Serenia City Shopping Center
The shop's sign creaks faintly in the wind—[Urameshi Ramen]—its red lantern swaying lazily. A few locals nod politely at the man walking toward it, some even whispering among themselves as he passes.
His name? Tenjo Hitsuke.
- Wears an old but well-kept kimono, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
- Always has a lazy smile that doesn't reach his sharp, calculating eyes.
- Walks like a man who knows exactly how much time he has left in this world... and finds it amusing.
He slides open the door with one hand while fishing out a lollipop from his pocket with the other (he has opinions about sugar being superior to cigarettes). Inside, two teenagers glance up from their chores behind the counter—twins, Haru and Sora—who immediately scowl upon seeing him.
"You're late," Haru grumbles while scrubbing a pot aggressively. "We had to cover your shift AGAIN."
Tenjo just pops the candy into his mouth before ruffling her hair like an unruly puppy (earning himself a hissed "Stop that!"). "Thanks for holding down my empire~!" He then turns toward their only customer today—an older man nursing tea near a window seat whose presence seems out of place here somehow despite looking every bit part of the scenery around them...
"Yo Kurobe," Tenjo greets casually before stealing a piece of egg from a ramen bowl set aside waiting for someone special apparently…
Kurobe doesn't react beyond sipping own drink slowly then setting cup down carefully atop wooden table worn smooth by years use:
"Took you long enough boy." Voice gravel but fond beneath gruff exterior as ever when dealing wayward pupils turned masterless teacher these days…
Meanwhile back in the kitchen area Sora mutters something under breath along lines why do we put up with this guy.
Haru kicks her brother under the counter in response, but not before Tenjo catches it with that infuriatingly perceptive gaze of his. He smirks around the stolen egg.
"Patience, Sora~ You'll miss me when I'm gone."
Sora flips him off without looking up from chopping scallions (he laughs instead of scolding them for disrespect—because that's why they tolerate him).
Kurobe exhales through his nose before finally addressing what they both know this meeting is really about:
"The boy—Ryo." A pause. "...He's progressing faster than expected."
Tenjo's playful demeanor flicks off like a switch at those words; suddenly all sharp edges beneath lazy grins and sugar habits as he leans forward just slightly... Interested.
"How much faster?"
Kurobe taps rim cup once—twice—before answering in way only someone who's known Tenjo since he was reckless brat throwing himself headfirst into danger would dare:
"Enough that others might start noticing."
Tenjo leans back in his chair, the legs creaking under him as he sucks thoughtfully on the lollipop. "I think it's time I paid Yua a visit."
Haru pauses mid-scrub, narrowing her eyes. "You mean that girl who's always with Ryo?"
Tenjo nods absently, spinning the candy stick between his fingers. "She's more than just some tagalong," he muses aloud before flashing them both an unnervingly knowing grin—one that promises headaches for everyone involved later down the road if past experiences hold true here today too...
Sora groans while Haru throws up hands exasperatedly—they know better than argue when their boss gets like this (which is always).
Kurobe simply shakes head fondly before finishing tea in one final sip:
"Try not to scare her boy." Standing then gathering a coat draped over the seat next him without waiting for a reply because honestly? He already knows whatever Tenjo has planned won't be simple. Nothing ever is with him after all…
But Tenjo only winks cheekily at the retreating figure before turning attention toward the twins' still grumbling kitchen area: "Pack my favorite snacks~ We got work to do!"
Cue dual protests drowning beneath sound door slamming shut behind energetic idiots they somehow adopted against better judgment years ago now…
Later That Evening — Ryo's Neighborhood
Tenjo strolls down the quiet street, hands tucked in his sleeves and a woven basket of snacks hanging from one arm (courtesy of Haru's reluctant packing skills). The moon casts long shadows as he hums to himself, stopping in front of Ryo's house with the subtlety of a firework.
He doesn't knock.
Instead, he tilts his head toward the upstairs window—specifically Yua's closet—and calls out with infuriating cheer:
"Yua-chaaan~! Your favorite sensei is here with gifts!"
Inside the house:
- Ryo jolts awake, nearly falling off his bed.
- Rumi sleepily kicks her pillow, groaning about "stupid loud people."
- Kujuro sighs into his paperwork, resigned to chaos by now.
And inside the closet? Yua freezes mid-sip of stolen ramen (don't ask how she got it), chopsticks hovering over the bowl as Mizaru bristles invisibly behind her.Who...?
The voice cuts through the quiet night like a firework—cheerful, playful, and unmistakably Tenjo Hitsuke. Her chopsticks freeze mid-air as Mizaru's presence flares in warning behind her.
(...What is he doing here?)
