Kenji sat cross-legged on his house's porch, overlooking the village below. A cup of cold herb tea rested in his hand, which he drank absentmindedly.
The afternoon was quiet. Peaceful.
Then he saw someone running up the hill.
Kenji's expression remained stoic as the figure finally reached the top. The boy collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
Kenji sighed, irritation creeping into his eyes.
"Kenji… pant… Kenji…"
The boy struggled to speak.
Kenji's annoyance sharpened.
"Talk. What do you want?"
The boy flinched before forcing the words out.
"Yume… was beaten up by Lolan and his group."
Kenji's eyes darkened.
Without another word, he stood and stepped inside. Moments later, he returned with a wooden sword in hand and began walking toward the village.
"He's by the village's edge!" the boy added quickly.
Kenji stopped.
Slowly, he turned.
His orange dusk eyes fixed onto the messenger, cold and threatening.
"This better not be one of Nelly's schemes."
The boy stiffened. Though he was Awakened, Kenji's reputation still lingered heavily among the village children.
Kenji said nothing further and continued down the hill.
By the Village's Edge
Lolan and his group had been waiting for Takahiro's faction.
Instead, Nelly arrived.
She approached with her entire group behind her, fury written plainly across her face.
Lolan clicked his tongue in irritation as she stopped inches from him.
"Fat pig," she spat. "Didn't we have a deal?"
Lolan took a slow step back, scowling.
"I completed my side."
Nelly's face flushed red with anger.
"You're ruining everything for me!"
Lolan and his group exchanged glances, as if questioning her sanity.
After a moment, Nelly forced herself to calm down. She flicked her hair back and inhaled deeply.
Lolan spoke again, voice steady.
"I want to be the strongest. Our deal ended when you showed up instead of Takahiro."
He unsheathed his wooden sword from his belt.
"I'll defeat your group first. Then I'll crush Takahiro."
His followers tightened their grip on their weapons.
Nelly's expression turned dark.
One of her members handed her a long wooden spear with a dulled tip. Her group moved in front of her, forming a defensive line.
"We can avoid all this pain," Lolan said. "Hand over your bandana."
"Not in your miserable life," Nelly replied.
"ATTACK!" Lolan shouted.
"Charge!" Nelly countered.
Both factions surged forward.
The clash began.