Sleep was optional.
Apparently.
Functioning without it?
Still under review.
I stepped onto the training grounds just as the morning light cut across the field, sharp and clean.
My body felt… off.
Not tired.
Not weak.
Just—
Different.
Like something inside me had shifted overnight, and everything else was still catching up.
"…Yeah," I thought. "That's probably important."
"You didn't sleep, did you?"
Of course.
"…Define sleep."
Armani stepped into my line of sight anyway, arms folded lightly, eyes scanning me.
"You look off."
"I am."
"That's not reassuring."
"It's not supposed to be."
She exhaled slowly.
Then—
"…Your mana feels smoother."
I paused.
Looked at her.
"Weird how?"
"Not weird," she said. "Just… cleaner. Like it's not fighting you anymore."
"…Good."
She blinked. "That's it?"
"That's all I need."
She stared at me for a second.
Then shook her head.
"…You're impossible."
"Efficient."
"Annoying."
"Also accurate."
She almost smiled.
"FORM UP!"
The captain's voice cut through everything.
We moved.
Combat up front.
Support behind.
No one said it.
Everyone understood it.
"Today," the captain said, pacing slowly, "we begin sparring."
Energy shifted instantly.
Focus. Excitement. Tension.
"Combat classes first."
Of course.
Reiji went first.
Clean.
Controlled.
Precise.
He lost.
But he learned mid-fight.
Adjusted.
Improved.
"…Yeah," I thought. "He's built for this."
Kaito went next.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Explosive.
He hit harder.
Moved sharper.
But—
He overcommitted.
The captain read him easily.
Sweep.
Ground.
Less than ten seconds.
Kaito got up immediately.
Pressed again.
Harder.
Faster.
Angrier.
Got dropped again.
"…Consistent," I thought.
I stepped forward.
Before my name was called.
"Let me go next."
A few heads turned.
That wasn't how this worked.
The captain's eyes locked onto me.
"…You volunteering?"
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"…You want to test something."
"…Yeah."
He nodded.
"Then test it."
His gaze dropped to my hands.
"…Where's your weapon, Yamamoto?"
I looked down.
Then bent slightly—
Picked up a small, smooth pebble.
Light.
Useless.
Perfect.
"…This'll work."
Mana moved.
Instant.
No chant.
No delay.
"Transmute."
The pebble shifted.
Stretched.
Refined.
A short blade formed in my hand.
Clean enough.
Stable.
Real.
"…Interesting," the captain said.
I adjusted my grip.
"…Let's test this properly."
"…Begin."
Flash.
He was in front of me.
"…so fast."
I moved.
Barely.
His strike cut through where I'd been.
I pivoted.
Countered.
He parried.
Clean.
We exchanged.
Fast.
Sharp.
No wasted movement.
"…He's controlling everything."
Timing.
Spacing.
Pressure.
All of it.
I adjusted.
Footwork.
Angle.
Breathing.
Mana flowed.
Smooth.
Responsive.
I feinted—
He read it—
I shifted mid-motion.
Real strike.
Contact.
He staggered.
One step.
That was it.
But—
That was enough.
The field went silent.
"…Got you."
Then—
He changed.
Immediately.
Lower stance.
Tighter movement.
No openings.
He stepped in—
Feint.
Real strike—
Too clean.
I adjusted—
Late.
Impact.
Ground.
Air gone.
"…yeah."
I stared up at the sky for a second.
Then exhaled.
"…this outcome was inevitable."
I sat up.
The captain looked down at me.
Studied me.
Then—
"…Not bad."
A pause.
"…You made me sweat."
That got reactions.
Small.
But real.
I stood.
Walked back.
No reaction.
Didn't need one.
"Yeah, makes sense."
Kaito.
Of course.
"He got a handicap," Kaito said. "Captain held back. He's not built for real combat like actual heroes."
I stopped.
Turned.
"…Real heroes?"
He smirked.
"…Yeah."
I nodded once.
"Real heroes don't get dropped twice in ten seconds."
Silence.
Clean.
Kaito's smile disappeared.
"…You wanna go, useless?"
"…Sure."
The captain didn't stop it.
He watched.
Then—
"…Begin."
Kaito moved first.
Fast.
Angry.
Better.
I stepped in.
Closed distance.
Picked up another shard mid-motion.
Mana moved.
Blade formed.
Cleaner than before.
We clashed.
He hit harder.
I moved cleaner.
He overextended—
I pivoted—
Cut across—
He dropped.
Hard.
Silence.
"…No way."
He pushed himself up immediately.
"…Again."
"…Again," the captain allowed.
Second round.
Sharper.
Faster.
I adjusted slightly.
Matched him.
He feinted—
I didn't bite.
Step in.
Tap wrist.
Grip breaks.
Blade—
At his throat.
Not touching.
Just there.
"…Match."
Kaito stepped back.
Silent.
Watching.
I let the blade dissolve.
Not temporary.
Dismissed.
"…Good."
I turned.
Sat back down.
Closed my eyes.
Mana flowed instantly.
Smooth.
Clean.
"…They're chasing strength."
Voices rose again.
Training resumed.
"…I'm building control."
And if I kept going—
"…this won't even be close."
I could feel it.
Armani watching.
The captain, too.
Different reasons.
Both important.
"They think I'm catching up."
I exhaled slowly.
"…they're looking at the wrong thing."