Kaito sat on the dojo floor, still trying to catch his breath.
His chest felt like it had been on fire, but the burning was finally fading.
The strange vibration inside him was gone.
For now.
He looked down at his hands.
They were shaking.
"…What… was that…" he whispered.
Tanaka sensei stood a few steps away, arms crossed, staring at the door where the men had left.
For a long moment, he didn't say anything.
The dojo was completely silent.
Even the air felt different.
Heavier.
Like something had been broken.
Kaito slowly pushed himself up.
"…Sensei…"
Tanaka didn't look at him.
"…You felt it."
"That's not an answer."
Tanaka finally turned.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"That was the world you don't know about."
Kaito blinked.
"…What world?"
Tanaka walked past him and turned the lights back on.
The bright white light filled the room again, but it didn't make Kaito feel better.
"…The world of people who can do what you just did," Tanaka said.
Kaito frowned.
"I didn't do anything."
Tanaka looked at him.
"You shook the entire room."
Kaito froze.
"…I did?"
"Yes."
"…I thought that was them."
Tanaka shook his head.
"No."
Silence.
Kaito swallowed.
"…So… what am I?"
Tanaka didn't answer right away.
Instead, he walked to the center of the mat and sat down.
"…Sit."
Kaito sat across from him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Tanaka sighed.
"…I wanted more time."
"For what?"
"For you to grow normally."
Kaito frowned.
"I am normal."
Tanaka looked straight into his eyes.
"No."
Cold air ran down Kaito's spine.
"…Then what am I?"
Tanaka closed his eyes for a second.
"…Someone who was supposed to wake up years ago."
Kaito felt his chest tighten.
"…You said that before."
"Yes."
"…Why?"
Tanaka opened his eyes again.
"…Because people like you don't appear by accident."
Silence.
Kaito stared at him.
"…People like me?"
Tanaka nodded slowly.
"There are fighters in this world who go beyond normal training."
Kaito blinked.
"…Like you?"
Tanaka didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
"…And those guys… the ones tonight…"
Tanaka's expression darkened.
"They're part of that world too."
Kaito clenched his fists.
"…Why do they want me?"
Tanaka hesitated.
For the first time, he looked unsure.
"…Because something inside you reacted."
Kaito looked down at his chest.
"That thing?"
"Yes."
"…What is it?"
Tanaka exhaled slowly.
"…Power that shouldn't be waking up yet."
Silence filled the dojo again.
Kaito felt his heart beating faster.
"…Can I control it?"
Tanaka shook his head.
"Not yet."
"…Will I?"
Tanaka looked at him.
Long.
Careful.
"…If you don't, someone else will."
Kaito froze.
"…What does that mean?"
Tanaka stood up.
"…It means we don't have time anymore."
Kaito blinked.
"…For what?"
Tanaka turned toward the door.
"…For normal training."
The words hit harder than any punch.
"…What?"
Tanaka looked back.
"From tomorrow, you don't train with the class anymore."
Kaito stood up fast.
"…What?!"
"You train with me only."
"But..."
"And not just here."
Kaito stopped.
"…Not here?"
Tanaka nodded.
"We're leaving."
Silence.
"…Leaving where?" Kaito asked.
Tanaka grabbed his jacket from the wall.
"…Somewhere they won't find you so easily."
Kaito's heart pounded.
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
"…What about school?"
"Forget it."
"…My mom?"
Tanaka paused.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"…You'll talk to her tonight."
Kaito stared at him.
"…Sensei… what's going on?"
Tanaka looked straight at him.
His voice was quiet.
"…Your life just started."
Cold air ran down Kaito's spine.
"…And the people who came tonight?"
Tanaka's eyes hardened.
"…They won't be the last."
The lights flickered once.
Both of them froze.
Tanaka's eyes moved to the door.
Slowly.
"…They're already watching."
Kaito swallowed.
"…Again?"
Tanaka grabbed his shoulder.
"…Go home. Now."
"What about..."
"Go."
Kaito grabbed his bag.
His heart was racing again.
He ran to the door, then stopped.
"…Sensei."
Tanaka didn't turn.
"Yes."
"…Am I in trouble?"
Tanaka was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"…You're in the middle of something big."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…Yeah… I figured."
He pushed the door open and ran outside.
The night air felt colder than before.
On the roof across the street, the man in the dark coat stood with the glowing device in his hand.
The signal was stable now.
Bright.
Clear.
Locked.
He smiled faintly.
"…So he's moving."
He turned and walked away.
"…Good."
The screen flickered once more.
And a new message appeared.
TARGET CONFIRMED.
BEGIN PREPARATION.
The man's smile widened.
"…Let's see how long you can run, Arata."