Hide woke early, just as dawn painted the sky in soft colors. His alarm buzzed, but he turned it off before it could keep ringing. After washing up, he changed into his school uniform and headed downstairs. The house was still quiet — the Fujishis hadn't woken yet.
I should make myself useful, Hide thought. I haven't really helped this family much. He moved into the kitchen and started cooking.
A while later, Mrs. Fujishi appeared, surprised to find him at the stove."Hide, what are you doing up this early?" she asked.
"I thought I'd cook breakfast. It's the least I can do," Hide said, stirring a pot calmly.
"You really don't have to…" Mrs. Fujishi began — but then she saw the beautiful dishes Hide was preparing. Her eyes widened. "Hide… how did you make this?"
"I just added a few things together," Hide said simply, arranging the plates with almost unreal skill.
When breakfast was ready, Hide even helped Mrs. Fujishi with her daily chores. It wasn't much to him, but he was glad to help.
A little later, Mr. Fujishi and Minami came downstairs, freshly washed and still sleepy. Mr. Fujishi sniffed the air, eyes widening."Honey, what is that smell? Did you make something special today?"
Mrs. Fujishi set the dishes on the table, glancing at Hide with a proud smile. "This? I didn't make it. Hide did."
Mr. Fujishi choked on his coffee. "Hide cooked this?"
"Eat up, or you'll both be late," Mrs. Fujishi said, half amused.
Minami and his father took their first bites — and instantly fell silent, savoring the taste. It was simple food, yet somehow comforting and warm, as if it carried an old memory.
"Mom, where's Hide?" Minami asked, looking around.
"He left early this morning," Mrs. Fujishi said. "He said he wanted to explore a bit. I told him to be careful."
Meanwhile, Hide was already walking through busy morning streets, blending in with the workers and students. When he reached Edens High, he found a crowd gathering in front of the daily bulletin board.
The paper posted there read: "Ranks Battle — One Week From Now."Excitement and anxiety buzzed in the air. Some students looked ready. Others whispered nervously.
Hide turned away, ready to head to class — but someone grabbed his arm roughly."So you're Hide, the new kid, huh?" a student sneered. "I heard about you. No weapon, no backbone. I'd love to fight you — but it'd be boring if you're defenseless."
The student — broad-shouldered, eyes full of arrogance — tightened his grip. Hide's voice was calm but cold."Let go. Or I'll make you."
"What'd you say?" the student barked — his name was Dromarch.
Another student called out nervously, "Dromarch, stop — the battles haven't started yet." But Dromarch ignored him. He shoved Hide against a wall, one hand pressing his throat.
Hide's eyes narrowed. He saw movement — Minami pushing through the crowd. Minami grabbed Dromarch's arm, but Dromarch knocked him aside with a backhanded shove. Minami stumbled, scraping his arm on the ground.
"How dare you hurt him like that," Hide said, his voice suddenly sharp.
Dromarch laughed. "Oh? And what'll you do, huh?"
Before Hide could answer, a teacher appeared, his voice cutting through the tension."That's enough!" The teacher grabbed Dromarch by the collar, yanking him back.
Hide took a steadying breath, his hand brushing under his left eye — it came away wet with blood. Minami noticed and frowned."Your eye… it's bleeding."
"It happens," Hide said softly. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Sorry I wasn't much help," Minami said, looking down.
"You tried — that's what counts," Hide said with a small smile, helping him up. Around them, the watching students began to whisper.
Back in class, Mrs. Taka was waiting. She shot Hide a concerned look."Hide, the principal wants to see you," she said quietly.
Hide made his way to Principal Michenko's office.
"So, Hide… what happened?" Michenko asked, peering over his glasses.
"He just wanted a fight. I tried to ignore him," Hide said.
"I've given him a warning. If he tries that again, there will be consequences. Sorry you had to deal with that," Michenko said, sighing.
"It's fine. May I go back now?" Hide asked politely.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Taka led the class to Hall F — a huge training room lined with mats and virtual combat pods.
"Today, we'll prepare for the Ranks Battle," she announced. Students spread out to train. Killian came over, looking sheepish.
"Sorry I didn't help earlier," Killian said.
"It's fine. You would've tried, I know," Hide said lightly.
"I'm Killian, by the way," he added.
"I know. Good to meet you properly," Hide said with a nod.
Fujikawa also came over, apologizing for not stepping in. Hide thanked her, then focused as Mrs. Taka approached.
"Hide, even without a weapon, you'll still compete. So I'll teach you a few techniques — just in case." She raised an eyebrow. "Up for it?"
