Curfew at the academy technically began at nine.
Technically.
In reality, the dormitories rarely became quiet before midnight.
Lanterns burned low along the stone pathways between the academy buildings, casting long golden reflections across the wet ground from the evening rain.
Inside Dormitory Hall C, most doors were closed.
But the rooftop door creaked open quietly.
Raizen stepped out first.
Cool mountain wind brushed across his face as he looked over the academy grounds.
From this height the entire training complex spread below like a small city of its own—practice yards, obstacle fields, weapon ranges, and distant forest trails carved into the mountainside.
Footsteps followed behind him.
Daigo pushed through the door carrying two practice gloves.
"You actually came."
Raizen raised an eyebrow.
"You invited me."
"Yeah but you're usually doing mysterious brooding stuff."
Raizen ignored that.
The Unofficial Tradition
The rooftop was already occupied.
Three students sparred near the center of the stone tiles.
Another sat nearby sharpening a kunai with a whetstone.
Akari stood along the far railing, a short bow in her hand.
She glanced over when Raizen arrived.
"You're late."
Daigo pointed dramatically.
"Excuse me, we were fashionably punctual."
Ren stepped out behind them quietly.
"This is the midnight sparring club, isn't it?"
Akari shrugged.
"It's not official."
"Which means instructors pretend not to know."
Daigo grinned.
"Perfect."
The First Match
Two students finished sparring and stepped aside.
Daigo immediately jumped forward.
"My turn!"
He rolled his shoulders and pointed at Raizen.
"You."
Raizen sighed.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the mysterious quiet one."
"That's not a reason."
"It is tonight."
Several students gathered around the edges of the rooftop.
Raizen drew his practice blade.
The wooden weapon reflected the lantern light faintly.
Daigo bounced lightly on his feet.
"Alright."
"Don't go easy on me."
The Fight
Daigo moved first.
Fast.
Faster than most academy students.
He closed the distance quickly with a straight strike.
Raizen stepped aside smoothly.
The wooden blade tapped Daigo's wrist lightly.
Daigo blinked.
"…That was rude."
He attacked again.
This time with more aggression.
Raizen blocked, redirected, and stepped past him.
His movements were smooth.
Efficient.
Almost like flowing water.
Kairo watched from the railing.
Interesting.
Raizen wasn't overpowering Daigo.
He was guiding the fight.
Letting Daigo's momentum work against him.
After several exchanges Daigo stumbled slightly.
Raizen's blade stopped just short of his shoulder.
Silence.
Then Daigo laughed.
"Okay that was awesome."
Observation
Raizen lowered the blade.
"You're fast."
Daigo grinned.
"You're annoying."
Akari stepped forward.
"My turn."
She lifted her bow.
Daigo frowned.
"You can't use a bow in a rooftop spar."
"Why not?"
"It's cheating."
Akari ignored him.
She stepped back to the railing and nocked a blunt training arrow.
Then she did something unexpected.
Instead of aiming directly at Raizen…
She fired toward the ground.
The arrow struck the tile.
Bounced.
And skipped across the floor toward Raizen's ankle.
He jumped back instinctively.
A second arrow followed immediately.
This one aimed at shoulder height.
Raizen blocked it with the wooden blade.
Akari smiled slightly.
"See?"
"Ranged attacks."
The Breakthrough
Ren watched thoughtfully.
"You're not shooting people."
Akari shrugged.
"I'm controlling space."
That made Raizen pause.
Because she was right.
The arrows forced movement.
Forced positioning.
Forced reactions.
Inside his mind Astra spoke quietly.
"Tactical zoning method detected."
Raizen smirked slightly.
Akari had just discovered the foundation of her future fighting style.
Daigo's Idea
Daigo suddenly jumped back into the center.
"Wait."
"I want to try something."
He crouched slightly.
Then launched forward in a sudden burst of speed.
But instead of attacking directly—
He spun.
Using the momentum to swing his leg into a sweeping kick.
Raizen stepped back just in time.
Daigo nearly fell over.
But he caught himself.
"Okay."
"That almost worked."
Ren rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"You fight like a storm."
Daigo blinked.
"…I do?"
"Unpredictable momentum."
Raizen nodded slightly.
"That might actually become something."
Daigo grinned.
"I'm inventing a fighting style."
Akari sighed.
"This is going to go to his head."
The Sound of Bells
Eventually the sparring slowed.
Students rested along the edges of the rooftop.
Clouds drifted slowly across the moon.
Far below in the training yard, an instructor walked along the perimeter wall.
A faint metallic chime drifted upward.
The bell.
Daigo leaned on the railing.
"One day I'm stealing one."
Akari laughed.
"You ran face-first into the grass yesterday."
"Minor setback."
Raizen watched the instructor below quietly.
Listening.
Observing.
Because the bell challenge wasn't a race.
It was a puzzle.
And puzzles were meant to be solved.
Eventually