April 10th.
Morning arrived quietly over the Wind Village.
The last traces of winter still clung to the rooftops and stone paths, thin layers of snow melting slowly under a pale golden sky. The air was cold—but not biting. The wind moved gently through the streets, carrying something different today.
Anticipation.
People were already awake.
Moving.
Gathering.
Voices filled the distance—not loud, but alive.
Because today—
mattered.
From the edge of the estate grounds—
Shinju stood.
Silent.
Watching.
Her white hair swayed softly with the breeze, her hands folded neatly in front of her as always.
Her eyes were calm.
But focused.
It's been one month…
The thought came quietly.
Soft.
But heavy.
A month since that day.
Since the snow.
Since the cliff.
Since she watched him… break.
Her gaze shifted slightly.
Toward the training grounds in the distance.
And just like that—
memories began to surface.
Not all at once.
But in fragments.
Early mornings.
Before the sun rose.
Before the estate woke.
Kaito.
Already there.
Standing alone.
Breath steady.
Body still.
Listening to the wind.
Then—
movement.
Sharp.
Precise.
Relentless.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Late nights.
When everything else had gone quiet.
When even the wind felt slower.
He was still there.
Still training.
Still pushing.
Still going.
No complaints.
No hesitation.
No stopping.
Shinju watched it all.
From a distance.
Every day.
He didn't stop…
Her fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve.
There were days his movements slowed.
Days his body shook.
Days he could barely stand.
But he still stood.
There were moments he failed.
Lost control.
Collapsed.
But he got up.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Her eyes softened slightly.
He never ran away.
Something about that…
stayed with her.
At first—
she didn't understand it.
Why he kept going.
Why he pushed himself like that.
Why he didn't just… stop.
But over time—
she started to see it.
He wasn't trying to be better than anyone…
Her gaze lowered slightly.
He was trying to become someone… who wouldn't break again.
The wind brushed past her.
Cold.
Gentle.
And slowly—
something inside her had begun to change too.
She found herself watching him more.
Not just out of duty.
Not just because she was told to.
But because—
she wanted to.
Because somehow…
she understood him.
The silence.
The distance.
The weight of not being enough.
Her lips parted slightly.
A quiet thought forming.
If he can keep going…
A small pause.
…maybe I can too.
The wind shifted.
And just like that—
the past faded.
Her eyes lifted again.
Back to the present.
Today.
April 10th.
The estate grounds were no longer quiet.
Servants moved quickly.
Voices echoed.
Energy filled the air.
The Master Exam.
Shinju's gaze moved forward.
And then—
she saw him.
Kaito.
Standing alone.
Dressed in clean white training attire.
His posture straight.
His presence… different.
The boy from a month ago—
was gone.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just stillness.
Calm.
Controlled.
The wind moved around him—
not wildly—
not forcefully—
but naturally.
Like it belonged there.
Like it belonged to him.
Shinju's eyes widened slightly.
…He changed.
Not louder.
Not brighter.
Sharper.
Her grip tightened slightly.
He really did it…
In the distance—
a deep sound echoed across the village.
A signal.
Low.
Resonant.
The call.
People began moving faster.
Toward one place.
The exam grounds.
Shinju looked back at Kaito.
He didn't move immediately.
For a brief moment—
he stood there.
Eyes forward.
Unshaken.
Then—
he stepped.
One step forward.
Calm.
Certain.
And began walking.
No rush.
No doubt.
Just… forward.
Shinju watched him go.
Her heart beating just a little faster.
This is it…
The wind followed him gently—
as if acknowledging something.
And for the first time in a long time—
Kaito wasn't running anymore.
Morning didn't stay quiet for long.
The Wind Village began to move.
Footsteps echoed across stone paths.
Doors slid open.
Voices layered over one another.
Children in white training robes rushed through the streets, some excited, some nervous—some trying very hard not to show it.
From every corner of the village—
they were all heading to one place.
The wind carried it.
A gathering.
A test.
A beginning.
The path widened as the village opened into a massive circular structure—
The Aerial Convergence Arena.
A colossal open-air coliseum carved from smooth pale stone, its size stretching across kilometers. Towering tiers rose upward in perfect symmetry, capable of holding thousands upon thousands of spectators.
Above it—
a faint, shimmering dome of wind rotated slowly, stabilizing the air within.
No snow entered.
No cold touched the space.
Only wind.
Only energy.
Three distinct sectors divided the arena.
At the highest level—
a refined, elevated platform lined with elegant seating.
The Kaze Sector.
Reserved for the ruling family and their personal attendants.
Below it—
a structured, disciplined section.
The Officials' Sector.
Where masters, exam overseers, and their assistants gathered.
And below that—
stretching endlessly around the arena—
the Public Sector.
Filled.
Overflowing.
Thousands of villagers.
Watching.
Waiting.
—
And in the center—
standing across the vast open ground—
were the participants.
—
Thousands of them.
—
A sea of white.
