The afternoon air drifted quietly through the eastern side of Reikosha Academy, where Sensei Judas' students trained. Unlike Shougo's laid-back style, Judas believed discipline came before talent. Every movement had purpose, every mistake had consequences, and every student under her learned that strength meant nothing without control.
Reji Kuroda lazily spun his kusarigama around one hand while watching several first-year students practice. A smirk slowly formed on his face as one of them tripped over his own feet and landed face-first on the ground.
"...Seriously?" Reji sighed dramatically. "If that's your footwork, even an Evil Spirit would feel bad beating you."
The first-year lowered his head in embarrassment as a few other students awkwardly laughed.
Reji clicked his tongue and continued walking toward them. "Come on, at least pretend you know what you're doing. Watching you guys train hurts my eyes."
Before he could continue, a wooden sword suddenly struck the back of his head.
Thunk.
"Ow!"
Reji rubbed the back of his head before turning around.
"Sensei!"
Judas stood behind him with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on him.
"What did I tell you about mocking younger students?"
Reji scratched his cheek.
"...Not to?"
"Correct."
"I wasn't bullying them."
Judas raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"I was giving... motivational criticism."
Several students immediately shook their heads.
"No, you weren't..."
Judas let out a quiet sigh.
"Reji."
"...Yes?"
"If you have enough energy to make fun of others, then you have enough energy to run fifty laps."
Reji's eyes widened.
"Fifty?!"
"Did I stutter?"
"...No..."
He lowered his shoulders dramatically before beginning his punishment, muttering under his breath.
"I knew waking up today was a mistake..."
The younger students couldn't help but laugh.
Even Judas smiled slightly.
"Remember," she told them calmly, "strength should encourage others, not crush their confidence."
Reji heard her words as he jogged around the field.
"...Yeah, yeah..."
After finishing his punishment, Reji collapsed beneath a large tree near the edge of the training grounds, breathing heavily.
"I swear... she's scarier than any monster."
A familiar voice spoke nearby.
"You deserved it."
Reji looked up and saw Seiyan Kazehara sitting quietly on a nearby bench, calmly polishing the sheath of his sword.
Reji groaned.
"You're not even going to defend me?"
Seiyan smiled faintly.
"I would..."
He looked at Reji.
"...If you weren't obviously being a jerk."
"I wasn't."
"You laughed at a kid because he fell."
"...He fell funny."
Seiyan couldn't help but chuckle.
"You really never change."
Reji lay back on the grass, staring at the clouds drifting across the blue sky.
"...Maybe."
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was comfortable.
Finally, Reji broke it.
"Hey, Seiyan."
"Hm?"
"Why do you train so hard?"
Seiyan looked toward the distant mountains surrounding the academy.
"...Because I don't want to regret anything."
Reji blinked.
"...That's a boring answer."
"It wasn't meant to be exciting."
Reji laughed quietly before crossing his arms behind his head.
"You know... sometimes I wonder why we're even getting stronger."
Seiyan glanced at him.
"What brought that on?"
Reji's smile slowly faded.
"I've fought strong people."
He remembered Oza.
He remembered his destroyed hometown.
He remembered the endless training.
"The stronger I become..."
He looked at his own hands.
"...the more I realize how weak I still am."
Seiyan remained silent, letting him continue.
"I used to think becoming stronger would make everything easier."
Reji laughed bitterly.
"It doesn't."
"It just lets you see a bigger mountain waiting ahead."
Seiyan nodded.
"That's true."
Reji looked at him.
"So why keep climbing?"
Seiyan smiled.
"Because stopping halfway would mean everything we've done until now was meaningless."
A gentle breeze passed between them.
Reji stared at the sky once more.
"...You're surprisingly wise."
"My teacher says I think too much."
"And mine says I talk too much."
"She's right."
"Hey."
They both laughed quietly.
For the first time in a while, Reji felt strangely relaxed.
Not because his problems were gone...
But because, for a brief moment, he wasn't carrying them alone.
Far away, Judas watched the two from the academy balcony.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"They're growing..."
Not just as warriors.
But as people.
Sometimes...
That was the more difficult battle.