Night had fallen over the training grounds.
The courtyard was empty now.
No fights.
No shouting.
No sound except the wind moving across the stone walls.
The ranking board still glowed in the center, its light faint in the dark.
Names carved into the stone.
Numbers that decided everything.
At the very top...
Rank 1.
The name shone brighter than the rest.
NAOYA NASUKAWA
Aoi stood on the roof railing, looking down at the board in silence.
Her arms were crossed, her expression calm, but her eyes were focused on the top of the list.
Footsteps came from behind.
She didn't turn.
"You're staring again," Ryo said.
He walked up beside her and leaned against the railing.
"…You always look at the top."
Aoi didn't answer right away.
"…Someone has to."
Ryo smirked.
"He's not coming back."
Aoi glanced at him.
"You don't know that."
Ryo shrugged.
"He hasn't fought in years."
"He doesn't need to."
Ryo laughed quietly.
"…That sounds like something he would say."
Aoi's eyes moved to the board again.
Rank 1.
NAOYA NASUKAWA
"…He never left," she said.
Ryo didn't respond.
For a moment, the wind was the only sound.
Then Ryo spoke quietly.
"…The kid asked about him today."
Aoi's eyes shifted slightly.
"Kaito?"
"Yes."
"What did you say."
"Nothing."
She nodded.
"…Good."
Ryo crossed his arms.
"He's getting closer."
"Yes."
"He's already in the Top 100."
"Yes."
"He's going to notice soon."
Aoi finally turned toward him.
"…He already has."
Ryo raised an eyebrow.
"What."
"He asked why Tanaka's name isn't on the board."
Ryo went silent.
Then laughed.
"…Of course he did."
Aoi looked back at the ranking board.
"…He always asks too much."
Ryo smirked.
"He reminds me of someone."
Aoi didn't answer.
They both looked at the top of the board again.
Rank 1.
NAOYA NASUKAWA
The name carved deeper than every other.
Like the stone itself remembered it differently.
Ryo spoke quietly.
"…You ever wonder why he still uses that name."
Aoi shook her head.
"He doesn't like attention."
Ryo laughed.
"He's Rank 1. Attention finds him anyway."
Silence.
Then Aoi said...
"…He told us not to say anything."
Ryo nodded.
"I know."
"He said the boy isn't ready."
Ryo looked toward the training hall.
"…He's never ready, according to him."
Aoi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You know why he stayed."
Ryo didn't answer.
She continued.
"He could have left years ago."
"Yes."
"He could have taken Rank 1 anywhere."
"Yes."
"He stayed because of this place."
Ryo shook his head.
"…No."
Aoi looked at him.
"No?"
Ryo smirked.
"He stayed because of the kid."
Silence.
The wind moved across the roof again.
Aoi looked toward the training hall.
The lights were still on inside.
Someone was training late.
CRACK.
The sound of a punch echoed faintly through the night.
Ryo laughed quietly.
"…See."
Aoi didn't smile.
"…He's still going."
Ryo nodded.
"He always is."
They both looked back at the ranking board one more time.
Rank 1.
NAOYA NASUKAWA
Ryo spoke softly.
"…Hard to believe that guy is pretending to be a normal instructor."
Aoi crossed her arms tighter.
"He said it's easier."
Ryo smirked.
"…For him."
Aoi's voice dropped slightly.
"…If the kid finds out too soon…"
Ryo finished the sentence.
"…He'll try to fight him."
Silence.
Then both of them smiled slightly.
"…And he will," Ryo said.
Aoi nodded.
"…Of course he will."
Below them, inside the training hall, Kaito threw another punch.
CRACK.
Sweat ran down his face.
His breathing steady.
The energy in his chest calm.
He lowered his fist and muttered...
"…One day… I'm fighting Rank 1."
Behind him, near the doorway, Tanaka stood in the shadows.
Watching.
Silent.
His eyes moved for a moment.
Toward the ranking board outside.
Toward the name at the top.
Then he turned away.
"…Not yet," he said quietly.
Kaito didn't hear him.