The courtyard felt different at this hour.
Quieter than usual.
Not because it was empty...
But because something was ending.
Kaito stood near the entrance, arms relaxed at his sides, waiting.
For once, he wasn't early.
Footsteps approached.
"…You're leaving," a voice said.
Kaito turned slightly.
Aoi Kanzaki stood a few steps away, calm as always, but her eyes sharper than usual.
"…Yeah," Kaito replied.
Silence.
Another set of footsteps followed.
"Didn't think you'd go without saying anything," Ryo added, stopping beside her.
Kaito smirked faintly.
"…Wasn't planning to."
Ryo crossed his arms.
"…Good."
A brief pause settled between them.
No tension.
No hostility.
Just… understanding.
"…So it's true," Aoi said. "Rank 1 doesn't mean anything outside this place."
Kaito shrugged slightly.
"…Means I'm done here."
"…And that's enough for you."
"…Yeah."
Silence.
Ryo let out a short breath.
"…Figures."
Kaito glanced at him.
"…You sound annoyed."
"I am."
"…Why."
Ryo looked at him directly.
"…Because I was planning to beat you."
Kaito smirked.
"…You can still try."
Ryo scoffed.
"…Not if you're leaving."
"…Then catch up."
Silence.
Ryo stared at him for a moment.
Then...
"…I won't," he said.
Kaito's smirk faded slightly.
"…What."
"I won't catch up," Ryo said plainly. "Not like that."
Silence.
"…You're not wrong," Aoi added quietly.
Kaito frowned slightly.
"…What's that supposed to mean."
Aoi stepped forward.
"…You're not just stronger than us anymore."
A pause.
"…You're ahead in a way we can't follow."
Silence.
Kaito didn't respond immediately.
"…That doesn't make sense."
"It does," Aoi said. "You reached something this world doesn't produce often."
"…Infinite Breakthrough."
"Yes."
Kaito looked between them.
"…So get there."
Ryo shook his head.
"…That's not how it works."
"…Why not."
"Because we're not you."
Silence.
The words weren't bitter.
They weren't jealous.
They were just… honest.
Kaito looked away slightly.
"…So what," he said. "You're just staying here."
"Yes," Aoi said.
"…That's it."
"For now."
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…For now."
Ryo shrugged.
"…This world still has things to offer."
"…Not to me."
"…Exactly."
Silence.
That was the difference.
Clear.
Undeniable.
Kaito looked back at them.
"…You're okay with that."
Aoi nodded.
"Yes."
Ryo did the same.
"…Yeah."
Another pause.
"…You don't want to see what's out there."
Ryo smirked slightly.
"…I do."
"…Then why not go."
"…Because I'd get crushed."
Kaito didn't respond.
"…And I'm not interested in that yet," Ryo added.
Silence.
Aoi stepped forward slightly.
"…This place isn't meaningless," she said. "It just wasn't meant to hold you."
Kaito's expression softened just a fraction.
"…That's one way to put it."
"It's the right way," she replied.
Another pause.
Then...
"…So this is it," Ryo said.
"…Yeah."
"…No rematch."
"…No."
"…No catching up."
"…Not here."
Ryo let out a breath.
"…Tch."
But he smiled slightly.
"…Figures."
Silence.
Aoi looked at Kaito.
"…What will you do out there."
Kaito didn't hesitate.
"…Find them."
"…The ones who marked you."
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…That's dangerous."
"I know."
"…You don't sound worried."
"I'm not."
Silence.
Aoi studied him for a moment.
Then...
"…You've changed," she said.
Kaito smirked faintly.
"…Yeah."
"…Not just stronger."
"…I know."
Another pause.
"…Then I guess we don't need to worry about you," Ryo said.
"…Never did."
Ryo scoffed.
"…Yeah, alright."
Silence settled again.
But this time...
It wasn't heavy.
It wasn't unfinished.
It was complete.
Kaito looked at them both.
"…You two were good opponents."
Ryo raised an eyebrow.
"…That it?"
Kaito shrugged slightly.
"…What else do you want."
"…Something more meaningful."
Kaito thought for a second.
Then...
"…You pushed me."
Silence.
"…Both of you."
Aoi's eyes softened slightly.
"…That's enough."
Ryo smirked.
"…Yeah. I'll take that."
Another pause.
Then...
"…Next time we meet," Ryo said, "I won't be behind."
Kaito nodded once.
"…Good."
Aoi looked at him.
"…And you?"
Kaito turned slightly.
"…I won't be the same either."
Silence.
The wind passed through the courtyard one more time.
Then...
Kaito stepped forward.
Past them.
Not stopping.
Not hesitating.
"…Take care," Aoi said quietly.
"…Don't die," Ryo added.
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…Not planning to."
He didn't look back.
Didn't need to.
Some things didn't require it.
And as he walked away...
The world behind him stayed exactly where it belonged.
In the past.