For a moment after Ren spoke, the mountain air felt strangely quiet.
The wind brushed through the tall grass, rustling softly along the rocks and the stream beside them.
Kaito stood frozen.
Two years.
Two whole years had passed since the last time he had seen him.
"…Ren?"
The boy standing in front of him looked familiar, but also different. Taller. His posture was straighter, calmer, like someone who had been through countless hours of training.
Yet the small smile on his face was the same.
"Yo, Kaito."
Kaito stared for another second.
Then suddenly his face broke into a huge grin.
"You actually came back!"
Ren chuckled quietly.
"Of course I did."
Kaito scratched the back of his head, still smiling.
"I thought the Water Clan turned you into some super serious training robot or something."
Ren crossed his arms.
"Maybe they did."
Kaito laughed.
"Nah. You're still the same."
While they spoke, a small tug pulled on Kaito's sleeve.
He looked down.
Hina peeked out from behind him, holding onto his clothes tightly while staring at Ren with wide, curious eyes.
Ren noticed her immediately.
His expression softened.
"So this is Hina."
He crouched slightly so he was closer to her height.
Hina didn't say anything. She just stared, half hiding behind Kaito.
Kaito blinked.
"Oh! Right."
He gently nudged her forward.
"Hina, this is Ren. He's my friend."
Hina peeked up again.
"…Friend?"
Ren smiled a little.
"Yeah."
He glanced toward the small river flowing nearby.
Without saying anything, he raised his hand.
Water from the river slowly lifted into the air.
Hina gasped.
The water twisted and moved like it was alive.
Then it shaped itself.
A small rabbit made of water appeared.
It hopped gently through the air.
Hina's eyes lit up instantly.
"Kaito!"
Another shape formed.
A tiny fish, swimming through the air as if it were still underwater.
Then Ren shaped the water again.
This time it became a small fox, its tail wagging playfully as it circled Hina.
Hina giggled loudly.
She ran toward the floating animals, trying to touch them.
The water fox bounced away playfully.
Kaito blinked in surprise.
"…You can do that now?"
Ren shrugged slightly.
"Control training."
Hina clapped her hands happily as the rabbit hopped around her.
For a moment, Kaito simply watched.
Then he laughed.
"That's unfair."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"You show up after two years and start showing off cool stuff."
Ren smirked a little.
"You were the one throwing blade attacks earlier."
Kaito folded his arms proudly.
"Well yeah."
Hina ran back toward them, the little water animals following behind her.
"Look! Look!"
Kaito laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. I see."
The three of them began walking along the mountain path together.
The small stream flowed beside them, sunlight reflecting across its surface.
Hina walked ahead, chasing the little water animals Ren controlled.
Kaito and Ren followed behind.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kaito finally glanced sideways.
"So…"
Ren looked at him.
"How's the Water Clan?"
Ren let out a quiet breath.
"Strict."
Kaito snorted.
"I guessed that."
Ren continued walking.
"Training starts before sunrise. Ends after sunset."
Kaito's eyes widened.
"…Seriously?"
Ren nodded.
"Most of it is control exercises."
He pointed toward the water animals following Hina.
"Like that."
Kaito scratched his cheek.
"Sounds boring."
"It is."
They both laughed.
Kaito kicked a small rock off the path.
"But you became a Master, right?"
Ren nodded once.
Kaito grinned widely.
"That's amazing."
He bumped Ren lightly with his shoulder.
"Seriously, Ren. That's insane."
Ren shrugged.
"It just means more training."
Kaito groaned dramatically.
"Ugh."
He stretched his arms behind his head.
"Akira already makes me train until I can't move."
Ren chuckled.
"That sounds like him."
Kaito nodded.
"He made me practice the Pulse Blade for days."
Ren glanced at him.
"It looked good earlier."
Kaito smiled proudly.
"I finally got it stable."
Ren nodded approvingly.
"That's impressive."
Kaito pointed toward himself.
"Of course it is."
Then he grinned.
"You're not the only one getting stronger."
Ren smirked slightly.
"I can see that."
They continued walking along the path.
Hina chased the water fox while laughing loudly.
Kaito watched her for a moment.
For a while they just walked, enjoying the mountain air.
Then Kaito suddenly stopped.
Ren noticed and stopped too.
Kaito looked at him.
