Riku looked at her for a minute before saying, "Sorry, Aiko. We're actually supposed to meet Ronin for training. We have a mission coming up, and he wants us to be at peak fighting form."
She looked at him before saying, "I see. Oh well, don't get yourself killed."
Hiroshi walked behind him and said, "You know us-we'll come out without a scratch as always."
Aiko looked at him and said, "I don't know about that. Last time you came back, Midori was hurt pretty bad, and both of your clothes were pretty much shredded."
He laughed nervously. "Well, I mean it could've been worse." he said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, good luck, you three-oh! Riku, think you could spar with me later? Like old times?"
Riku paused at her words, and for a moment, the world around him faded. His mind drifted back to the day he first met her...
⸻
Riku was sitting on a bench, toweling off the sweat from his face after yet another sparring session. The other children had dispersed, either sulking from their losses or talking amongst themselves. He barely noticed her until she stepped right in front of him.
"You're really strong," she said plainly.
Riku blinked up at her, caught off guard.
"Uh... thanks?" he said hesitantly.
The girl didn't waver. She just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, after a brief silence, she crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Win. Every time."
Riku hesitated before answering. "I... I train. A lot."
She squinted at him. "That's what you told the others. But I don't think that's the whole truth."
He stiffened slightly. She was sharp-sharper than the others. But he didn't know what to say, so he just shrugged. "Guess I just got lucky."
The girl studied him for a moment, then sighed, shaking her head. "Liar."
Riku flinched. "W-What?"
"You're a liar," she repeated matter-of-factly. "But that's okay. Everyone lies about something."
He didn't know how to respond to that.
Before he could say anything, she stuck out her hand.
"I'm Aiko Shinohara."
Riku stared at her hand, then at her face. "Riku Hinoki."
"I know," she said with a small smile. "Everyone here knows who you are."
He wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Still, he hesitantly reached out and shook her hand.
"So, Riku," she continued, sitting down on the bench beside him. "If you're not going to tell me how you always win... will you at least show me?"
"Show you?"
"Train with me."
Riku blinked. "You... want to spar?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I want you to teach me. I want to get stronger, and you're the strongest person here. So it makes sense to learn from you."
Riku wasn't sure what to say. No one had ever asked him for help before. They either wanted to challenge him or avoid him. But there was something different about Aiko-something in her eyes that reminded him of himself.
Determination.
After a moment, he let out a small sigh. "Alright... but I won't go easy on you."
Aiko grinned. "I'd be disappointed if you did."
And just like that, a friendship was born.
That evening, while the other children were resting, Riku and Aiko trained together. He taught her what he could-how to move properly, how to read an opponent, how to strike without hesitation. She wasn't as fast as him, nor as strong, but she was smart. She learned quickly, picking up on things the other children struggled with.
They trained until their bodies ached, until sweat drenched their clothes, until the stars began to fill the sky.
As they sat side by side, catching their breath, Aiko glanced over at him.
"You're different, you know."
Riku tensed slightly. "What do you mean?"
"The way you fight. The way you carry yourself. You're not like the rest of us."
Riku looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. He thought about his abilities. The things he could do. The things no one else could.
"...I know."
Aiko was quiet for a moment before she said, "Does it scare you?"
Riku frowned. That was a question he hadn't been asked before.
Did it scare him?
He thought back to the first time he felt the lightning crackle inside him. The pain. The power. The way it had nearly torn him apart before he learned to control it.
"Sometimes," he admitted.
Aiko nodded as if she understood. "Power can be scary," she said. "But it doesn't have to be a bad thing."
Riku glanced at her, surprised.
She leaned back, staring up at the sky. "My father used to say that power is like fire. It can destroy everything around it... or it can be used to protect. It all depends on the person wielding it."
Riku absorbed her words in silence.
"You don't have to be afraid of it, Riku," she said softly. "You just have to decide what you'll do with it."
For a long moment, they sat there in silence. Then, finally, Riku nodded.
"Yeah... I think I get it."
Aiko smiled. "Good. Then let's train again tomorrow."
Riku smirked. "You sure? I won't go easy on you."
"I told you, I'd be disappointed if you did."
And with that, their bond was set.
From that day forward, Riku and Aiko trained together whenever they could. She challenged him in ways he hadn't expected-not just physically, but mentally. She made him think about things he had never considered before.
⸻
Riku snapped back to the present, his eyes meeting Aiko's expectant gaze. For a brief second, he considered declining, but then he smirked, a shadow of their younger selves flickering between them.
"Sure," he said. "Like old times."
Aiko's smile widened. "Good. Don't make me wait too long."
She turned on her heel, walking off into the distance without another word.
Midori watched her go, arms crossed. "She's still as pushy as ever."
Hiroshi chuckled. "Yeah, but she's got a point. Last time, we barely made it out in one piece."
Midori huffed, shifting her weight. "I wasn't that bad."
Riku shot her a dry look. "You were unconscious for three days."
She clicked her tongue but didn't argue.
They continued toward Ronin's quarters, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. The memories of past battles, of blood and bruises, of pushing past their limits, weighed on them. They had all changed since those first days in the compound. Stronger. Tougher. But no matter how much they had grown, the challenges ahead would only become greater.