Ages ranging from seven… to thirteen.
Some stood tall with confidence.
Some whispered nervously.
Some scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces.
—
Over three thousand candidates.
All here—
for one purpose.
—
To become Masters.
—
Through one of the upper entrances—
Kaito walked in.
Beside him—
Kaede.
Calm. Composed. Silent as always.
Behind them—
Hana.
Graceful.
Watching everything.
Toru walked beside her.
Hands relaxed.
Eyes sharp.
—
Between them—
Hina.
Holding Toru's hand.
Her small steps quick to keep up.
Her eyes—
locked ahead.
On Kaito.
—
Behind them—
Shinju.
Quiet.
Observing.
—
Alongside her—
another maid.
Mio.
Toru's personal attendant.
—
And at the rear—
Misaki.
The head maid.
Presence controlled.
Eyes attentive.
—
They moved together.
A single unit.
—
Hina tugged lightly on Toru's hand.
"…Dad."
He glanced down.
"…Yes?"
She pointed ahead.
"…Brother."
Toru followed her gaze.
Kaito didn't turn.
Didn't slow down.
He just kept walking forward.
They reached the Kaze Sector.
Took their places.
Overlooking everything.
Below—
the crowd grew louder.
Energy rising.
Tension building.
And then—
A voice.
Loud.
Bright.
Echoing across the entire arena.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—AND FUTURE LEGENDS!!!"
The crowd erupted.
Cheers.
Whistles.
Excitement bursting through the air.
At the center of the arena—
stood the announcer.
A man in loose white robes, exaggerated gestures, and a grin that refused to leave his face.
"WELCOME—TO THE MASTER EXAM!!!"
The sound shook the arena.
He spun once dramatically, arms wide.
"Today! Over THREE THOUSAND hopefuls stand before us! Some confident! Some terrified! Some pretending not to be terrified!"
A few nervous laughs broke out.
"But only a few—will rise."
His tone dropped slightly.
Then lifted again instantly.
"AND TODAY—we find out WHO!!!"
The crowd roared.
Kaito stood still among the candidates.
Eyes forward.
Unmoved.
The announcer raised one finger.
"Now then! Let's break it down for all you beautiful, confused minds!"
"THE MASTER EXAM… consists of FOUR trials!"
"One!"
He snapped upward.
"THE WRITTEN EXAM! Where your brain either saves you… or betrays you!"
"Two!"
"FLIGHT SPEED TEST! If you can't fly fast—well… you're walking home in shame!"
Laughter spread through the arena.
"Three!"
"WIND CONTROL! Control the wind… or get controlled by it!"
"And finally…"
He paused.
Dramatically.
Slowly raising his hand.
"FOUR…"
A grin.
"ONE… VERSUS… ONE… COMBAT!!!"
The arena exploded.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Excitement peaking.
The announcer clapped his hands.
"Now, of course! We couldn't possibly run something this important without some… monsters overseeing it!"
He gestured toward the Officials' Sector.
"FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM—"
A spotlight shifted.
"THE LAZY GENIUS HERSELF!!!"
Ayaka.
Sitting casually.
Half-leaning.
Eyes half-lidded.
Completely uninterested.
"GRANDMASTER AYAKA!!!"
A few claps.
A few whispers.
Everyone knew.
Behind that laziness—
was danger.
"FOR THE SECOND TRIAL—"
The announcer suddenly jumped.
Energy rising.
"THE MAN! THE MYTH! THE MUSCLE!!"
A loud stomp echoed.
Jun stepped forward.
Massive.
Grinning.
A cigarette between his fingers.
"SOVEREIGN MASTER JUN!!!"
"YOOOOOO!!!" Jun shouted, flexing slightly.
"DON'T FALL OUTTA THE SKY, KIDS!!!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
"FOR THE THIRD TRIAL—"
"WIND CONTROL!"
A calm, composed figure stepped forward.
Presence steady.
Eyes sharp.
"OUR ESTEEMED MASTER OF FLOW AND PRECISION!!!"
(GRANDMASTER RYŌSUKE!!!)
"And finally…"
The announcer's voice lowered.
Tone shifting.
Respect entering.
"For the FINAL TRIAL…"
"THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD."
"THE PINNACLE."
Silence fell.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Akira stepped forward.
No exaggeration.
No movement.
Just presence.
"MASTER AKIRA."
The name alone—
carried weight.
The crowd didn't explode.
They didn't cheer loudly.
They felt it.
Power.
The announcer clapped once.
"AND OF COURSE—OVERSEEING EVERYTHING—"
He turned toward the highest platform.
"The KAZE FAMILY!!!"
All eyes lifted.
Toru stood.
Hana beside him.
Hina between them.
Raiden and the rest of the family also stood up.
Authority.
Calm.
Unquestioned.
The announcer grinned again.
"Now then! Before we begin—"
He snapped his fingers.
SNAP.
A ripple spread across the arena.
In an instant—
uniforms appeared.
