The sun hung high in the sky, casting its heat down on the training grounds, but no one seemed to mind the oppressive warmth. The crackling sound of fists hitting wood echoed through the air as Reika stood across from Kaien, who was cracking his knuckles and wearing that usual cocky grin.
"Alright, Reika, time to see if you've learned anything. Let's go."
Reika smirked. "I'll show you how it's done. I've got this."
The moment the sparring started, Reika rushed in, unleashing a flurry of punches, trying to land a hit on Kaien's jaw. Kaien effortlessly dodged, sidestepping Reika's wild swings, and then, like a storm, Kaien lashed out with precision, sending Reika crashing to the dirt with a swift hit to the side.
Reika groaned, face-first into a cart of cabbages.
"OMG, HE'S DEAD." Screamed mira.
"MY CABBAGES!!!!" Farl said as she clutched her head.
"Hahaha! Did you see that?!" Kairo bellowed, laughing so hard that he was holding his stomach, wiping tears from his eyes. "You got bodied, kid!"
Reika dragged himself up, dusting himself off with exaggerated slowness. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You know, if you think it's so easy, you could hop in. Let's see if you're any better."
Kaien chuckled, crossing his arms. "Since you can laugh so hard, how about you try sparring? You've got a lot of confidence for a guy who's not training." He grinned at Kairo, clearly enjoying the idea of making him eat his words.
Kairo looked up from his laughter and winked. "Aight, I'm game."
Without missing a beat, he casually strode onto the sparring field, his expression turning serious. Kaien raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
Kairo moved into position, slowly and deliberately. He didn't rush or make any exaggerated motions. Instead, he assumed a stance that was cold, calculating — a stance that left absolutely no openings.
Zariel, watching from the sidelines with Mira and Farl, blinked in surprise. "That... isn't a beginner-level stance," Zariel muttered, his gaze narrowing. "He's well-trained."
Kaien's smirk faltered, his eyes tracking Kairo's every move. He shifted his weight, analyzing the stance from all angles. "This kid's got serious technique." Kaien muttered under his breath. That stance leaves no openings.
Reika, still on the ground from his last hit, watched Kairo's movements with wide eyes, suddenly unsure of what to make of the situation. He'd never seen Kairo so serious.
The sparring began.
Kaien moved in first, but Kairo was faster than Kaien had expected. Kairo dodged and parried with ease, his fluid movements almost unnatural. He took a few hits, bruises blossoming across his skin as Kaien's strikes landed, but Kairo wasn't deterred.
Then, it happened.
Kairo's eyes glinted with a spark of excitement. He faked a jump to the side, drawing Kaien's attention, but before Kaien could react, Kairo's Ren flared brightly, surrounding his hand in the shape of a glowing red dagger.
"Flare Slash!"
The air crackled as Kairo slashed downward, and his Ren ignited into flame. Kaien barely had time to react before Kairo's attack made contact — just a flicker of the blade grazing his tunic. The fabric of his sleeve was torn, a clean rip, before Kairo collapsed to the ground, panting and exhausted.
Kaien stood frozen for a moment, the shock still registering on his face. Then, he grinned.
"Well, that was something," he said with a proud chuckle. He helped Kairo up, slapping him on the back. "Nice movement, kid. I'll give you that. Reika should learn a thing or two from you."
Kairo, still catching his breath, shot Kaien a grin. "No problem, bro. Maybe next time you can teach me a few things." He glanced over at Reika, who was still sitting on the ground in disbelief.
Reika scowled, rubbing his neck, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel... impressed. "Yeah, well, maybe I'll learn from both of you."
Mira and Farl, who had been spectating, clapped enthusiastically. "That was amazing! Kairo, you're incredible!" Farl cheered, completely oblivious to how Kairo had barely taken a hit.
Mira grinned at Reika, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Don't worry, Reika. You'll catch up. Right?"
Reika shot her a dry look. "Thanks for the support, Mira. Really."
---
Later that night, as the moon hung low in the sky, Reika found himself alone in the quiet training field. He was still reeling from Kairo's performance earlier.
He couldn't shake the feeling that if he didn't push himself now, he'd be left behind. Kairo's right. I can't let him show me up. Not like that.
