Hina's Perspective
The next morning felt… quieter.
Not because the city had calmed.
But because the excitement had settled into something deeper.
Something heavier.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder as I walked through the school gates, my eyes scanning the campus instinctively.
Everything looked normal.
Students chatting.
Teachers walking between buildings.
Clubs setting up as usual.
But beneath it all—
There was tension.
Subtle.
Unspoken.
Like everyone was waiting for something to happen again.
"…You feel it too, don't you?"
Ryuna's voice echoed gently within my mind.
"…Yeah."
I kept walking.
"…It's like… everyone's pretending things are okay."
"Humans are good at that."
"…That's not exactly comforting."
"It is not meant to be."
I sighed quietly and stepped into the classroom.
Classroom – Morning
This time—
The noise wasn't explosive.
It was focused.
Clustered.
Groups huddled together, speaking in lower voices than yesterday.
Phones were still out.
Videos still playing.
But the energy had shifted.
"Another sighting?"
"No, just rumors…"
"I heard something happened in Shibuya this morning—"
"No way, seriously?"
"Yeah, but it got shut down fast."
I paused mid-step.
"…Ryuna."
"Yes?"
"…Did you feel anything?"
A brief silence.
Then—
"…Not clearly."
"…So something might've happened."
"…Possibly."
My grip tightened slightly on my bag.
Before I could think further—
"Good morning, Hina!"
Yuki waved at me from her seat, already energized as ever.
"…Morning."
I sat down beside her.
"You hear about the rumors?" she asked immediately.
"…Which ones?"
She leaned closer.
"People are saying another monster showed up this morning—but it disappeared before anyone could confirm it."
My chest tightened.
"…Disappeared?"
"Yeah! Like—gone."
I forced myself to stay calm.
"…Probably just panic."
"Maybe."
She didn't sound convinced.
"…But still," she added, lowering her voice slightly, "if it's real…"
Her eyes lit up just a little.
"…then that means they might show up again."
They.
I looked down at my desk.
"…Maybe."
Hanato's Perspective
"…It happened."
I leaned back in my chair, staring at my phone.
A blurry image filled the screen.
Dark.
Distorted.
But familiar.
A figure.
Not as large as Razorblade.
Not as destructive.
But still—
A monster.
"Spotted early this morning in a nearby district before vanishing," I read quietly.
The corruption is spreading, Ryuhou said.
"…Yeah."
I locked my phone.
"…He's testing things."
Vetrex.
"…Yeah."
Across the room, students were already discussing it.
"See? I told you it wasn't over!"
"Do you think Hirito and Shina will show up again?"
"They have to!"
I exhaled slowly.
"…People are getting used to relying on us already."
That is dangerous.
"…For them?"
For you.
I smirked faintly.
"…Same thing."
Hina's Perspective
The lesson passed slowly.
Too slowly.
Every small sound felt louder than it should have.
Every passing minute felt like something was about to happen.
But nothing did.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
"…You are distracted," Ryuna said.
"…Can you blame me?"
"No."
I tapped my pen lightly against my notebook.
"…If that rumor is true…"
"…Then another Vessel has appeared."
"…And I didn't do anything."
"You could not have known."
"…Still."
I clenched my hand slightly.
"…What if next time I'm too late?"
Silence.
Then—
"Then you must ensure you are not."
Rooftop – Lunchtime
I needed air.
The rooftop door clicked shut behind me as I stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against my face.
"…Better."
The sky stretched endlessly above.
Blue.
Clear.
Deceptively peaceful.
I walked toward the railing and rested my hands against it.
"…Ryuna."
"Yes?"
"…If something happens again…"
"…Yes?"
"…I'm going."
There was no hesitation in my voice this time.
None at all.
"…Even if I'm alone."
Ryuna hovered beside me.
"You will not always have allies."
"…I know."
"But you will always have your resolve."
I smiled faintly.
"…That's enough."
Hanato's Perspective
I stood in the hallway, staring out the window.
"…Rooftop, huh."
Not because I knew who was there.
Just instinct.
Just… distance.
You are thinking again, Ryuhou said.
"…Yeah."
About the Light wielder.
"…Not really."
You are.
I sighed slightly.
"…Fine. Maybe a little."
I leaned against the wall.
"…She'll show up again."
Likely.
"…And next time…"
I paused.
"…It won't be as simple."
"No."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"…Good."
A faint smile crossed my face.
"…Wouldn't want it to be boring."
Far from the school—
In a narrow, empty alley—
Something moved.
A faint distortion in the air.
A flicker of dark energy.
Then—
A figure stepped forward.
Human.
At first glance.
But his eyes—
Glowed faintly red.
His movements were stiff.
Unnatural.
"…More…"
His voice trembled.
"…I need more…"
Shadows gathered around his feet.
Twisting.
Spreading.
The corruption had not stopped.
It had only begun to spread quietly.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And somewhere in the distance—
Unseen.
Unnoticed—
A presence watched.
Smiling.
"…Let them enjoy their peace…"
Vetrex's voice echoed softly through the darkness.
"…For now."
Because soon—
That peace would shatter again.
And when it did—
Light and Shadow would be forced to rise once more.
Whether they were ready—
Or not.
Hina's Perspective
The air felt wrong.
I noticed it the moment the final class ended.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
But there was something… off.
Like the world had shifted slightly out of place.
"…Ryuna."
"Yes?"
