With a single move and just enough breath, Kirashi blew off the Seele's left leg. A smile grew on the faces of Hoshi, Ryujin, and Ayro.
Kirashi took a step back as the beast stood still, unmoving. He stared in disbelief.
"HOW THE HELL AM I NOT TIRED?!"
Hoshi snickered.
"It's called proper breathing, dummy."
She paused.
"Now... your wind still needs some work, but it's definitely gonna be potent enough."
Kirashi clenched his fists, brimming with fresh determination.
"Okay! Let's finish this!"
"Pull out your blade,"
Hoshi said, her eyes never leaving the beast as its severed leg began to regenerate.
Kirashi inhaled deeply and slowly drew his blade, every motion syncing with his breath.
"Let it move first,"
Hoshi instructed.
Kirashi gave a firm nod.
Then, without warning—and to both their surprise—the Seele lunged forward. Its eyes had been locked onto Kirashi...
But it rushed Hoshi instead.
It had fully regenerated.
Hoshi shifted back just in time, the Seele's claws missing her by inches.
"This is why you never let your guard down!" she shouted.
The beast kept swiping wildly at her—but she slipped past each blow, effortlessly weaving between its strikes.
"Katana boy! Breathe in as you run—blow it all out as you strike with your wind!"
Without hesitation, Kirashi dashed toward them, his steps syncing with his inhale.
As the Seele lunged again at Hoshi, Kirashi came in from the side— and with a single, focused slash, he severed its right arm clean off.
"Good! His force is coming back!"
Hoshi thought, barely ducking under the tail-end of his swing.
"Dang... his wind force is something else... I'm kinda jealous."
"To the body!" she called out.
Kirashi slashed at the Seele's body—But the blade barely left a mark.
"Oh no! His breathing's off!"
Hoshi realized in an instant.
Kirashi landed beneath the creature—right where its severed right arm was already regenerating.
The situation turned dire.
"He's in a horrible spot... I gotta get him outta there!"
She thought, eyes narrowing as she prepared to act.
Without a second thought, Hoshi bolted in.
The Seele's regenerating arm came crashing down toward Kirashi—he was still off-balance, too slow to dodge.
But Hoshi slammed into him mid-move, the two tumbling to the ground as the claw smashed into the spot he'd just stood.
They landed hard—Hoshi on top of him, her hands braced against his chest.
"Tch—stay sharp, katana boy!"
She snapped, her face inches from his.
"You lose your breath, you lose your blade!"
Kirashi blinked, stunned—but not from the fall.
"WAHH, WHAT IS THIS POSITION"
Kirashi's thought raced.
"IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL SEXY POSITION?!"
His heart thumped hard against her palm.
Her sharp eyes. Her unwavering focus. The raw energy behind every move.
"R-Right!!"
He growled, fists clenching. A wild grin spread across his face as he burned red.
"I'm all fired up now!"
Hoshi rolled off and back onto her feet in one smooth motion, her kunai ready.
"Then get moving!"
As they both got back on their feet, they sprang into action—charging straight at the Seele.
The beast snarled, then rushed at them in return, claws dragging across the ruined ground.
"Okay—breathe in!"
Hoshi called out.
She could hear the harsh rush of air being pulled into Kirashi's lungs behind her.
"Too rough... but it'll work for now."
The Seele raised its claws to strike.
"Hard to the top!"
Hoshi shouted as she suddenly veered off—wind pulsing beneath her heels.
She slipped around the beast and launched herself upward, precisely controlling her flow. In a blink, she landed atop the Seele's massive left claw—pinning it down with sharp, concentrated force.
The creature screeched, arm locked to the ground, unable to move.
Hoshi glanced up at Kirashi.
"Breathe out as you release your wind with your sword!"
Kirashi leapt high—air swirling around him as he descended.
He exhaled with full force.
The wind surging from his lungs roared so loudly, even Ryujin and Ayro heard it from afar.
Time seemed to slow.
As his blade descended toward the Seele's head, the very air around it began to shimmer—distorting the light like a mirage.
"W-What the hell was that?!"
Hoshi thought, eyes wide as she leapt back instinctively.
Then—impact.
Kirashi's blade struck.
A violent gust of wind exploded downward like a divine hammer, flattening everything in its wake.
The Seele didn't even have time to scream—its body was pulverized into ash, the remnants scattered in an instant.
Kirashi was blown back from the force, crashing into the ground with a grunt.
Hoshi skidded but managed to hold her stance, one arm shielding her eyes.
The battlefield fell silent.
Only wind remained.
Kirashi crash-landed beside Hoshi, sliding to a stop on his side.
His bangs had been blown back, exposing his forehead—eyes spinning like a broken fan. He was completely out cold.
"Ughhh..."
He groaned weakly, a dumb grin stuck on his face.
Hoshi stared at him, speechless.
"He's... asleep?!"
She crouched beside him, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Who the hell trained you?! They're next level!"
She paused mid thought.
"Or maybe you're just too stupid to realize what kind of power you're actually using..."
She let out a breath, still rattled from the shockwave, watching the wind slowly die down around them.
"Ridiculous idiot..."
She muttered under her breath—half annoyed, half impressed.
Ryujin, who had watched their entire synergy unfold from afar, finally stepped forward.
His face was unreadable as usual—but he was clapping, slow and deliberate.
"Wow. That was amazing. You two are good at teamwork."
Hoshi glanced over her shoulder at him. She closed her eyes, still catching her breath.
"Only from the best,"
She replied coolly.
Ryujin came to a stop beside the unconscious Kirashi, giving him a brief glance before speaking again.
"That show was so good."
He shrugged.
"It'd be a shame if it never happens again."
His tone was casual, but the edge in his words wasn't lost on Hoshi.
