. But he read it, dipped under and leapt back with a whuff of breath.
I mirrored the move, springing backward to reset but Nasuke didn't wait. He lunged with a flurry—three fast punches, a spinning back kick. I blocked each one, step by step, the thud of bone meeting forearm echoing like a drumline, I was only defending so I stepped back, lowering my center, eyes tracking every twitch in his muscles. He smirked, cocky. "Holding back?"
"If I don't, you'll cry," I said coolly, raising my hands in a loose guard. His fists shimmered faintly, surrounded by a flickering blue aura. A faint ticking noise echoed—tick... tick...
Then he surged forward again, I met him halfway. We clashed at the center, fists smashing into fists, each impact bursting with glowing blue sparks. The air crackled, faint lightning arcing off our strikes. Every punch blurred, a barrage so fast blinking meant missing five attacks.
From the porch, Dad narrowed his eyes, he'd noticed the thunder-light in our movements.
Time slowed, not for the world, but for us, we'd both activated the same timeluct, our speed had broken human limits. We could see moments before they happened barely.
Nasuke threw a knee, I blocked with an elbow and he vanished from my sight then reappeared behind me. I twisted, arms raised in time to block a sharp kick aimed at my back.
"You're getting slower," I said, though my forearms stung.
"You're just seeing things late," he replied, flipping back with a grin.
Then everything froze, for half a second, he paused time, the dust hung still, the trees halted mid-sway even the buzzing insects went silent. In that frozen world, we moved like phantoms. I punched, he blocked and swept low to trip me, I leapt clean over and spun behind him then time snapped back.
BOOM!
A shockwave burst from between us, scattering dust, rattling windows, and sending dry leaves swirling. We landed hard, feet sliding in the dirt. We stood still, breathing hard, shirts clinging to sweat-slick skin, cheeks bruised, dust painted our faces but we were smiling.
"Next time, I'm not going easy," I said.
"Next time, I'll bring a helmet for you," he grinned.
From the side, Dad nodded then clapped, loud and firm. "Now that is what I call a spar."
His voice cut through the air like a closing bell, clear and final, as if to say. That's enough boys, save some bones for tomorrow. We both exhaled deeply, brushing dust off our arms and sharing that look, half pride, half never doing that again.
Dad called me aside. "You went too easy on him,"
"It was a fair fight dad, Nasuke is strong, but it would have been unfair if I went all out."
I wonder, did I see thunder stricks or i just imagined it. Dad thought to himself. He turned, hands back in his pockets, and walked off with Nasuke beside him. The two moved like shadows stretching into the distance. I watched them go, my body was tired, but my thoughts were still racing.
"I'll stay here for a while," I called out. Neither of them looked back, but Dad raised a hand to show he heard me, then they were gone.
I looked at the watch we were given at school today and it still read.
Level: 0