Next Day
Morning unfolded quietly.
Not with noise.
Not with urgency.
But with a slow, almost careful kind of existence.
Sunlight filtered through the dense forest canopy above, slipping between leaves in thin golden threads. It didn't rush. It didn't force itself. It simply arrived—soft, steady, patient.
The air carried something unusual.
A mixture of countless wildflowers blooming unseen across the forest floor. Their fragrance was layered—sweet in one breath, sharp in the next, then strangely calming. It drifted through the trees like an invisible river.
When it reached Leaf—
Something shifted.
The scent didn't just enter his lungs.
It moved deeper.
Through his breath.
Through his chest.
Through something beyond his physical body.
For a brief moment—
His entire being felt… lighter.
Not just relaxed.
But purified.
As if the air itself were gently washing something buried deep inside him—something tired, something wounded, something that had not rested in a long time.
Birds crossed the sky above in scattered formations, their wings cutting silently through the morning light. Somewhere deeper in the forest, deer ran freely, their hooves striking the earth in soft rhythms that echoed faintly.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
As if the world had paused… just before something important.
Leaf's eyes slowly opened.
A cool breeze brushed across his face, carrying the scent again. This time, he inhaled more slowly—almost consciously—trying to understand what he had just felt.
Then—
A voice.
"Good morning, Leaf."
Darkness.
"You woke up late."
Leaf exhaled quietly, rubbing his eyes slightly.
"…I needed it."
His voice was softer than usual. Not weak. Just… quieter.
"I felt off yesterday."
A pause.
"…But now …"
He inhaled once more, deeper this time.
"…I'm fine."
For a moment, nothing replied.
Then—
"Leaf."
Darkness spoke again, its tone slightly sharper.
"Did you notice something?"
Leaf frowned slightly.
"What?"
A brief pause.
"…Idiot. Look properly."
Leaf blinked, mildly annoyed.
Then he turned his head.
And froze.
The space beside him—
Empty.
No movement.
No sound.
No presence.
"…Python?"
His voice tightened.
Leaf stood up immediately, scanning the area.
"Python?"
Nothing.
The forest, which moments ago felt calm, now felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
A sharp breath escaped him.
"No… no, no…"
Then—
"PYTHON!!"
His voice tore through the forest, echoing between trees, scattering birds into the air.
But no answer came back.
Inside his mind—
"Instead of shouting… use your brain."
Darkness.
Leaf clenched his jaw.
"…Right."
He closed his eyes.
Everything in the forest depended on one thing.
Air.
Breath.
Life.
Leaf-focused.
Slowly—
He extended his awareness outward.
The air around him shifted.
Not violently.
But subtly… responding.
A person breathes around 100 to 125 millilitres of oxygen per breath. …"
His voice lowered, steadying.
"Find the pattern… find the difference. …"
At first—
Nothing.
Just noise.
Just scattered signals.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
"…North."
His expression sharpened instantly.
"There's someone there."
A pause.
"The breathing… It's unstable."
"…Faster than normal."
Darkness responded quietly.
"…He's running."
Leaf didn't answer.
He was already moving.
The moment Leaf began running—
The air changed.
His breathing deepened.
Faster.
Stronger.
Each inhale pulled more air into him than necessary.
Each exhale pushed it out with force.
The forest began to blur around him.
Branches passed like shadows.
The ground seemed to shorten beneath his feet.
Inside his mind—
"…Leaf."
Darkness's voice carried something new.
"…Slow down."
Leaf didn't.
His breathing intensified.
Sharper.
Heavier.
The air around his body began to react—subtle currents forming, swirling with his movement.
Darkness felt it.
Not outside—
Inside.
"…Your breathing …"
A pause.
"…it's affecting me."
Leaf's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then adjust."
Cold.
Direct.
And he ran faster.
Wind bent around him.
Distance collapsed.
Closer.
Closer—
Then—
He stopped.
Suddenly.
His body froze mid-motion.
"…There."
He could feel it clearly now.
Python.
Unstable.
But alive.
Leaf's stance shifted.
Slowly—
He raised both hands.
The air around his palms tightened.
Compressed.
Invisible currents spiralled inward, gathering silently.
An air strike formed.
Not visible.
Be present.
Waiting.
Leaf's eyes sharpened.
"Python…"
A quiet breath.
"…what happened?"
No answer.
But something ahead—
Was waiting.
For a brief moment—
A thought crossed his mind.
Is he ready for a rematch?
The air tightened slightly more.
Just in case—
Leaf prepared himself.
Leaf rose slightly—
Floating.
Not touching the ground.
Not even a single point of contact.
He knew.
If I land… he'll sense me.
Earth soul.
Detection would be instant.
So he remained suspended.
Still.
Controlled.
Then—
He stopped his heartbeat.
His breathing slowed.
Faded.
His presence thinned… until it nearly vanished.
Only his eyes remained alive.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Air Soul… one hundred per cent."
Inside—
"Leaf… we might see him first," Darkness whispered.
"…Yeah."
Leaf moved behind a tall tree and looked ahead.
A clearing opened before him.
A waterfall descended endlessly from above, its sound echoing through the forest like a constant whisper.
Around it—
Open ground.
No trees.
Except one.
