Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
Kado sat on the edge of the cot, already awake, watching.
Akira moved around the small hut, gathering things with practiced hands—wrapping dried fish, tying cloth, folding what little she had.
She didn't complain.
Didn't sigh.
Just… worked.
Kado's gaze dropped to her hands.
Still red.
Still rough.
Because of him.
"…You don't have to do all that," he said.
Akira didn't look up. "You'll need it."
"I didn't ask—"
"I know," she cut in, calm. "That's why I'm doing it."
Silence settled between them.
Kado clenched his jaw.
"…About yesterday," he muttered.
She paused.
"I shouldn't have shouted," he said, voice lower now. "Or… treated you like that."
Akira blinked, surprised.
Kado looked away. "I'm not used to… this."
"To what?" she asked softly.
"…People helping me," he said. "Without wanting something in return."
For a second, Akira said nothing.
Then she smiled.
Small.
Warm.
"It's called kindness," she said.
Kado scoffed lightly. "Sounds inefficient."
She laughed under her breath.
The sound felt… strange in the room.
Light.
Kado exhaled slowly.
"…I'll repay you," he said.
Akira shook her head. "You don't owe me anything."
"I do," he insisted, sharper now. "You and your father… this place…"
His eyes hardened.
"I'll get stronger. I'll fix this."
Akira tilted her head. "Fix what?"
"Everything," Kado said.
His grip tightened slightly.
"I'll kill the curse. I'll take back what's mine. And when I do…"
He looked at her.
"I'll make sure your father never has to struggle like this again."
Akira froze.
For a moment, her eyes softened.
"…You talk like a king already," she said quietly.
"I am one," Kado replied.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Akira stepped closer.
Before he could react—
She hugged him.
Kado stiffened instantly.
"…What are you doing?" he said, awkward, hands hovering in the air.
"Encouraging you," she replied simply.
"I don't need—"
"Too bad."
She held him tighter.
Kado stood there, frozen.
He wasn't used to this.
No one touched him like this.
Not servants.
Not nobles.
Not even family.
Slowly… awkwardly… his hands lowered.
Not quite returning the hug.
But not pushing her away either.
"…You're strange," he muttered.
Akira pulled back, smiling. "You'll survive."
She handed him the small pack.
"Take it."
Kado nodded.
Then hesitated.
"…Your father—"
"Go," she said quickly.
Kado frowned. "What?"
"Leave before he wakes up," she said. "If he sees you… he might try to stop you."
Kado went quiet.
"…He'd be right to," he said.
Akira shook her head. "No. You're meant to leave."
A beat.
"Don't waste time, Kado."
He studied her for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"…I'll come back."
"I know," she said.
....
....
The line stretched across the field, kids whispering, elbowing each other, craning to see the bus that would take them to the Academy.
"Hey, that's the boy from last night," one kid muttered. "Not cursed, I think."
Kado ignored them, eyes fixed on the bus. Whispers, opinions, gossip… none of it matters. He clenched the token in his pocket, feeling its cold weight. Focus. Learn. Survive. Rise.
One by one, kids stepped forward, showing their tokens. The attendant nodded, waved them onto the bus. So easy for them. Simple. Just show and go.
When Kado reached the gate, the man took the token and flipped it over.
"…Namakura?" he said, brow furrowed.
Kado's lips pressed into a thin line. Just nod. Don't give anything away. "…Yeah."
The man stared a beat longer, suspicion lingering, then finally shrugged. "Go."
Kado stepped onto the bus, ignoring the chatter.
....
....
The air smelled of sweat, metal, and nervous energy. Commoners, all of them…
He scanned the seats, finally spotting one near the middle. But a girl blocked the aisle—tall, busty, curvy, and radiating rank. He could feel it instinctively.
"Move," she barked. Her voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Kado looked up. Hmph. "I… excuse me?"