Thousands of them.
Perfectly folded.
Placed directly into the hands of every participant.
Gasps.
Shock.
Excitement.
"EXAM UNIFORMS!!!"
"Try them on! Look cool! Don't embarrass yourselves!"
Laughter spread again.
Kaito looked down at the uniform in his hands.
White.
Clean.
Precise.
He didn't smile.
But his grip tightened slightly.
Around him—
voices rose.
Competitors sizing each other up.
Whispers starting.
Rivalries forming.
And above—
from the Kaze Sector—
Shinju watched.
Her eyes didn't move from Kaito.
Because she knew.
This wasn't just an exam.
This—
was where everything changes.
The noise of the arena didn't settle—
it grew.
Voices layered over voices.
Excitement.
Tension.
Expectation.
Kaito stood still among the sea of white.
His eyes moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He looked around.
Thousands.
All around him.
Children his age.
Older ones too.
Some radiated confidence.
Some tried to hide their fear.
Some stared at others like predators sizing up prey.
He noticed stances.
Postures.
Breathing patterns.
They're all serious…
A boy a few steps away cracked his knuckles, wind flickering faintly around his arms.
Another stood perfectly still, eyes closed—already focusing.
Two others whispered, glancing around nervously.
Kaito said nothing.
Just observed.
Then—
his gaze lifted.
Upward.
To the highest sector.
The Kaze Sector.
His family sat there.
Hana.
Toru.
Hina.
Still watching.
But his eyes didn't stay on them long.
They shifted.
And then—
he saw her.
Yumi.
Sitting quietly.
Small.
Still.
His brows furrowed slightly.
…Why isn't she down here?
For a brief moment—
confusion crossed his face.
She should've been here.
With the others.
With him.
But she wasn't.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Scanning.
And then—
he saw him.
Reiji.
Standing beside her.
Still.
Silent.
But different.
Colder.
There was no warmth in his posture.
No ease.
No presence of familiarity.
Just distance.
Kaito's expression hardened slightly.
…What happened to you?
As if sensing it—
Yumi looked up.
Her eyes found Kaito.
For a split second—
her face lit up.
Relief.
Happiness.
She lifted her hand slightly.
A small wave.
But—
it didn't last.
Reiji moved his gaze.
Just slightly.
Not even fully turning his head.
Just—
a look.
Cold.
Sharp.
Silent.
Yumi froze.
Her hand stopped mid-air.
Then—
slowly—
she lowered it.
Her eyes dropped.
Kaito saw it.
All of it.
His jaw tightened.
Something in his chest shifted.
That wasn't normal.
That wasn't okay.
His eyes lingered on her for a second longer.
Then—
on Reiji.
Cold met cold.
But Reiji didn't even acknowledge him.
Like he wasn't worth it.
Kaito looked away first.
But not because he lost.
Because something else had taken its place.
Concern.
Real.
Heavy.
…What's going on?
Around him—
the arena continued to roar.
But for a moment—
none of it mattered.
Because something was wrong.
And Kaito felt it.
The tension lingered.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
Kaito's gaze slowly pulled away from the Kaze Sector.
From Yumi.
From Reiji.
Back to the arena.
Back to the present.
Because no matter what he felt—
no matter what questions burned in his mind
this moment wouldn't wait for him.
"ALRIGHT!!!"
The announcer's voice crashed back into the arena, loud and full of energy.
"ENOUGH STARING AT EACH OTHER LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO START A WAR ALREADY!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Some tension broke.
He clapped his hands together dramatically.
"YOU'VE GOT YOUR UNIFORMS!!!"
He pointed wildly across the arena.
"SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! A PERSONAL INVITATION?!"
More laughter.
Even a few of the candidates relaxed slightly.
"GO! CHANGE! GET READY!"
He spun in place, nearly slipping before catching himself.
"…and PLEASE don't embarrass yourselves putting it on. It's a uniform, not a puzzle!"
A louder wave of laughter spread through the arena.
Candidates began to move.
Groups forming.
Footsteps echoing.
Energy shifting.
The announcer raised a finger again.
"Oh—and one more thing!"
He leaned forward slightly.
Grinning.
"Good luck."
A pause.
"You're gonna need it."
Then he straightened instantly, clapping once.
"BECAUSE SOME OF YOU—"
He pointed randomly into the crowd.
"—are going HOME after the first trial!!!"
A mix of laughter and nervous groans filled the arena.
"And for the rest of you?"
He spread his arms wide.
"TRY NOT TO PASS OUT TOO EARLY!!!"
The crowd erupted.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Excitement exploding once more.
Above—
the Kaze Sector remained composed.
Below—
thousands of futures began to move.
Kaito stood still for one second longer.
Just one.
Then—
without a word—
he turned.
And walked forward.
Toward the exam.
Toward whatever was waiting for him next.
The wind shifted.
Soft.
Unseen.
As if watching.
As if waiting.
And just like that…
the Master Exam had begun.