Several days had passed since Kaito first began struggling with the Pulse Blade, and none of them had been easy. The training grounds behind the Kaze residence had become almost eerily quiet, disturbed only by the constant whisper of wind sliding through the tall grass. It was the kind of silence that made every small movement feel heavier, more deliberate.
Kaito stood alone at the center of the field, his body soaked with sweat after hours of repetition. Drops fell steadily from his chin, darkening the ground beneath him. His breathing was controlled, but there was no hiding the exhaustion in it. His clothes clung to him uncomfortably, evidence of just how long he had been pushing himself without rest.
Across from him, Akira watched without moving, his arms folded as always. His expression was calm, but his eyes missed nothing.
"Again," he said.
Kaito didn't respond. He simply raised his hand.
The familiar sensation spread through him as he focused, the Pulse moving along his body like a current he was only beginning to understand. For days, it had slipped through his grasp no matter how hard he tried to control it. Every failure had forced him to start over, to rebuild that fragile sense of balance Akira kept insisting he needed.
This time felt different.
He slowed his breathing, letting the tension leave his shoulders. His mind, usually so quick to rush ahead, settled into a rare stillness. The Pulse gathered in his palm, steady and contained.
The air around his hand began to shift.
At first, it was subtle. A faint distortion, like heat rising from the ground. Then it grew sharper, more defined.
And finally, it took shape.
A thin blade of energy extended outward from his hand, clean and precise. It didn't flicker or waver like before. It held its form, stable and clear, as if it had always been meant to exist there.
The wind brushed past it, and a soft hum lingered in the air.
Kaito froze, staring at what he had created.
"…I did it."
The words came out quieter than he expected, almost as if he didn't trust them to be real.
Akira's expression shifted just slightly, the smallest hint of approval appearing in his eyes.
"Well done."
Under the shade of a nearby tree, Kaede had been watching the entire time. Her posture remained composed, hands folded neatly in front of her, but her eyes widened just a little at the sight.
Then she smiled.
"Kaito-sama… you truly did it."
There was a warmth in her voice that she didn't bother to hide.
Kaito adjusted his grip, turning the blade slightly as he watched light ripple faintly along its edge. The wind seemed to gather around him, brushing against his arms and clothes in a way that felt… different. For the first time since he started this training, something inside him settled.
He felt it clearly.
Pride.
Akira stepped forward, breaking the moment.
"Forming it is only the first step," he said. "Now you need to learn how to use it."
He raised his own hand without effort. Pulse gathered instantly, far more refined, and a blade formed in his grasp. It was longer, sharper, and far more stable than Kaito's, its presence carrying a quiet pressure.
Kaito's eyes lit up immediately.
"A spar?"
Akira gave a small nod.
That was all the answer Kaito needed.
"Alright."
They moved apart, taking their positions across the field. The distance between them stretched just enough to make the space feel tense.
Kaede remained where she was, watching in silence.
The wind moved through the grass again, bending it gently.
Then both of them stepped forward at the same time.
Kaito moved first, pushing off the ground and closing the distance quickly. His blade cut through the air in a clean horizontal strike, faster than anything he had managed before.
Akira met it without hesitation.
Their blades collided with a sharp, ringing impact.
The sharp crack of pulse energy colliding rang out across the field, followed by a brief shockwave that rippled through the grass at their feet. Kaito's eyes narrowed as he steadied himself, then moved again without hesitation. His next swing came faster, sharper than before, carrying more intent behind it.
Akira met the strike with ease, his blade rising at just the right angle as he stepped lightly to the side. The motion was smooth, almost effortless, as if he had already seen the attack before it happened. Their weapons clashed again, and again, each impact sending faint vibrations through the air. Kaito didn't slow down. He pressed forward, adjusting his footing, tightening his control. The difference from before was clear. Days of training had refined him, even if only slightly.
Akira noticed.
Kaito's balance was steadier now. His movements had less wasted motion. Even the way he handled his pulse energy showed improvement, rough but no longer unstable. There was intention behind it.