"I said shift! Weak boy, no rank, no strength!" She shoved slightly, her tone sharp, almost mocking.
I don't care, Kado thought, looking away. Used to private cars, luxury, servants… not a bus full of commoners.
The girl huffed, clearly offended by his silence. Kids glanced at them, whispering. Let them talk. Let her bark. I've got bigger things to think about.
Kado slid into the seat beside her anyway, token still warm in his palm. Akira and her father… I promised. I'll make them proud. I'll remove them from poverty. Control this curse. Rise above all of this.
His eyes flicked to the window, watching the field shrink as the bus started moving. Time to get stronger. Time to be more than what they see.
The bus hissed to a stop. The academy's emblem gleamed across the gates.
"Finally!" a boy shouted, bouncing on his heels.
"Let's go!" another added, rushing to the teachers waiting at the steps.
Kado stepped off, gripping his bag in one hand, the larger sack of his belongings slung over his shoulder. His eyes scanned the courtyard—rows of students buzzing with excitement.
"Hey… you smell like royalty," a voice said.
Kado turned. A boy, taller, hair tied back, stepped forward with a grin. "Riku. Name's Riku. You're not from around here, are you?"
Kado nodded slightly. "Kado," he said, keeping it simple.
Riku laughed softly. "Alright, Kado. Let's see what you've got."
Before they could move further, a loud voice boomed.
"Quiet! Listen up!"
The crowd snapped to attention. Dean Takeda stood on the raised platform, arms folded.
"Welcome to Kyoto War-Arts Academy. Today, you will undergo a friendly battle exercise. Your performance will determine the ranking of the hostel you are assigned to. Teachers, guide them."
The teachers blew whistles, forming pairs of students.
Kado's stomach tensed as he saw his opponent step forward: Kaori—the same curvy girl from the bus, smirking at him like he was an annoyance.
"You again," she said, folding her arms. "Didn't think the weak boy would last this long."
He ignored her, eyes narrowing, adjusting his grip on his bag.
The first matches started around him. Some students moved fluidly, winning. Others stumbled, losing to more experienced partners.
When his turn came, Kaori leaned in. "Ready to embarrass yourself?"
Kado didn't answer. He moved to dodge her first strike.
"Pathetic!" she barked, landing a sharp blow to his arm. Pain shot up, but he didn't cry out.
He swung back clumsily, hitting nothing. She laughed, circling him. "That's it? That's all you got?"
Another strike sent him sprawling to the mat. Students around laughed.
Kado pressed his arms against his chest, teeth gritted. Kaori delivered one last blow to his side before stepping back.
"Hah… weak little boy," she said, tossing him a smirk and walking away.
A hand extended toward him. "Here," Riku said, calm. "Take it."
Kado grasped it, wincing as he got to his feet.
"She's… the best student here," Riku said quietly, nodding toward Kaori. "Name's Kaori. Don't mind her."
Kado arched an eyebrow. "You lose on purpose?"
"Yeah," Riku said. "We're roommates. Might as well start easy."
They walked together as the teachers led them toward their hostel. It was the lowest-ranked one—rough, less maintained—but still livable.
"Least-ranked, huh?" Kado muttered, eyeing the worn corridors.
Riku shrugged. "Better to start low than lose everything. Come on, I'll show you your room."
....
....
....
Kado stood in front of the mirror, bare-chested. His scar pulsed faintly under the light. He froze.
The black-and-red veins on his skin weren't still—they wriggled, coiling like living ink.
A sharp, ringing sound split his ear.
He clamped his hand over it, heart hammering.
When he opened his eyes, the world shifted.
Walls, forests, mountains… it all stretched before him, layers and distances folding together.
His vision cut through them like blades.
A shape moved—alive. A demon beast, massive and snarling, standing in the forest. Its eyes locked on him, intelligent and hungry.
Kado stumbled back. "What… what the hell just happened?" he gasped, hand pressing to his chest. The veins throbbed violently