The night air was calm again.
The ruined building stood silent—
As if nothing had happened.
Amid the debris—
Verse del Hila stood lazily.
Stretching slightly.
Unbothered.
"…too easy."
Footsteps approached from behind.
Light.
Cheerful.
"Hey~ are you okay?"
A girl appeared beside him.
Bright smile.
Gentle eyes.
Kaori Mitsuri.
Age 19.
GARDE A
Without waiting—
She reached out her hand.
A soft glow formed.
Warm energy flowed.
The small cuts on Verse's arm—
Healed instantly.
Verse glanced at her.
"…it was nothing."
Mitsuri pouted slightly.
"You always say that."
She stepped back, hands behind her back.
Still smiling.
"By the way…"
A playful tone.
"I heard something interesting."
Verse raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…what?"
Mitsuri leaned forward just a bit.
"Asuka…"
A pause.
"…has a new team member."
Silence.
Verse blinked once.
"…oh."
That was all.
Mitsuri tilted her head.
"That's it?"
Verse turned and began walking.
Hands in his pockets again.
"…doesn't matter."
Mitsuri sighed dramatically—
Then quickly followed beside him.
"Still, I'm curious~"
They walked side by side.
Vanishing into the night.
Old Dojo
The wooden floor creaked.
THUD.
Hina collapsed onto the ground.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat dripping.
"…I can't… move…"
Across from her—
Kurosaki Shin stood.
Not even out of breath.
"…three times."
Her voice calm.
"You only managed to touch me three times."
Hina let out a weak laugh.
"…that's… better than zero…"
Shin didn't respond.
But her eyes observed closely.
Hina had improved.
A lot.
Suddenly—
RING.
Shin's phone vibrated.
She picked it up.
"…yes."
A familiar voice spoke from the other side.
"Tomorrow."
Seiichi Asuka.
"There's someone you need to pick up."
Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…who?"
A short pause.
"Miyagi Aoi."
Silence.
"…understood."
The call ended.
Shin lowered her phone.
"…a new one, huh."
She glanced at Hina—
Still lying on the floor.
"…you won't be the only one."
Hina groaned softly.
"…great…"
Inside a Train – The Next Day
The train moved quietly along its tracks.
Inside—
A girl sat near the window.
Quiet.
Still.
Her hands gently held a katana—
Carefully wrapped in special cloth.
Her eyes lowered.
Nervous.
Miyagi Aoi.
Age 18.
GARDE B
A member of the Miyagi Family—
A lineage known for safeguarding powerful weapons.
She tightened her grip slightly.
"…Tokyo…"
Her voice barely above a whisper.
"…I hope… I can do this…"
Outside—
The city slowly came into view.
A new journey—
About to begin.
To be continued…