Afternoon Drifts In
The light feels duller now.
Clouds hang lower.
Heavier.
Training Continues—But Slower
Not from exhaustion—
From pressure.
Hiroto Stands Opposite Tamagichi
Breathing controlled.
But sharper than before.
Something Has Changed
Not just skill—
Awareness.
Tamagichi Watches Him Closely
"…Again."
Hiroto Moves First
Faster than before
Strike
CLASH
Clean contact
Tamagichi blocks—
But adjusts instantly.
The exchange continues
Sharper.
More refined.
Hiroto follows the flow again
Not perfectly—
But better.
Another pulse from the blade
Stronger now.
Hiroto doesn't hesitate
He moves with it
Tamagichi's eyes narrow slightly
"…You're relying on it more."
Hiroto answers mid-fight
"…I'm using it."
Tamagichi responds instantly
"…Then don't let it use you."
That line hits hard
The clash breaks
Both step back.
Silence follows briefly
Akari watches, arms crossed
"…He's getting better."
Kenzaku nods slightly
"…But something's off."
Yui looks between them
"…What do you mean?"
Kenzaku's gaze shifts outward
Not at Hiroto—
At the surroundings.
"…It's too quiet."
That realization spreads
Goro turns slightly
Scanning the area.
Tamagichi doesn't move
But his expression changes.
Slightly.
Then—
A sound
Faint.
Almost nothing.
But enough
Hiroto reacts instantly
Turns—
Blade ready.
Nothing there
Akari narrows her eyes
"…You heard that too, right?"
Kenzaku answers quietly
"…Yeah."
Yui steps closer to them
"…I don't like this…"
Tamagichi finally speaks
"…Good."
They all look at him
His voice is calm—but serious
"…That means you're starting to notice."
Hiroto frowns slightly
"…Notice what?"
Tamagichi turns slightly
Eyes scanning beyond them.
A long pause
Then—
"…That we're not alone."
Silence hits again
Akari clenches her fist slightly
"…Again?"
Tamagichi responds calmly
"…No."
A beat.
"…Closer."
That changes everything
Goro steps forward slightly
"…How close?"
Tamagichi doesn't answer directly
Instead—
He looks at Hiroto
A long pause
Then says—
"…Close enough to strike."
Tension spikes instantly
Hiroto tightens his grip
Eyes sharp now—
Focused.
The blade pulses again
Stronger.
This time—
It feels like a warning
Hiroto whispers under his breath
"…They're here…"
Tamagichi hears it
But says nothing.
Beyond the edges of the settlement—
Hidden within broken structures—
Three figures stand still.
Watching from much closer now.
"…It's time to decide."
To be continued…