Mizuki carefully reaches into the small carrying pouch hanging beside her shrine robes.
Then—
She pulls something out.
Beautifully wrapped.
Decorated with delicate moon-patterned ribbons.
For one second—
Yukito simply stares.
Then his eyes widen.
Yukito:
"...NO WAY."
His entire body freezes.
Yukito:
"NO."
Another pause.
Yukito:
"IT CAN'T BE."
Mizuki smiles nervously.
Slowly revealing the sweet.
The moment Yukito sees it—
His soul practically leaves his body.
Yukito:
"SACRED MOONFIRE DANGO!"
The entire audience section hears him.
Yukito points dramatically.
Yukito:
"MY TREASURE!"
Miko gasps immediately.
Miko:
"WAIT!"
"That's the sweet we saw outside the battleground!"
Kaito instantly points at Yukito.
Kaito:
"The same sweet Elder Renkai stopped you from buying earlier."
He folds his arms proudly.
Kaito:
"And the same sweet I rescued from your hands and put back safely."
Yukito narrows his eyes.
Yukito:
"You keep using the word rescued."
Jack chuckles quietly.
Jack:
"He's not entirely wrong."
Shiori giggles.
Shiori:
"You were ready to eat five portions before noon."
Yukito:
"That sounds completely reasonable."
Mizuki laughs softly.
Then extends the wrapped sweet toward him.
Mizuki:
"I bought it for you."
The group falls silent.
Mizuki smiles warmly.
Mizuki:
"Consider it my present for your victory."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Yukito stares at her.
Then the sweet.
Then her.
Then the sweet again.
His eyes become suspiciously glassy.
Suspiciously shiny.
A foxfire ember drifts dramatically through the air.
Yukito slowly places a hand over his chest.
Yukito:
"...You're my Goddess."
Mizuki freezes.
Her entire face turns bright red.
Mizuki:
"W-WHAT?!"
Miko immediately bursts into giggles.
Kaito nearly chokes from laughter.
Jack turns away slightly, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Even Shiori covers her mouth with a smile.
Meanwhile—
Yukito has already accepted the gift.
Not normally.
Not politely.
No.
He receives it like a sacred artifact entrusted to a chosen hero.
Yukito carefully lifts the wrapped dango with both hands.
Holding it toward the sky.
Foxfire light reflects dramatically across his face.
Yukito:
"At last..."
"The legendary treasure is mine."
His entire face somehow looks illuminated by divine golden light.
Nobody knows how.
Nobody questions it.
Mizuki watches him with a mixture of embarrassment, relief, and amusement.
Kaito shakes his head.
Kaito:
"You're really just a kid."
No response.
Yukito doesn't even hear him.
The outside world no longer exists.
Only the dango.
Only destiny.
Only happiness.
With the utmost care—
He begins unwrapping the Sacred Moonfire Dango.
The ribbon loosens.
The wrapping unfolds.
The sweet aroma immediately escapes into the air.
Warm.
Fresh.
Absolutely delicious.
Yukito's eyes sparkle.
The entire group leans forward slightly.
Waiting.
Watching.
And for Yukito—
This moment may somehow feel as important as winning the battle itself.
The entire group watches in suspense.
Yukito carefully unwraps the Sacred Moonfire Dango.
The ribbon comes loose.
The decorative paper unfolds.
And finally—
The sweet is revealed.
Golden-brown dango coated in a shimmering moonfire glaze.
The aroma alone is enough to make nearby spectators glance over.
Yukito's eyes widen.
Yukito:
"...Beautiful."
Kaito immediately groans.
Kaito:
"He's talking to food."
Yukito ignores him completely.
His attention remains fixed on the sweet.
Then—
He looks toward Mizuki.
A genuine smile appears.
Yukito:
"You're the best, Mizuki."
Mizuki freezes.
Again.
Her heart nearly stops.
A faint blush immediately spreads across her cheeks.
Before she can respond—
Kaito points dramatically.
Kaito:
"There it is."
