The streets were quiet again.
Too quiet.
The cold morning wind moved softly past us as we continued walking home, but my mind still couldn't process what had just happened.
That spirit…
It was afraid.
Afraid of Ken.
I glanced at him while walking beside him.
His expression had already returned to normal, like nothing happened.
And somehow—
that felt even stranger.
"…Ken."
"Hm?"
"…Who exactly are you?"
He looked ahead calmly.
"A tired person."
"…That is definitely not the truth."
"It is partially true."
"…You always answer questions like this on purpose, don't you?"
"Yes."
I let out a tired sigh.
"You're impossible."
A small silence followed between us.
The sunlight slowly spread across the empty streets, reflecting softly on the road
But my chest still felt uneasy.
"…What did that spirit mean?" I finally asked. "When it said the gate reacted…"
For the first time since we left—
Ken's expression changed slightly.
"…You noticed that."
"…Of course I noticed it!"
"…Good."
"…Stop praising me like a dog."
"You become happy whenever I praise you."
"…I do not!"... maybe a little i said turning my face the other side..
Ken gave a faint smile.
Then his eyes turned forward again.
"The balance between worlds is weakening," he said quietly. "That should not happen."
"…The spirit world and human world?"
"Yes."
"…And because of that spirits are appearing here?"
Ken nodded once.
"Normally, spirits cannot remain in the human world for long."
"…But you can."
A small silence appeared.
"…Yes."
"…Why?"
This time—
Ken didn't answer immediately.
The morning wind moved softly around us.
"…I do not know," he finally said.
I looked at him in surprise.
"…Even you don't know?"
"No."
For some reason—
that answer felt strangely lonely.
Ken looked ahead quietly while speaking.
"I cannot enter the spirit world anymore."
"…What?"
"But I also do not fully belong to the human world."
I stayed silent.
His voice remained calm—
but something about it felt distant.
Like he had already accepted it long ago.
"…Then where do you belong?" I asked quietly.
Ken smiled faintly.
"…Good question."
For a moment—
neither of us spoke again.
Then suddenly—
Ken stopped walking.
"…What now?" I asked immediately.
Instead of answering—
he lightly tapped my forehead.
"…Ow."
"You are overthinking again."
"…Whose fault is that?!"
"You ask too many questions."
"And you answer none of them!"
"That is not true."
"…Then answer properly!"
Ken looked at me calmly.
"No."
"…I'm actually going to throw you into a river one day."
"You would cry first before doing that."
"…Why are you weirdly accurate?"
A soft laugh escaped from Ken again.
Small.
Quiet.
But real.
And somehow—
he looked more human during moments like that.
Then his expression changed slightly again.
"…Ryu."
"…Hm?"
"From now on, stronger spirits may start appearing near you."
My chest tightened a little.
"…Because I can see them now?"
"Yes."
"…That blindfolded swordsman too?"
Ken's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Especially him."
The atmosphere became heavy again.
He challenged me..
"…But I'm literally just a student."
"You are a human capable of seeing him."
"…That's enough?"
"For warriors like him… yes."
A chill ran down my spine remembering that blue glowing sword inside the dark train.
"…He said he'll come again."
"I know."
"…And if I lose?"
Silence.
Ken looked at me calmly.
"…You will not lose."
"…You sound pretty confident."
"I am."
"…Because of the training?"
"No."
"…Then why?"
Ken looked directly at me for a moment.
"Because I am the one training you."
My eyes widened slightly.
The way he said it—
so calm.
So certain.
No hesitation at all.
And strangely enough—
for the first time since seeing that spirit—
I felt less afraid.