The car came to a smooth stop beneath a canopy of polished marble and gold.
A uniformed attendant rushed forward, opening the door with a practiced bow.
Yuzuki stepped out first.
He paused.
Looked up.
"…Damn."
The hotel towered above him. Glass, steel, and quiet luxury. Every inch of it screamed wealth.
"You weren't kidding," he muttered. "This place is insane."
Behind him, Bisky stepped out like she owned the place.
Which, judging by her expression she practically did.
"It's decent," she said casually.
Yuzuki slowly turned to her.
"…Decent?"
Bisky crossed her arms, trying to maintain composure.
"Well, I've stayed in better."
A beat.
Then she looked away.
"…Not by much though."
Yuzuki narrowed his eyes.
"…You're rich, aren't you."
Bisky coughed.
"I wouldn't say rich…"
A pause.
"…Just… financially comfortable."
A staff member rushed over, bowing respectfully as they took their bags.
"Welcome back, Miss."
Yuzuki blinked.
"…Welcome back?"
Bisky froze.
Then waved her hand dismissively.
"I stay here sometimes."
"Sometimes," Yuzuki repeated flatly.
They stepped inside.
The lobby was worse.
Crystal chandeliers. Polished floors that reflected like mirrors. A grand piano playing softly in the distance.
Yuzuki exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah, I'm robbing you one day."
Bisky smirked.
"You can try."
They checked in quickly. No delays, no questions.
Bisky handled everything effortlessly.
Soon—
They were inside the suite.
Yuzuki stepped in…
…and stopped again.
"…This is not a hotel room."
It was massive.
A full living area. Two bedrooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
"This is a mansion."
Bisky tossed herself onto the couch.
"It's nice, right?"
Yuzuki walked further in, still scanning everything.
"…You live like this casually?"
"Of course."
"…I'm definitely robbing you."
"Try it and I'll break your legs."
"Worth the risk."
Bisky laughed.
Then—
Her stomach growled.
Loudly.
Silence.
Yuzuki slowly turned.
"…You serious?"
Bisky immediately sat up.
"I'm hungry!"
"You just got here."
"And?"
She crossed her arms.
"Order something."
Yuzuki glanced toward the phone—
Then shook his head.
"…Nah."
Bisky blinked.
"Huh?"
"I'll cook."
Silence.
Bisky stared at him.
"…You?"
Yuzuki raised a brow.
"What about me?"
"You can cook?"
"…Yeah?"
Bisky narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…You're lying."
Yuzuki sighed.
"Just sit down."
Without another word—
He walked into the kitchen.
Bisky didn't move.
Then—
She slowly stood.
"…No way…"
In the kitchen
Yuzuki rolled up his sleeves.
Opened the fridge.
"…Not bad."
High-end ingredients.
Fresh produce.
Premium cuts.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
'It's been a while…'
For a brief moment—
His expression softened.
Then—
It changed.
Focused.
Sharp.
Like flipping a switch.
Knife in hand—
Slice.
Clean.
Precise.
Vegetables cut in perfect uniformity.
Meat prepared with deliberate care.
Heat controlled flawlessly.
Oil shimmered.
Ingredients hit the pan.
Sizzle.
Aroma spread instantly.
Outside—
Bisky's nose twitched.
"…What is that smell?"
She stood up.
And walked—
No.
Snuck—
To the kitchen.
Peeking in—
Her eyes widened.
Yuzuki moved like he belonged there.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Everything flowed.
"…What the hell…"
He didn't even look at her.
"Tasting later," he said calmly.
Bisky blinked.
"…You saw me?"
"I can feel you breathing."
"…Creepy."
"Get out."
She didn't.
She stepped in.
Watched closer.
"…You're actually serious…"
Yuzuki flipped something in the pan without looking.
"…Do you mind?"
"No."
"…Out."
"Make me."
He paused.
Then sighed.
"…You're annoying."
"Say that after I eat."
Minutes Later
Dishes came together one by one.
Rice.
Perfectly steamed.
Grilled fish.
Crisp skin. Tender inside.
Miso soup.
Rich. Balanced.
Side dishes arranged with care.
Simple.
But refined.
Yuzuki placed everything neatly on the table.
Then sat down.
"Done."
Bisky stared.
"…What is this?"
Yuzuki leaned back slightly.
"Traditional Japanese meal."
He gestured lazily.
"Rice, miso soup, grilled fish, sides."
A pause.
"…It's what I used to make."
His tone dipped, just slightly.
Bisky noticed.
But didn't comment.
Instead—
She picked up her chopsticks.
"…I'm judging you."
"Go ahead."
She took a bite.
Then—
Froze.
Silence.
Yuzuki watched calmly.
"…Well?"
No response.
Bisky slowly chewed.
Swallowed.
Then—
"…What the hell is this?"
Yuzuki frowned.
"…What?"
She slammed her hand on the table.
"This is AMAZING!"
Yuzuki blinked.
"…Relax."
"No!"
She grabbed another bite immediately.
"This is, this is, this is better than gourmet level!"
"Now you're exaggerating."
"I'm NOT!"
She pointed at him with chopsticks.
"You. Why are you not a Gourmet Hunter?!"
"Because I don't care."
"YOU SHOULD!"
Yuzuki shook his head.
"…You're loud."
Bisky ignored him completely—
Still eating.
"…This is insane…"
Another bite.
"…Absolutely insane…"
Yuzuki watched her quietly.
Then—
A small, almost invisible smile appeared.
For the first time in a while—
He looked…
At ease.
---
The hotel room still carried the warmth of the meal.
Empty plates. A faint aroma of miso and grilled fish lingering in the air. Bisky leaned back in her chair, arms folded, eyes narrowed. Not in irritation this time, but in thought.
