The war has begun. You can feel it in the camp—the air is tighter, movements sharper.
Renji hasn't shown up again. Not that he ever visited often.
"Reach the level of your instructors first. Then I'll consider it," he had said.
Renji picked five instructors: Hayato, Takumi, Arata, Naoki, and Aoi.
Kana and I were already training with Hayato. After our deal with Renji, Hayato started coming every day just for duels.
That was… until Takumi arrived at the camp.
After a single sparring session with him, Kana's body was covered in bruises, her arms already swollen.
When Hayato came for the duel that day, he took one look… then walked away without a word.
The next morning, he surprised us. He showed up early.
And what he said was even more surprising:
"From now on, I'll be the one training you."
Hayato was always quiet. Distant. He rarely spoke. But when he saw Kana like that… something shifted.
He tried to sound mature when he said it, but there was a softness in his voice—barely there.
That day, I saw a side of Hayato no one else had seen. And that face… that moment…
It was unexpectedly gentle.
I didn't know what to feel when I saw Takumi the next day—bruised, silent.
But that was when it started—when I realized I had feelings for Hayato.
Even during the ambush, I couldn't get it out of my mind.
I kept asking myself:
"If she has feelings for Hayato… why hasn't she told me?"
She grabbed his arm. She said, "Don't ever do that again."
Kana never touches anyone—except me. Her voice held something intense.
Not anger. Not panic.
Something else.
I heard Hayato's voice from afar. He was training with Watari.
These days, Watari was always by his side.
"You rushed your shots. Too many, too fast. Slow down. Control the blood in your veins—don't let it control you. If you don't, it'll cloud your mind."
He spoke so kindly. Even when teaching, he was gentle.
Behind that strict mask of a mentor was someone… warm. Someone good.
Eventually, he noticed me watching.
I gestured—send Watari away.
He understood immediately.
After a few words with Watari, he came over.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes. Very seriously wrong," I said.
He tensed immediately, worried. I'll never understand how he still falls for these tricks.
"Our sensei is missing," I added.
I couldn't stop laughing at his expression. Shock. Confusion. Then exhaustion.
"Yui… is that why you made me send Watari away? You can ask Watari to train you." he asked, rubbing his temple.
He sounded so tired.
"No!" I said. "I just thought I earned a little attention after the ambush. A 'well done.' Is that too much to ask?"
"Well done," he muttered, reluctantly.
I punched his shoulder lightly. He tried not to react, but I could tell he liked it.
I didn't want the moment to end.
The big sakura tree above us… it felt like our place. Just ours.
I don't even know why I did it, but when he laughed… I hugged him.
His warmth surprised me.
"'Well done' isn't enough," I whispered. "Pat my head."
Please… just this once.
And I waited.