"So…"
Ren sighed slightly.
"You want to spar."
Kaito grinned.
"Maybe."
Ren looked toward Hina.
She was sitting on a rock, playing with the water rabbit.
He nodded.
"Alright."
Kaito's grin widened instantly.
They moved toward a wide rocky clearing.
The wind moved through the open space.
Hina sat on a large stone nearby, watching them curiously.
"Are you fighting?"
Kaito pointed.
"Just practicing."
Ren rolled his shoulders.
"Ready?"
Kaito raised his hand.
Pulse gathered instantly.
A Pulse Blade formed with a sharp glow.
Ren didn't create a weapon.
Instead, water from the nearby stream lifted into the air.
It circled around his arm like a flowing ribbon.
Kaito charged first.
His blade cut through the air in a fast slash.
Ren slid sideways.
His feet moved smoothly across the ground as water flowed beneath them.
Kaito's blade missed.
"Whoa—"
Kaito turned quickly.
Ren had already moved behind him.
Kaito spun and attacked again.
Ren blocked with a curved shield of water.
The two forces collided with a sharp burst of energy.
Wind and water sprayed outward.
Kaito grinned.
"You got faster."
Ren stepped back calmly.
"You got smarter."
Kaito lunged again.
This time he attacked from a different angle.
Ren dodged again.
Kaito suddenly fired a Pulse Slash toward a nearby rock.
Ren blinked.
The attack hit the rock and bounced slightly
Changing direction.
It shot toward Ren from the side.
Ren raised his arm quickly.
Water blocked it.
The impact splashed across the ground.
Ren smiled.
"Nice trick."
Kaito grinned.
"That's not all."
They clashed again.
Kaito attacked rapidly now, forcing Ren to move.
Ren blocked and dodged smoothly, water flowing around his arms.
Despite Kaito's clever attacks—
Ren clearly had the advantage.
His movements were smoother.
His pulse control was stronger.
Kaito tried another strategy.
He launched several Pulse Slashes into the ground and rocks around Ren.
Ren blocked two.
But the third bounced unpredictably.
Ren stepped back quickly.
Water gathered around his arm.
This time it formed into a Water Blade.
The fight intensified immediately.
Kaito swung.
Ren blocked.
The two blades collided with a loud crack.
Wind and water exploded outward.
Kaito pushed forward.
Ren countered with stronger force.
Kaito slid back across the rocks.
"Whoa!"
Ren charged now.
His movements were faster.
Kaito barely blocked several strikes.
Each clash pushed him farther backward.
Kaito tried to redirect the fight again.
He jumped sideways and fired another Pulse Slash.
Ren cut through it.
Water spiraled around his blade.
Kaito rushed forward for one final attack.
Their blades collided again.
This time—
Ren twisted his wrist.
Kaito's Pulse Blade shattered instantly.
The energy scattered into the air.
Before Kaito could react—
Ren's water blade stopped just near his shoulder.
The wind went quiet.
Kaito blinked.
Then he fell backward into the grass.
"…Okay."
He started laughing.
"Yeah."
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"You're definitely stronger."
Ren let the water blade dissolve.
He sat down beside him.
"You're not weak."
Kaito looked over.
"Really?"
Ren nodded.
"Most people couldn't push me that far."
Kaito grinned.
"I almost had you with the rock trick."
Ren chuckled.
"Almost."
Hina ran over excitedly.
"That was amazing!"
She waved her arms around.
"You were like—whoosh—boom—splash!"
Kaito laughed.
"Very accurate description."
Ren smiled.
The sun was beginning to lower behind the mountains.
Golden light spread across the clearing.
After a while, Ren stood.
"I should go."
Kaito sat up.
"Already?"
Ren nodded.
"Master duties."
Kaito sighed.
"Of course."
Ren started walking down the mountain path.
Then he stopped and looked back.
"Train harder."
Kaito stood up.
He crossed his arms.
"You too."
Ren smirked.
"Next time we fight…"
He paused.
"I won't go easy."
Kaito grinned confidently.
"Next time…"
He pointed at Ren.
"I'm beating you."
Ren laughed quietly.
Then he turned and continued down the path.
The wind moved gently through the mountains.
Kaito watched until Ren disappeared into the distance.
Then he looked at Hina.
"Next time…"
He smiled slightly.
"…I'll win."