The Adventurer's Guild's stone corridors echoed with the distant clamor of adventurers, but the hallway where Renjiro and Tetsuya stood was a pocket of quiet, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. Renjiro's silver-and-white hair glinted under the flickering torchlight, his expression a mix of resolve and guilt as he prepared to speak about Haruto's sister. His voice was low, steady, but laced with pain. "Tetsuya, about Haruto's sister… it's—"
Before he could continue, a sharp voice cut through the silence. "Sir Tetsuya!" A soldier in the livery of King Veltoz strode forward, his armor clinking with urgency. "An important letter has arrived from the king!"
Tetsuya's brow furrowed, his focus shifting. "From the king? Hand it over—quickly." The soldier extended a sealed parchment, and Tetsuya tore it open, his eyes scanning the elegant script. His expression tightened, a flicker of unease crossing his face. "I've been summoned to the palace," he said, his voice measured but heavy. "The Four Kingdoms meeting is happening in a few days… in your village, Renjiro."
Renjiro's eyes widened, curiosity sparking. "You're escorting the king's family to the meeting place?"
Tetsuya nodded, his tone uneasy. "Yeah. It's a heavy responsibility."
Renjiro studied Tetsuya's face, noting the tension in his jaw, the subtle crease in his brow. "You look worried," he said, his voice probing. "What's got you so on edge?"
Tetsuya shifted, his discomfort palpable. "Every time the Four Kingdoms meet, it's a pressure cooker. They argue, posture, and last time, it nearly came to war. If not for Raizo, things would've spiraled out of control."
Renjiro's face lit up, his usual seriousness giving way to boyish excitement. "You mean The Flash Raizo? From the Kingdom of Dwarves?"
Tetsuya blinked, caught off guard by Renjiro's enthusiasm. "You know that bastard?" he asked, a mix of amusement and confusion in his voice.
Renjiro waved his hands, practically bouncing with joy. "Of course I know him! I met him years ago—he's super cool!" His voice brimmed with admiration, a rare glimpse of the kid he'd once been.
Tetsuya's confusion deepened. "How do you know Raizo?"
Renjiro's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with the memory. "Some years back, our family was attacked by a gang of thief-merchants—twelve, maybe fifteen of them. My dad wasn't strong enough to fight them off, and he got badly injured. I was just a kid, helpless. My mom was about to step in, ready to protect me and my sisters, even though she didn't know how to fight."
Tetsuya's eyes widened. "Your mom was going to fight? Does she know how?"
Renjiro laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "No way! She's no fighter, but she was ready to throw herself at them to keep us safe. Then, out of nowhere, Brother Raizo appeared. He took down every single one of those thieves by himself. His swordsmanship… I've never seen anything like it, even now. It was like a dance, every move precise, every strike deadly."
Tetsuya leaned forward, intrigued. "You lived in the Kingdom of Dwarves?"
"Yeah, for a few years," Renjiro said, his voice softening with nostalgia. "While we were there, Raizo gave me a scroll with some techniques. In his free time, he trained me. Even visited me a year ago."
Tetsuya's jaw dropped, his composure fraying. "Wait. Raizo gave you a scroll? With techniques? And he trained you?" He clutched his head, swaying as if he might faint. "I'm… I'm completely lost."
Renjiro tilted his head, puzzled by Tetsuya's reaction. "Yeah, he trained me. Why's that so shocking?"
Tetsuya steadied himself, a dawning realization in his eyes. "Now I get it. Your speed, your swordsmanship, your battle sense—it's because of Raizo. That explains everything."
Renjiro's smile was radiant, unburdened by his earlier guilt. "Of course! He's freaking cool."
Tetsuya shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Well, since your village is hosting the meeting, we'll talk more then. I need to head to the palace." He reached into his cloak, producing a worn map. "This is for you. Find that place, and you can take a sword or dagger for you and your friends."
Renjiro took the map, his fingers brushing the parchment with reverence. He bowed deeply, his voice sincere. "Thanks for the battle, Tetsuya. For everything."
Tetsuya returned the bow, his smile genuine. "It's been a year since I had an opponent like you. Thank you, Renjiro." He extended his hand, and Renjiro clasped it in a firm handshake, their mutual respect sealing the moment. With a final nod, Tetsuya turned and strode away, his figure vanishing into the guild's bustling halls.
Renjiro lingered by a window, the cool breeze ruffling his silver-and-white hair. His thoughts swirled, a rare excitement bubbling within him. How many years has it been since I felt this much excitement? The memory of Raizo, the promise of the map, the weight of the Four Kingdoms meeting—it all stirred something deep within him, a spark of purpose.
Meanwhile, in the guild's side room, the air was charged with a different kind of intensity. Reina stood frozen, her hands covering her face, her heart pounding like a war drum. Moments ago, she had kissed Haruto—a fleeting, reckless act that had left her trembling with a mix of shame and exhilaration. Haruto sat on the floor, his blonde hair disheveled, his eyes wide with disbelief as he tried to process what had just happened.
"I… I'm sorry, Haruto," Reina stammered, her voice barely audible. Her cheeks burned, her hands shaking as she turned and bolted from the room, her red hair trailing behind her like a flame.
Haruto remained rooted to the floor, his fingers brushing his lips where hers had been. "Why… why did she kiss me?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty room. He ruffled his hair, his thoughts a chaotic whirl. "Reina, tell me, or my brain's gonna explode!" His heart raced, torn between confusion, joy, and the lingering ache of his earlier grief.
Renjiro, now walking through the guild's crowded halls toward the practice battlefield, caught sight of Reina sprinting past. She collided with another adventurer, mumbled a hurried apology, and kept running, her face flushed and her eyes wild. Renjiro's brow furrowed, his thoughts racing. What's wrong with her? Why's she running like a beast? A spark of suspicion ignited. Wait… Haruto. Did that bastard do something? Propose to her? Or… something unimaginable? His imagination spiraled, conjuring wild scenarios as he quickened his pace.
A voice startled him from behind. "Hey, Renjiro!"
Renjiro spun around, his heart leaping as he shouted, "Who the hell are you, you monster?" His hand instinctively reached for his sword, only to freeze as he recognized Haruto, his hair a mess and his expression a strange mix of dejection and elation.
Haruto blinked, confused. "It's me, Haruto."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed, taking in Haruto's disheveled state. "Why's your hair such a mess? And why do you look… down and happy at the same time?" Suspicion flared, and he grabbed Haruto's collar, shaking him. "What did you do to Reina? Tell me, you bastard!"
Haruto's face flushed, his hands flailing. "N-nothing! I didn't do anything!" But his stuttering only fueled Renjiro's doubts, the memory of Reina's frantic escape burning in his mind.