"The food appreciation speech."
Jack chuckles softly.
Then casually adds—
Jack:
"Yukito for a reason."
The group immediately laughs.
Even Shiori nods knowingly.
Shiori:
"That's definitely Yukito."
Yukito narrows his eyes.
Yukito:
"I choose to take that as a compliment."
Then—
At last—
He takes a bite.
CHOMP.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The mountain.
The battleground.
The festival.
Everything disappears.
Yukito closes his eyes.
The sweet moonfire glaze melts perfectly.
The warm dango carries a gentle foxfire sweetness.
Soft.
Rich.
Comforting.
A slow breath escapes him.
Yukito:
"...This."
Another bite.
Yukito:
"This is victory."
Miko immediately laughs.
Yukito continues eating happily.
Yukito:
"You know..."
He points at the dango.
Yukito:
"Eating after working hard is the best feeling in the world."
Another bite.
Yukito:
"Food tastes twice as good."
Another bite.
Yukito:
"No."
"Three times better."
Jack smiles.
Shiori giggles softly.
Kaito shakes his head.
Kaito:
"You sound eighty years old."
Yukito:
"Wisdom comes with greatness."
Kaito:
"There it is again."
The group laughs.
Within moments—
The Sacred Moonfire Dango disappears completely.
Gone.
Defeated.
Consumed.
Yukito stares at the empty wrapper.
A deep sigh escapes him.
Yukito:
"...Still less."
A dramatic pause.
Yukito:
"But it felt great."
Miko immediately points at him.
Miko:
"You finished it in under a minute."
Yukito:
"Quality evaluation requires sacrifice."
Miko:
"You inhaled it."
The group bursts into laughter.
Even Mizuki can't stop herself.
She covers her mouth.
Giggles escaping freely.
For a moment—
The atmosphere feels warm.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
Then—
Something unexpected happens.
Yukito turns toward Mizuki.
And gently takes her hand.
Mizuki freezes completely.
Her eyes widen.
Every thought immediately vanishes.
A blush erupts across her face.
Mizuki:
"Y-Yukito..."
The whisper is so quiet that only he hears it.
For once—
Yukito isn't joking.
Isn't acting dramatic.
Isn't being playful.
His smile is simple.
Sincere.
Yukito:
"Thank you."
The words are genuine.
Honest.
Straight from the heart.
Yukito:
"I really mean it."
Mizuki's eyes soften instantly.
All her nervousness melts away.
A warm smile appears.
Mizuki:
"I'm glad."
She squeezes his hand lightly.
Mizuki:
"And I'm happy to hear that."
For a brief moment—
Neither says anything else.
Just a simple exchange.
Simple.
Genuine.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
A ceremonial drum echoes across Mount Kyobi.
The entire battleground quiets.
Another drum follows.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The sacred battle bell begins to move.
GONNNNNNNNNG.
It's ancient sound rolls through the mountain air.
Deep.
Powerful.
Absolute.
Thousands of spectators turn toward the arena.
Foxfire braziers flare brighter.
At the center ceremonial platform—
Elder Renkai steps forward.
His staff glowing beneath sacred foxfire.
The mountain wind carries his voice across the colossal battleground.
Elder Renkai:
"Warriors of Kyobi..."
Silence falls.
Anticipation spreads.
The next clash is about to begin.
Elder Renkai raises his staff.
Foxfire swirls around him.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The ceremonial drums continue echoing across Mount Kyobi.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The cheers gradually settle.
Thousands of spectators turn their attention toward the center battleground once more.
Foxfire braziers burn brightly.
The sacred battle bell sways gently in the mountain wind.
At the ceremonial platform—
Elder Renkai steps forward.
His foxfire staff glows beneath the ancient sky.
The entire arena falls silent.
Then—
His voice echoes throughout the Kyobi Battlegrounds.
Elder Renkai:
"The Sixth Battle shall now commence."
A ripple of excitement spreads immediately through the audience.
Foxfire embers drift across the sacred arena.
