Over the next few days, Kenji's absence became more noticeable. At first, I thought it was just a busy stretch, but as the days dragged on, I couldn't ignore the shift between us. He wasn't showing up to our training sessions anymore. When he did show up at school, his responses were brief, almost dismissive. It was like he was avoiding me, like he couldn't stand being around me.
I spent more time training alone than I had in weeks, pushing myself harder, but nothing felt the same without him. The journal, the training, the sword—I could handle all of it alone, but it was the absence of his quiet support that left me feeling off balance.
Haruka had noticed too.
"Sakura," he said one night after dinner, "You're usually with Kenji in the evenings. Is something going on with him? I haven't seen him around much lately."
I shook my head, trying to keep the unease from showing. "I don't know, Haruka. He's just... busy, I guess." But my words felt empty, and I knew he wasn't convinced.
The next morning, I couldn't stand it any longer. I needed to confront him, to figure out what was happening. So, when I spotted him by the school gates, I marched up to him, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Kenji," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "We need to talk."
He turned slowly, his eyes avoiding mine. He gave a short nod, his lips pressed into a tight line. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "What the hell is going on with you? You've been shutting me out for days. You won't show up for training, and when you do talk to me, it's like you're a completely different person."
Kenji stiffened, and for a moment, it looked like he might walk away. But he didn't. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, visibly annoyed. "I don't know what you want from me, Sakura. What do you want me to say?"
My pulse quickened, the tension between us growing heavier by the second. "I want you to stop pretending like everything's fine! You're avoiding me, Kenji. You're pushing me away, and I don't understand why."
Kenji's jaw clenched, and he finally looked me in the eyes. "Maybe I'm just... tired. Maybe I'm just trying to figure things out. I don't owe you an explanation."
The words stung, but I wasn't about to back down. "Is that it?" I shot back, my voice rising. "You're just going to shut me out when things get hard? After everything we've been through together, you're just going to leave me hanging?"
His eyes flashed, and he took a step closer, his tone sharp. "It's not that simple, Sakura! You think I'm the one who's shutting you out? You've got this whole... power thing to deal with, and I'm not exactly sure where I fit into all of this! I'm trying to figure out how to help you, but I don't even know if I can."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but something inside me snapped. I took a step forward, my own anger boiling over. "You think I'm handling this any better? You think I'm not scared too? But I don't get to shut down, do I? I don't get to hide from the reality that Leviathan is out there, that all of this is bigger than me, than us. And I need you, Kenji. I need you to stop acting like I'm a burden."
The silence that followed felt heavy, suffocating. Kenji's expression faltered for a moment, his eyes softening, but the tension remained thick between us.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice low. "I just... I don't know how to deal with all of this. I don't know how to be there for you when I'm barely keeping it together myself."
My anger dissipated slightly, replaced by a flicker of understanding. I stepped closer, my voice quieter now. "You don't have to have it all figured out, Kenji. I don't either. But we have to face it together. We always have, haven't we?"
Kenji was silent for a long moment, his eyes shifting between me and the ground. Finally, he nodded, a small, almost imperceptible gesture. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
After school, Kenji and I walked together to the clearing where we'd trained countless times before. The air was still, the sun dipping just behind the trees, casting long shadows across the grass. It should've been peaceful—but the silence between us was loud.
He watched me train, offering a few comments here and there, but his mind wasn't with me. Not really.
I paused mid-swing and turned to face him. "You've been out of it lately. What's going on?"
Kenji blinked as if I'd startled him. "Nothing. Just tired," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Kenji…"
He forced a crooked smile. "Really. I'll be fine. Just didn't sleep well last night."
I didn't believe him, not for a second. But I let it slide—for now.
After a few more minutes of half-hearted coaching, he stood up. "I'm heading home. Get some actual rest."
I watched him go, the unease in my chest growing heavier with every step he took away from me.
[Kenji's POV – That Evening]
The second I turned the corner and saw the two men leaving my house again, my stomach dropped.
They didn't see me, but I saw them—black suits, cold expressions. Government dogs. What the hell were they doing here again?
I waited until their car drove off before I slipped through the front door. My mom was in the kitchen, but the second she saw me, she dropped the dish towel in her hands.
"Kenji. What is going on?" she asked, voice low but sharp.
"What do you mean?" I tried to walk past, but she stepped in front of me.
"Don't play dumb. Those men were here again. Government agents. They said they were looking out for your safety. That they wanted to help. Kenji—what are you involved in?"
My heart pounded in my ears. "It's nothing. Just… school stuff."
"Don't lie to me!" she snapped, louder this time.
I flinched. Something inside me twisted. Shame. Guilt. Panic. I couldn't breathe.
"I'm sorry," I whispered and darted past her, bolting upstairs.
I locked myself in my room and collapsed against the door. My mind was racing. My chest hurt. The walls were closing in.
A few hours later, my phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
You have until tomorrow. No more stalling or there will be consequences.
I stared at the message until the screen dimmed and went dark. My hand trembled around the phone.