Clenching his fists, Reika stepped forward and tried once again to manifest his Ren into a sword, sidetep, slash, repeat, he kept it going till it was perfect. The moon light shimmered over his silver hair as the cold night breeze brushed it, he was tired, but he was going to make sure he wouldn't be left behind, he trained the entire night.
"I have to get stronger, i have to be able to protect myself"
And so the night passed.
---
Morning light spilled over the academy training grounds, warm and golden.
Reika was sprawled across the floor like a fallen warrior, arms wide, face half-buried in the dirt.
A small hand nudged him.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Mira giggled.
Reika stirred, groaning, dust flying off his jacket as he sat up like a zombie.
Kaien stood nearby, arms crossed.
"What're you doing here?"
"Yeah! Why sleep out here?" Mira asked, frowning like a girlfriend catching her boyfriend doing something suspicious.
"Train—" Reika began, rubbing his neck—
"—I don't even wanna know," Kaien cut him off, waving a hand dismissively.
Above them, Zariel was perched lazily on a tree branch, slurping from a massive bowl of ramen, his legs swinging casually.
Kaien cracked his knuckles and neck with loud, satisfying pops.
"You got five minutes. Get yourself ready. We're picking up where we left off."
Five minutes later—
Kaien stood center stage, flexing his arms, a grin flashing across his face.
"Aight, let's do this."
Reika tightened his stance, imitating the form Kairo had pulled off the day before — a clean, solid fighter's pose.
Kaien raised an eyebrow.
"You can't just copy a stance and think it'll work."
Reika just yawned and lunged.
He aimed for a leg sweep, but Kaien nimbly leapt high into the air. Without thinking, Reika followed — his body light, almost reckless. Midair, Reika's eyes ignited—a deep, vibrant blue flaring across his pupils.
Kaien caught the change instantly.
He's excited, Kaien thought, surprised.
Reika launched a wild punch, the air whistling. Kaien dodged with a swift tilt of his head. As they dropped back toward the ground, Kaien grabbed Reika midair—locking him tight.
German suplex.
They slammed into the ground, a boom kicking up a storm of dust.
Mira leapt up, frantically looking around.
"Where's Reika!?"
But he wasn't there — not in the crater.
"Behind you!" Farl gasped, pointing.
Reika was right behind Kaien, crouched low, masking his presence perfectly.
He lunged with a punch aimed straight for Kaien's back.
At the last second, Kaien smirked, dodged sideways, and appeared behind Reika instead, tapping him lightly on the head.
"Nice job," Kaien said, a rare note of genuine praise in his voice.
Kairo whistled from the sidelines, clearly impressed.
He's catching up faster than expected.
Mira rushed to Reika's side, bouncing with excitement.
"How'd you do that?!"
"I dunno," Reika shrugged, grinning. "I was just... in the moment. Guess training last night paid off."
"I could still take you," Mira teased, hands on her hips.
"Wanna bet on it?" Reika shot back, cocky.
"If I win," Mira said, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, cheeks glowing pink,
"you take me out to dinner tomorrow."
"And if I win?" Reika smirked.
"I won't cook for a whole month."
A collective gasp echoed across the training ground.
"You better win this, Reika," Farl said, munching on a bowl of cereal — that was somehow literally on fire.
"You better win," Kairo chimed in, pounding his fist against a tree laughing,
"or it's your ass, bro!"
They squared off, excitement buzzing through the air.
The match started — and ended — almost instantly.
No matter what move Reika made — fast, slow, tricky, or direct — Mira read him like an open book.
With a spin of her orb, she clocked him across the grounds like a ragdoll.
Reika groaned from the dirt.
"What... just happened?"
"You lost to a girl!" Kairo laughed so hard he stumbled back — slamming his toe into a rock, crumpling to the floor howling in pain but still laughing.
Mira jogged over, cheeks bright.
"Pick me up at seven, love," she whispered, pinching Reika's cheek playfully before sauntering away.
Reika's eyes faded from blue to a soft pink, cheeks dusted a warm peach.
"I... I think I'm in love," he muttered.
Kairo just rolled on the ground, clutching his toe, laughing even harder.