They made their way through the winding stone pathways of the compound, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth beneath them. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and morning dew thick in the atmosphere. Dawn's first light barely crept over the treetops, casting long shadows that stretched across the training grounds.
Riku adjusted the wrappings on his hands as he walked, the fabric slightly loose from last night's training. Beside him, Hiroshi cracked his knuckles, his expression unreadable as always. Midori, on the other hand, walked with her arms crossed, her gaze flicking between the two.
"You know," she muttered, "if we keep showing up late, he's gonna start making us do laps until we pass out."
Hiroshi smirked. "We already pass out from training. What's the difference?"
Midori shot him a glare. "The difference is the humiliation of running like idiots in front of everyone."
Riku sighed. "It's not like we overslept on purpose. We just... had a long night."
Midori raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about Aiko's offer?"
Riku didn't answer, but the slight shift in his expression gave him away.
Hiroshi chuckled. "Caught in 4K."
"Shut up, besides, I don't like her like that anyways" Riku muttered, quickening his pace.
He thought back to a few years ago
⸻
The four of them made their way back to the compound as the lanterns flickered to life along the pathways. The summer heat had finally started to fade, replaced by the cooler evening air. The compound, usually lively during the day, had quieted down, with only the soft hum of cicadas and the occasional murmur of conversation drifting through the air.
After dinner, everyone started heading to their rooms for the night. Riku stretched his arms over his head, ready to turn in, when Aiko suddenly stepped in front of him.
"Hey, Riku," she said, tucking a strand of damp hair behind her ear. "Can we talk?"
Something in her tone made Riku pause. She wasn't her usual confident self.
Midori, who had been walking ahead, slowed her steps. Something about the way Aiko was acting made her uneasy. Before she could think about why, she found herself ducking behind a wooden post, curiosity getting the better of her.
She wasn't spying, exactly. Just... observing.
Aiko led Riku to a quieter spot near the edge of the compound, away from any prying eyes. The night air was still and warm, the cicadas filling the silence between them.
Riku leaned against the wooden post, arms crossed. "So... what's up?"
Aiko hesitated, shifting on her feet. Then, taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eyes. "I've liked you for a long time, Riku."
Midori's stomach twisted.
Riku blinked. "Huh?"
Aiko pressed on, her voice unwavering. "You're just... so cool. The way you fight, the way you never give up. You always protect us, even when no one else does. You don't even realize how amazing you are."
Midori gripped the edge of the post tightly, her heart pounding.
Riku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aiko, I've told you before... I only think of you as a friend."
Before he could say another word, Aiko suddenly stepped forward-
And kissed him.
Midori felt her entire body freeze.
Riku's eyes went wide, his entire face burning as he quickly pulled away. "Aiko-what the hell?!"
Aiko looked at him, searching his face for something-hope, regret, anything. But Riku's expression was clear.
He wasn't happy.
Riku took a step back, rubbing his temples. "Aiko..." he started, trying to choose his words carefully. "I meant what I said."
Aiko let out a quiet laugh, though it didn't sound happy. "Yeah... I figured."
"I don't want to hurt you," he said softly. "But I don't want to lie to you either."
She sighed, forcing a smile. "You're too nice, you know that?"
"I get that a lot," he muttered.
Aiko shook her head. "Just... forget this happened, okay?"
Riku frowned. "Aiko-"
"Goodnight, Riku," she said, turning on her heel and walking away before he could say another word.
He stood there for a moment, sighing heavily before finally heading back to his own room.
⸻
The dojo was just ahead, a traditional wooden structure nestled among the trees. The doors stood slightly open, the faint scent of incense and aged wood drifting from within.
As they stepped inside, they immediately felt the shift in atmosphere. The air was still, heavy with an unspoken tension. And there, standing in the center of the room, was their master.
He had long brown hair that fell past his shoulders, slightly unkempt but not messy. He wore a brown nagagi over a white hakama, his stance relaxed yet commanding. For shoes, he wore simple sandals, the kind that barely made a sound against the polished wooden floor.
Slowly, he turned to face them. His eyes-one blue, one green-were sharp and piercing, like he could see right through them. A faint scar ran along the bridge of his nose, adding to his already intimidating presence.
"You're late again," he said, his voice low and laced with irritation.
Riku stiffened. "Sorry, Master. We woke up late, but we're ready."
Their master, Ronin, let out a slow exhale, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he was already exhausted just from dealing with them.
"You always have an excuse," he muttered, shaking his head. "One day, you're going to wake up late and find yourselves dead because of it."
Midori tensed but didn't argue. Hiroshi scratched the back of his head, looking away.
Ronin sighed again. "Whatever. You're here now. Good. Let's get started."
He walked toward the center of the dojo, his movements fluid and precise, like a panther stalking its prey. His presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavier.
Riku swallowed. He had a bad feeling about today's training.
"Form up," Ronin ordered.
They obeyed without hesitation, standing in a line before him.
Ronin rolled his shoulders, then shot them a lazy yet pointed look.
"Let the training begin."