The street fell silent again.
Too quiet for what had just happened.
Broken pavement. Faint scorch marks from Aika's seals. The lingering chill in the air.
But no people.
No witnesses.
Like always… the world refused to see.
Kuroshin Rei stood still, his gaze fixed on the empty space where the shadow creature had vanished.
"…A test," he murmured.
Aika crossed her arms, clearly irritated.
"Yeah, I don't like being someone's 'test'."
Rei didn't respond.
Because something felt off.
Not the battle.
Not the shadows.
Something deeper.
Like they weren't alone.
"You can come out now."
The voice came from behind.
Calm.
Confident.
Rei turned instantly.
Aika reacted just as fast, a charm already between her fingers.
Standing at the edge of the street, leaning casually against a pole—
Was a boy.
About their age.
Tall. Lean. Messy dark-blue hair. Sharp eyes that seemed to glow faintly under the dim light.
And most importantly—
He wasn't hiding.
"…You've been watching," Rei said.
The boy smirked.
"Took you long enough."
Aika stepped slightly in front of Rei.
"State your identity."
The boy raised his hands lazily.
"Relax, I'm not here to fight."
"…Then leave," Rei replied coldly.
"Can't," the boy said, shrugging. "I was sent here."
Rei's eyes narrowed.
"…By who?"
The boy's smile widened slightly.
"You already know."
Silence.
Heavy.
Aika's grip tightened on her charm.
"…Hunters," she muttered.
"Bingo," the boy replied.
He pushed himself off the pole and stepped closer.
"No need to look so tense. If I wanted to attack, I would've done it while you were busy with those shadows."
Rei didn't relax.
"…Then talk."
The boy stopped a few steps away.
His gaze locked onto Rei.
Sharp.
Measuring.
"…So you're the one," he said quietly.
Aika stepped forward.
"Enough games. Who are you?"
The boy sighed dramatically.
"Right, introductions."
He placed a hand behind his head.
"Name's Ryuzen Kaito."
Aika's eyes widened slightly.
"…Ryuzen clan?"
He gave a small bow.
"The one and only."
Rei glanced at Aika.
"…That important?"
She leaned slightly toward him.
"…They're elite hunters," she whispered. "Top tier."
Rei looked back at Kaito.
"…And you're here for me."
Kaito nodded.
"Yep."
Aika stepped forward again.
"You said you're not here to fight."
"I'm not," Kaito replied calmly.
"Then what do you want?"
He looked at Rei again.
"To see if you're worth the trouble."
Rei's expression didn't change.
"…Trouble?"
Kaito's smile faded slightly.
"You've caused quite a stir," he said. "Shadows crossing during the day? Boundary destabilizing? That doesn't just happen."
Aika crossed her arms.
"It wasn't his fault."
Kaito shrugged.
"Doesn't matter. Cause is cause."
Rei stepped forward slightly.
"…So what? You're here to judge me?"
Kaito's eyes sharpened.
"Exactly."
Silence.
Then—
Rei sighed.
"…Do whatever you want."
Aika turned to him.
"Rei—"
"I'm not running," he said simply.
Kaito chuckled softly.
"Good answer."
Then—
His expression changed.
Completely.
From relaxed…
To serious.
"Because if you did," he added, "I'd have to hunt you."
The air shifted instantly.
Aika reacted.
"Rei, be careful—!"
Too late.
Kaito moved.
Fast.
Faster than anything they'd seen before.
In a blink, he was right in front of Rei, his hand already striking forward.
Rei barely raised his arm in time—
Impact.
A shockwave burst outward, cracking the ground beneath them.
Rei slid back several feet, his shoes scraping against the pavement.
Aika's eyes widened.
"…That speed—!"
Kaito stood still, arm extended, a faint smirk on his face.
"Not bad," he said. "You reacted."
Rei lowered his arm slowly.
"…You said you wouldn't fight."
Kaito shrugged.
