The fire was finally under control.
Smoke still lingered in the air, but the villagers of Shimotsuki were no longer running—they were gathering.
Counting.
Checking.
Grieving.
Kevin stood at the edge of the village, silent.
Watching.
He didn't step forward.
"…I don't belong there."
His eyes drifted toward the bodies.
Covered.
Still.
Two of them…
He knew were his doing.
"…Saved… or killed…"
The line between the two felt thinner than he expected.
"Kevin."
He didn't turn.
He already knew who it was.
Shimotsuki Kuina walked up beside him.
"You're avoiding everyone."
"…Yeah."
Kuina crossed her arms.
"They're asking about you."
"…What are they saying?"
Kuina hesitated.
"That you helped."
She paused.
"…And that something strange happened."
Kevin let out a quiet breath.
"…Of course."
Silence settled between them.
Kuina glanced at him again.
Her eyes sharper now.
More serious than before.
"That thing you did…"
Kevin stiffened slightly.
"…What was it?"
There was no accusation in her voice.
Only confusion.
And curiosity.
Kevin looked at his hand.
"…I don't fully understand it yet."
That part was true.
"But I know one thing."
Kuina waited.
"It's dangerous."
Kuina didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
She stepped closer.
"…Then don't lose control of it."
Kevin blinked.
"That's it?"
Kuina shrugged.
"What else am I supposed to say?"
She looked directly at him.
"You fought."
"You didn't run."
"…That's enough for now."
Kevin stared at her.
"…You're weird."
Kuina smirked slightly.
"You're one to talk."
Before Kevin could reply—
A calm voice interrupted.
"Kevin. Kuina."
Both turned.
Koushirou stood a few steps away.
His expression was as gentle as always.
But his eyes—
Were not.
"Come with me."
The dojo was quiet.
Unusually quiet.
The usual sounds of training were gone.
Replaced by silence.
Kevin stood in the center of the room.
Kuina beside him.
Koushirou faced them.
"Today," he began, "you both faced something real."
Kuina nodded.
Kevin stayed silent.
"Pirates are not opponents in training," Koushirou continued. "They are people who kill without hesitation."
His gaze shifted slightly toward Kevin.
"And sometimes… they awaken something in return."
Kevin felt the weight of those words.
"…You saw it."
It wasn't a question.
Koushirou nodded.
"I did."
Silence.
Kuina looked between them.
"…Saw what?"
Koushirou didn't answer her directly.
Instead—
He looked at Kevin.
"That power."
Kevin's fists clenched.
"…It's a Devil Fruit."
Kuina's eyes widened slightly.
"…You ate one?"
Kevin nodded.
"…Today."
The room felt heavier.
"A rare decision," Koushirou said calmly.
"But also a dangerous one."
Kevin let out a breath.
"…I didn't have a choice."
Koushirou studied him carefully.
"No," he said quietly.
"You chose."
That hit harder than any attack.
Kevin didn't respond.
Because he knew—
It was true.
Kuina stepped forward.
"So what kind of fruit is it?"
Kevin hesitated.
"…I don't know the name."
Not completely a lie.
"But it… takes something from people."
Kuina frowned.
"Takes… what?"
Kevin looked at the floor.
"…Life."
Silence filled the dojo.
Kuina didn't speak this time.
Even she understood what that meant.
Koushirou closed his eyes briefly.
"…Then you must be careful."
Kevin looked up.
"Power that deals with life and death…"
Koushirou opened his eyes again.
"Will change you."
Kevin's grip tightened.
"…I won't lose myself."
Koushirou didn't respond immediately.
"…Everyone says that."
That silence…
Carried more weight than any warning.
Later that night…
Kevin sat alone behind the dojo.
The sky was dark.
Stars scattered across it.
His hand rested on the ground.
"…Life…"
He closed his eyes.
And focused.
Trying to feel it again.
That thread.
That connection.
At first—
Nothing.
Then—
Faintly.
Something.
A presence.
Small.
Weak.
Kevin's eyes opened slowly.
"…There."
A tiny insect crawled nearby.
Without thinking—
Kevin reached out.
His fingers hovered above it.
He hesitated.
"…Do I really need to…?"
The memory of the pirate flashed in his mind.
The fear.
The scream.
Kevin's hand trembled.
"…No."
He pulled back.
"I won't abuse it."
Not like that.
Not without reason.
Footsteps approached.
"You're still awake."
Kevin didn't turn.
"…Yeah."
Kuina sat beside him.
"You're thinking again."
"…Always."
She glanced at him.
"…Are you scared?"
Kevin paused.
Then—
"…Yeah."
No hesitation.
No pride.
Just truth.
Kuina nodded.
"…Good."
Kevin looked at her.
"If you weren't scared…"
She looked up at the sky.
"Then you'd already be lost."
Kevin leaned back slightly.
"…You're smarter than you look."
Kuina smirked.
"You're weaker than you talk."
They both laughed.
For a moment—
Things felt normal again.
But deep inside Kevin—
Something had already changed.
Not his strength.
Not yet.
But his path.
From this point forward—
Every step he took…
Would move him closer to something inevitable.
Power.
Darkness.
And a future—
Where he would no longer hesitate.