~~~May 27, 2169~~~
It was another gloomy morning in the city of Nagasaki.
Claws of the Seele flew through the sky like vultures in search of prey. Down below, Kirashi stood alone, facing them without a hint of hesitation.
The distant mountains, once serene and untouched, now groaned under the weight of invading Megalo-class Seele.
"Jeez!! It's early in the morning!"
He shouted, sleepy.
Seven Earth-types charged toward him, their hulking forms rumbling with each step. But Kirashi didn't falter. His breath steady, his stance firm.
A few meters away, Ryujin and Ayro stood with arms crossed, silently observing. Their eyes tracked Kirashi's every move.
They wouldn't interfere—not yet.
But if his breathing hitched, if even a single step faltered... they'd be there in an instant.
Ayro closed his eyes and nodded slightly as he spoke.
"Ah... she's here."
"Senses are sharp as ever, Ayro,"
The kunoichi said with a grin.
She chuckled softly, spinning a kunai around her fingers with practiced ease. Her left hand rested on her waist as she strolled up behind them, unbothered by the tension in the air.
The field men instantly shifted, alerted by the arrival of an unfamiliar presence.
"Hold up, miss!"
Ryujin raised a single hand, signaling them to stand down. No words, just quiet command.
"Got it, sir!" one of the field men responded, easing his stance.
Ayro snickered, not bothering to turn around.
"Why aren't you at work?"
"It's my day off,"
She replied casually.
Ayro smirked.
"Ah... I thought you finally got fired."
Hoshi shot back without missing a beat.
"Please. If anyone's getting fired for slacking off, it's the guy standing around while someone else fights seven Seele."
Ayro shrugged slightly and began to speak.
"Well, I can't—"
Before he could finish, Hoshi cut him off.
"Can't fight them, right? I've seen how your 'technology' works."
Ayro let out a deep sigh.
"Guess I can't hide anything from you, huh?"
"Heh~ slacker."
With a sly grin, she turned away and leapt down toward the battlefield, landing with the grace of a trained killer.
She twirled her kunai once more, then swayed her fingers mockingly at Ayro without looking back—beckoning, teasing, daring.
Four Seele remained.
Kirashi had already taken down three, their bodies crumbling into stillness behind him. But he was running on fumes now—his chest rose and fell rapidly, lungs chasing air that wouldn't stay. His muscles ached. Yet he stood, alone, as the next wave loomed ahead.
Then, a presence dropped beside him—quiet, smooth, lethal.
Hoshi landed effortlessly, cloaked in dark garb as always.
"How potent do we have to be?"
She asked calmly, eyes locked on the enemies ahead.
Kirashi lit up instantly at the sound of a woman's voice.
"Ah!! The hot kunoichi!"
There was a long, heavy pause.
Then the corners of Hoshi's eyes curved upward, her expression unreadable beneath the mask—until her gaze sparkled with mischievous light.
"Oh yes! The HOT KUNOICHI IS HERE!"
Kirashi's eyes turned into literal heart shapes as he stared at Hoshi, completely dazzled. Meanwhile, Hoshi bounced excitedly in place, her energy spiking after hearing the praise.
Ayro, still watching from above, sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Are you sure you want another fool in this squad?.. Ryujin."
Ryujin didn't answer. He simply smiled, a quiet amusement playing on his face.
Suddenly, a piercing screech tore through the air—one of the Seele roared, signaling the charge.
In an instant, both Kirashi and Hoshi, the two Wind users, locked into formation. Their playful energy vanished, replaced with sharp focus. Their eyes narrowed, tracking their target.
"How long have you been fighting?"
She asked.
Kirashi glanced at her from behind, breath steadying.
"Since I was younger."
"Ah... you have a horrible training routine."
She muttered casually.
Before Kirashi could respond, the four Seele charged, barreling toward them with violent intent.
"They're coming."
Hoshi moved first, dashing ahead with fluid precision. Her kunai met the claw of a Seele mid-swing—CLANG—parrying the strike effortlessly as she twisted around it.
Kirashi followed close behind, veering off to engage the other two. He leapt from tree to tree, letting the dense forest become part of his rhythm.
Hoshi caught a glimpse of his movements mid-fight, eyes narrowing in amusement.
"Hoh?.. Using the trees to your advantage, huh?"
Kirashi landed firmly on a high branch, katana drawn and glinting in the low light.