Kaito lunged, bringing his blade down in a direct strike. Akira raised his weapon to block, but Kaito shifted mid-motion, twisting his body and redirecting the angle of his attack. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to force Akira to adjust.
A faint glint of approval passed through Akira's eyes.
Kaito didn't stop. He pushed harder, letting his strikes flow one after another, faster now, more aggressive. The hum of his pulse blade grew sharper as it cut through the air. Across from him, Akira moved with quiet precision, stepping around most of the attacks with minimal effort, as though the space itself was guiding him.
Then Kaito changed his rhythm.
Without warning, he shifted his weight and angled his blade toward Akira's side. The timing was different this time, less predictable.
Akira blocked, but just barely.
The edge of Kaito's blade grazed his sleeve.
A thin tear split through the fabric.
For a brief moment, everything stilled.
Akira glanced down at his arm, then back at Kaito. There was a flicker of surprise in his expression, subtle but unmistakable.
Off to the side, Kaede brought a hand to her mouth, unable to hide her reaction. "…Kaito-sama…"
Kaito blinked, almost unsure of what had just happened. "Did I actually…?"
Akira straightened, his composure returning just as quickly as it had slipped. "Yes."
A small, approving smile appeared on his face.
"Again."
They resumed.
This time, Kaito didn't hold anything back. He drove himself forward with everything he had, pushing past the limits he had set for himself before. His breathing grew heavier, his movements less controlled as he tried to maintain the pace. But Akira remained untouchable, calmly meeting each attempt without strain.
After several more exchanges, the gap between them became clear again.
Akira stepped in.
The movement was sudden, far faster than before. Before Kaito could react, Akira's blade struck.
A sharp sound echoed as Kaito's pulse weapon shattered on impact, breaking apart into fragments of light that faded almost instantly. The force sent him stumbling backward until he lost his footing and fell onto the grass.
Silence settled over the field once more.
Kaito lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky, catching his breath. Then, unexpectedly, he let out a quiet laugh.
"…I lost."
Akira approached and stopped beside him, looking down with a calm expression.
"You did," he said. "But you performed far better than I expected."
Kaito pushed himself up onto his elbows, a bit surprised. "Really?"
Akira gave a small nod.
"At this pace, your growth won't be slowing down anytime soon."
Hearing those words, Kaito felt a quiet warmth settle in his chest. It wasn't just praise—it was acknowledgment. After everything he had pushed through these past days, it meant more than he expected.
Kaede approached from the side, her steps soft against the ground. "You fought well, Kaito-sama." Her voice was calm as always, but there was a hint of pride in her expression that she didn't bother hiding.
Akira gave a small nod before turning away. "That's enough for today. You should rest." Without waiting for a response, he began walking back toward the path leading out of the training grounds, his figure gradually disappearing behind the trees.
Kaito stayed where he was, lying flat on the grass, too tired to move right away. He lifted one hand lazily in the air in response. "Yes, Master…"
The world felt quieter once Akira was gone. Only the faint rustling of leaves and the distant sound of wind remained. Kaede stood nearby, watching him for a moment before speaking again.
"You've been working very hard these past few days."
Kaito let out a slow breath and pushed himself up into a sitting position. A small, satisfied smile appeared on his face, the kind that came from knowing he had finally reached something he'd been chasing.
"I finally did it," he said.
Kaede nodded in agreement. "Yes, you did."
There was a brief pause before she added, her tone softening just slightly, "To celebrate, I'll prepare some sweets later."
Kaito froze for a split second, then his eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait… really?"
A faint, almost playful smile touched Kaede's lips. "If Kaito-sama behaves."
That was all it took.
Kaito jumped to his feet as if he had never been tired at all. "I'll behave!"
Kaede let out a quiet sigh, though the small smile on her face didn't fade.
The next day arrived warm and bright, with clear skies stretching endlessly above the village. The nearby mountains were alive with movement, streams of water weaving through the terrain and gathering into clear pools that reflected the sunlight like glass.
