"Do one thing? What is it?" Katie asked, eyes narrowing.
"You promise me first, then I'll tell you," Ryuuto said, grinning like he'd already won.
"That won't work," Katie stubbornly replied. "You always come up with weird stuff."
"Even if you say no now, you'll end up saying yes later." Ryuuto's grin widened. He flicked his fingers, summoned the beheading blade, and activated Light-and-Heavy Rock Technique. One breath later he was flying up toward the floating clod of earth.
Katie's heart sank. She expected an attack — who wouldn't — but Ryuuto shot beneath the hovering dirt instead. A dull thunk echoed as a slice opened beneath the pool. Water rushed down into the newly carved hole.
Katie spun, panic-flush rising, as the pool drained. When the last trickle vanished, Ryuuto hovered before her and asked, "Possible?"
Katie didn't answer. She shook her head.
Ryuuto didn't scowl. He just raised the beheading blade and hacked at the mound. Dirt and chunks of turf flew like kindling. If she hadn't known him, she might've assumed he was going to bury her alive. The floating clod climbed — 100 meters, 200 — until Katie's footing shrank to a patch no bigger than a manhole cover. Five square meters of earth, suspended five hundred meters over the ground. One wrong step and she'd be falling for her life.
Ryuuto's voice was casual, dangerously casual. "Still not willing to surrender?"
Katie hugged herself, trying to steady her breathing. "I was thinking about what you want me to do."
"As your teacher, I won't make you do anything ridiculous," Ryuuto lied with perfect sincerity.
"I don't believe you." Katie shot back. "When we first met you shoved me into a wine barrel. Then you threatened me with 'devilish training' if I cried. You're my teacher and my—" she faltered—"and the brother I chose, but you're still awful."
"You don't get something, Katie." Ryuuto's tone softened in that merciless way he used when he wanted to be taken seriously. "A lot of girls say 'he's bad' and mean something else. Bad boys are exciting — they change your life. They make things happen."
Katie stamped her foot. "You're complimenting yourself."
"Call it what you want." Ryuuto leaned closer. The gap between them was twenty centimeters. Wind whipped Katie's hair; the ends brushed Ryuuto's chest. Up close, his eyes felt like gravity. "When I left Devil Island, I wanted to ask you something. I destroyed the place. I killed those soldiers on the island."
Katie's whole face paled. She swallowed.
"If I praise you, will you let me down?" she managed.
"I don't care about praise," Ryuuto said. "I just want the truth."
Katie's voice trembled when she spoke. "When you killed that boy my first thought was…panic. You looked like a demon who killed at will. After Devil Island I thought you were wrong. But then I talked with Susan and… I understand. You're captain of the X-Men now. You put the team first. That boy—if he lived—could become a weapon against mutants. In this world, kindness can kill you. Indifference keeps you alive. So I support your way. But promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Next time you plan to kill someone, tell me first. Let me be prepared."
"If I told you, they'd run away," Ryuuto said.
"You could still catch them," Katie countered.
Ryuuto shrugged. "Alright. If I'm going to take someone's head next time, I'll warn you. But you haven't admitted your mistake."
Katie's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Teacher Ryuuto. I shouldn't have teased you or made you worry for nothing. If you ask me to do something—so long as it's not too weird—I'll do it."
"Good." He looked at her with something like relief. "Get stronger. Strength isn't only about controlling your power. It's about the heart. You're sixteen; you're not strong enough yet. This world respects strength. If a stronger enemy shows no mercy, crying won't save you. So train, get tougher. I don't want to see your pure heart hurt."
Her hands trembled as Katie reached up, fingers resting on Ryuuto's shoulders. She tipped up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Brother," she whispered, voice fierce and earnest. "I promise. I will become very strong."
Ryuuto's mouth twitched. He wanted to grimace, to scold, to tease her mercilessly — but inside, his chest went soft for a split second. Not bad for an eighteen-year-old who'd been called half-joke, half-legend by everyone at school. He cleared his throat and pushed the warm bubble down. Training had to continue. The world wouldn't wait.