"…Do you feel that?"
A pause.
Longer than usual.
"…Yes."
My grip tightened around my bag.
"…It's close."
"Very."
A chill ran down my spine.
School Grounds – Afternoon
Students poured out of the building as usual, conversations filling the space with noise and movement.
But this time—
I couldn't focus on any of it.
Every sound felt distant.
Muted.
My attention was somewhere else entirely.
"…Hey, Hina!"
Yuki jogged up beside me again, cheerful as always.
"Walking home?"
"…Yeah."
I nodded automatically.
But my eyes kept drifting.
Scanning.
Searching.
"…You okay?" she asked, tilting her head.
"…Yeah."
Lie.
"…You look kinda tense."
"…Just tired."
"That makes sense after everything yesterday."
"…Yeah."
Another lie.
Ryuna's voice cut in quietly.
It is getting stronger.
I know.
Direction?
…Ahead.
My steps slowed slightly.
Then stopped.
"Hina?"
Yuki blinked at me.
"…I forgot something."
"…Huh?"
"I'll catch up later."
I didn't wait for her response.
"…See you!"
"H-Hey—!"
I turned and ran.
Alleyway – Moments Later
The deeper I went—
The quieter it became.
The noise of the street faded behind me, replaced by an unnatural stillness.
"…This way," Ryuna guided.
I followed without hesitation.
My heart was pounding now.
Not from fear.
From certainty.
Something was here.
Something wrong.
Then—
I saw him.
A man stood in the middle of the alley.
His back was turned.
His shoulders trembled slightly.
"…Excuse me?" I called out cautiously.
No response.
"…Are you okay?"
Slowly—
He turned.
My breath caught.
His eyes glowed faintly red.
Dark veins spread across his skin like cracks.
"…It's starting…" Ryuna whispered.
The man's voice came out broken.
"…Help… me…"
Then—
He screamed.
The sound tore through the alley as his body twisted unnaturally.
Shadows burst from beneath his feet.
His form changed—
Warped—
Expanded—
Until a smaller, jagged creature stood in his place.
Not as large as Razorblade.
But unmistakably the same.
"…A corrupted human…"
My chest tightened.
"…I'm too late."
"No," Ryuna said firmly.
"You are here now."
The creature lunged.
I reacted instantly.
"Essence of Light—"
The world exploded into brilliance.
Transformation
Light consumed everything.
Warm.
Blinding.
Power surged through my body as my clothes dissolved into glowing particles, reforming into the white leather suit.
The familiar energy returned—
But weaker than before.
"…Still not fully recovered…"
"No," Ryuna confirmed.
"But sufficient."
I stepped forward.
The creature roared and charged again.
"…Then let's do this."
Hanato's Perspective
"…There it is."
I stood at the entrance of the alley.
Watching.
Not moving.
The corrupted human had already transformed.
And the Light wielder—
Was already there.
You arrived late, Ryuhou noted.
"…Or right on time."
I leaned slightly against the wall, observing.
"…She found it first."
The white light flickered as she moved, dodging the creature's attack with practiced motion.
You are not engaging?
"…Not yet."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I want to see something."
Hina's Perspective
It was faster than I expected.
The creature lunged again, its jagged limbs slicing through the air.
I jumped back, barely avoiding the strike as it slammed into the wall behind me.
CRACK.
Fragments scattered across the ground.
"…It's unstable," I muttered.
"Yes," Ryuna said.
"The corruption is incomplete."
"…So I can still save him."
"Yes."
My resolve hardened.
"…Then I will."
Light gathered in my hands.
Not as strong as before.
But enough.
The creature charged again.
This time—
I didn't move away.
I stepped forward.
"…I'm ending this."
Hanato's Perspective
"…She's going for it."
The light intensified.
Focused.
Precise.
She has learned quickly, Ryuhou observed.
"…Yeah."
I watched closely.
"…She's aiming for purification, not destruction."
The creature roared—
Then collided with her attack.
BOOM.
Light filled the alley.
For a moment—
Everything disappeared.
Hina's Perspective
The impact shook my entire body.
But I didn't let go.
"…Come back…"
The light wrapped around the creature.
Burning away the darkness.
"…You're still in there…"
The red glow flickered.
The shadows trembled.
Then—
Cracked.
The creature let out one final scream—
Before collapsing.
The darkness shattered into particles.
The light faded.
And—
A human body fell forward.
I caught him.
"…You're okay…"
He was breathing.
Unconscious.
But human again.
Relief flooded through me.
"…I did it…"
Hanato's Perspective
"…Not bad."
I straightened slightly.
"…She actually pulled it off."
Purification without external support, Ryuhou said.
Impressive.
"…Yeah."
I turned slightly.
"…Guess I didn't need to step in."
You chose not to.
"…Same difference."
I took one last glance at the scene.
The Light wielder stood there, holding the unconscious man.
Alone.
"…She can handle herself."
Then—
I stepped back into the shadows.
And disappeared.
In the depths of darkness—
A quiet laugh echoed.
"…Progress."
Vetrex watched from afar.
His red eyes gleaming.
"…They are learning."
The air around him twisted slowly.
"…Adapting."
His smile widened.
"…Good."
Because stronger Guardians—
Only made the game more interesting.
"…Let us see how long they can keep saving them…"
The shadows deepened.
"…Before they fail."
And far away—
Unseen—
The next crack in the world had already begun.