The sky above the courtyard looked the same.
Clear. Still. Unchanging.
But everything beneath it had already started to shift.
Kaito stood at the far edge of the training grounds, away from the ranking board, away from the center where everything had happened.
Away from where he became Rank 1.
For once, he wasn't thinking about fighting.
He was thinking about leaving.
"…Feels weird," he said quietly.
"Yes."
Kaito didn't turn.
"…You always just show up, huh."
His mother stepped beside him, her presence calm, steady in a way that hadn't changed, even after everything.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They just stood there.
Looking out at the same place Kaito had spent six years of his life.
"…So this is it," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…No more training here."
"No."
"…No more fights."
"No."
Kaito let out a slow breath.
"…No more you."
Silence.
His mother didn't respond immediately.
"…That depends on what you mean," she said.
Kaito glanced at her.
"…I mean you're not coming."
"No."
He looked forward again.
"…Figures."
Another pause.
The wind moved softly through the courtyard.
"…You're strong enough," Kaito said. "You said it yourself."
"Yes."
"…So why not."
His mother didn't hesitate.
"Because you don't need me there."
Kaito frowned slightly.
"That's not the point."
"It is."
"…No, it's not."
He turned to her fully now.
"You left for six years," he said. "You show up right before I leave, and now you're saying you're not coming again?"
Her expression didn't change.
"Yes."
Kaito stared at her.
"…You're really good at that."
"At what?"
"…Leaving."
Silence.
The words hung heavier than anything else they'd said.
But she didn't look away.
"…I didn't leave because I wanted to," she said.
"…Then why."
"Because I had to."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"You keep saying that."
"And it keeps being true."
"…Then explain it."
A pause.
She looked out across the courtyard.
"…Before you came here," she said, "someone found you."
Kaito's expression shifted slightly.
"…Found me."
"Yes."
"…The tracker."
"Yes."
Silence.
"…That was real," Kaito said quietly.
"Yes."
"…Not just some random guy."
"No."
Kaito's jaw tightened slightly.
"…Who was he."
"I don't know his name," she said. "Not then."
"…But you knew what he was."
"Yes."
"…Which is?"
She turned to him.
"…A hunter."
Kaito didn't blink.
"…Of what."
"…Of people like you."
Silence.
The air felt colder.
"…People like me," Kaito repeated.
"Yes."
"…Meaning what."
She held his gaze.
"…Meaning people with blood that doesn't belong in a world like this."
The words landed slowly.
"…My father," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…This is about him."
"Yes."
Another pause.
Kaito looked away.
"…So what happened."
"He found you," she said. "Or… he was about to."
"…And you stopped him."
"No."
"…Then what."
"I moved you."
Silence.
Kaito's eyes shifted.
"…Here."
"Yes."
"…You brought me here because of him."
"Yes."
"…Because this place is hidden."
"Yes."
Kaito exhaled slowly.
"…So this whole time…"
"…You weren't just trying to make me stronger," she said.
"…You were hiding me."
"Yes."
Kaito clenched his fist slightly.
The air trembled for a brief moment.
"…You could've told me."
"No."
"…Why not."
"Because if you understood what was coming," she said, "you would've trained out of fear."
Silence.
"…And that would've made me weaker," Kaito said.
"Yes."
He let out a quiet breath.
"…So you just left me here."
"I left you with the one person who could prepare you."
Kaito didn't respond.
"…Nasukawa."
"Yes."
"…You trusted him that much."
"I still do."
Another pause.
"…And you?" Kaito asked.
"What about me?"
"…What were you doing all that time."
She looked forward again.
"…Making sure he wasn't the only one looking for you."
Silence.
"…You were tracking them," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…The hunters."
"Yes."
"…The same people that guy came from."
"Yes."
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"…You found anything."
A brief pause.
"…Enough to know they didn't stop."
"…Of course they didn't."
"They're organized," she continued. "Disciplined. Patient."
"…Strong."
"Yes."
Kaito nodded slightly.
"…Good."
She glanced at him.
"…Good?"
"…Yeah," Kaito said. "That means I know where to go next."
Silence.
She studied him for a moment.
"…You're not afraid."
"No."
"…You should be."
"Why."
"Because now," she said, "you're not hidden anymore."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Then they can come find me."
"That's not how this works."
"…Then I'll find them."
Silence.
For a moment, she didn't respond.
Then...
"…You sound like him."
Kaito glanced at her.
"…My father."
"Yes."
"…Guess that makes sense."
Another quiet pause passed between them.
Then Kaito looked out across the courtyard one last time.
"…So this is really it."
"Yes."
"…You're not coming."
"No."
"…And I'm leaving."
"Yes."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
He didn't say anything else for a moment.
Then...
"…Thanks."
She looked at him.
"…For what."
"…For not stopping me."
Silence.
Her expression softened slightly.
"…That was never my place."
Kaito smirked.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
Then stopped.
"…Hey."
"Yes."
Kaito didn't turn back.
"…Next time we meet…"
A small pause.
"…I'll be stronger."
She watched him quietly.
"…I expect that."
Kaito nodded once.
Then walked forward.
No hesitation.
No looking back.
And this time...
He knew exactly why he was leaving.