Prince kept fighting the dummies and finally managed to defeat them all, but he was completely exhausted.
He dropped onto the ground.
"That was a lot of hard work."
Aaki walked over to him.
"You did well."
Prince looked up at him.
"It was so hard. Shouldn't you start with something easier?"
Aaki offered him a hand.
"It was easy."
"Easy?!"
"They would've killed me if I hadn't gone all out."
Aaki calmly pulled him to his feet.
"That's what training is all about."
"You never know what's coming next. You always have to be prepared."
"Sometimes, if we don't try hard enough, we can lose something precious to us."
"Always keep that in mind. You have to be prepared for the worst, so if that day ever comes, you'll be able to face it head-on."
Aaki's words touched Prince's heart.
"Thanks, Master."
"For what?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to say it."
Aaki snapped his fingers, and all the defeated dummies stood up again.
"Look behind you."
Prince turned around.
"Not this again, Master."
Aaki spoke in a teasing tone.
"Well, there's no escape."
"Go before I punch you down."
Prince gave an awkward smile.
"No need for that."
Then he rushed toward the dummies once more.
The scene shifted to Miyuna and the children.
Miyuna was sitting on the balcony, watching Prince train.
Soon, Yuuya and Reiyu arrived at her room.
"Mother, are you there?"
Miyuna's gaze shifted from the training ground to the doorway.
"Come here," she said softly.
The two children walked over.
"What is it? Do you need something?" Miyuna asked.
"No, we don't need anything."
Miyuna lowered her gaze slightly.
"You sure?"
The children exchanged glances.
"We were just hoping..."
"Say it. I'm listening."
The two hesitated, but seeing Miyuna's gentle smile helped them relax.
Yuuya stepped closer.
"Mother, we were hoping... if you're not busy... could you come play with us?"
Reiyu followed with a soft voice.
"It's been so long since you last played with us."
The two children clung to her dress.
"We really missed you, Mother..."
Their eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't you bring us with you...?"
Miyuna slowly got down on her knees and pulled both children into a hug.
They immediately hugged her back.
"Mama missed you too."
"I'm sorry I didn't bring you with me."
"But I had my reasons."
She gently stroked their heads.
"Will you forgive me?"
Yuuya shook his head.
"You don't have to ask for forgiveness, Mother."
Reiyu nodded.
"But from now on, take us with you."
"It feels so lonely without you."
Miyuna tightened her embrace.
"I will."
After a while, Miyuna stood up.
"Let's go."
The children followed her outside.
When they arrived at the training ground, Prince and Princess were still training hard.
Miyuna smiled faintly.
"Look how hard they're working."
"When you grow up, you'll be strong too."
Yuuya looked up at her.
"Mother, will you train us now?"
"Aaki will train you," Miyuna replied calmly.
Reiyu shook her head.
"But Father already taught us before."
"This time, we want to learn from you."
Miyuna fell silent.
After nearly a minute, she finally spoke.
"Aaki is a great teacher."
"I'm not someone who can teach you anything."
A voice suddenly came from behind.
"Are you still going to lie to yourself?"
Miyuna turned around.
"Aaki...?"
Aaki gave Princess a look.
She immediately understood.
"Yuuya, Reiyu, come with me. I have something to show you."
The children followed her.
Once they were gone, Aaki stepped closer.
"Are you still going to keep lying to yourself?"
Miyuna hesitated.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"Don't play innocent."
"You know how strong you are."
"You know how much you can teach."
"Your knowledge. Your swordsmanship."
"It's all beyond amazing."
"So why do you keep running away from who you are?"
Miyuna's eyes darkened.
"I'm not running away from anything."
Aaki could hear the coldness in her voice, but he didn't back down.
"You are."
Miyuna's expression hardened.
"What do you know about me?"
For the first time, Aaki lost his words.
Something felt different.
Something felt wrong.
In his mind, questions began to pile up.
What's wrong with Miyuna all of a sudden?
What is this feeling?
But he couldn't stop now.
He wanted answers.
Aaki took a breath and spoke again.
"I know how amazing you are, Miyuna."
"So why don't you want to show us that?"
"Why don't you train them?"
Train me.
Train me.
Please...
The words echoed inside Miyuna's mind.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Miyuna tightened her fist.
The voices wouldn't stop.
Miyuna.
Why don't you train them?
Train me.
Please train me.
The noise kept growing louder.
Louder.
And louder.
Finally—
She snapped.
Miyuna's fist shot forward with terrifying speed.
A punch aimed directly at Aaki's face.
Aaki didn't move.
He didn't dodge.
And just before her fist touched him—
She stopped.
Only inches away.
The wind from the punch brushed against his face.
Miyuna slowly pulled her hand back.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Leave me alone..."
Then she turned around and walked away.
Without another word.
Prince came running toward Aaki.
"Master! What happened?"
"Did Big Sis really try to punch you?"
Aaki didn't answer.
He simply stood there, watching Miyuna walk away.
The distance between them felt larger than ever.
Finally, in a quiet voice, he spoke.
"Prince..."
"Go back to your training."
"But—"
Prince stopped himself.
"...Okay, Master."
He returned to training without asking another question.
Aaki continued staring at Miyuna's disappearing figure.
Then he whispered to himself:
"What should I do...?"