A new day begins, for the first time Haru wakes up early in the morning to go pick up Akira at his house so as not to appear hostile toward his parents because most villagers have prejudices against him but he does not want the parents of his best friend to think the same.
The morning air was still fresh, carrying a faint scent of dew and quiet earth. The village had not fully awakened yet, and the silence felt softer than usual.
Arriving in front of the right house and in front of the front door, he knocks.
The wood echoed lightly under his knuckles, the sound breaking the calm of the early morning.
A young child of 6 years old stands in front of the door, his eyes of a solar orange with grey reflections make an impression on Haru.
The light from outside reflected in them, giving them an almost unnatural glow.
The child seems almost too well kept, his light hair and well maintained make an impression on Haru.
Not a single strand seemed out of place, as if every detail about him had been carefully arranged.
Haru, confused, then asks him:
A slight hesitation slipped into his voice.
"Uh… am I at the Saegusa house?"
The child looks at him and remains silent for a moment before saying:
His gaze did not waver, steady and almost unsettling.
"Yes, this is our house. Why?"
Haru, relieved, then asks him if his brother is here.
He shifted slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.
The child answers that he does not have a brother.
His tone was calm, almost indifferent.
Haru seems confused and asks him if he knows Akira.
A faint doubt crossed his face.
The young boy answers yes and calls him so that he can come out of his house.
His voice carried inside the house, clear and controlled.
After Akira got ready, he comes out with Haru.
The door closed softly behind him, cutting off the warmth inside.
Haru then wants to talk to him about the strange boy who is in his house.
They began walking, their footsteps quiet against the ground.
"Hey Akira, who is that kid at your house?"
"Ah, that's Hikaru, my little brother."
Akira answered naturally, as if nothing about it was unusual.
"Your… your little brother?! But he told me he didn't have a brother."
Haru frowned, clearly unsettled.
"Yeah, it's Hikaru, he's strange but everyone likes him, he's a little genius, he already managed to use spells and me he does not consider me as his brother because according to him I am the child of my god and him my god he does not believe in it so I will never be considered as such for him but it's not a problem, if needed I will protect him at all costs."
Akira's voice remained calm, but something deeper lingered beneath it, something firm and unwavering.
Haru does not understand why he would want to protect someone who hates him and cannot even consider him as his own brother despite everything.
A silent incomprehension settled in his mind, heavy and unresolved.
The two boys head toward the hiding place of the swords, take their weapons and begin their daily duel.
The familiar rustle of leaves welcomed them as they uncovered the blades.
During their intense fight, they are interrupted by Hikaru who had followed them to the hiding place.
A sudden presence behind them broke the rhythm of their movements.
Haru's heart tightens.
A cold sensation ran through his chest.
"Wha… what?! What are you doing here?"
Hikaru goes down the slope to join his brother and Haru and tells them:
His steps were steady, controlled, as if he had expected this moment.
"I don't know, I found it curious that you could stay outside for so long, and now I realize that you are unbelievers. The Conclave of Henosis will not forgive this."
Haru looks at him and tells him:
A trace of urgency slipped into his voice.
"You're not going to tell anyone, right? Keep it to yourself until your brother and I leave the village, please."
"Do not worry, I will not report you. I will return to the village and I will not tell anyone that you use swords in secret."
His tone was calm, almost reassuring, yet something about it felt distant.
And Hikaru runs away toward the village.
His small silhouette quickly disappeared, swallowed by the landscape.
Haru, worried, does not know if he can trust him, but Akira thinks that Hikaru will not report them despite everything.
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Haru still wants to go to the village to find Hikaru and question him.
A restless tension pushed him forward.
Akira tells him that Hikaru is fast despite his young age and that they must catch him before he reports to the village what is happening even if Akira does not believe it because he knows Hikaru will never do that.
His voice remained firm, but a faint uncertainty lingered deep inside.
Haru and Akira then head toward the village running.
Their footsteps struck the ground quickly, breath growing heavier.
During the way back they did not see Hikaru on the horizon.
Only the wind answered them.
Arriving in the village, they decide to look for him but in vain.
They moved from street to street, their eyes searching every corner.
After an hour of searching, even in Akira's house, he was not there.
Fatigue began to settle in their limbs.
But they see him in the distance with a representative of the village who had the two swords in his right hand.
The sight froze them instantly.
He held the objects as if they were impure and dirty.
His grip was rigid, almost disgusted.
He stands in front of all the people present in the street and says:
His voice rose, clear and authoritative.
"We found these not far from the village. The young Hikaru told me he saw silhouettes moving away from them without being able to identify them, but he is sure they were heading toward our village. Unbelievers are currently among us. We will make sure to find them."
Hikaru walks toward Haru and Akira to talk with them.
His expression remained unreadable.
"I did not report you, but it was my duty to report these impure weapons near the village. They will be destroyed within the week. But do not worry, they will probably never know it was you. Live without weapons, and live freely."
Haru only wanted one thing, to hit the child, but it was impossible.
His fists tightened slightly, trembling with restrained anger.
Despite his young age, Hikaru was more intelligent than he could appear.
That realization only made things worse.
Now Akira and Haru will have to retrieve their weapons.
A heavy determination settled between them.
They will surely be stored in the town hall, entering it to retrieve the weapons will surely be an impossible mission, but it must be done.
The idea alone felt overwhelming.
Haru and Akira will act tomorrow night to prepare well in the meantime.
Silence followed, filled with tension.