Mikey stood frozen, completely confused by the scene unraveling in front of him.
Luce crossed her arms, chuckling under her breath, shaking her head like she'd seen this show before.
"Tobi, you dumbass…"
Mikey blinked, then turned to her.
"Tobi? That's Tobi?"
"Yep," she said, smirking. "In the flesh."
Mikey turned back toward the chaos. The boy being chased was nothing like what he'd imagined. Scrawny, dirt-streaked, bug-eyed with panic—but quick. Ryosuke's wooden practice blade came down in a brutal arc toward his legs. Tobi yelped, leaping just high enough to clear it. The next swing whistled toward his head; somehow, he ducked under, clumsy but precise.Then Ryosuke vaulted into the air for a crushing overhead strike—Tobi planted his hands and flipped backward in a messy handspring that should've looked ridiculous… except he'd actually pulled it off.
Mikey's stomach twisted.
Every one of those strikes had floored him in training, and yet this kid—this coward sprinting around like a cornered rat—was surviving them all. Dodging with pure desperation.Moving like his body remembered things his brain didn't want to.
"What the…" Mikey muttered under his breath.
Tobi rolled beneath another swing, scrambling upright only to scream again.
"Ryosuke, I'm sorry! AHHHH!"
He sidestepped frantically, flipping sideways to avoid another slash—only to have Ryosuke sweep his legs mid-landing. Tobi hit the mat hard with a painful thud, the wind knocked out of him. Ryosuke loomed over him, blade poised. His voice was low, simmering.
"Tobias..."
Tobi threw his arms over his head, bracing for the end.
"I'm sorry, okay?! I didn't know you'd get captured! Spare meee!"
Without hesitation, Ryosuke batted Tobi's hands aside and smacked him on the temple with the flat of the sword.
"OW!"
Tobi howled, curling onto his side, clutching his head like a child about to cry. His legs kicked weakly against the mat. Mikey grimaced.
"So that's him? Kinda pathetic."
Luce's chuckle carried no argument.
"He is. In his own way."
She strolled forward and crouched beside the boy, extending her hand.
"You okay, Tobs?"
Tobi peeked up, and the instant he saw her, relief washed across his dirty face like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"Aunt Luce!" he cried, scrambling to grab her hand. "You gotta save me, he's gonna kill me!"
She hauled him to his feet with ease.
"No, he's not," she said, laughing softly. Then she turned to Ryosuke. "Right, Ryo?"
Ryosuke lowered the practice blade, his stern expression softening into something more measured.
"That slap was all I needed." He stepped closer and opened one arm. "Come here, Tobias."
Tobi waddled over reluctantly, shoulders slumped like a kid dragging himself into punishment. But when Ryosuke pulled him in, it wasn't to strike again. It was a brief, almost fatherly hug—two firm pats on the back. In a quiet voice meant only for him, Ryosuke murmured, "I am glad you are safe, Tobias. I am impressed you made it back on your own."
Tobi smiled faintly, cheeks pink.
"It was no biggie…"
Luce arched an eyebrow at him, laughing under her breath.
"No biggie? You came running in here knowing Ryosuke was gonna pound you, huh?"
Tobi scratched the back of his head and turned away like a kid caught sneaking sweets.
"I, uh… I came to apologize. For all that happened."
That actually stopped her for a moment.
"Wow. Tobi doing something remotely brave. That's… shocking."
He ducked his head, mumbling.
"Took me, like, two weeks to get it together but… here I am…"
"Two weeks?" Luce said, narrowing her eyes.
Ryosuke, arms crossed, chimed in.
"Luciana makes a point. When did you return, Tobias?"
Tobi's nervous eyes darted between them. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Two…"
Both of them leaned closer.
"Two what?"
"...weeks ago."
"What?!" they both snapped in unison. Luce smacked the back of his head. He yelped, stumbling forward.
"Where the hell you been hiding?"
