Chapter 4 – Sparks Grow Stronger
The sun had barely risen over Shinkage High when Akihiro arrived at the chess clubroom, already sweating from his morning run. He had made it a habit to train before anyone else, determined to improve faster than yesterday.
Inside, the room buzzed with energy. Several students were already practicing, their Kagekisen glowing and moving fluidly above the boards. Akihiro's own aura flickered weakly, but he didn't care about appearances—today was about progress.
"Hey, Takeda!" a group of girls called from across the room. "Want us to help you practice?"
Akihiro froze, blushing bright red. "I-I… no, I can manage on my own!"
Sayaka, standing near Mina, raised an eyebrow. "Ignore them," she said softly. Akihiro exhaled in relief. Yes… just their attention matters.
Mina's gaze swept the room, landing on Akihiro. "I'll be watching. Don't embarrass yourself." Her words were sharp but not unkind. Akihiro's chest tightened. Even this small remark felt like praise.
He started with basic aura control exercises. Summoning a pawn, he focused on maintaining its shape longer than before. The first few attempts failed, collapsing midair. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and frustration bubbled inside him.
"Keep calm," Sayaka whispered again, her hand brushing slightly against his arm as she adjusted a pawn. His heart raced, and he nearly lost focus—but the gentle touch grounded him, helping him push forward.
Hours passed. Akihiro faced several sparring partners in succession. Each time, his Kagekisen flickered but showed slightly better stability. He still lost most matches, but he lasted longer, blocking and countering moves he never could yesterday.
A group of girls hovered nearby, giggling and fawning.
"You're amazing, Akihiro!" one said.
"I knew you'd get stronger!" another exclaimed.
Akihiro's face burned, and he waved them off, mumbling apologies. "I… I'm only trying to—uh…"
He glanced at Mina. She was observing silently, her expression unreadable, but the slight tilt of her head suggested approval. Sayaka's calm smile encouraged him further. For them, he was doing well. That was enough.
Finally, the last exercise of the day: a free duel with an upperclassman named Riku, whose Kagekisen was a swirling shadow beast. Akihiro summoned his aura, now slightly steadier than before. The small humanoid smoke figure hovered above the board, flickering but holding its shape.
The duel began. Riku attacked aggressively, testing Akihiro's control. For the first few moves, Akihiro barely managed to block. Then, recalling Sayaka's words, he focused on strategy, not raw power. He moved one piece deliberately, forcing Riku's Kagekisen to counter. Another small move, another block—his aura held.
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Not bad for a beginner. You've improved."
Akihiro's chest swelled with pride. He hadn't won, but he had lasted longer than expected, even managing a few defensive moves that showed his growing understanding.
After the duel, Akihiro slumped into a chair, exhausted but smiling. Mina walked over, her gaze piercing.
"Improvement is slow… but visible," she said. "Keep this up, and you might not be useless forever."
Sayaka leaned in, her blonde hair catching the light. "You've taken your first real steps forward. That spark is becoming more noticeable."
Akihiro nodded, feeling warmth spread through him. Around him, the other girls continued to giggle and stare, but he ignored them. Only Mina and Sayaka's acknowledgment mattered, and today, he had earned it.
As he left the clubroom, the sunset painted the campus in gold. Akihiro clenched his fists. He was still far from the Obsidian Soul, still weak, still clumsy—but for the first time, he felt that real growth was possible.
Tomorrow… I'll be even better. And one day, they'll have no choice but to recognize me—not just for this spark, but for the fire I'll ignite.
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