It was a quiet morning.
Too quiet.
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We were sitting at the edge of the ruined courtyard.
The sun had already risen higher in the sky.
The warmth touched our skin.
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So A was nearby.
Very close.
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'You're not going anywhere today,' she said, folding her arms.
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'Is that an order?'
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'Yes.'
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I smiled.
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Aki stood slightly to one side, watching.
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'I agree,' she said calmly. "Your body hasn't recovered yet."
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"Are the two of you ganging up on me?"
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"Of course," they replied almost in unison.
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A pause.
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We laughed.
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So A suddenly leaned in closer.
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— Seriously, Ha Jin…
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Her voice softened.
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— Just stay with us for a bit.
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I looked at her.
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And at Aki.
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…
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— All right.
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So A smiled.
Immediately.
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She gently rested her head on my shoulder.
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My heart started racing again.
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Aki noticed.
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"You're blushing," she chuckled.
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— Shut up…
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— Cute, — she added quietly.
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I closed my eyes.
For a second.
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And allowed myself…
just to be here.
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Without battles.
Without pain.
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…
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But.
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Something inside…
wouldn't let me rest.
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THE SCAR.
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It didn't scream.
It didn't demand.
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It…
pulled.
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Deep inside.
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I opened my eyes.
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— I need to go somewhere.
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So A immediately looked up.
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— No.
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— It's important.
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Aki narrowed her eyes.
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— Alone again?
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— Yes.
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Silence.
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So A squeezed my hand.
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"Will you come back?"
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I looked straight into her eyes.
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"I promise."
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A pause.
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She let go.
But reluctantly.
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— Then go…
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Aki sighed.
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— If you die, I'll kill you.
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— Deal.
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…
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I went down to the old wing of the academy.
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Ruined.
Forgotten.
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There…
where not even the teachers go.
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SHRAM led the way.
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Step by step.
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Until I stopped in front of the door.
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An old one.
Cracked.
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But…
sealed shut.
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— So, it's here.
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I touched it.
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And at that very moment—
it opened.
All by itself.
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A dark corridor.
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Cold.
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I went in.
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The door closed behind me.
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CLICK.
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— Perfect…
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Silence.
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Only my footsteps.
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And…
a ringing sound.
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That very one.
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Just like back then.
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I stopped.
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Ahead was a hall.
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Large.
Empty.
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And in the centre—
a pedestal.
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On it…
lay a weapon.
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A katana.
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A black blade.
A faint glow.
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It looked…
alive.
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I stepped closer.
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And at that moment—
the space trembled.
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— …at last.
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A voice.
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Not from the air.
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From it.
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I froze.
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— You…
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— I've been waiting.
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A pause.
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— A long time.
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I reached out.
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And touched the hilt.
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At that very moment—
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A FLASH.
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The world vanished.
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I found myself…
inside.
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Emptiness.
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And…
a silhouette.
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A person.
No.
Something more.
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— You're not suitable.
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A cold voice.
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— Then why are you here?
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I clenched my fist.
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— Because I chose to.
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A pause.
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The silhouette drew closer.
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— Then prove it.
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The next moment—
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ATTACK.
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Fast.
Deadly.
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I dodged.
Counterattacked.
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Empty.
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— Weak.
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BLOW!
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I was knocked back.
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— But…
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I got back up.
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— …not dead.
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I surged forward.
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Speed.
Lightning.
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BLOW!
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The silhouette stopped for the first time.
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— Interesting.
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We clashed.
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Blow after blow.
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Every movement—
faster.
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Harder.
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Until…
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I broke through.
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And struck.
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Right through the heart.
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Silence.
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The silhouette froze.
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And then…
it crumbled.
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Light.
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And a voice.
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— Accepted.
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I found myself back in the hall.
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The katana…
had changed.
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The black blade had become deeper.
Darker.
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A flash of lightning ran along it.
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Mine.
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I picked it up.
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And at that moment—
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it adjusted itself.
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The hilt had changed.
The weight felt perfect.
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As if…
it had always been mine.
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— Name…
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I froze.
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— Do you have a name?
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A pause.
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— Tell me.
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I looked at the blade.
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And said quietly:
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— Kuroyami.
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The katana trembled.
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And replied.
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— Accepted.
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Silence.
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I smiled.
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— Now…
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I turned around.
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— Let's see who's next.
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Somewhere far away—
SCAR laughed softly.
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And for the first time…
they sounded the same.