Kaito sat on top of a large rock near one of those streams, enjoying the calm for all of two seconds before Hina splashed a handful of water straight at his face.
"Kaito!"
The water hit him squarely. He wiped his face slowly, then leaned back with exaggerated shock. "Ah… I've been ambushed."
Hina burst into laughter, completely unbothered.
Kaito slid off the rock in one smooth motion and landed in the shallow water with a splash of his own. "You're not getting away with that."
Hina's eyes lit up as she turned and ran across the stream, water scattering around her feet.
Kaito chased after her without hesitation.
Hina ran ahead of him, weaving between scattered stones and patches of grass, her laughter ringing out freely in the open air. She didn't even try to hide where she was going, and it made catching her almost too easy. Kaito lunged forward and scooped her up without much effort, lifting her high as she squealed in protest.
"Captured," he said with a grin.
Hina kicked her legs, laughing as she struggled in his grip. "Let me go!"
"Not a chance."
He spun once just to hear her laugh again before setting her back down. After a while, the two of them wandered over to the edge of the water and sat side by side, catching their breath. The breeze drifted down from the mountains, carrying with it the steady, calming sound of flowing water. It was quiet in a way that felt comfortable, not empty.
Hina tilted her head up to look at him. Kaito leaned back on his hands, letting his weight rest against the grass as he stared out ahead.
Mom and Dad are busy.
So I'm on big brother duty.
The thought made him smile a little.
A second later, he pushed himself up to his feet as if he had just remembered something.
"Oh, right," he said, glancing down at her. "Hey, Hina, wanna see something cool?"
She blinked up at him, curiosity already creeping into her expression.
Kaito grinned. "I learned something recently."
Her eyes lit up immediately. "What is it?"
He raised his hand, focusing for a brief moment. Energy gathered there, tightening and shaping itself until the Pulse Blade formed cleanly in his grip.
Hina gasped, her eyes going wide. "Kaito!"
He laughed at her reaction. "Watch this."
With a quick motion, he swung the blade forward. A sharp arc of energy cut through the air, heading straight toward a cluster of rocks in the distance.
But before it could land, something else moved.
Another slash appeared from the side, sudden and precise. It struck his attack head-on.
The collision burst outward in a violent surge of wind and energy. Dust lifted into the air, water rippled violently, and the ground itself seemed to tremble for a brief second.
Kaito instinctively stepped back, eyes wide. "…What?"
The smoke lingered for a moment before beginning to clear.
Through it, a figure emerged.
At first it was just a silhouette, walking forward at an unhurried pace. Then the dust thinned, and the shape became clearer.
Kaito's breath caught.
"…Ren?"
The boy stepping out looked different. Taller than before, his posture more relaxed but somehow sharper at the same time. There was a quiet confidence in the way he moved, like he had grown used to his own strength.
Ren stopped a few steps away and looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"Hey, Kaito."
Kaito didn't respond right away.
It had been two years.
Ren started to step closer, but paused when he felt a light tug at Kaito's clothes. His gaze dropped.
Hina was half-hidden behind Kaito, peeking out carefully with wide, cautious eyes.
Ren's expression softened almost instantly.
"So this is Hina," he said, crouching slightly so he wouldn't seem so imposing. "You've gotten bigger."
Hina didn't answer. She just stared at him, still unsure.
Ren straightened and looked back at Kaito. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The wind moved quietly through the grass, filling the silence between them.
Then Ren let out a small breath and smiled again.
"…It's been a while."
Kaito finally exhaled, the tension leaving him as a slow smile spread across his face.
"…Yeah," he said quietly. "It has."
They stood there like that for a moment, neither rushing to speak.
Two years apart.
Two paths taken separately.
And now, somehow, back in the same place again.
Kaito scratched the back of his head, letting out a soft laugh. "You're late."
Ren chuckled. "Am I?"
The wind passed between them again, bending the grass slightly as it went.
For the first time in two years, they stood face to face once more.