Several days had passed since Kaito's frustrating attempts to form a Pulse Blade.
The training grounds behind the Kaze residence were quiet except for the sound of wind moving through the tall grass.
Kaito stood in the center of the field, sweat dripping from his chin onto the ground. His breathing was steady but heavy. His clothes clung to his skin from hours of training.
Across from him, Akira stood with his arms folded, watching carefully.
"Again," Akira said calmly.
Kaito raised his hand.
Pulse flowed through his body.
He had spent days trying to stabilize it—again and again, failing, gathering the fragments of control Akira had been teaching him.
Now his mind was clearer.
His breathing slowed.
Pulse gathered in his palm.
The air trembled slightly.
Then—
A blade formed.
A clean, shimmering line of energy extended from Kaito's hand.
The Pulse Blade.
It didn't flicker.
It didn't scatter.
It remained steady.
The air around the blade hummed softly as wind brushed past it.
For a moment, Kaito simply stared.
"…I did it."
His voice came out quietly, almost disbelieving.
Akira's expression softened slightly.
"Well done."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Nearby, Kaede stood beneath the shade of a tree where she had been observing the training. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her as always.
Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the blade.
Then a gentle smile appeared.
"Kaito-sama… you truly did it."
There was pride in her voice, though her posture remained composed.
Kaito turned the blade slightly, watching the light ripple along its edge. The wind stirred around him, brushing softly against his clothes as if acknowledging the pulse flowing through him.
For the first time in days—
He felt proud of himself.
Akira stepped forward.
"Now that you can form it," he said calmly, raising his own hand, "let's see if you can use it."
Pulse gathered instantly in Akira's palm.
A blade of energy formed—longer, sharper, and far more stable than Kaito's.
Kaito's eyes lit up.
"A spar?"
Akira nodded once.
Kaito smiled.
"Alright."
They stepped away from each other across the field.
Kaede remained where she was, watching quietly.
The wind moved through the grass.
Then—
They moved.
Kaito dashed forward first.
His blade cut through the air in a fast horizontal strike.
Akira met it instantly.
CLANG.
The sound of pulse energy colliding echoed across the field.
A small shockwave pushed the grass outward around them.
Kaito's eyes sharpened.
He swung again.
Faster.
Akira parried easily, stepping to the side with fluid movement.
Their blades clashed again and again.
Each collision sent small ripples through the air.
Kaito pushed forward with determination, his movements sharper than before.
Days of training had changed him.
Akira noticed immediately.
His balance improved…
And his pulse control…
Kaito lunged forward and swung downward.
Akira blocked—
But Kaito twisted his body and redirected the blade, forcing Akira to adjust.
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly.
Good.
Kaito pressed the attack.
His strikes came faster now.
The pulse blade hummed as it sliced through the air.
Akira moved like wind itself, avoiding most of the strikes with effortless steps.
Then—
Kaito suddenly shifted direction.
His blade flashed toward Akira's side.
Akira blocked again.
But this time—
The edge of Kaito's blade brushed across Akira's sleeve.
The fabric tore slightly.
They both paused.
Akira glanced down briefly.
Then looked back at Kaito.
There was clear surprise in his eyes.
Kaede covered her mouth slightly in quiet shock.
"…Kaito-sama…"
Kaito blinked.
"Did I—?"
Akira straightened.
"Yes."
For a moment, a proud smile appeared.
"Again."
The spar continued.
Kaito pushed himself harder than before, refusing to slow down.
But Akira was still far beyond him.
After several more exchanges—
Akira stepped forward suddenly.
His blade moved faster than Kaito could react.
CLACK.
Kaito's pulse blade shattered from the impact.
His weapon dispersed into light as he stumbled backward and fell onto the grass.
Silence returned to the training field.
Kaito lay there, staring at the sky.
Then he laughed softly.
"…I lost."
Akira walked over and looked down at him.
"You performed far better than I expected."
Kaito sat up.
"Really?"
Akira nodded.
"At this pace, your growth will not stop anytime soon."
Kaito felt warmth spread through his chest.
Nearby, Kaede approached quietly.
"You fought well, Kaito-sama."
Her expression was gentle but proud.
Akira turned away.
"That's enough for today."
He began walking toward the path leading away from the training grounds.
"You should rest."
Kaito raised a hand lazily from the grass.
"Yes, Master."
Akira disappeared beyond the trees.
Kaito remained lying there for a moment.
Kaede stood beside him.
"…You worked very hard these past days."
Kaito sat up slowly.
A smile appeared on his face.
"I finally did it."
"Yes."
Kaede nodded.
Then she added gently,
"To celebrate, I will prepare sweets later."
Kaito's eyes widened instantly.
"Wait—really?!"
Kaede allowed herself a faint amused smile.
"If Kaito-sama behaves."
Kaito jumped to his feet immediately.
"I'll behave!"
Kaede sighed softly but smiled.
---
The next day was warm and bright.
The mountains near the village were surrounded by flowing streams and clear pools of water that reflected the sky.
Kaito sat on a large rock while Hina stood nearby, splashing water at him with both hands.
"Kaito!"
Water hit his face.
He wiped it away dramatically.
"Ah! I've been attacked!"
Hina burst into laughter.
Kaito jumped down from the rock and chased her across the shallow stream.
She ran between stones and small patches of grass, giggling the whole time.
He caught her easily and lifted her into the air.
"Captured."
Hina kicked her legs happily.
"Let me go!"
"Never."
He spun around once before setting her down again.
They sat beside the water after a while, both breathing lightly.
The wind carried the sound of flowing water through the mountains.
Hina looked up at him.
Kaito leaned back on his hands.
He smiled slightly and in his mind he thought to himself
Mom and Dad are busy.
So I'm on big brother duty.
Kaito stood up suddenly.
"Oh right."
"Hey Hina, wanna see something cool?"
Hina blinked.
Kaito grinned.
"I learned something cool recently."
Hina's eyes sparkled.
"What?"
He raised his hand.
Pulse gathered.
The Pulse Blade formed instantly.
Hina gasped.
"Kaito!"
He laughed.
"Watch this."
He swung the blade.
A sharp arc of pulse energy shot forward through the air toward the distant rocks.
But suddenly—
Another slash appeared from the side.
It struck Kaito's attack directly.
BOOM.
The two attacks collided and exploded into a burst of energy and wind.
Dust and water sprayed outward.
Kaito stepped back in shock.
"…What?"
The smoke slowly cleared.
A silhouette stood within it.
Walking forward calmly.
When the dust faded completely—
Kaito's eyes widened.
"…Ren?"
The boy stepping out of the smoke looked older.
Taller.
His expression calm and confident.
Ren stopped a few steps away and looked at him.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Yo, Kaito."
Kaito didn't move.
For two years—
He hadn't seen him.
Ren walked closer.
But before speaking again, he noticed someone tugging on Kaito's clothes.
He looked down.
Hina was hiding behind Kaito, peeking cautiously.
Ren's expression softened immediately.
"So this is Hina."
He crouched slightly so she could see his face better.
"You got big."
Hina stared at him quietly.
Ren then stood and looked back at Kaito.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The wind moved softly through the mountains.
Then Ren smiled.
"…Long time no see."
Kaito finally breathed out.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"…Yeah."
His voice was quiet.
"Long time."
The two of them stood there in silence for a moment.
Two years apart.
Two boys who had grown stronger in their own ways.
Kaito scratched the back of his head and laughed softly.
"You're late."
Ren chuckled.
"Am I?"
The wind moved through the grass between them.
And for the first time in two years—
They stood face to face again.