Yuzuki sat across from her, relaxed, one leg crossed over the other.
"So," he said casually, "how do I get stronger?"
Bisky didn't answer immediately.
She studied him.
The way his posture was loose… but not careless. The way his aura, even when suppressed, hummed with unnatural density.
"You already know the obvious answer," she said finally. "Nen."
Yuzuki nodded. "I figured."
"But," Bisky continued, leaning forward slightly, "Nen isn't everything."
That got his attention.
She tapped the table.
"You're strong. Ridiculously so for your age. Your control is precise. Your instincts aren't bad either." She paused, then added bluntly, "But you can't fight."
Yuzuki blinked.
"…That's harsh."
"It's accurate."
Bisky didn't soften it.
"You rely too much on your ability. On raw output. On tricks. Strip that away, and your fundamentals are weak."
Yuzuki frowned slightly.
She continued.
"Martial arts matter. Footwork. Timing. Body mechanics. Reading your opponent without Nen. Those things decide fights just as much as aura does."
She placed a hand on her chest.
"I'm a practitioner of Shingen-ryu. It's not just a fighting style. It's a discipline. It teaches control, will, and the mental structure needed to fully utilize Nen."
Yuzuki rested his chin on his hand.
"…I think I know something like that."
Bisky raised a brow.
"Oh?"
He hesitated for a second.
'Systema…'
The word surfaced naturally in his mind.
A memory that wasn't this body's.
"My… father," he said slowly, "used something similar. A martial art."
Bisky tilted her head.
"What's it called?"
"Systema."
She frowned.
"…Never heard of it."
'Of course you haven't,' Yuzuki thought. 'Different world.'
He leaned back slightly.
"It focuses on breathing, relaxation, fluid movement. No rigid forms. You adapt to the opponent instead of forcing structure."
Now Bisky was interested.
"Show me."
Yuzuki stood.
"Right now?"
"Right now."
They moved the table aside.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Bisky stood across from him, casual… almost lazy.
"Come," she said.
Yuzuki exhaled slowly.
Then—
He moved.
Loose, fluid—
His shoulder rolled as his arm followed naturally, striking not with force, but with timing.
Bisky's eyes sharpened instantly.
She blocked.
But not cleanly.
'That angle…' she thought.
Yuzuki didn't stop.
His body flowed.
A second strike came, not where she expected but where her defense had just been.
Bisky shifted, dodged—
But he was already adjusting.
No wasted motion.
No stiffness.
Every movement connected.
Like water finding cracks.
Bisky's lips curled.
"Interesting…"
She stepped in.
This time, faster.
Her hand shot forward—
Yuzuki twisted—
Her force slid past him.
His palm touched her arm lightly—
And for a split second—
Her balance broke.
Bisky's eyes widened.
'He used my own momentum…'
She jumped back.
Silence filled the room.
Yuzuki relaxed, exhaling.
"…I'm still rough with it," he admitted.
Bisky stared at him.
Then—
A slow smile spread across her face.
"You're kidding me."
She walked in a circle around him.
"This… this is insane."
Yuzuki scratched his cheek.
"I told you, it's not perfect yet."
"Perfect?" Bisky scoffed. "You just showed me a combat system with no rigid structure, full adaptability, and seamless integration with body mechanics—"
She stopped in front of him.
"You realize what this is?"
Yuzuki shrugged.
"…Something useful?"
"This is a gold mine."
Her eyes sparkled.
"You could open a martial arts school and make a fortune."
Yuzuki sighed.
"There it is…"
"Don't 'there it is' me!" she snapped. "I'm serious!"
Then she crossed her arms.
"But more importantly…"
Her expression sharpened again.
"You're going to refine this."
Yuzuki looked at her.
"How?"
Bisky smirked.
"We test it."
The Next Day — Heavens Arena
The towering structure stretched into the sky like a monument to violence.
Yuzuki looked up at it.
"…So this is Heavens Arena."
Bisky nodded.
"A perfect place to grow."
They walked toward the entrance—
And stopped.
A massive line stretched across the plaza.
Dozens. No, hundreds of people.
All waiting.
Bisky sighed.
"…Looks like we'll be here a while."
Yuzuki glanced at the line.
Then smirked.
"…Amateur."
Bisky blinked.
"Excuse me?"
He was already walking.
Straight past the line.
People turned.
"Hey! The line's back here!"
"Who does this kid think he is?!"
Yuzuki ignored all of them.
Calm. Confident.
He reached near the front—
Second place.
A girl stood there.
He looked at her.
"I'll give you 20 million Jenny for your spot."
Silence.
The girl blinked.
"…What?"
"20 million," he repeated casually.
Her eyes widened.
"Deal."
Instant.
No hesitation.
Behind them—
"What?!"
"I'll take 15 million!"
"I'll give you my spot for 10!"
Voices erupted.
Some scoffed.
"Rich brat…"
"He's gonna get wrecked inside anyway…"
Yuzuki didn't care.
He gestured toward Bisky.
"Get the money from her."
Then he stepped forward.
Taking the spot like it was always his.
Meanwhile…
Bisky stood in the line.
Arms crossed.
Nodding.
"…Not bad. Resourceful."
Then—
A shadow loomed.
She looked down.
The girl from earlier stood in front of her.
"Um… he said to get the money from you."
Silence.
A vein popped on Bisky's forehead.
"…He said what?"
The girl smiled nervously.
"The 20 million—"
CRACK.
The ground beneath Bisky's foot slightly fractured.
Her smile was terrifying.
"…I'm going to kill him."
At the front—
Yuzuki suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He didn't turn around.
"…Yeah," he muttered, "that's fair."
---
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