Tanaka sensei didn't say anything for a long time.
The dojo was quiet except for the sound of Kaito's breathing.
Kenji was still staring at him.
"…You really hit me," Kenji said.
Kaito grinned.
"Told you I would."
Kenji frowned.
"That wasn't normal."
Kaito blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You moved faster."
"I always move fast."
"No. Faster than that."
Kaito scratched his cheek.
"…Maybe you're getting slower."
Kenji looked like he wanted to argue, but Tanaka sensei spoke first.
"Kaito."
"Yes, sensei."
"Come here."
Kaito walked over, trying not to look too excited.
He still felt the same strange feeling in his chest.
Like something was buzzing inside him.
Not pain.
Not tired.
Something else.
Tanaka stood in front of him, arms crossed.
"Raise your hands."
Kaito did.
Tanaka grabbed his wrist.
His grip was firm, but not painful.
For a moment, the instructor just stood there, eyes narrowed.
Then his grip tightened slightly.
Kaito felt something strange.
Like a vibration running up his arm.
He frowned.
"…Sensei?"
Tanaka let go.
His expression didn't change, but his eyes were sharper now.
"Punch."
"Huh?"
"Punch at me."
Kaito blinked.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
Kenji stepped back immediately.
He knew better than to stand near Tanaka sensei during training.
Kaito raised his fists.
He hesitated for half a second.
Then he threw a straight punch.
Fast.
Clean.
Tanaka moved his hand slightly.
He caught Kaito's fist in mid air.
The impact stopped completely.
Like hitting a wall.
But this time, Tanaka's eyes widened just a little.
"…Again."
Kaito punched again.
And again.
And again.
Each time, Tanaka blocked easily.
But each time, his expression changed slightly.
Not surprised.
Not impressed.
Just… watching.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
After the fifth punch, Tanaka raised his hand.
"Stop."
Kaito lowered his guard.
"…Did I do something wrong?"
Tanaka didn't answer right away.
He turned and walked toward the side of the dojo.
"Warm up," he said.
"Class starts in five minutes."
Kaito tilted his head.
"…That's it?"
Kenji walked over.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing."
Kenji frowned.
"He never says nothing."
"Well, he did."
Kenji looked at Tanaka, then back at Kaito.
"…You're weird."
"You just noticed?"
Kenji shook his head.
"No. Today weird."
Kaito laughed.
"Good. Maybe I'll win tomorrow."
"You won't."
"I hit you today."
"Once."
"That's enough."
Kenji smirked.
"We'll see."
They started stretching.
But across the room, Tanaka sensei wasn't watching the class.
He was staring at his own hand.
The same hand that blocked Kaito's punch.
"…That pressure…" he muttered.
He clenched his fist slowly.
"…No. Impossible."
He looked toward Kaito again.
The boy was laughing, talking, acting like nothing happened.
Just another kid.
Just another student.
But for a moment earlier…
Tanaka had felt something.
Something he hadn't felt in years.
A presence.
Faint.
Unstable.
But real.
"…It can't be," he whispered.
...
After class ended, the students started leaving one by one.
Kenji grabbed his bag.
"You coming tomorrow?"
Kaito snorted.
"I come every day."
"You'll lose every day."
"Not forever."
Kenji smirked.
"Keep telling yourself that."
He walked out.
Kaito stretched his arms and yawned.
His body hurt again.
But today felt different.
He couldn't explain why.
He just felt… lighter.
Stronger.
Like something inside him had woken up.
He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
"Kaito."
He stopped.
Tanaka sensei was standing near the wall.
"Yes, sensei?"
"…Stay a minute."
Kaito blinked.
"…Am I in trouble?"
"No."
"Oh. Good."
He walked back, dropping his bag on the floor.
Tanaka looked at him for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"How long have you been training?"
"Since I was little."
"How little?"
"…I don't remember."
Tanaka nodded slowly.
"Who taught you first?"
"My mom."
Tanaka's eyes sharpened.
"…Your mother?"
"Yeah."
"What's her name?"
Kaito hesitated.
"…Why?"
"Just answer."
"…Aiko Arata."
Tanaka froze.
Just for a moment.
Then his expression went back to normal.
"…I see."
Kaito tilted his head.
"You know her?"
"No."
"…You paused."
"I was thinking."
"You always pause when you think?"
Tanaka almost smiled.
"…Go home, Kaito."
"Huh?"
"We're done today."
Kaito frowned.
"…Okay."
He picked up his bag and walked toward the door.
Right before he left, Tanaka spoke again.
"Kaito."
He turned.
"Yes?"
"…Train hard."
Kaito grinned.
"I always do."
He ran out the door.
Tanaka stood alone in the dojo.
For a long time, he didn't move.
Then he took a slow breath.
"…Arata…"
His eyes darkened.
"…So that's why."
He turned off the lights.
Outside, the sky was already turning orange.
Far away, on the roof of another building, the man in the dark coat watched the dojo again.
He held the small device in his hand.
The light on it was brighter now.
"…The signal is increasing," he muttered.
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
He looked toward the street where Kaito had disappeared.
"…Wake up faster."
The device hummed softly.
"…We don't have much time."
The wind blew across the roof.
And the light flickered once more.
Stronger than before.