Elder Renkai slowly raises his staff.
Elder Renkai:
"Representing the sacred healers of Iyashiro Village..."
A murmur passes through the terraces.
"Iyashiro..."
"The healing village..."
"They rarely produce frontline fighters..."
Then—
Elder Renkai's voice booms again.
Elder Renkai:
"REIHA!"
The eastern fighter gate slowly opens.
STONE GRINDS.
A young warrior steps forward.
Graceful.
Composed.
Wearing elegant white-and-silver battle robes adorned with healing sigils.
Around both wrists float several glowing Spirit Rings.
Circular foxfire constructs engraved with ancient symbols.
They orbit her arms slowly.
Silently.
Almost beautifully.
The audience responds immediately.
"Spirit Ring user!"
"Iyashiro's combat healers are terrifying!"
"She can recover injuries during battle!"
Miko's eyes widen.
Miko:
"Those rings look amazing..."
Shiori nods.
Shiori:
"They're difficult to master."
"They can heal..."
A pause.
"...and defend."
The Spirit Rings rotate softly around Reiha as she reaches the center arena.
Then—
Elder Renkai raises his staff once more.
Elder Renkai:
"Representing the warriors of Arashinra Village..."
The crowd erupts louder.
Much louder.
Excitement spreads immediately.
"The Storm Village!"
"Arashinra!"
"Now this will be good!"
"Their fighters are always monsters!"
Elder Renkai's voice echoes once more.
Elder Renkai:
"KAZUTORA!"
The western gate opens.
STONE GRINDS.
Heavy footsteps emerge.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
A tall warrior walks into view.
Broad-shouldered.
Confident.
A long war-naginata rests across one shoulder.
Its steel blade gleams beneath the foxfire light.
Not flashy.
Not ceremonial.
A battlefield weapon.
Practical.
Dangerous.
A dark blue cloak marked with the Arashinra crest flows behind him.
The crowd immediately erupts.
"That's Kazutora!"
"One of Arashinra's strongest young fighters!"
"I heard he made it to the finals of their village trials!"
Kazutora casually spins the naginata once.
The weapon cuts through the air with a sharp whistle.
Then he steps into the arena.
Directly opposite Reiha.
The mountain wind passes between them.
Foxfire drifts through the air.
For a brief moment—
The entire battleground grows quiet.
Then—
Both warriors bow.
Deeply.
Respectfully.
Not to each other alone.
But to Mount Kyobi.
To the ancestors.
To the sacred battleground itself.
High above—
Yukito blinks.
Then looks toward Kaito.
Yukito:
"Arashinra?"
Kaito glances downward.
Yukito points toward the arena.
Yukito:
"That's your village."
Kaito nods.
A small grin appears.
Kaito:
"Yeah."
He watches Kazutora below.
Kaito:
"He's my cousin."
Miko immediately turns toward him.
Miko:
"Wait."
"Your cousin?"
Kaito nods again.
Kaito:
"We trained together growing up."
His grin widens slightly.
Kaito:
"And trust me..."
He looks back toward the arena.
Kaito:
"He's even scarier than he looks."
Yukito whistles.
Yukito:
"That's not reassuring."
The group laughs softly.
Miko keeps staring at the battleground.
Thinking.
Then—
Miko:
"You know..."
She glances toward Kaito.
Miko:
"Arashinra Village fighters are way stronger than I expected."
Kaito folds his arms.
Pride flickering in his eyes.
Kaito:
"Arashinra isn't famous because of storms."
His gaze remains fixed on the arena.
Kaito:
"It's famous because our warriors never stop moving forward."
The wind sweeps across the battleground.
Kazutora slowly lowers his naginata into position.
Across from him—
Reiha's Spirit Rings begin glowing brighter.
The atmosphere changes.
The crowd senses it instantly.
Another battle.
Another clash.
Another test beneath the gaze of Mount Kyobi.
And at the center arena—
The Sixth Battle is about to begin.
- To Be Continued