Haruto woke before sunrise — sweat, shaky breath, and the faint echo of Arkhamis still clawing at him from inside his skull.
"You cannot run from me, child."
"Soon… you will kill."
"You will drown this world in my hate."
Haruto grabbed his glowing palm.
"…N-No. Stop talking to me…"
But the voice lingered, even as he got up to train.
Lira Watching Haruto Train (and falling harder)
Mira had Haruto outside early, moving through stance drills and footwork.
Haruto's breathing was steady but strained — his muscles still not fully recovered from his transformation.
Lira watched from a wooden fence nearby, legs dangling, cheeks red.
Haruto swung a practice staff with surprising force — and Lira's eyes widened.
"…He's so… strong…" she muttered under her breath.
Mira overheard and smirked.
"You're hopelessly in love."
Lira flailed.
"M-MIRA PLEASE—!! I'M JUST— OBSERVING— I'M—!"
"Uh-huh," Mira said flatly.
Then, when Haruto stopped for water, Lira nearly fainted.
He pushed wet hair off his forehead, smiled at her, and said:
"Morning, Lira!"
She turned the color of a tomato.
"M-m-morning, Haruto…"
Ren's Training Intensifies
Meanwhile, Sataro was outside with Ren, testing the limits of the "crystal skin" ability.
"Ren. Try blocking this."
"Noooo— I'm tired—"
"Ren."
"UGH. Fine."
Sataro snapped his fingers.
"Nova, toss me a staff."
Nova tossed it perfectly.
Sataro swung hard.
The staff STRUCK Ren's arm —
CLANG!
Ren yelped.
"HEY— that hurt!"
Then—
A bright shimmer spread across Ren's crystalized skin.
Sataro stepped back, startled.
"Ren… something's building up—"
Ren's arm vibrated—
and—
BOOOOM—!!
A shockwave BLEW OUT from his arm and cracked the ground.
Nova's hair blew back.
Sataro shielded his eyes.
Ren stumbled.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
Sataro's eyes widened.
"You… reflected the damage."
Ren blinked.
"I did?"
Nova stepped closer.
"And it was TEN TIMES stronger."
Ren grinned like an idiot.
"Soooo… I'm OP?"
"No," Sataro said.
"Yes," Nova whispered.
Ren pumped a fist.
"LETS GOOOOOO—!!"
Sataro wrote something down in a notebook.
"We have to limit-test this.
You might be able to counter powerful attacks."
Ren flopped on the ground.
"And I might also die of exhaustion."
Nova & Sataro: Feelings Getting Harder to Hide
While Ren recovered, Nova walked over to Sataro — pretending she was just checking on training.
"Hey."
Sataro looked up.
"…Hey."
Awkward silence.
Both remembered the kiss from earlier.
Both pretended not to.
Nova cleared her throat, trying to sound casual.
"So… Ren's ability is… insane."
Sataro nodded.
"It is."
Another silence.
Sataro's mind replayed how she touched his cheek, how her lips felt on his.
Nova swallowed.
"You okay? You seem distracted."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
He looked away.
"…Maybe."
Nova stepped closer.
"You've been acting weird around me."
"You've been acting weird around me," Sataro countered.
Nova smirked lightly.
"Because I kissed you."
Sataro's face went pink.
"…Yeah."
"Do you regret it?"
Her voice was soft, almost scared.
Sataro swallowed.
"No."
Nova's heart nearly exploded.
She gently brushed her fingers against his hand and whispered:
"…Good."
But before the moment could deepen—
Haruto Collapses from Another Vision
Haruto suddenly fell to his knees mid-training.
Lira screamed,
"HARUTO!"
Mira ran to him.
Haruto clutched his head, eyes glowing faintly.
Arkhamis' voice roared in his skull:
"HE IS WATCHING YOU."
"THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS."
"THE SPY."
Haruto gasped.
"There's… someone… watching us…"
Nova's eyes darted around.
Sataro grabbed his sword.
"Where?"
Haruto shook violently.
"M-Mira… someone on the rooftops…"
Mira's face turned dark.
"…I know."
She helped Haruto breathe as Lira hugged him trembling.
"I'm here, Haruto… it's okay… I promise…"
The Spy Reports Back
Up on a distant rooftop, the spy crouched low, shaking from the shockwave Ren produced earlier.
He whispered into the crystal:
"My king…
There is more."
Sable's voice hissed:
"Speak."
"The blonde boy can reflect damage…
Tenfold.
A dangerous ability."
Sable leaned forward on his throne.
"…Excellent.
Continue watching.
We need every weakness they have."
The spy nodded.
"Yes, my king."
His eyes narrowed on Sataro…
…then on Haruto, who looked terrified.
"…Soon," the spy whispered.
"They'll slip."