Kaito ran the whole way to the dojo.
His feet slammed against the pavement as fast as they could move.
His chest burned.
His breathing was uneven.
But he didn't slow down.
He couldn't.
That man's words kept echoing in his head.
Don't train alone tonight.
They'll find you.
"…Find me for what?" Kaito muttered.
He turned the last corner and saw the dojo.
The lights were already on.
Good.
Sensei was here.
He ran to the door and shoved it open.
"I'm here!"
His voice echoed across the room.
Tanaka sensei looked up immediately.
His expression changed the moment he saw Kaito.
"…You're early."
Kaito bent forward, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"…Sensei… I…"
He stopped.
The vibration in his chest came back.
Stronger than before.
Tanaka's eyes narrowed.
"…What happened?"
Kaito looked up.
"There was a guy."
Silence.
Tanaka didn't move.
"…What kind of guy?"
"Tall. Black coat. Weird eyes."
The air in the dojo felt heavy.
Tanaka walked toward him slowly.
"…Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Did he attack you?"
"No."
Tanaka stopped right in front of him.
"…Did he say anything?"
Kaito hesitated.
"…He said… I can feel it now."
Tanaka's jaw tightened.
"…What else."
Kaito swallowed.
"He said… you were right."
Silence.
"…He said I'm late."
Tanaka's eyes went dark.
"…Anything else."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"He told me not to train alone tonight."
For the first time since Kaito met him…
Tanaka looked angry.
Not loud.
Not shouting.
Just cold.
"…Of course he did," Tanaka muttered.
Kaito blinked.
"…Sensei… who was that?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
He turned and walked toward the center of the dojo.
"…We don't have much time."
Kaito froze.
"…For what?"
Tanaka faced him again.
"…From now on, you don't leave my sight after training."
"…What?"
"You heard me."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't have to."
Kaito frowned.
"…Sensei, you're not explaining anything."
Tanaka stepped closer.
His voice was low.
"Because you're not ready to hear it."
Kaito clenched his fists.
"That's not fair."
Tanaka stared at him.
"…Neither is this."
Silence filled the dojo.
Kaito's chest felt tight again.
That same vibration.
Stronger.
Like something inside him was reacting.
Tanaka noticed immediately.
"…There."
Kaito grabbed his shirt.
"…It's happening again."
Tanaka grabbed his wrist.
The moment their hands touched...
The air around them trembled.
Just for a second.
Tanaka's eyes widened.
"…It's accelerating."
Kaito frowned.
"…What is?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
He let go and stepped back.
"…We start now."
"Start what?"
"Training."
Kaito blinked.
"…Right now?"
"Yes."
Kaito grinned slightly.
"…Good."
Tanaka raised his hand.
"Guard."
Kaito raised his fists.
His body felt light again.
That strange energy moving inside him.
Tanaka stepped forward.
"Don't think."
"Huh?"
"Move."
Tanaka's hand shot forward.
Fast.
Faster than Kenji.
Faster than anything Kaito had seen before.
His body reacted on its own.
Step.
Block.
His arm moved without thinking.
Tanaka stopped.
His eyes sharpened.
"…Again."
He attacked again.
Faster.
Kaito moved again.
Block.
Step.
Turn.
His breathing stayed steady.
Too steady.
Tanaka's expression changed.
"…Good."
He attacked again.
This time harder.
Kaito slid back.
But he didn't fall.
His feet held.
The vibration in his chest grew stronger.
Like something pushing him forward.
Tanaka stopped suddenly.
"…Enough."
Kaito lowered his guard.
"…Sensei… what is this?"
Tanaka looked at him.
Long.
Careful.
"…You're not just training anymore."
Cold air ran down Kaito's spine.
"…Then what am I doing?"
Tanaka turned toward the door.
"…Surviving."
Silence.
Kaito blinked.
"…That's not funny."
Tanaka didn't smile.
"…I'm not joking."
The lights flickered.
Both of them froze.
The air changed.
Heavy.
Cold.
Tanaka's eyes moved to the entrance.
Slowly.
"…Too soon," he muttered.
Kaito frowned.
"…What?"
The lights flickered again.
Then went out.
Darkness filled the dojo.
Kaito's heart started pounding.
"…Sensei?"
Tanaka didn't move.
His voice was low.
"…Stay behind me."
Kaito swallowed.
"…Why?"
Tanaka's eyes locked on the door.
"…Because they found you."
Outside, footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Heavy.
Not one.
More than one.
The handle on the door moved slightly.
Kaito's chest burned.
The vibration inside him exploded.
And for the first time…
He felt afraid.