The courtyard felt smaller now.
Not physically.
But in a way Kaito couldn't ignore anymore.
Every step he took across the stone carried less weight than it used to. Not because he was weaker...
But because he had already taken everything this place could give him.
He stopped near the edge of the field.
"…Alright," he muttered. "Let's finish this."
A voice answered behind him.
"Good."
Kaito turned.
Nasukawa stood there, arms folded, exactly where he always seemed to appear.
"…You've got timing," Kaito said.
"I know."
"…Then don't waste it."
Kaito's expression sharpened slightly.
"…You said I was a risk."
"Yes."
"…And she said I don't belong to this world."
"Yes."
Kaito took a step forward.
"…So stop holding back."
Silence.
"…Tell me what I am."
The wind moved through the courtyard.
For a moment, Nasukawa didn't answer.
Then...
"…You are the son of someone who should not have been able to leave his world."
Kaito didn't blink.
"…That's vague."
"It's precise."
"…Then explain it."
Nasukawa's gaze didn't shift.
"…Your father was not just a fighter," he said. "He was something that world does not produce often."
"…Meaning what."
"…A man who reached beyond the limits of his stage."
Silence.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"…So he was strong."
"Yes."
"…Stronger than you."
A pause.
"…Yes."
That answer didn't shake Kaito.
But it stayed with him.
"…Then why is he not here," Kaito asked.
Nasukawa didn't answer immediately.
"…Because people like him are not allowed to exist freely."
The words were calm.
But heavy.
"…Allowed," Kaito repeated.
"Yes."
"…By who."
Nasukawa looked at him.
"…The kind of people who sent Haruki Seiryu to find you."
Silence.
Everything connected.
"…The Black Order," Kaito said.
"Yes."
Kaito clenched his jaw slightly.
"…So they were after him."
"Yes."
"…And now they're after me."
"Yes."
Kaito let out a quiet breath.
"…Figures."
Another pause.
"…So what makes me different from anyone else they'd hunt?" Kaito asked.
"Your bloodline is stable."
"…Stable."
"Yes."
"…Explain that."
"Most inherit fragments," Nasukawa said. "Broken potential. Incomplete structure. Power that never fully aligns."
Kaito listened.
"You did not," Nasukawa continued.
"…So I got lucky."
"No."
"…Then what."
"You inherited it correctly."
Silence.
Kaito frowned.
"…That sounds like a bigger problem."
"It is."
"…Why."
"Because that makes you rare," Nasukawa said. "And rare things are either controlled… or removed."
The words sat heavy in the air.
"…So I'm a target," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…Not just because I'm strong."
"No."
"…But because of what I am."
"Yes."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…Good."
Nasukawa watched him.
"…You don't sound concerned."
"I'm not."
"…Why."
Kaito's eyes sharpened.
"…Because now I know who to hit."
Silence.
A faint shift in the air.
Not pressure.
Not power.
Intent.
"…You're not understanding something," Nasukawa said.
"…Then explain it better."
"This is not a single opponent," Nasukawa said. "This is an organization that has existed longer than you've been alive."
"…Good."
"They do not rush," Nasukawa continued. "They do not make mistakes easily."
"…Good."
"They already marked you once."
Kaito stepped forward.
"…And they didn't finish it."
Silence.
Nasukawa didn't respond.
"…Which means something stopped them," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…You."
"Yes."
"…And her."
"Yes."
Kaito nodded.
"…Then here's the difference now."
A pause.
"…I'm not hiding anymore."
The air stilled.
"…That is exactly the problem," Nasukawa said.
"…No," Kaito replied.
"It's the solution."
Silence.
For the first time...
Nasukawa didn't respond immediately.
Kaito continued.
"…If they're hunting me…"
His voice stayed calm.
"…Then I'll hunt them back."
The words landed clean.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"…You think that's how this works," Nasukawa said.
"…It is now."
Silence.
The wind passed through the courtyard again.
Then...
"…There's something else," Nasukawa said.
Kaito's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Of course there is."
"…Your father didn't just leave his world," Nasukawa continued.
"…He broke away from it."
Kaito didn't speak.
"…Which means," Nasukawa said, "…he made enemies before you were even born."
Silence.
"…So I inherited those too," Kaito said.
"Yes."
"…Good."
Nasukawa watched him.
"…You accept that easily."
"I don't need to accept it," Kaito said. "It's already mine."
A pause.
"…Then understand this."
Kaito looked at him.
"…Your strength until now was shaped inside a controlled environment," Nasukawa said.
"…You've said that."
"Out there," Nasukawa continued, "nothing will be controlled."
"…Good."
"No one will hold back."
"…Better."
"No one will guide you the same way."
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…That's fine."
Silence.
"…Because now," Kaito said quietly, "…I know why I'm getting stronger."
The air shifted again.
Not violently.
But with clarity.
"…Not for rank," he continued.
"…Not for pride."
A small pause.
"…But because there's someone out there who thinks they can decide what I am."
His eyes locked forward.
"…And I don't like that."
Silence.
For a moment...
Nasukawa simply watched him.
Then...
"…Good," he said.
Kaito glanced at him.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"…No lecture."
"No."
"…No warning."
"You already understand."
Kaito nodded once.
"…Yeah."
He turned slightly, looking out beyond the courtyard.
Beyond the walls.
Beyond everything he had known.
"…Then let's finish this," he said.
"…I'm done being prepared."