Early Morning
The sky is pale.
Still.
But not peaceful.
Tamagichi Stands Alone
At the far edge of the settlement.
Looking outward.
His Eyes Are Focused
Not on the land—
But beyond it.
A Presence Approaches
Goro
Silent as always.
"…You felt it too."
Tamagichi Doesn't Turn
"…Yes."
A Pause
Goro continues
"…It's getting stronger."
Tamagichi nods slightly
"…Faster than I expected."
Goro crosses his arms
"…Is it him… or the blade?"
A longer pause this time
Tamagichi finally answers
"…Both."
That answer is serious
Goro exhales slowly
"…So it's real."
Tamagichi's voice lowers
"…It always was."
Scene Shift
Hiroto Stands with the Others
Still recovering—
But back on his feet.
Akari watches him carefully
"…You look worse than yesterday."
Hiroto shrugs slightly
"…Feel better though."
Yui tilts her head
"…That doesn't make sense…"
Kenzaku answers quietly
"…It does."
A pause.
"…He's adapting."
Footsteps Approach
Tamagichi arrives
The atmosphere changes instantly
Everyone straightens slightly
Tamagichi's gaze goes directly to Hiroto
No greeting
No delay.
He speaks
"…Show me."
Hiroto doesn't ask what he means
He draws the blade
A faint pulse follows
Tamagichi's eyes sharpen
He steps closer
Slowly.
Then stops—just within reach
A long silence
Then—
"…Again."
Hiroto focuses
This time—
He doesn't force it.
He listens
The blade responds
A clear pulse
Stronger than before.
Kenzaku notices immediately
"…It's different…"
Akari frowns slightly
"…What is it doing…?"
Tamagichi raises a hand slightly
Silencing them.
His eyes never leave the blade
Then—
He speaks quietly
"…So it's begun…"
Hiroto looks at him
"…What has?"
Tamagichi finally meets his gaze
A long pause
Then—
"…Your connection to it."
That lands differently
Hiroto tightens his grip slightly
"…Connection…?"
Tamagichi nods once
"…That's not just a weapon."
Akari mutters
"…We already figured that part out…"
Tamagichi ignores her
His voice lowers further
"…It chooses."
Silence
Yui's voice is quiet
"…Chooses…?"
Tamagichi continues
"…And it's chosen you."
That hits everyone
Hiroto's expression hardens slightly
"…Why?"
Tamagichi answers honestly
"…That's what we don't know yet."
A pause
Then—
His tone sharpens slightly
"…But others will."
Kenzaku understands immediately
"…The ones watching…"
Tamagichi nods
"…Yes."
Akari exhales sharply
"…So now we're a target."
Goro answers quietly
"…We already were."
Hiroto looks down at the blade again
This time—
He doesn't question it
He accepts it
Tamagichi's voice lowers one last time—
serious… almost warning.
"…Whatever that blade is…"
A pause.
"…it will decide the future."
To be continued…