"I said I wasn't here to kill you."
Another step forward.
"Big difference."
Aika moved instantly, placing herself between them.
"Back off."
Her charm ignited.
"Crimson Seal—!"
Before she could release it—
Kaito flicked his fingers.
A small blade of light shot forward, slicing through her charm mid-air.
It dissolved instantly.
Aika froze.
"…What?"
Kaito tilted his head slightly.
"Your seals are good," he said. "But too slow."
Aika clenched her teeth.
"…Damn it."
Rei stepped beside her.
"…Move."
She hesitated.
"…Rei—"
"I said move."
Something in his voice made her step back.
Reluctantly.
Rei stepped forward.
His shadow stretched behind him.
Calm.
Controlled.
Kaito's eyes lit up slightly.
"…There it is."
Rei's gaze hardened.
"You wanted to test me, right?"
Kaito smiled.
"Yeah."
Rei's shadow rose slowly.
"…Then don't hold back."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Kaito laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear."
He cracked his neck slightly.
"Alright, Void boy…"
His stance shifted.
Sharp.
Focused.
Deadly.
"Show me what you've got."
The air exploded.
Rei moved first.
His shadow surged forward like a blade, cutting through the space between them.
Kaito dodged instantly, spinning to the side.
Fast.
But not faster.
Rei's shadow changed direction mid-air, chasing him.
"…It tracks?" Kaito muttered, impressed.
Rei didn't respond.
He stepped forward again, his movements precise.
Controlled.
The shadow split into multiple tendrils, attacking from different angles.
Kaito blocked one, dodged another, but a third grazed his shoulder.
He slid back, landing lightly.
"…Nice."
A faint mark remained on his jacket.
Aika watched from behind, stunned.
"…He's keeping up…"
No—
He was pushing Kaito back.
Kaito straightened, his smile fading slightly.
"…Alright," he said quietly.
"Enough playing."
The air around him shifted.
A faint blue energy began to form.
Sharp.
Like blades.
Rei felt it instantly.
Danger.
Real danger.
Kaito raised his hand.
"Let's see if you can handle this."
The energy condensed.
Then—
Released.
Dozens of sharp light fragments shot toward Rei at incredible speed.
Aika's heart skipped.
"Rei—!"
But Rei didn't move.
Not at first.
Instead—
His shadow expanded.
A wall of darkness rose in front of him.
The light fragments collided with it—
Explosions of energy burst across the street.
Smoke filled the air.
Silence followed.
Aika held her breath.
"…Rei?"
The smoke slowly cleared.
And there—
Rei stood.
Unmoved.
The shadow shield still intact.
Kaito's eyes widened slightly.
"…No way."
Rei lowered his hand slowly.
"…Done?"
Silence.
Then—
Kaito smiled again.
But this time…
It wasn't playful.
It was serious.
"…Yeah," he said.
Aika blinked.
"…What?"
Kaito turned slightly, looking away.
"Test's over."
Rei frowned.
"…That's it?"
Kaito glanced back at him.
"For now."
A pause.
Then—
"You're not weak."
Aika relaxed slightly.
"…So you're leaving?"
Kaito shrugged.
"For now."
He started walking away.
Then stopped.
Without turning back, he spoke one last time.
"…But others won't be like me."
Rei's eyes narrowed.
"…Meaning?"
Kaito's voice lowered.
"They won't test you."
A pause.
"They'll kill you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
He disappeared.
Just like that.
Gone.
Aika exhaled slowly.
"…I really don't like him."
Rei looked at his hand.
The shadow still lingered.
Stronger than before.
"…He's right," Rei said quietly.
Aika looked at him.
"…About what?"
Rei's gaze darkened.
"…This is just the beginning."
Far away—
High above the city—
A figure stood on a rooftop, watching.
Not Kaito.
Someone else.
Cloaked in darkness.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
The hunters had begun to move.
And soon…
The real enemies would arrive.