The dojo felt different.
Kaito Arata stood in the center of the mat, still staring at his own fist.
He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
From confusion.
From something he couldn't explain.
Kenji was still a step back, rubbing his shoulder where the punch landed.
"…You actually hit me," Kenji muttered.
Kaito laughed.
"I told you I would."
"That wasn't luck."
"I know."
Kenji frowned.
"…You moved faster."
Kaito shrugged.
"I just felt like I should move."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I got."
Behind them, Tanaka sensei walked forward slowly.
His footsteps echoed across the floor.
Neither of them noticed at first.
Then...
"Kaito."
Both boys froze.
They turned at the same time.
Tanaka's face looked calm.
Too calm.
His eyes, though…
His eyes were sharp.
"Come here."
Kaito blinked.
"…Did I do something wrong?"
"Come here."
Kenji stepped back immediately.
Kaito walked forward, scratching his cheek.
Tanaka stopped right in front of him.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
He just stared.
Like he was trying to see through him.
"…Punch," Tanaka said.
"Huh?"
"Punch at me."
Kaito hesitated.
"…Again?"
"Yes."
Kaito raised his guard.
His body still felt light.
Too light.
Like his muscles were moving before he told them to.
He stepped forward.
Punch.
Tanaka caught it easily.
But this time...
The instructor's hand moved slightly.
Just a little.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Again."
Kaito punched again.
Faster.
Tanaka blocked.
But his sleeve fluttered from the impact.
Kenji's eyes widened.
"…No way."
Tanaka raised his hand.
"Stop."
Kaito lowered his fists.
His breathing was steady.
Too steady.
He wasn't even tired.
Tanaka grabbed his wrist again.
This time his grip tightened.
Kaito felt that vibration again.
Stronger.
Like a faint hum running through his arm.
Tanaka's expression changed.
Just for a second.
Shock.
Then it disappeared.
"…Where did you learn this?" Tanaka asked quietly.
Kaito blinked.
"Learn what?"
Tanaka stared at him.
"…Don't play dumb."
"I'm not playing anything."
Kenji spoke from behind them.
"He was like that yesterday too."
Tanaka didn't look back.
"…Yesterday?"
Kenji nodded.
"He hit me once yesterday."
Tanaka's eyes sharpened.
"…And today?"
"…Twice," Kenji admitted.
Kaito grinned.
"Three times if we keep going."
Tanaka let go of his wrist.
He turned away, walking toward the side of the dojo.
"…Class will start soon," he said.
Kaito tilted his head.
"That's it?"
Tanaka stopped.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he spoke again.
"…After class. Stay."
Kaito blinked.
"…Me?"
"Yes."
Kenji snorted.
"You're in trouble."
"I didn't do anything!"
"You hit me. That's illegal."
Kaito laughed.
"You're just mad."
Kenji crossed his arms.
"You're weird today."
"You said that yesterday."
"You're weirder today."
Kaito stretched his arms.
"Good."
Kenji shook his head.
"…Show off."
They started warming up.
But Tanaka wasn't watching the class.
Not really.
His eyes kept moving back to Kaito.
Every few seconds.
Like he was making sure the boy was still there.
Still normal.
Still human.
Tanaka clenched his fist slowly.
"…It shouldn't be possible," he muttered.
...
Class ended faster than usual.
The students packed their bags, talking and laughing as they left.
Kenji stopped near the door.
"You staying?"
Kaito nodded.
"Sensei said so."
Kenji smirked.
"You're definitely in trouble."
"I didn't do anything!"
"You exist. That's enough."
Kaito laughed.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Kenji walked out.
The door slid shut.
The dojo was quiet again.
Just Kaito and Tanaka.
Kaito stood in the middle of the mat, hands behind his head.
"So… what did I do?"
Tanaka didn't answer right away.
He walked slowly across the floor, stopping a few steps in front of him.
"How old are you?"
"…Ten."
"When did you start training?"
"When I was little."
"Who taught you first?"
"My mom."
Tanaka's eyes narrowed.
"…Your mother."
"Yeah."
"What's her name?"
Kaito hesitated again.
"…Aiko Arata."
Silence.
Tanaka didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
For a moment, the air in the dojo felt heavy.
Then Tanaka turned away.
"…I see."
Kaito frowned.
"You said that yesterday too."
Tanaka walked toward the window.
"When you punch… what do you feel?"
"…What?"
"When you move. When you hit. What do you feel?"
Kaito thought for a second.
"…Like my body moves by itself."
Tanaka closed his eyes.
"…Of course."
"…Sensei?"
Tanaka turned back.
His face looked serious now.
More serious than Kaito had ever seen.
"Listen carefully," Tanaka said.
Kaito straightened without thinking.
"Yes, sensei."
"…From now on, you will not train alone at night."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
"You heard me."
"But I always train at night."
"Not anymore."
"Why?"
Tanaka hesitated.
For the first time since Kaito met him…
The instructor looked unsure.
"…Because," Tanaka said quietly, "…you don't understand what you're doing yet."
Kaito frowned.
"I'm just training."
Tanaka shook his head.
"…No."
He looked directly into Kaito's eyes.
"You're waking something up."
Silence.
Kaito stared at him.
"…What does that mean?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
He just turned away.
"Go home," he said.
"…Sensei."
"Go home."
Kaito grabbed his bag slowly.
He didn't understand.
But something about Tanaka's voice felt different.
Not angry.
Not strict.
Worried.
Kaito walked to the door.
Right before he left, Tanaka spoke again.
"…Kaito."
He turned.
"Yes?"
Tanaka's eyes were dark.
"…Be careful."
Kaito blinked.
"…Of what?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
Outside the dojo, the wind picked up suddenly.
Far away, the device in the man's hand started flashing red.
The signal spiked.
Higher than before.
"…He's accelerating," the man muttered.
He smiled slowly.
"…Good."
He turned toward the city.
"…That means it won't be long now."
The screen flickered again.
The numbers kept rising.
And the signal pointed to one place.
One boy.
One name.
Arata.