She opened one eye and looked at him.
"...Are you threatening my training time or complimenting our results?"
Ryujin smirked faintly but said nothing.
Kirashi, still out cold, let out a soft snore.
Then it hit her.
Her eyes snapped open as she pointed at Ryujin.
"Ahh—NOPE. NOPE!"
Ryujin gave a faint, smug grin.
"Aw... I thought I had you there."
"There's no way!"
She snapped back, crossing her arms as she turned away.
"I prefer solo. That was a one-time experiment. I was just curious who's better between us both."
She held up a finger with a cocky smirk.
"I call it one–zero."
Ryujin raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You're keeping score now?"
"Damn right I am."
She glanced down at Kirashi, who was still out cold on the ground.
"And for the record, this one's my win."
Ryujin's voice cut through the air, calm but sharp.
"Best in survival, or best in wind potency?"
A shiver ran down Hoshi's spine. Like a cornered cat, she blurted out a shaky lie.
"S-survival. D-definitely."
Ryujin's eyes gleamed behind his mask.
"I can tell you're lying—even beneath that mask."
Hoshi's eyes snapped wide open. She slammed a fist on her hip.
"OK! FINE! IT WAS POTENCY!"
She glared at Ryujin, cheeks burning.
"He's better than me, definitely—but he won't last long on a much more brutal battlefield."
Ryujin scoffed.
"Ehh? So... it's one–one?"
Hoshi stuttered, then sighed with reluctant acceptance.
"Ok fine! I'll make that score bigger!"
Ryujin cocked his head.
"His score?"
She pointed a finger at herself, eyes blazing.
"No! My score!"
"I'll push your friend to his limits!"
Hoshi shot at Ryujin, pointing sharply in his direction.
"I'll stretch his damn wind to the thinnest until I gain a huge gap!"
Ryujin shrugged again, unfazed.
"Okay then! No worries. I ain't stopping yah!"
Hoshi scowled, half annoyed at his easy confidence—but deep down, she was impressed.
"Tsk! Okay, whatever!"
Without another word, she launched herself into the air, wind swirling around her as she sped off.
"Ciao, smellies!"
She called over her shoulder with a grin.
Ryujin watched Hoshi leap away, his left arm resting casually on his waist.
Ayro approached quietly and stood beside him, a small smile on his face as he watched her disappear into the distance.
Without warning, Ryujin broke the silence.
"So... that's your girlfriend, huh?"
Ayro's expression stiffened. Without missing a beat, he smacked Ryujin's shoulder with the back of his palm.
"Ow."
Ryujin said coldly.
Ryujin grinned, unfazed.
"Now, go pick up Kirashi."
Ayro took a deep breath, shaking his head but nodding.
"Got it."
[Boys Room]
Ryujin and Ayro returned, the door swinging open as Kirashi softly snored on Ayro's back.
They both froze.
Right there in the middle of the room, Itoshi lay back on the couch with Jayu sitting comfortably on his lap. He was calmly reading a book out loud, her eyes wide in fascination.
"What the hell is this sight..."
Ayro thought, visibly baffled.
"Oh, welcome back,"
Itoshi said plainly, eyes still glued to the page.
"Welcome back!"
Jayu chimed, waving cheerfully without leaving her spot.
Ryujin narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hm? Where are the others?"
Itoshi answered.
"Aldrin left. Not sure where he went. Kara's asleep."
Ayro gave a small nod, then glanced at Itoshi.
"You guys still haven't made up...?"
Itoshi stayed silent. He just kept reading, his expression flat.
Bonk.
Jayu smacked the top of his head with a firm flick.
"It's rude not to answer people older than you!"
"Okay, okay!"
He muttered, rubbing his head.
"It's rude to hit people older than you too!"
Jayu grinned and scratched the back of her head, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Itoshi finally responded, eyes still on the book as he turned the page.
"Not yet."
Kirashi slowly lifted his head, his bangs still pushed back, revealing a confused daze across his face. He blinked hard a few times, then realized he was being carried.
"...wait... Ayro??"
"Welcome back, windstorm,"
Ayro replied dryly without looking back.
"You passed out like a kid who skipped lunch."
Kirashi squinted, looking around the room—until his eyes landed on Jayu sitting comfortably on Itoshi's lap.
His entire body jolted upright.
"WAH! ITOSHI FORCED JAYU TO SIT ON HIS LAP! WHAT A PERVERT!"
He pointed dramatically, his voice echoing through the room like an accusation from a courtroom.
Itoshi's face turned crimson.
"Wha—YOU—"
Thwack!
The book flew straight into Kirashi's forehead.
He slumped back down instantly with a soft "ugh", falling asleep again with his whole back bent behind him
Everyone blinked in silence.
Ayro sighed, adjusting the boy on his back once more.
"Maybe it's better to keep him asleep for now."
And then—without warning—the sky grumbled.
A soft patter began to echo against the windows.
Rain.
Everyone turned instinctively, their eyes drawn to the sound of droplets hitting glass. The room, once filled with energy and banter, fell into a hush.
Raindrops traced long, winding paths down the panes as gray light filtered in. The playful warmth from earlier faded into a still quiet.
Ayro stood by the window, Kirashi still asleep on his back, while Ryujin silently moved to another corner, arms crossed as he watched the rainfall.
Jayu curled in closer to Itoshi, her cheerful spark dimming just slightly as she listened.
Itoshi didn't say a word. He simply closed the book gently and set it aside, eyes locked on the outside world.
There was something about the rain...
Something about the way it always seemed to return after a battle.
As if the sky itself needed to cry for the things they no longer could.
And for a while, no one spoke.
They just listened.
~~~To be Continued~~~