Dawn Comes… But It Feels Wrong
Light spreads across the settlement—
But no one feels at ease.
No One Sleeps Properly Anymore
Even silence feels like a warning.
Hiroto Stands Before Sunrise
Already awake.
Already holding the blade.
No hesitation now
Only focus.
"…Again."
Tamagichi Appears Without Sound
Already there.
Watching.
"…Good."
No more warm-ups
No more pacing.
Training Begins Instantly
CLASH
Faster than before
Sharper than before
Hiroto moves with more control
Less wasted motion—
More instinct.
The blade pulses—
But this time—stable
Tamagichi notices immediately
"…You're adapting."
Hiroto answers mid-exchange
"…I don't have a choice."
CLASH
The pressure rises again
But Hiroto holds longer now
Akari watches from a distance
"…He's different…"
Kenzaku nods slightly
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…But it's not enough yet."
Yui grips her sleeve again
"…It still feels like we're behind…"
Goro answers calmly
"…Because we are."
Back to the fight
Tamagichi increases speed
Hiroto reacts—barely
He blocks—then slips—then recovers
A clean movement follows
Tamagichi steps back slightly
A small pause
Then—
"…Again."
Hiroto doesn't stop
He pushes forward
The blade aligns with him
For a brief moment—
Everything flows perfectly
CLASH
Impact echoes
Then—
Both stop
Hiroto stands breathing hard
But still steady
Tamagichi watches him carefully
Then—
"…Better."
That's the first real acknowledgment
Hiroto exhales slowly
But he doesn't relax
Because he feels it too
Something is changing
The air shifts again
Kenzaku notices first
"…It's happening again…"
Akari turns instantly
"…What now?!"
Yui freezes slightly
"…Not again…"
Goro steps forward
"…No…"
A pause.
"…This is different."
Tamagichi's expression sharpens
He looks outward
A long silence
Then—
"…They've made their move."
Hiroto tightens his grip
"…The ones from before?"
Tamagichi shakes his head slightly
"…No."
That's worse
Akari's voice lowers
"…Then who…?"
Tamagichi answers quietly
"…Something bigger."
Far beyond the settlement—
Where even the shadows don't reach—
A quiet command is given.
Cold.
Absolute.
"…Prepare to erase them."
To be continued…