The sun hung low over the academy grounds, painting long shadows across the training yard. Kaito had finished unpacking the day's purchases—blue glitter, new trinkets, and his hoodie—and was about to begin his own private practice when a sudden noise caught his attention.
A soft whine, almost drowned out by the rustling leaves.
Kaito's hand went to his spear, muscles tensing. From the edge of the yard, a figure emerged. A dog, sleek and strong, trotted confidently into the open. Its coat was a snowy white streaked with silver, and its eyes… its eyes were icy blue, piercing, intelligent, and oddly calculating.
"Hmm," Kaito murmured. "Not ordinary."
The Husky padded closer, tail held high, head tilted in a manner that suggested curiosity rather than fear. Its icy gaze locked on Kaito, unblinking, as though it could see beneath the human facade into the fire coiled inside him.
Aria, who had been observing from a distance, tilted her head. "Where did it come from?" she asked softly.
Kaito didn't answer immediately. He crouched slowly, keeping the spear at his side. "It's not lost. It's choosing to be here."
The Husky stopped just short of him, sniffed the air, and let out a low, almost melodic howl. The sound made the blue tips of Kaito's spear pulse faintly, a subtle reflection of his dormant flame.
Aria stepped closer. "It's… beautiful."
"More than that," Kaito said, voice low. "It's purposeful. Watchful. Maybe… a companion. Maybe a warning."
The Husky circled him once, then sat, eyes unwavering, as if declaring, I am here. You cannot ignore me.
Kaito extended a hand cautiously. The Husky sniffed it, then nudged against his palm, its icy eyes still locked on him. A strange warmth spread in Kaito's chest—not fire, but trust. Or something close to it.
"You're going to be trouble," he said quietly, a hint of a grin touching his lips. "But… maybe the right kind."
Aria glanced between Kaito and the new companion. "Do you… plan to keep it?"
Kaito's eyes softened slightly as the Husky pawed at his boot. "For now. It chooses to stay. And I don't push things that want to be here."
The wind stirred, the charms on his spear chimed faintly, and the Husky's fur glimmered as though catching hidden light. Kaito felt an odd connection, a silent promise forming in the hush of evening.
Something told him this icy-eyed creature was more than just a dog. It was the start of a new chapter, one that would test him—and perhaps, in its own way, help him keep the fire he carried from burning everything around him.
And Kaito, for the first time in a long while, didn't feel the need to hide from anyone.