She shoves the ramen aside (Ryo will never notice it missing anyway) and cracks open the closet door just enough to peer down at the grinning figure standing in their yard like some uninvited trickster god. Moonlight glints off his lazy smile as he holds up a basket of snacks with zero shame whatsoever.
From downstairs, she hears Ryo's muffled "WHAT THE HELL?!" followed by hurried footsteps—no doubt scrambling to stop this disaster before it starts. Too late for that though...
Tenjo spots her peeking out and waves enthusiastically: "C'mon down~! We've got things to discuss!"
Yua glares at him, weighing options before common sense gets the better of her.
"Ugh, fine," she mutters before yanking the door open and stomping downstairs—Mizaru hovering behind her like a disapproving chaperone.
Ryo watches from the top of the stairs as Yua stomps down the steps toward Tenjo, arms crossed and irritation radiating off her in waves. It's kind of impressive how one person can convey so much irritation with just a glare, to be honest.
Tenjo grins at her, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he just woke everyone up at 10pm on a weeknight.
"Ah, there you are~!" he chirps cheerfully, holding out the basket like some kind of offering. "...I brought snacks?"
Yua's glare intensifies as she stops a few feet from Tenjo, unimpressed by his attempt at peacemaking. "Seriously?" she deadpans, eyeing the basket distastefully. "You show up unannounced, wake everyone up, and your grand gesture is... snacks?"
Tenjo shrugs unapologetically. "What, no 'hello' for your favorite sensei?"
Tenjo pouts at that, feigning hurt feelings. "Ouch, Yua-chaaan—just 'friend'?" He dramatically places hand over heart, pretending to swoon.
Yua remains unimpressed.
"You're not fooling anyone, old man," she retorts with a roll of eyes. "What do you want?"
The exaggerated hurt vanishes from his face instantly, replaced by a sly grin.
"Old man? Ouch. I'll have you know I'm in my prime!" He leans in slightly, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But fine, fine—I came to talk about Ryo." His sharp eyes flick toward the upstairs window where Ryo is no doubt still gaping in disbelief at this entire scene. "...Specifically, why you and that six-ringed nuisance of yours are letting him train recklessly."
Mizaru's growl echoes through Yua's mind like distant thunder—but Tenjo just winks at thin air like he can hear it too (because of course he can).
Yua feels Mizaru bristling again behind her, hackles raised in warning—but she doesn't back down. Instead, she crosses her arms and meets Tenjo's gaze head-on: "And what business is it of yours?"
Tenjo simply chuckles, unbothered by her defensive stance. "You don't get to my age in our line of work without learning a few things, kid. And one of those things is recognizing potential when I see it."
He leans back, lollipop twirling between his fingers again. "Ryo's got something special—Seishu energy that doesn't just flare up like a candle... it burns like a wildfire." His grin sharpens. "And wildfires? They either forge legends... or burn down everything in their path."
Yua stiffens slightly, recognizing the warning beneath his playful tone. Mizaru's growl vibrates through her skull—low and distrusting—but Tenjo just flicks his gaze past her toward the upstairs window where Ryo is no doubt still eavesdropping (badly).
"So?" Yua finally bites out, refusing to show how much this unnerves her. "What's your point?"
Tenjo leans forward again, eyes glittering with a seriousness that cuts through the playful facade: "Ryo's potential is huge—but he's got no control. His energy flares too wildly, too dangerously. If he doesn't learn how to tame it, he could end up getting himself or someone else killed... and that's why I'm offering my help."
"What kind of 'help?'" Yua counters, not trusting the sudden switch from playful to serious. Mizaru growls skeptically behind her.
Tenjo's smile returns, lazy and almost unnervingly confident: "A training camp, of sorts. I've got a place out in the mountains that's off the grid enough for us to train privately, away from prying eyes. We can help him learn control, refine his skills... maybe even unlock the full potential of his Seishu energy while we're at it."
Yua's heart skips a beat, the last bit catching her off-guard: "Full potential?"
Tenjo catches her subtle reaction and lets the words hang in the air deliberately, as if savoring her surprise. "Oh yes," he confirms cheerfully, "There's a reason they call it 'wildfire' after all..." The implication is clear: whatever Ryo's true power is, it's way beyond anything she, Mizaru, or even Ryo himself can imagine.
Yua feels Mizaru bristle again behind her—this time not even trying to hide its unease at the revelation.
Yua opens her mouth—probably to demand more details, or to shut Tenjo down entirely—but before she can speak, a voice interrupts from behind them:
"So you're saying... I could be stronger?"
Both Yua and Tenjo turn toward the doorway where Ryo now stands, arms crossed. His expression is a mix of suspicion and something dangerously close to interest. Too late, Yua realizes with a sinking feeling. He heard everything.