A single cherry blossom tree stood near the edge of the water, its branches swaying gently in the wind. Petals drifted slowly through the air, falling like fragments of something forgotten.
And beneath it—
Python.
Sitting alone.
Still.
The distance between them was nearly a hundred meters.
Leaf narrowed his eyes.
Something felt… wrong.
Then—
He saw it.
Tears.
Slow.
Silent.
Falling from the face of the boy who always smiled.
The one who joked.
The one who never showed weakness.
For a moment—
Leaf felt something strange.
"…A mirror."
He extended his air sole.
Between him and Python—
He created a thin, invisible layer.
A zero-mass zone.
Sound travelled perfectly through it.
Leaf listened.
✦ Python's Truth
"Mom… Dad …"
Python's voice was quiet.
Fragile.
"…Today is April 3rd."
Leaf's eyes softened slightly.
"Oh…"
"So that's it."
He turned slightly.
"We can leave now, Darkness."
"No."
Darkness's voice turned serious.
"We stay."
A pause.
"…Before the storm… There is always silence."
Leaf didn't argue.
"…Fine."
He listened again.
Python's voice broke this time.
"Today... isn't just my birthday. …"
"…It's also the day you died."
Silence.
Even the waterfall seemed distant now.
Leaf's chest tightened.
"Happy birthday. …"
Python laughed.
But it was hollow.
"…That's what others say."
His fists clenched.
"But for me…"
"…it's just a reminder."
"…of what I lost."
The leaf slowly descended.
This time—
His feet touched the ground.
Quietly.
He stood under a tree, thinking.
So this is the world…
Pain doesn't choose.
It distributes.
Equally.
Across the clearing—
Python suddenly stood.
"But it's fine!"
He wiped his tears.
"For a long time… I had no one…"
A pause.
Then—
A small smile.
"But now… I have Leaf."
"…My friend."
"…My brother."
His voice steadied.
"So give me strength…"
"…to stand beside him."
Silence returned.
✦ Decision
Leaf turned away.
He didn't interrupt.
He didn't reveal himself.
He simply walked back.
Behind him—
"Did we confirm it?" Darkness asked.
"Are we going to stop him?"
Leaf's voice was calm.
"…I thought you were a traitor once."
A pause.
"But don't talk about my brother like that."
Silence.
"…Understood."
Sometimes later
Python returned.
Smiling.
Like nothing had happened.
Leaf looked at him.
Then—
"Happy birthday, Python."
Python froze.
"…Huh? How do you know?"
Leaf answered without hesitation.
"Darkness told me."
"…Oh."
Python smiled again.
"Thanks, bro."
"…Welcome."
Inside—
"…He's strange," Darkness said.
A pause.
"…Almost as strange as you."
Leaf narrowed his eyes.
"…What did you say?"
No response.
Python dropped his bag.
"Hey, Leaf… I don't feel Dark anywhere. Where is he?"
Leaf didn't look up immediately.
"…He went to meet someone."
"Someone who can help us."
"…Soul crystals."
Python raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Useful guy."
Leaf nodded.
"…Yeah."
Far beyond the physical world—
A space existed.
Not light.
Not darkness.
Something between.
A figure stood there.
Cloaked.
Still.
Blue eyes glowing beneath the shadow.
A green aura radiated from it—
Not destructive.
But cleansing.
Shadows retreated where they touched.
Before it—
Darkness stood.
Silent.
"Do you believe… he is capable?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"I saw something in him."
A pause.
"…Something rare."
"A lotus in mud."
The entity observed.
"…Interesting."
"First time you acknowledged someone."
Darkness ignored that.
"What did I ask for?"
"Yes."
"Good."
A pause.
"…The world?"
"…Meeting. April 4 to 6."
"All leaders."
"…About you."
"…And Light."
Darkness narrowed its gaze.
"I see."
"…Soul crystals?"
"You need the book."
"…Book Shinjitsu."
"…Akira Zui."
Darkness paused.
"…I remember him."
"…Barely."
"…Where is the book?"
Silence.
Back at camp—
Python looked at Leaf.
"Did you ever have someone… Who cared about you?"
Leaf paused.
"…No."
Python nodded.
"…I see."
Then smiled.
"Don't worry."
"I think I know someone who will."
Leaf's expression dropped.
"…Stop thinking nonsense."
Python laughed.
And for now—
Everything seemed normal.
But beneath it—
Something had already begun to move.
Later—
Both of them lay on the ground.
Looking at the sky.
The same sky.
Different thoughts.
The air felt calm again.
Too calm.
Then—
Darkness returned.
Silently.
Back into Leaf's mind.
And this time—
He didn't hide anything.
He told them everything.
About the meeting.
About the world shifting.
About decisions already being made—
Far above them.
Silence followed.
Not peaceful.
Heavy.
Then—
Leaf stood.
"…We move soon."
Elsewhere—
White remained in C-Beta.
Under the protection of Chief Adolf D. Beta.
But protection… didn't mean safety.
Because tomorrow—
Leaders would gather.
And decide—
Not just politics.
But fate.
And somewhere in that room—
A decision was made.
About Leaf.
About whether he should live—
Or be erased.
Now,
It's,
Not Leaf.
Not Python.
Not White.
This was about the world—
And the moment it quietly began to change.