"Yes, ma'am," Hide said.
They faced each other on the mat."Strike me," Mrs. Taka ordered.
Hide lunged — but she sidestepped easily, catching his arm and flipping him to the ground. He rolled, came up again, struck — and she threw him back once more.
A few students paused their training to watch. Hide kept getting up, sweat beading on his brow.
"Good. Again," Mrs. Taka said, breathing a little heavier this time. After a while, she had Hide spar a virtual opponent while she checked on the others.
Killian lingered nearby, watching Hide dodge the virtual figure's sword again and again.
"How's he doing?" Killian asked Mrs. Taka.
"He's learning fast," Mrs. Taka said. "But without a weapon, he's limited."
"Would the BCC even accept him?" Killian asked.
"They might — as support. He could be a strategist or a backup — but on the frontlines? He'd need more than fists," she said quietly.
Later, Hide stepped out of the simulator, catching his breath.
"You did well — you lasted longer than last time," Mrs. Taka said.
"It's different, fighting unarmed," Hide said.
"Keep training. Maybe you'll surprise everyone." Mrs. Taka gave him an encouraging nod, then turned away.
Hide spotted Killian packing up his gear. "Killian — help me test something?" Hide asked.
"Huh? Sure."
Outside, Hide faced Killian in an open courtyard. Mrs. Taka watched from the shadows.
"Strike me. Full force," Hide said.
"Are you serious? I could hurt you," Killian said.
"Trust me."
Killian hesitated, then raised his blades. Hide counted softly. "One… two… three."
Killian lunged. At the last moment, Hide moved — so fast that Killian's blades clattered to the ground. Silence hung between them.
"How did you—?" Killian began.
"A trick I learned from my father," Hide said simply. Killian retrieved his blades, staring at him.
Mrs. Taka stepped forward, arms crossed."You're full of surprises, Hide. Why didn't you show me that earlier?"
"I wanted to see if I still had it. Killian hesitated — if he hadn't, I'd have been cut," Hide said.
Mrs. Taka's eyes narrowed. "Remember: your real opponent won't hesitate."
"I know," Hide said softly. Izumi's voice echoed in his memory — the same lesson, long ago.
Before leaving, Hide checked the weapons machine one more time — but the monitor flashed red again: Unidentified. Unable to generate weapon.
Beside him, Fujikawa frowned. "Still nothing?"
"Still nothing," Hide said with a small shrug. "How's your training?"
"Okay, but… my gun feels disconnected. It doesn't feel like mine," Fujikawa admitted.
"What's its name?" Hide asked.
"Aquarius. It shoots ice and water — but I can't control it well."
Hide's eyes flickered. Aquarius… Fey's weapon. He nodded slowly. "Try saying its name twice. Out loud."
Fujikawa looked doubtful but obeyed: "Aquarius, Aquarius." Nothing happened — then, suddenly, her gun shimmered and morphed into a sleek ice blade. She gasped.
"I… I can feel it. It's so different…" she whispered.
"Now it's truly yours," Hide said. Just like Fey's…
Fujikawa ran off, eager to show Mrs. Taka. Other students crowded Hide, asking about their own weapons.
Mrs. Taka stepped in. "Settle down! Each of you has an awakened form — but it takes time and mastery. Learn your weapon, trust it — it will reveal itself when you're ready."
A student asked shyly, "Mrs. Taka, has yours awakened?"
"Yes," she said proudly. "Bashoman will shift from a whip to a gun — and when it does, my companion grows stronger too."
Eyes wide, the students returned to training, buzzing with excitement.
Mrs. Taka glanced at Hide. "You're full of secrets, Hide. How did you know about Aquarius?"
Hide said nothing. Mrs. Taka only smiled faintly. "You'll tell me one day."
When training ended, Killian and Fujikawa invited Hide to hang out. He hesitated, then agreed.
The three wandered the city, sharing food, playing arcade games, laughing like any normal students. As the sun dipped low, Fujikawa excused herself, and Killian soon did the same.
Left alone, Hide walked toward the train station, pausing by a store window where a TV broadcast flickered: Beast attack in central Japan — destroyed homes, BCC and Rank B class stopped it. Hide watched blankly for a moment, then turned away.
On the crowded train, he pulled out an old history book. One page caught his eye — Lissandra, destroyed by a fiend. A hero had ended the invasion, dying beside his love, buried together on a distant cliff.
No more Lissandra… no more old cities… Hide closed the book, his mind drifting. I wonder if my grave is still there…
Back home, Hide ate dinner quietly and washed up, his mind already on the Ranks Battle — just a few days away.