Kaito decided that if he was going to be hunted, he might as well be comfortable.
The thought struck him while he was staring at the academy common room wall—bare stone, a few battered chairs, and absolutely nothing entertaining about it.
"This is unacceptable," he muttered.
Dex tilted his head.
An hour later, Kaito was back in the city.
Not at the weapons market.Not at the charm stalls.Not even at the fabric vendors.
He stood in front of a shop filled with glowing glass panels, humming crystals, and illusion boxes stacked floor to ceiling.
The sign above the door read:
Arcane Visual Entertainment — No Refunds After Activation
Kaito stepped inside.
The vendor blinked. Once. Twice.
"You're… not here for a ward projector, are you?" the man asked cautiously.
"I want a television," Kaito said.
The silence was deafening.
"A… what?"
"A screen," Kaito clarified. "Large. Clear. And something that plays games."
Dex sat politely beside him, tail thumping once against the floor.
The vendor stared at the dog. Then at the spear. Then at Kaito's hooded, utterly serious expression.
"…You're not joking."
"No."
Something in the vendor's eyes shifted—from confusion to opportunity.
"Well then," he said brightly, rubbing his hands together. "You've come to the right place."
By the time the Circle found Kaito again, he was standing outside the shop with three massive crates, a smaller box labeled INTERACTIVE SPELL-GAME SYSTEM, and a sack full of enchanted discs.
Ryo stopped dead in the street.
"…Is that a TV?"
"Yes," Kaito said.
Mira squinted. "Why do you have a TV?"
"For morale."
Aria stared at the crates, then at him. "You're being hunted."
"Yes."
"And your response," she said slowly, "was to buy… entertainment?"
Kaito nodded. "Stress relief improves combat efficiency."
Dex barked once, clearly approving.
Setting it up was chaos.
Cords tangled. Illusion crystals sparked. Ryo nearly electrocuted himself touching the wrong rune. Mira laughed until she cried. Aria watched in silence, arms crossed, as Kaito calmly assembled the device like he'd done this a hundred times before.
When the screen finally flickered to life, the room filled with light and sound.
A colorful title appeared:
DRAGON BRAWL VII: FROST REALM EXPANSION
Ryo gasped. "No way. That game is impossible."
"Good," Kaito said, taking a controller. "We'll learn."
Dex promptly sat directly in front of the screen.
"Dex," Kaito sighed, gently nudging him aside. "You can watch. Just… not block."
The husky flopped down, eyes glued to the flashing lights.
Ten minutes in, something broke.
"HOW DID THAT HIT ME?" Kaito snapped.
Everyone froze.
He leaned forward, controller clenched, thumbs flying.
"That dodge was perfect. PERFECT," he growled, jamming buttons in rapid succession. "No, no—why are you rolling THERE?"
Mira stared. "Is… is he button mashing?"
"I am ADAPTING," Kaito shot back.
Ryo blinked. "He sounds like you."
"THIS GAME IS CHEATING," Kaito barked as his character was launched off a cliff.
Dex whined sympathetically.
Kaito snapped, slamming a button. "THE INPUT LAG IS UNACCEPTABLE."
Kaito stared at the screen, breathing hard, completely forgetting his usual cold composure.
"…I hate this boss."
Mira collapsed into laughter. "The terrifying spear guy is losing to a cartoon dragon."
Ryo grinned. "Want help?"
"No," Kaito muttered, already mashing again. "I will WIN."
When the victory screen finally flashed—after frantic button smashing, shouted accusations at the screen, and Dex barking every time the music swelled—the room erupted.
Kaito leaned back, exhausted.
"…That was strategic," he said weakly.
Aria smirked. Just barely.
For a short while, there were no hunters.No rumors.No pressure.
Just noise, light, laughter, and a warrior whose intimidating mask had completely slipped.
Somewhere in the city, a hunter paused mid-step, frowning.
"…Why do I suddenly feel like I'm being mocked?"