The next day—
Yuta woke up as usual.
Nothing special.
Nothing different.
He followed the same routine.
Eat.
Train.
Rest.
Repeat.
Breakfast was quiet, just like before.
No unnecessary conversation.
Only the sound of utensils and calm breathing.
After that—
He went out.
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Squats.
Running.
Everything done smoothly.
Naturally.
"…Done."
Under thirty minutes.
As always.
Then—
Training at the dojo.
Basics.
Practice.
Sparring.
Learning.
Everything continued the same.
But—
Something was different.
Yuta noticed it clearly.
Kuina.
Her movements had changed.
More confident.
More direct.
More aggressive.
Her strikes were sharper.
Faster.
Less hesitation.
Yuta watched her quietly.
"…So it affected her."
He said calmly.
He remembered what he told her.
About women becoming strong.
About those who reached the top.
"…She must be motivated."
There was no confusion in her anymore.
No doubt.
Only focus.
"…That's good."
Time passed.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
Training continued.
Relentless.
Consistent.
More than one year and three months went by.
During that time—
Yuta learned more.
Not just technique.
But understanding.
About swordsmen.
About the path.
"…There are levels."
He said quietly one day.
Not as a question.
But as something he had come to understand.
"…Three stages."
He held his sword.
"…First…"
"…Breath of All Things."
To sense everything.
To cut iron.
To understand what to cut—
And what not to cut.
"…Second…"
"…Flying slash."
A level where the sword extends beyond the body.
Power carried through distance.
Connected to something deeper.
"…Haki."
He said the word quietly.
Then—
"…Third…"
He paused.
"…Great swordsman."
A blade that cuts what it wants—
And doesn't cut what it doesn't.
Absolute control.
Absolute mastery.
At this point—
Yuta had already reached the first stage.
"…Breath of All Things…"
He closed his eyes slightly.
Then opened them.
Calm.
Sharp.
"…I've mastered it."
His blade moved.
Clean.
Precise.
No resistance.
Time continued.
Nothing rushed.
Nothing forced.
Until—
A certain day came.
Zoro and Kuina stood facing each other again.
Wooden swords in hand.
Yuta stood nearby.
Watching.
"…Again."
The match began.
Back and forth.
Fast.
Sharp.
But—
The result didn't change.
Zoro fell.
Breathing heavily.
Kuina stood over him.
"…This is your 2001st loss."
She said calmly.
Silence.
Zoro clenched his fists.
Frustrated.
But said nothing.
Then turned and left.
Kuina stood there for a moment.
Then turned.
And walked back toward the dojo.
Up the stairs.
Same as always.
Yuta watched.
"…Now."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
This was the moment.
The one he remembered.
The one that should not happen.
Kuina stepped forward—
Then—
Her foot slipped.
"…!"
Her body lost balance.
Falling backward.
Down the stairs.
Yuta moved.
Instant.
No hesitation.
His body reacted before thought.
In that final moment—
He reached her.
And caught her.
Silence.
Kuina's body stopped mid-fall.
Held securely in his arms.
No impact.
No injury.
No death.
Yuta stood there calmly.
"…That's done."
He said quietly.
To him—
This was simple.
Just a task.
A correction.
A change.
"…First fate changed."
But to Kuina—
It was different.
Her eyes were wide.
Her breathing uneven.
She was still shaking slightly.
The moment—
The fall—
The sudden stop—
Everything hit at once.
Her face slowly turned red.
"…I…"
She tried to stand.
But her legs didn't respond.
The shock.
The fear.
Still lingering.
Yuta didn't say anything.
He gently set her down.
Then stood up.
"…Stay here."
He turned and moved immediately.
Koshiro was inside the dojo.
Yuta entered quickly.
"…Kuina fell from the stairs."
That was all.
No extra words.
No panic.
Just information.
Koshiro's expression changed instantly.
He rushed out.
Straight to Kuina.
After checking her condition—
He stopped.
She was fine.
No injuries.
No damage.
Just shaken.
Koshiro exhaled slowly.
Then turned to Yuta.
"…Thank you."
Yuta nodded once.
"…No problem."
After that day—
Things changed slightly.
Koshiro no longer allowed Kuina to use the stairs.
Everything she needed was brought down.
No risk.
No repeat.
Yuta stayed one more night.
Quiet.
Calm.
Nothing else to do.
His goal—
Was complete.
The next day—
He prepared to leave.
No delay.
No reason to stay longer.
As he stepped out—
Someone ran toward him.
"…Wait!"
Kuina.
She stopped in front of him.
Slightly out of breath.
"…Thank you."
She said.
Her voice steady.
Then—
"…Will we meet again?"
Yuta looked at her.
"…Yes."
Simple.
Direct.
No hesitation.
Kuina stayed silent for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
She spoke again.
"…Next time…"
A small pause.
"…Will you take me with you?"
Silence.
Yuta looked at her.
Not immediately answering.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"…Alright."
He said.
Calm.
Certain.
Kuina's expression changed slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
Yuta turned.
Then walked away.
No hesitation.
No looking back.
Behind him—
The dojo remained.
Kuina remained.
The past—
Changed.
And the future—
Now open.