Tobi stammered, rubbing his skull.
"Amelia's tent! She—she promised she wouldn't snitch!"
Ryosuke clicked his tongue, exhaling through his nose.
"Amelia…"
Mikey froze at the name. The word hit him like a spark to dry wood. He hadn't realized until now, but there was a boy—his age, his height—who carried a certain charm, different from his but no less sharp. And that boy had been with Amelia. Staying with her. Close. Trusted.
He was staying with Amelia...
What kind of relationship do they have...
Tobi still hadn't noticed him. Luce shook her head, laughing softly.
"That girl… Well, why come out now?"
Tobi's shoulders hunched. He murmured, "Figured you guys missed me, is all. Y-yeah. That's why…"
"Oh, you missed us, huh?" Luce said slyly.
"What? No, I—"
She hooked him in a headlock and scrubbed her knuckles across his scalp.
"You missed us! Admit it!"
"Hey—stop! No! I didn't!"
Tobi flailed helplessly, red-faced and squirming. Then his eyes locked on Mikey, who'd been standing stiff and silent.
"Wait. Who's that guy?"
Luce let him go, grinning.
"That's our soon-to-be pickup."
Mikey stepped forward a little.
"Mikey."
Tobi's eyes widened.
"Oh—you're that guy!"
Mikey frowned.
"What guy?"
Tobi ambled over, pointing a finger at him with almost theatrical suspicion.
"The guy Amelia ripped out of her sketchbook. Saw the page in the trash."
Mikey's stomach tightened. His eyes narrowed as Tobi stopped right in front of him.
"So?" he asked flatly.
Tobi tilted his chin up, standing chest-to-chest though Mikey had three inches on him.
"So… you're the one who made her cry. She told me about the bonfire. Not exactly your biggest fan."
His voice shook, but his eyes didn't move. Then he gave Mikey a once-over.
"You're taller than I thought you'd be. What are you, six-three?"
Mikey scoffed.
"Six foot. What does that make you—five-nine?"
Tobi muttered under his breath, "Dammit…"
A smirk tugged at Luce's lips as she leaned toward Ryosuke.
"This can't possibly end well. Tobi only finds his spine when it's about her."
Ryosuke's chuckle was low.
"It's good. Training for Mikey. Did you tell him about Tobias?"
"Just that he's a pussy," Luce whispered back.
Ryosuke's eyes glinted with amusement.
"Then he's looking down on him already. This should be… interesting. After all, Tobias is one of us."
Luce leaned closer again, grin widening.
"I got three bags of meat on Mikey."
Ryosuke gave her a sidelong look.
"And I'll take the same bet on Tobias."
Tobi locked eyes with him, trembling but determined.
"Is it true you called her a slut?"
The words landed like a punch. Mikey's face hardened, eyes narrowing.
"No."
Tobi scoffed, pacing forward.
"Does 'it's like throwing a peanut down a hallway' ring a bell?"
Mikey's chest tightened. His eyes widened before he could hide it.
"...Shit."
Tobi's jaw dropped.
"So you did! You pretentious, shockingly-pretty-faced, douchebag—"
Mikey's jaw clenched, his pulse ticking in his temple.
I'm not about to take disrespect from the team's punching bag.
And did he just call me… pretty?
What kind of insult even is that?
God, he's terrible at this.
Mikey exhaled sharply through his nose, scoffing.
"Your move, asshole."
Tobi looked over his shoulder at Ryosuke, like a kid checking for permission. Ryosuke lifted one brow, shrugged.
"Okay then…" Tobi muttered.
Suddenly, his voice pitched into a wild, desperate cry:
"RAHH!!"
He lunged, arms outstretched, tackling Mikey low at the waist like a cornered animal. The impact rocked them both, knocking Mikey back a step. Luce gasped and immediately burst out laughing.
And just like that—in Mikey's very first meeting with Tobi—they were already fighting.