Part 1 – The Weight of Tomorrow
The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the road as students slowly left the academy grounds.
Haruto, Kaito, and Ayame walked together along the familiar path toward home. Beside them, Akari carried a small bag of groceries while Renjiro walked a step behind, hands in his pockets, quietly listening to the siblings.
For a while, none of them spoke.
Then Haruto glanced sideways at Kaito.
"You okay?"
Kaito flexed his fingers slightly and winced.
"My hand hurts a bit."
Ayame looked over immediately.
"From the fight?"
Kaito nodded.
"Yeah… Saki hit hard."
He shook his hand once and then shrugged like it didn't matter.
"Anyway…"
Kaito looked between Haruto and Ayame.
"Tomorrow we've got Ayame vs Amaya… and you vs Arashi."
His tone brightened.
"Ayame will win easily."
Ayame didn't respond to that, but her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then Kaito nudged Haruto.
"And you—don't hold back. You can win too."
Haruto looked straight ahead.
"No."
Kaito blinked.
"What do you mean no?"
"I'm not fighting."
Kaito stopped walking for a moment.
"Don't say that just because I lost."
His voice carried frustration now.
"At least you two can stand on top together."
Ayame stopped as well and looked directly at Haruto.
"You don't want to fight… because if we both win, we'll meet in the final."
Haruto's silence answered enough.
Finally he spoke quietly.
"I don't want to fight my friends."
The wind rustled the nearby trees as the group resumed walking.
Renjiro glanced toward Haruto but said nothing yet.
Akari simply watched them carefully.
On another road leading away from the academy, Arashi walked home with his family.
His father, Raijin, walked beside him with a steady stride, while Sayuri carried little Akashi in her arms. The younger boy was asleep, his head resting against her shoulder.
The evening air was calm.
Arashi kicked a small pebble along the road before finally speaking.
"Papa… Mama…"
Raijin glanced down.
"Yes?"
Arashi hesitated.
"Last time the tournament happened… they made three winners."
Raijin nodded.
"That's right."
Arashi looked up.
"Why can't they make four this time?"
Sayuri tilted her head slightly.
"Why do you ask?"
Arashi kicked the pebble again.
"I don't want to fight Haruto… or Amaya… or Ayame."
Raijin raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Arashi looked forward, his expression serious now.
"Haruto won't fight properly."
Raijin stayed silent, letting him continue.
"He'll hold back."
Arashi clenched his fists lightly.
"That wouldn't be fair."
He sighed.
"I don't want to fight… but I also want to fight."
Sayuri smiled faintly.
"That's confusing."
Arashi nodded.
"I want to know how strong he really is."
For a moment, the only sound was the quiet wind.
Then Sayuri spoke calmly.
"Arashi… you have to fight him."
Arashi looked up.
"And you must not hold back."
He blinked.
"Why?"
Sayuri adjusted Akashi gently in her arms before answering.
"This is Haruto's test."
Arashi frowned slightly.
"What test?"
Raijin glanced briefly at Sayuri before she continued.
"The entire tournament… every event… he has been monitored."
Arashi's eyes widened.
"Monitored?"
Sayuri nodded.
"This may help the doctors understand his condition… and possibly improve his health."
Arashi slowly processed that.
Then she added softly,
"If during the fight you feel he is holding back…"
Her voice became firm.
"You must make him fight."
Arashi looked forward again, the evening sky glowing orange above the rooftops.
Sayuri finished quietly,
"Do not stop until he truly fights you."
Arashi clenched his fists again.
Not out of anger.
But determination.
Tomorrow… he would face Haruto.
And this time—
He would make sure Haruto didn't run from the fight.