Ayato stared at Kaito, a small smirk forming.
"So… you're a Trigger, huh?"
But Kaito's face was full of confusion.
"What the hell are you talking about? I just… picked up a bat, that's all."
He looked at the weapon that Ayato had sent flying earlier. Though it was a random bat, it was still the same metal bat he always used before.
He'd swung it hundreds of times in the past, but never did it feel like that.
So why now? he thought. Why did I suddenly get stronger?
He tried to go where it was and pick it up again.
Ayato smiled.
Then—
In one blink, Ayato's hand touched the ground. An invisible force burst beneath his feet, launching him forward like he'd been pushed by a giant unseen hand.
Boom!
Dust scattered as Ayato landed right in front of the bat before Kaito could touch it.
"Too slow," Ayato said lazily, lifting the bat.
But then, instead of attacking, he dropped it right beside Kaito's foot.
Kaito blinked. "...What's your deal?"
Ayato shrugged. "A fight's no fun if it's one-sided. Go ahead, pick it up. Let's see if you're really worth my time."
Kaito frowned, hesitating. Then he reached for the bat again.
Nothing.
No rush of energy.
No pressure in the air.
Just… nothing.
He swung it once, it was just an ordinary swing.
Ayato sighed. "Huh. I thought that was your Trigger. Guess you're just another random guy who got lucky knowing he has a Trigger, but unlucky enough to die without understanding it."
Kaito clenched his teeth, thinking hard. "No… I felt something. That time, when I hit you… something was different."
Ayato tilted his head, eyes cold. "Well, I guess you're just a waste of time."
Kaito couldn't answer. His mind spun in circles.
What's the difference? What did I do before? How did I do it?
Questions crashed through his head like waves, but no answers came.
Meanwhile, Yū watched from a distance, breathing hard. His chest burned, his heart wouldn't stop pounding.
It felt like something inside him was trying to break free, something he didn't understand.
But he couldn't lose focus. Ren was still lying on the ground, barely breathing.
I have to get him to a hospital… Yū thought.
But—
Ayato moved again.
He dashed toward Kaito, reaching out a hand to touch his forehead.
"Now die!"
But before Ayato's fingers could connect.
Klang!
The bat smashed upward, slamming into Ayato's arm, sending him flying backward into a wall.
"Wha—!" Ayato grunted, dust falling from his shoulders.
If he hadn't activated his Trigger before the fight, he'd be dead by now.
He looked up, shocked. "The hell was that?"
Kaito stared at the bat in his hands. His grip tightened.
"I see… so that's how it is."
He pointed the bat at Ayato, smirking.
"Hey, Supernatural… ready for round two?"
Ayato's grin returned.
"This kid…" he muttered, then smirked wider. "I'll crush you to pieces!"
The two charged.
The air cracked with every clash, metal against energy, each blow louder than the last.
Kaito's movements grew sharper, faster. Each hit was heavier, like he was learning how to control the strange power with every swing.
Yū could only watch, his hands trembling. His heart raced faster, something clawing inside him.
No… what's this? Stay down… stay down he thought.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound of a door bursting open echoed through the warehouse.
"AYATO!"
The voice was sharp, furious.
Aria stepped inside, her eyes blazing with anger.
"You said something interesting was happening, and this is it?! You're fighting again and using your Essence?! Are you out of your damn mind?!"
The three froze — Ayato, Kaito, and Yū — as Aria's presence filled the room like a storm.
Ayato scratched the back of his head, pretending to smile.
"Uh… surprise?"
"What the hell, one after another," Kaito muttered, still catching his breath.
Aria sighed, brushing her hair aside. "I just looked away for a few seconds, and you're already getting into trouble," she murmured.
Then her gaze shifted to the scene in front of her, the wrecked warehouse, the unconscious bullies, Ren bleeding on the ground, Yū trembling. Something flashed in her memories, a dark memory of someone dying to save her.
Her expression darkened. "You're dragging even civilians into this?"
The air shifted, heavy, cold.
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"Get on your knees," she whispered.
"Huh?" Kaito blinked.
Ayato chuckled softly. "Hehe…"
"I said," Aria's voice snapped, echoing through the space,
"GET. ON. YOUR. KNEES. NOW."
"Yess~" Ayato replied, smiling like a mischievous child.
Kaito didn't say anything. He just lowered his head and knelt.
The pressure in the air was suffocating, it wasn't even a powerful superhuman, a supernatural, or even a beast. It was just her presence.
The two stopped fighting completely, the silence filled only by the faint sound of the wind.
Aria exhaled, pressing her earpiece.
"Call the medical team. Now."
Within minutes, a small group in white coats arrived, tending to Ren and checking on Yū.
Aria crossed her arms, glaring at Ayato and Kaito.
"You two… are dead when the higher-ups hear about this," she said coldly.
"And you," she pointed at Ayato, "you promised you wouldn't cause trouble. But now you're starting a fight."
Ayato looked away, whistling.
"Ehh~ I only helped the normal student, Yū, right?"
Yū: "…"
Ayato: "??"
Then Aria continued to scold him.
Yū was deep in thought. The throbbing in his chest had stopped now.
What was that earlier? Yū thought.
It's like something was going to consume me… he thought, looking at the sky.
---
Outside, far from the warehouse…
A big guy moved between the alleys.
"Where's that girl hiding…" a voice muttered.
He climbed up the side of a building silently, his movements quick even though his build was big.
From the rooftop, he looked around until his eyes caught the faint glow of red and blue lights, an ambulance moving fast down the street.
He smirked.
"It seems there's something going on out there…"
Then he leapt across the rooftops, following the vehicle until he stopped near the warehouse and spotted Aria standing beside it, giving orders to her team.
The man's grin widened, eyes glinting with malice.
"Found you," he whispered.
Then came a low, chilling laugh as he hid in the alley.
---End of Chapter 10---