Leon couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
Sakura, the Supreme heir of the yakamoto Lineage, lay on the ground like a broken branch. Screaming once but silent now. Her pride cracked in places that might never mend. But Leon hadn't done all this for pride. Not really. He did it to return a favor. To repay her for calling Nikko pathetic.
His eyes lifted, and there she was.
Nikko stood a few meters away, her smile radiant against the glow of the afternoon sun. She wasn't trying to hide it, her satisfaction. The sight warmed something in Leon's chest, something quiet and protective. His lips curved slightly. Just for a second.
Then the thought came, soft but heavy:
'This is why I need more strength. To protect smiles like hers.'
A rasping voice pulled him back.
"What… did you do… to me…?"
