Tiger slowly woke up in his bed and stretched his arms.
"Today and tomorrow are holidays," he said to himself. "So I can finally get some rest... and maybe go outside for a while."
He got out of bed, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and changed into some fresh clothes. After getting ready, Tiger left his room and took the lift downstairs.
Just as he was about to leave the building, he stopped.
"I'm hungry," Tiger sighed.
There was a separate kitchen in the building where the residents could prepare their own food, so Tiger decided to make something for himself. He walked into the kitchen and began checking through the drawers.
After looking around for a moment, he took out a knife and found some garlic. He placed the garlic on the kitchen counter and carefully washed the knife in the basin.
He shook off the remaining water droplets and took out a steel plate from one of the drawers. Holding the garlic in his hand, Tiger began peeling it with the knife, placing the waste onto the plate.
Once he had finished peeling the cloves, Tiger placed them aside on the kitchen counter. He took the plate containing the garlic peels and walked over to the dustbin near the main door, throwing the waste away.
Tiger then placed the cloves back onto the plate and washed them properly.
After that, he opened another drawer and found packets of rice and pulses. He carefully cut them open with the knife and made sure they were placed properly so nothing spilled.
Taking out two separate bowls, Tiger poured the rice into one and the pulses into the other. He washed both several times before leaving them to cook.
He added the garlic cloves to the pulses and waited.
While the food was cooking, Tiger stretched his body a little and looked outside through the windows.
Eventually, the food was ready.
Tiger washed another bowl and served himself some rice first before adding the pulses. He carried the bowl to a nearby table, sat down cross-legged, and began eating directly with his hands.
After finishing his meal, Tiger placed everything in the basin and washed his hands. He cleaned the bowls and other utensils before putting everything back where it belonged.
Tiger stretched once more.
"Alright," he said. "Time to go outside."
He left the building and began walking through the streets.
After wandering around for a while, Tiger suddenly stopped.
There was a beautiful blossom tree nearby.
Tiger slowly walked toward it and reached out his hand, wanting to touch the tree.
But just before his fingers could reach it—
Something caught his attention.
A card was slowly floating through the air toward him.
Tiger immediately stopped moving.
The card continued floating closer... slowly at first.
Then suddenly—
Its speed increased.
Tiger quickly dodged as the card shot toward his leg.
The card passed him and flew slightly ahead.
Tiger looked toward it.
But in less than a second—
Scar appeared directly beside him.
Tiger's eyes widened.
Scar was holding another card near Tiger's neck.
"Put your hands up."
Tiger glanced at him.
"And if I don't... Scar?"
Scar moved the card even closer to his neck. There were only a few centimeters between the card and Tiger's skin.
"I said do it."
Tiger slowly raised both his hands.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then—
Tiger suddenly grabbed Scar's hand—the one holding the card.
"Honestly," Tiger said calmly, "I know these kinds of moves. So there's no point in trying them on me... understand?"
Scar looked at him.
"Really?"
Suddenly, Scar threw Tiger away.
Tiger crashed through a wall and landed on the road on the other side. Pieces of the broken wall scattered around him.
For a moment, Scar remained silent.
Then Tiger slowly stepped out from the rubble.
He began walking toward Scar.
"You really thought that would kill me, Scar?"
Scar stared at him in surprise.
Then he quietly whispered,
"No problem... honestly, I'm glad you're fine."
Suddenly, Scar pulled out several cards and threw them toward Tiger.
Tiger quickly dodged.
But the moment the cards passed him—
Scar teleported.
Tiger immediately sensed something behind him.
Scar had appeared directly at his back and was preparing to kick him.
But before Scar's attack could land, Tiger grabbed his leg.
Tiger swung him around and threw him directly toward the blossom tree.
BOOM!
The entire tree shook from the impact.
Blossom petals fell through the air because of the force, but fortunately, the tree itself was strong enough that it didn't break.
Scar fell to the ground.
After a moment, he slowly stood up.
He took a breath... and smiled.
Tiger noticed that Scar had been slightly injured.
But then Scar's injuries began healing.
Tiger watched carefully.
He's healing himself...
Tiger's expression became serious.
But what's the point of doing that? You're still going to die, Scar...
Tiger suddenly rushed toward him.
Scar quickly dodged.
Tiger's attack missed and struck the blossom tree instead.
Scar laughed.
"Give up, Tiger. You can't do it."
Scar immediately counterattacked.
This time, he threw Tiger toward another wall.
But Tiger didn't fall.
Instead, he stopped himself against the wall and remained there for a moment.
Tiger narrowed his eyes.
He mainly attacks using those cards. His hand-to-hand combat isn't as strong... but his long-range attacks are good.
I understand now.
But suddenly—
Tiger felt something strange in his heart.
His expression changed.
Scar was gone.
Tiger was no longer against the wall.
He was standing in the exact same place where he had been earlier—right when he had first noticed the blossom tree.
Tiger slowly looked around.
Everything was normal.
The wall wasn't broken.
There was no damage anywhere.
It was exactly like before.
Tiger stared ahead in confusion.
"What... happened?"
He looked toward the area where Scar had been.
"I was just fighting him... and that wall was destroyed."
Tiger looked around again.
"But it's not broken."
Everything was exactly the same.
Tiger slowly lowered his head.
"Something strange..."
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then his eyes shifted toward his hand.
"No... I know nothing happened to me."
Tiger looked at his Swiga.
"This is all because of the Swiga."
He stared at it.
"But what is it doing?"
Tiger tried to understand what had just happened.
"Scar disappeared... but how?"
His voice became quieter.
"Was that just... an imagination?"
Suddenly—
Tiger heard something.
A strange voice came from behind him.
It repeated itself.
"I want that thing from you."
Tiger's eyes widened.
He immediately turned around.
But there was no one there.
Tiger stood completely still.
"Was that Scar's voice?"
He slowly looked behind himself.
"It sounded like it came from behind me..."
Tiger hesitated.
"And it felt like someone touched my right hand."
His eyes slowly shifted toward his Swiga.
"Right beside the Swiga..."