[ The next day ]

  I stood quietly behind a tree, my eyes fixed on him. Kazuya. The way he moved—fluid, precise, and relentless—was mesmerizing. His muscles rippled with each strike as he sparred against two clones of himself, both wielding swords with skill and power. His face was hidden behind a blindfold, but his posture was perfect, every movement calcuted despite the ck of sight. The only indication of how hard he was pushing himself were the fresh scratches and cuts that marred his skin. Yet he didn't stop. He kept going, his determination unwavering.

  I couldn't help but watch him, the way he always worked so hard, pushing himself to his limits. I knew he had a reason for it. A reason I didn't fully understand, but one thing I was certain of—he wasn't doing it for praise or glory. He did it because he wanted to grow stronger. For himself. And, maybe, for others too.

  When he finished the sparring session, panting slightly, I stepped out from my hiding pce. The forest had always been our training ground. Quiet and peaceful, but here, it felt like everything was suspended, the tension of battle hanging in the air.

  He walked toward me, his face still calm, though I could tell his body was sore from the injuries he'd sustained. Without a word, he knelt in front of me, his eyes focused on my hands as I used Twilight Healing. I wasn't as skilled as him, but with a soft green glow, I gently healed the wounds on his arms. My fingers brushed against his skin, and for a brief moment, I felt an unfamiliar warmth, not just from the healing magic, but from being this close to him. He had this light about him, one that was both distant yet somehow comforting.

  "You should take care of yourself, Kazuya," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

  He didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the ground as if lost in thought. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, he gave a small nod. "I'll be fine," he said, his voice distant but steady. He always said that. "I'm just doing what I need to do."

  I smiled but said nothing more, knowing it would be pointless. He won't change. He was like this. Always working himself to the bone. But I couldn't stop caring. Even if he didn't show it, I knew that in his own way, he appreciated it.

  I pulled out the sandwiches I'd made that morning, and his eyes flickered in surprise. I'd made these for him, as a small token of my gratitude. It was a simple gesture, but I hoped it would show him that I cared, even if words sometimes failed me.

  "Here," I said, holding them out to him. "I made these for you. You should eat."

  He hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting mine before he took the sandwich. "You made these?" he asked, his voice tinged with genuine surprise. I nodded, smiling nervously.

  He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully, and then his eyes widened slightly. "This is… really good," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Honestly, it's the best sandwich I've had in this world."

  I felt my heart flutter at his words, a warm feeling spreading through me. "I'm gd you like it."

  For a moment, we sat there in silence, and then I asked, hesitantly, "Do you… Do you think about your parents, Kazuya san?"

  He froze. His hands stopped moving, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. Then, after a long moment, he sighed, setting the sandwich down. His eyes turned distant, like he was searching for something long lost. "No" he said quietly. "I have just a faint memory of them, but it's not something I like to think about"

  I didn't know what to say. I wanted to ask more, but I could see the pain in his eyes. Instead, I stayed silent, waiting.

  "What matters," he said after a while, turning to face me, "is the present. The past is gone, and the future is uncertain. But right here, right now, this is where we are alive. And I will do my best to put every bit of effort to get to my goal"

  "Goal?" I asked in curiosity as he never talked about it before.

  "Yeah. I want to find a realm or if not find, then create one" He leaned against the tree as he continued "where I could live in peace, with no fighting, just with the people that I care about"

  "Then why don't you make this earth the realm you want to create?"

  "I won't do it. Because I don't know what is peace to the other people as for some it's smoking, for some it's car driving, for some it's swindling but for me peace is just peace of not doing anything just staying still in my chair as I watch the time pass by" He then turned to me "I am boring and me, right?"

  He smiled. The first time I'd ever seen him smile like that. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it made my heart skip a beat. I couldn't hold back my words. "You should smile more, Kazuya-san" I blurted out.

  His eyes widened in surprise, and for a brief second, I thought I'd said something wrong. But then, he finished his sandwich and stood up. "I'll try," he said with a shrug. "But only when it's needed."

  I watched as he moved toward the area where I practiced. "You should go on ahead," he added, turning back to me. "I'm going to train again."

  As he walked off, I stood up, the wooden sword he had given me in my hands. I knew I had to keep improving too. I couldn't be weak or useless to him. I'd promised myself that. I struck at the tree branch, feeling the wood connect with the target. My strikes were still unrefined, but with every swing, I felt a little stronger. A little closer to the strength Kazuya possessed.

  The rest of the day passed in a blur. We walked back through the streets of Kuoh, side by side. The cool evening air brushed against my face, and I couldn't help but think how much my life had changed. How peaceful everything felt now. It was nothing like before.

  I gnced at Kazuya, his expression unreadable as always, but I could feel the care he had for me in the smallest of gestures. How he always made sure I was okay, how he looked after me, even when he didn't show it. It made my heart ache in a way I couldn't expin.

  As we passed a small street stall, I noticed a boy winning a plushie for his girlfriend. She clutched it to her chest, her face glowing with happiness. My eyes lingered on the plushie for a moment, a faint longing in my chest. But then, before I could think too much about it, Kazuya stopped and turned to me.

  "Wait here," he said, before walking over to the stall. I blinked in confusion. "Kazuya-san, what are you—?"

  But before I could protest, he was already at the counter, winning the plushie with ease. My eyes widened in disbelief as he walked back, holding the stuffed animal out to me with a casual smile. "Here," he said, "It's for you. Don't worry about it."

  I could feel my cheeks flush, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. He didn't give me a chance to argue as he pressed it into my hands. "You deserve it," he added, and I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the plushie.

  "Thank you," I whispered, holding it tightly as we continued to walk.

  As we neared our home, Kazuya stopped at the door, his senses alert. His eyes narrowed as he turned to me. "Stay here," he ordered, his tone sharper than usual. "I sense someone inside."

  I nodded, my heart racing as I stepped back. Kazuya pushed open the door, moving silently into the the living room. I waited, fear creeping up on me. Then I heard his voice, calm and measured.

  "Well, well. I wasn't expecting you to be here again"

  I stepped forward, standing by his side and saw a red-haired man sitting in a chair, sipping tea, as a silver-haired maid stood beside him.

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