Tenjo's smirk widens into something victorious as he leans back against the porch railing. "Oh? Eavesdropping now, are we?" He chuckles before popping the lollipop back into his mouth with relish. "Guess I have your attention."
Yua shoots Ryo a glare—a traitorous eavesdropper—before stepping forward, blocking Tenjo's line of sight to him. "Ignore him," she snaps at Ryo. "You don't even know what you're agreeing to."
But Ryo's gaze locks onto Tenjo, something fierce sparking in his eyes. "If there's a way to get stronger—to stop being useless when it matters—then yeah, I'm damn well interested."
Mizaru's growl vibrates through Yua's bones at that (foolish boy playing with fire) while Tenjo just grins around his lollipop like he already won the game before it started…
Tenjo lets the question hang in the air for a moment, studying the look in Ryo's eyes. "Why, indeed," he muses, leaning against the porch railing leisurely. "Most people train to protect others, or themselves, or even just for the sake of getting stronger."
He tilts his head curiously. "So why you, Ryo? Why do you want power so badly that you're willing to chase after it like this?"
Ryo hesitates for a second, jaw tightening. Then, bluntly:
"Because I'm tired of being the one who needs saving."
His fists clench at his sides. "Every damn fight—it's always someone else putting themselves between me and the danger. Yua with her fox spirit, my dad with his old hunter tricks... even Mizaru's stuck babysitting me because I can't do shit on my own!" His voice cracks slightly—anger and frustration boiling over in raw honesty.
A heavy silence follows as Tenjo studies him quietly before finally nodding once—as if confirming something to himself. "...Good enough for me." He pushes off the railing and tosses Ryo a wrapped onigiri from the basket (which he catches on reflex). "Eat up~ Training starts at dawn tomorrow!"
Yua looks like she wants to strangle both of them as Tenjo strolls away whistling while Ryo stares down at snacks like it holds answers to the universe itself…
Yua glares at Tenjo as he walks away, irritation rolling off her in waves. But before she can call after him, she feels Ryo grip her shoulder suddenly.
Her gaze swings toward him, surprised. "You... you can't be seriously considering this," she snaps. "Training with him?" Ryo shrugs without meeting her eyes. "He seems to know what he's doing."
Yua scoffs at the nonchalant response. "Right. Because showing up unannounced and offering snacks is a sign of responsible training methods."
Ryo doesn't rise to the sarcasm, still staring at the rice ball in his hands. "He said he knows how to help," he mutters.
Yua snorts at the blind faith in that. "And you just believe him?"
Ryo's gaze finally lifts from the onigiri, something dark and determined flashing in his eyes. "Doesn't matter if I believe him or not."
Yua blinks, surprised by the ferocity in his tone. "Wha—yes, it does!" she argues. "You're risking your safety for some promise from a sketchy stranger—"
Ryo clenched his jaw, cutting her off. "I'm risking it because I'm sick of being the one who needs saving." His fingers dig into the rice ball, leaving indentations. "This way, maybe…
Yua stares at the anger burning in Ryo's eyes, taken aback. "So... what?" she presses, voice shaking slightly. "You're just going to throw yourself into danger on the word of someone who claims he can make you stronger?"
Ryo bites out through gritted teeth: "Better than sitting here being useless." And before she can respond to that, he turns and stalks upstairs, leaving Yua and Mizaru staring up after him with matching looks of frustration. "He's really going through with it," she mutters, "Damn stubborn idiot…"
Mizaru bristles in response. "Stubborn and proud and reckless and foolish...", it grumbles. "All the traits of a hunter."
Yua shoots it a sharp look. "No one asked for your opinion," she mutters, heading upstairs after Ryo.
Mizaru follows her, muttering something about idiotic humans in general as it goes.
In the shadows an unknown Observer speaks on the current situation in front of them.
A figure watches from the rooftops, their silhouette swallowed by the night. The flicker of a cigarette burns briefly before being crushed underfoot—a silent punctuation mark to the scene below.
"How amusing."
Their voice is neither loud nor harsh, but it carries—like ink bleeding through paper. Unseen, yet undeniable.
"This world feeds on its own desperation... Each player clinging to their petty ideals like children begging for purpose in a game already rigged against them." A gloved hand lifts, examining the moonlight filtering through fingers as if it were nothing more than another illusion. "The hunter seeks strength to escape his chains... The fox mourns a future already written in ash... And that fool Tenjo?" A chuckle—cold and smooth as polished steel. "He still believes he can tip the scales."
The shadows ripple around them like living things; hungry. Obedient.
"...Let them play their little game for now.
(After all… checkmate was decided long before they ever took their first move.)"
🌀 End Of Chapter Twenty Six