Chapter 6: A New Dawn
The morning sun barely crept over the horizon when Kaito stirred, sitting up with a scowl. His mood was a mix of irritation and grogginess, sparked by being woken far too early. He grumbled under his breath, "First, she crashes at my house all night, and now she's dragging me out of bed at dawn? This is my house, and I'm getting rushed? That's just wrong."
Rin, already up and chipper, grinned at him. "Big brother, waking up early sometimes is good for you!" She tilted her head, curious. "So, Yunna, why'd you wake us up so early anyway?"
Yunna, brimming with purpose, answered, "Because we're leaving now. Until the tournament starts, you're staying at our academy."
Kaito crossed his arms, defiant. "No way. I'm staying right here. This is my house. I'm not going anywhere."
Yunna waved off his protest. "Relax, it's not dangerous. You'll have food, lodging, everything you need. Teams have to stick together before the tournament. Once it's over, you can come right back."
Kaito frowned, weighing his options. Rin, bouncing with excitement, chimed in, "Come on, big brother, let's go! It'll be fun. We're bored here anyway. We'll see new places, meet new people. Please?"
Kaito sighed, relenting. "Fine, fine. Let's go."
Yunna whipped out a notebook and pen, her eyes gleaming. "Alright, let's get started. Tell me about yourselves."
Both siblings blinked, startled. "What do you mean?" Rin asked. "What are you writing?"
Yunna smirked. "Just your details. It's required for the team."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What kind of details?"
Yunna flipped open her notebook. "Let's start easy. Names?"
Kaito snorted. "You already know our names. Why ask?"
Yunna laughed. "Habit. Okay, fine. How about your ages?"
Rin piped up, "I'm 13 and a half! Almost 14!"
Kaito shrugged, a playful edge to his voice. "I'm 17. No idea when I'll hit 18."
Yunna nodded, scribbling. "Got it. Now the rest."
She jotted down notes, muttering as she wrote. "Kaito: purple hair, purple eyes, kinda smart-looking but a bit of a goof. Done. Rin: short, cute, purple hair, purple eyes, super adorable. Done."
The siblings gawked, their reactions a mix of shock and amusement. "What are you even writing?" Kaito demanded.
Yunna snapped her notebook shut. "All set! Time to head out."
And with that, their new journey began
A New Dawn (Part 2)
The trio entered the bustling academy, its halls alive with the hum of students and power. They approached their teacher, ready to report their new team, when Rico burst in, breathless. "Yunna! I heard you found your team members! Where are they?" Her eyes landed on Kaito and Rin, sizing them up. "Oh, these two? Hmm." She stepped closer, staring at Rin. "Not sure about strength, but she's definitely cute."
Kaito and Rin exchanged uneasy glances. "What's going on?" Kaito muttered.
Yunna smacked Rico's head lightly. "Back off! Yes, they're my team, but you're freaking them out."
The teacher clapped to get their attention. "So, these are your team members? Are they strong?"
Yunna nodded confidently. "Yes, Teacher. They're super strong. I don't know much about the girl yet, but the guy's solid."
The teacher waved them off. "Good. Show them their room and send them off." She glanced at Rico. "And you? What about your team?"
Rico bolted for the door. "Uh, Teacher, gotta go! I remembered something! Catch you later!"
The teacher sighed. "That girl… Anyway, Yunna, show them their room. If you can, give them a tour of the academy."
Yunna grinned. "Got it. Come on, I'll show you around."
Rin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yes! Let's explore!"
Kaito shrugged, his react
ion muted. "Sure, whatever."
Yunna led them through the academy, weaving past training grounds and dorms until they reached the main hall. Kaito's gaze drifted upward, landing on a display of twelve portraits. At the very top were two familiar faces—his mother and father. His heart stopped.
He shouted, "What the—?!"
Rin, startled, followed his gaze. "Big brother, what's wrong?" She looked up and gasped, nearly screaming, "Mom—!" Kaito clamped a hand over her mouth, whispering urgently, "Don't yell!"
Yunna frowned. "What's with you two? Why are you shouting?"
Kaito pointed at the portraits. "Those two at the top. Who are they?"
Yunna's face lit up. "Those? They're our country's strongest legends! The top two were unstoppable, the best of the best. They're my idols! I'm their biggest fan. I'd kill to meet them."
Kaito's jaw dropped. "What?" Rin stood frozen, equally stunned.
Calming himself, Kaito asked, "So, where are those legends now?"
Yunna's enthusiasm faded. "They vanished. No one knows for sure, but rumors say they went on a massive mission and… didn't make it. It's been years, so everyone assumes they're gone."
Kaito's voice boomed, "They're not dead!"
Yunna blinked, startled. "What's wrong with you? Why are you yelling? How would you know if they're alive or not?"
Kaito caught himself, masking his truth. "I just… they're so strong, right? How could they die? Maybe they're off somewhere, doing something big. Legends like that don't just vanish."
Yunna nodded eagerly. "I think so too! They're too powerful to be gone. My idols wouldn't go down like that."
Rin, steadying herself, cut in. "Yunna, weren't you showing us our room? Let's go."
Yunna snapped back to the moment. "Right! Follow me." She led them to a modest dorm. "Here's your room. If you need anything, let me know."
As Yunna left, Kaito sank onto a bed, his mind racing. "Who were Mom and Dad? They never told us they were this strong. We thought they were ordinary. Legends of the nation? What's the truth behind this?"
Rin sat beside him, worried. "Big brother, are Mom and Dad really… gone?"
Kaito's eyes burned with resolve. "No way. They're alive, just… somewhere. I'm staying here until I uncover everything—who they were, where they are."
Rin nodded fiercely. "I'm with y
ou. We'll find out where Mom and Dad are."
The night was dark and heavy. Two figures—a girl and a companion—ran through the shadows, fear in their eyes. "Hurry!" the girl gasped. "They'll kill us!"
Who are these two? Why are they running? What role do they play? Can Kaito unravel the mystery of his parents' past? To find out, wait for the next chapter. The story has only just begun..