"Of course. Bad training routine, you say?"
As if on cue, a Seele lunged. Its claw slashed into the tree he stood on, splintering bark and sending the trunk tilting.
Kirashi didn't flinch—he jumped again, flipping through the air. He dropped down behind the Seele, landing silently in the underbrush.
With one clean breath, he slashed.
A burst of compressed wind followed, striking the creature square in the back.
The Seele let out a distorted cry before its body dissolved slowly into the air, vanishing into ash-like particles.
Kirashi dropped to the ground, landing on one knee, his breath coming in short, broken bursts. The nonstop movement and relentless fighting had taken their toll—his energy was nearly gone.
Through the shifting bodies of the remaining three Seele, Hoshi caught sight of him. Her sharp sunset eyes flicked downward, catching the moment he stumbled.
"His breathing is very inefficient..."
She thought to herself, eyes narrowing behind her mask.
One of the Seele lunged—but she didn't wait.
Hoshi ducked low, gliding under the beast with graceful speed. Her body slid between its legs in a swift motion, blades in hand.
In the same breathless instant, she slashed both of its legs cleanly—one cut per side.
The Seele shrieked and stumbled, crashing into the dirt behind her.
She didn't even look back.
Both Wind users were no strangers to solo combat.
But while Kirashi relied on raw instinct and movement, Hoshi's breathing was sharp, measured—disciplined. Every motion flowed with efficiency, her control over wind tighter, more refined.
With a single gust at her back, she soared through the air like a streak of shadow and silver. Her blades danced with her, slicing through the two remaining Earth-types in rapid, decisive strikes.
The creatures barely had time to react before their bodies collapsed and dissolved into ash.
As the dust settled, Hoshi landed hard on her knees beside Kirashi, finally letting the exhaustion show. She gasped for breath, sweat dripping beneath her mask, her hands resting on her thighs to steady herself.
But despite the fatigue, her voice came through with that same dry edge.
"Us Wind Gifted's... Doesn't have a very long stamina like others have."
Kirashi looked over at Hoshi, gasping for air.
"That's right... she's already starting to wear off too... But it's too early. How did she managed last longer back then?"
He thought to himself, his breathing heavier than hers.
Hoshi's voice cut through the moment, calm but firm.
"Your breathing is important as a Wind Gifted. It takes a lot of yourself to produce wind."
She glanced at him sharply, concern flickering in her sunset eyes beneath the mask.
"Can you still move?"
With determination, Kirashi swallowed hard and replied,
"Of course."
Hoshi responded sharply,
"Ok, good."
"If he's been fighting this way since he was younger.. He must have a bigger stamina than mine already.. That explains his insanely potent wind.."
Hoshi thought to herself.
Ahead of them, only a single Seele remained, its eyes black voids staring like it had crawled up from the abyss itself.
"You take this last one down,"
Hoshi ordered.
Before she could finish, Kirashi leapt into action.
She wasn't mad—just shook her head in disbelief.
"Jeez, boy, who are you tryna show off to?"
She muttered under her breath, then followed after him.
Kirashi stood before the last Seele, his breath ragged, his limbs heavy—but his eyes, still fierce.
The creature lunged.
Kirashi moved on instinct, katana flashing as he parried the strike cleanly. His form wasn't perfect, but it was deliberate. Every motion cost him, but he pushed through.
From behind, Hoshi watched closely, her sharp gaze narrowing.
"His movement's slowed down a lot... At this point... he won't be able to finish that thing with the right potency."
Hoshi's eyes widened—she saw it before Kirashi did.
A Seele claw arced toward him from the side—fast, heavy. Kirashi was too slow to dodge.
Without hesitation, Hoshi sprang into action, wind swirling beneath her as she shot forward and blocked the strike with both blades crossed.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
She snapped, locking eyes with him.
Kirashi, unfazed and still catching his breath, smiled brightly.
"Ho! You saved me!"
Hoshi stared at him for a moment, exasperated—but a smirk formed beneath her mask.
"Heh?.. Wonder who disciplined this kid... I'd like to meet them."
Hoshi stepped forward again, intercepting the Seele with a sharp slash that sent it skidding back. Her movements were precise, purposeful—designed not to kill, but to create space.
Behind her, Kirashi took the moment to push himself back up, steadying his breath, sweat dripping from his chin.
"Can you listen to me?"
Her voice was sharper now, more serious—commanding.
