The wind felt heavier again.
Ren noticed it the moment he woke up.
Not in the air—
But in his head.
Like something had shifted overnight.
He sat up slowly.
"…my name…"
He paused.
"…what was I thinking just now?"
A cold feeling crept up his spine.
It passed quickly.
But it left something behind.
Uncertainty.
Kuina's Change
"Morning."
Kuina was already outside.
Waiting.
That was new.
Ren blinked.
"…you're early."
"…I didn't sleep much."
He studied her.
"…because of training?"
Kuina shook her head slightly.
"…because of you."
Silence.
That landed heavier than expected.
Ren frowned slightly.
"…that sounds like I'm a problem."
"…you are."
Direct.
Honest.
No hesitation.
Then she stepped closer.
"…but not the kind I want to ignore."
Ren froze slightly.
"…Kuina…"
She cut him off immediately.
"…you're changing."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…and I don't like not understanding it."
Silence.
Zoro's voice suddenly cut in from behind.
"…finally said something useful."
Kuina didn't turn.
"…shut up."
Zoro smirked.
"…make me."
Rivalry Becomes Real
Zoro stepped forward.
Not playful anymore.
Not casual.
Focused.
"…fight me."
Ren blinked.
"…now?"
"…yes."
Kuina stepped aside slightly.
Watching carefully.
"…I want to see it too."
Ren hesitated.
Something felt off.
But—
He nodded.
"…fine."
The Fight That Feels Different
Zoro attacked first.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Clean movement.
Sharper than before.
Clack!
Ren blocked—
But felt it.
The difference.
Zoro was adapting.
Fast.
Too fast.
"…you're improving," Ren muttered.
"…you're slower," Zoro replied immediately.
Ren frowned.
"…that's not true."
But—
It was slightly true.
Not physically.
But something else.
Timing.
Instinct.
His reactions had a delay now.
A fraction.
A gap.
The First Real Slip
Zoro struck again.
Ren moved—
But for a split second—
Something interrupted him.
A flicker.
A memory that wasn't his.
A child laughing.
A face he didn't recognize.
Then—
Impact.
Thud.
Ren staggered back.
Kuina's eyes widened slightly.
"…you hesitated."
Ren blinked rapidly.
"…I didn't—"
Zoro stepped forward immediately.
"…you did."
Direct.
Unforgiving.
"…that's new."
Silence.
Ren steadied himself.
"…I'm fine."
But inside—
Something felt fractured.
The Cost Shows Itself
Kuina stepped forward.
"…what did you see?"
Ren hesitated.
"…nothing important."
She didn't believe him.
Not fully.
But she didn't push further.
Instead—
"…you're losing focus."
Zoro added bluntly:
"…you're getting worse."
That hit harder than expected.
Ren frowned.
"…I'm not getting worse."
Zoro tilted his head.
"…then explain why you're slower than yesterday."
Silence.
Ren couldn't.
Because he didn't understand it either.
But deep down—
He felt it.
Something was slipping.
Not strength.
Not skill.
But continuity.
Like his mind wasn't fully connected anymore.
Kuina Stays Too Close
After training—
Kuina didn't leave.
She sat beside him again.
This time closer than before.
"…you're thinking too much."
Ren sighed.
"…I can't stop it."
She glanced at him.
"…try."
Silence.
Then quietly—
"…do you remember yesterday?"
Ren blinked.
"…of course."
Kuina studied him.
"…good."
Pause.
"…because you looked at me like you didn't recognize me for a second."
Ren froze slightly.
"…that's not possible."
Kuina didn't argue.
Just watched him.
"…it happened."
Silence.
That unsettled him more than anything else today.
The Observer Moves Closer
Far away—
On a ship now drifting closer to Shimotsuki waters—
The mysterious man stood on deck.
Calm.
Still.
"…it's accelerating."
A subordinate asked nervously:
"…sir, what exactly is it?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…a soul structure that should not exist in this sea."
He looked forward.
"…and it is breaking apart."
Silence.
Then softly—
"…or being rewritten."
Ren Alone Again
That night—
Ren stood at the shore.
Again.
But this time—
He didn't feel alone.
Not because someone was there.
But because something inside him wasn't.
The darkness responded when he reached inward.
But now—
It felt layered.
Multiple echoes.
Not one voice.
Not one presence.
But fragments.
"…what is happening to me…"
No answer came.
But a feeling did.
Familiar.
Unsettling.
As if—
Something inside him was slowly learning how to speak as him.
Kuina's Quiet Decision
Behind him—
Footsteps.
Kuina.
She stopped beside him.
Didn't speak immediately.
Then—
"…I made a decision."
Ren looked at her.
"…what decision?"
She hesitated only once.
Then—
"…I'm going to become stronger than you."
Ren blinked.
"…you already are."
"…not enough."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…not enough to stay ahead of whatever is happening to you."
Silence.
That hit deeper than expected.
Then softly—
"…so I won't lose you."
Ren froze slightly.
"…Kuina…"
She looked away quickly.
"…don't make it weird."
Ren let out a small breath.
"…too late for that."
A Thread Tightens
Far away—
The observer narrowed his eyes.
"…it is now visible."
He stepped forward.
Wind shifting.
"…I will need to intervene soon."