The dojo was completely dark.
Only the faint light from the street outside slipped through the windows.
Kaito stood behind Tanaka sensei, his fists raised without even thinking.
His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears.
"…Sensei…" he whispered.
Tanaka didn't look back.
"Stay behind me."
The air felt heavy.
Like the whole room was being pressed down.
Kaito swallowed.
The vibration in his chest was stronger than ever.
Not a hum anymore.
A roar.
The door handle turned slowly.
Click.
The door slid open.
Cold air rushed inside.
Three figures stood outside.
All wearing dark coats.
All silent.
All staring straight at Kaito.
His legs moved on their own.
One step back.
Tanaka raised his hand slightly.
"Don't move."
One of the men stepped forward.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
His face hidden in shadow.
"…Tanaka," the man said calmly.
Tanaka's voice turned cold.
"…You're not supposed to be here."
"We go where the signal goes."
Kaito frowned.
"…Signal?"
The man's eyes moved to him.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Like he was being weighed.
"…So this is him."
Kaito's chest tightened.
The vibration exploded again.
The man's eyes flickered.
"…Stronger than expected."
Tanaka stepped forward.
Blocking the view.
"You're leaving."
The man tilted his head.
"…You know we can't do that."
Tanaka's voice dropped.
"You can."
Silence.
The other two men stepped inside.
Their footsteps made no sound.
Kaito felt his body tense.
Every instinct screamed the same thing.
Danger.
The tall man spoke again.
"We're not here to fight."
Tanaka didn't lower his guard.
"You never come without a reason."
The man reached into his coat.
Kaito flinched.
Tanaka moved instantly.
His arm shot out.
Faster than Kaito had ever seen.
The air cracked.
The man stopped.
His hand froze mid motion.
For a moment, the room felt like it split in half.
The two of them stood facing each other.
Pressure filled the dojo.
Kaito's knees shook.
"…Sensei…"
The tall man smiled faintly.
"…Still strong."
Tanaka's eyes were sharp.
"Say what you came to say."
The man slowly pulled his hand out.
Not a weapon.
The small device.
The same one Kaito saw before.
It glowed bright red.
The screen flickered.
Numbers moving fast.
The man looked at it.
"…Confirmed."
He looked up.
Straight at Kaito.
"The awakening has started."
Kaito's chest burned.
"…Stop saying that!"
The man ignored him.
"We're taking him."
Silence.
Tanaka stepped forward.
"No."
The air shook.
Not loud.
Not visible.
But heavy.
Like the whole room moved.
The other two men tensed.
The tall man sighed.
"…You know you can't stop this."
Tanaka didn't move.
"…Try me."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The pressure in the dojo kept rising.
Kaito felt like he couldn't breathe.
His chest burned.
The vibration inside him exploded again.
Stronger.
Wild.
Unstable.
The tall man's eyes widened slightly.
"…It's reacting."
Tanaka's expression changed.
"…Kaito."
Kaito grabbed his chest.
"…It hurts…"
The air around him shimmered.
Like heat rising from the ground.
The lights flickered.
The windows rattled.
The two men in the doorway stepped back.
"…Too fast," one of them muttered.
Tanaka turned.
His voice sharp.
"Kaito! Focus!"
"I can't!"
The vibration surged.
The air shook harder.
The device in the tall man's hand screamed with a high pitched tone.
The screen flashed red.
Warning symbols filled it.
"…This is bad," the man said quietly.
Tanaka moved instantly.
He grabbed Kaito's shoulder.
"Look at me."
Kaito's eyes were wide.
Breathing fast.
"It hurts!"
Tanaka's grip tightened.
"Listen to my voice."
The air trembled again.
Stronger.
Tanaka's eyes narrowed.
"…Not here."
He turned toward the men.
"Leave."
The tall man hesitated.
"…We don't have time."
Tanaka's voice turned cold.
"You leave now… or I make you."
Silence.
The air shook again.
The man looked at the device.
The signal was spiking wildly.
Too unstable.
Too dangerous.
He clicked his tongue.
"…Fine."
He stepped back.
"For now."
The other two followed.
Before leaving, the man looked at Kaito one last time.
"…You can't hide him forever."
Tanaka didn't answer.
The door slid shut.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Kaito collapsed to his knees.
Breathing hard.
"…What… was that…"
Tanaka stood still for a moment.
Then slowly looked down at him.
His expression was serious.
More serious than ever before.
"…Your life just got complicated."
Kaito looked up.
"…Sensei…"
Tanaka exhaled slowly.
"…From tomorrow… everything changes."
Silence filled the dojo.
Outside, the wind picked up.
Far away, the device in the man's hand flickered again.
The signal stabilized.
But it was brighter than ever.
"…Too late now," he muttered.
He looked toward the city.
"…He's awake."