The air around Squadra Diciotto felt heavier than usual the moment Shougo arrived.
He didn't slow down.
Not even for a second.
His presence alone was enough to make a few members standing near the entrance step back instinctively, their instincts warning them of something dangerous approaching. The ground beneath his feet barely made a sound as he walked forward, his expression calm, but his eyes carrying something far colder than before.
Raizen stood near the path, already aware.
"…You came faster than expected."
Shougo didn't stop.
"I'm not here to waste time."
Raizen watched him for a moment, then stepped slightly to the side, not blocking his path. His usual gentle smile was still there, but his eyes were more observant now, studying every movement.
"You're here for Reiju."
Shougo finally glanced at him.
"…I'm here to end this before it starts."
Raizen nodded slowly, as if he already understood.
"…He's inside."
There was no hostility between them, just an understanding that both stood on different sides of something inevitable.
Shougo walked past him without another word.
Raizen remained where he was, watching his back as he entered the scientist residential building. For a brief moment, his smile faded slightly.
"…Try not to break everything…"
Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
The air smelled faintly metallic, mixed with something unnatural. Machines hummed quietly in the background, lights flickering slightly as if the entire place was alive but unstable. Papers were scattered everywhere, tools left mid-use, diagrams covering entire walls with calculations that most people wouldn't even understand.
Shougo didn't look at any of it.
He walked straight forward.
The door to the main lab stood slightly open.
He pushed it.
Inside-
Reiju stood at the center of the room.
Still.
Waiting.
"…You came," Reiju said calmly, his masked face turning slightly.
Shougo stepped in, the door closing behind him with a quiet sound.
"…Don't act surprised."
Reiju let out a soft breath, almost like a laugh.
"I expected anger. Maybe violence."
Shougo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You'll get that if you don't talk properly."
Reiju smiled faintly beneath the mask.
"…Straight to the point, then."
He turned fully toward Shougo, hands resting behind his back.
"I want one of your students."
Silence filled the room for a second.
Then-
"No."
The answer came instantly.
No hesitation.
No thought.
Reiju tilted his head slightly.
"…You didn't even ask why."
Shougo took a step forward, his presence pressing against the space between them.
"I don't need a reason to reject something that involves harming them."
Reiju walked slowly to the side, picking up a piece of paper before glancing at it briefly.
"You misunderstand."
Shougo didn't move.
"I'm offering advancement," Reiju continued. "Energy beyond limits. Evolution."
"…At the cost of their lives."
Reiju paused.
"…Not necessarily."
Shougo's voice sharpened.
"You're lying."
Reiju's hand tightened slightly around the paper before he placed it down again.
"…Some survive."
"…And the rest?"
Silence.
That was the answer.
Shougo stepped closer now, his tone colder than before.
"You're not taking anyone from Reikosha Academy."
Reiju turned to face him fully again.
"And if I insist?"
The air shifted.
For a brief moment, something heavy filled the room, like pressure building between them.
Shougo's voice dropped.
"…Then I break this place."
Reiju stared at him.
Then-
He laughed.
Not loudly.
But genuinely.
"…You haven't changed at all."
Shougo didn't react.
Reiju exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"…Fine."
The word came unexpectedly.
Shougo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I won't take your students," Reiju continued. "Not now."
Silence returned again.
"…Not now?" Shougo repeated.
Reiju smiled faintly.
"I'll continue my research… elsewhere."
"…Using what."
Reiju's tone stayed calm.
"…Animals."
Shougo stared at him for a moment longer, as if trying to read through the mask.
"…You expect me to trust that?"
Reiju shrugged slightly.
"You don't have to."
Shougo exhaled slowly, his tension not fully gone, but controlled.
"…If I hear anything…"
Reiju raised a hand slightly.
"You won't."
A quiet pause followed.
Then Shougo turned.
"…Good."
He walked toward the door without another word.
Reiju watched him leave, his expression hidden, but his presence still calm.
"…For now…"
Outside, Raizen was still waiting.
Shougo stepped out of the building, his pace unchanged as he walked past him again.
"…Finished?" Raizen asked.
"…For now."
Raizen nodded slowly.
"…That's enough."
Shougo didn't stop.
And within seconds
He was gone.
Back at Reikosha Academy, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
The training yard was filled with movement and noise, the tension from distant lands completely absent here. Kairo stood in the center, focused, sweat running down his face as he adjusted something near a small setup.
A machine.
Simple, but effective.
It released bursts of water at random intervals, shooting forward with enough force to throw someone off balance if they weren't ready.
Kairo took a deep breath.
"…Alright… again."
The machine activated.
Water shot forward-
Kairo dashed to the front instantly, raising his hand as his energy focused.
"Gyakuun!"
The water hit
Then reversed.
It blasted backward with equal force, splashing across the ground behind him.
Kairo landed, breathing slightly heavier.
"…That's better…"
From the side, Yura watched calmly, a small yogurt drink in her hand as she leaned slightly against the wall.
"…Still slow."
Kairo turned his head. "…What?"
Before he could react-
She threw the empty can.
Fast.
Direct.
"Hey!"
It hit him.
Clean.
Right on the head.
"OW!"
Kairo grabbed his head, glaring at her. "…WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
Yura walked closer, unfazed.
"You should feel that."
Kairo blinked. "…Feel what?! Pain?!"
She sighed slightly.
"I'm testing you."
Kairo frowned. "…By throwing trash at me?"
"By checking your reaction speed," she corrected. "If that were an attack, you'd already be down."
Kairo paused.
"…That's… actually true…"
Yura crossed her arms.
"You're focusing too much on technique," she continued. "But in real fights, attacks don't wait for you to prepare."
Kairo looked at the machine.
Then back at her.
"…So what do I do?"
Yura stepped back slightly.
"…Adapt."
Without warning-
She moved.
Fast.
Her hand struck toward him
Kairo reacted instantly this time, stepping back and raising his arm as his energy shifted instinctively.
The movement wasn't perfect.
But it was faster.
Better.
Yura stopped just short of hitting him.
"…Good."
Kairo exhaled, his heart racing slightly.
"…You're scary sometimes…"
Yura turned away.
"…You'll thank me later."
Kairo rubbed the back of his head, then smirked slightly.
"…Next time I'm dodging that can."
Yura didn't respond.
But a small smile formed for a second.
Before disappearing again.