Kirashi gave a single, earnest nod.
"Didn't expect bigger Seele's here are a lot more common than in Okinawa..."
"At this point, you're gonna run out of breath and potency before you take that thing down."
She didn't sugarcoat it.
"You won't be able to produce wind potent enough for it. You need to fix your breathing—listen to what I say."
Her eyes locked with his, no room left for ego—just trust.
"Take your time to catch your breath first. Your enemy's broken right now,"
Hoshi instructed, her tone steady but urgent.
Kirashi nodded, eyes still locked on the looming Seele as he fought to calm his trembling limbs.
"Take a deep breath. Don't release it yet,"
She guided.
He inhaled slowly, holding it just as she said.
"Now blow it out—quick!"
Kirashi did exactly that, exhaling fast and sharp.
"Woah!" he blinked, surprised by the clarity in his chest.
"Feeling better?"
Hoshi asked with a small, knowing look.
"Well, that should make things a little bit easier."
"You're still tired, that's true,"
Hoshi continued, eyes flicking between Kirashi and the staggering Seele.
"But now you just fooled your mind into thinking you're back to normal. Your heart's racing, right?"
Kirashi nodded, grinning through the exhaustion.
"Indeed!"
"Ok,"
She said, her tone sharpening as the moment tightened.
"Listen to the words I say—and do them, alright? The beast is about to stand up. Get ready."
The Seele's limbs twitched, claws digging into the ground as it began to rise—its distorted form shuddering back to life.
Hoshi's hand hovered near her blade.
She didn't look at him.
But she trusted him to move when it counted.
"Dash with me."
With no time wasted, Hoshi lunged forward—and Kirashi sprinted alongside her, pushing his legs to match her speed.
"Fix your breathing. It sounds like shit,"
She barked without even looking at him.
Kirashi, panting beside her, shot back between breaths,
"What do you mean?!"
"Use your mouth and belly to breathe. You're channeling it all through your nose."
Kirashi immediately opened his mouth wide, sucking in air like a fish out of water.
"Not like that! Just make a window!"
She snapped, eyes twitching.
"You're not dying, you're breathing!"
Hoshi's eyes sharpened.
"It's coming."
She furrowed her brow, locked in on the Seele's sudden shift in movement.
"Hold your breath—jump to your right!"
Kirashi didn't hesitate as Hoshi jumped to the right. He leapt hard to the left side, wind snapping past his ear just as the beast lunged through the space where he'd stood.
"Now continue your normal breathing speed! Calm down!"
His breaths were still erratic, but slowing—his chest rising less violently now. He closed his eyes for half a second, exhaled through a focused mouth.
The Seele crashed into a tree behind them, wood splintering loud across the grove.
Hoshi glanced sideways at him.
"Ok, good."
"This should be quick work now. He's a pretty good listener,"
Hoshi thought to herself, glancing at Kirashi with the faintest flicker of approval.
"Caught your breath now?"
Kirashi gave a silent nod, eyes locked onto the target ahead.
From the hill above, Ryujin and Ayro stood with arms folded, quietly observing. The sudden shift in Kirashi's breathing, his form, his stillness—it hadn't gone unnoticed.
"We'll avoid its attack first. Do not engage it. Let it come to you,"
Hoshi instructed.
"We'll fix your timing as you breathe."
The Seele, now back on its feet, growled low and hostile—still focused on Kirashi, sensing him as the bigger threat despite his earlier fatigue.
"The moment you feel it attack, hold your breath—then dodge. Continue your normal pace of breathing when it ends."
Kirashi closed his eyes for a brief moment, took a controlled breath through his mouth. His chest barely rose.
The Seele charged.
And just as its jaws snapped forward—Kirashi shifted sideways with fluid precision, breath held, wind brushing off his shoulders as the creature missed by inches.
"Ok! Good!"
Hoshi called out, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
The beast swatted once more—massive claws ripping through the air. But Kirashi, now in rhythm, slipped past it with growing ease. His movements flowed with each breath, his chest rising and falling in tighter control.
Hoshi watched every step, every pause.
"If you see an opening—exhale as you give it a blow!"
Her voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
Kirashi's eyes narrowed.
The Seele lunged again, and this time, it overreached.
Kirashi twisted to the side—inhale... hold...
A flicker of an opening flashed before him.
He exhaled—
—and struck.
~~~To be Continued~~~