Manjiro's birthday had passed in joy and laughter, wrapping everyone in the warmth of celebration and fleeting happiness. But now, the mission to save Akane loomed once more, tugging at Asuka's hearts like an unfinished story.
Golden days slipped quietly by, each one bathed in warm sunlight and the soft hum of distant life. Mornings carried the hush of lazy stretches and the scent of dew, afternoons echoed with laughter from open windows, and evenings cooled with gentle breezes that whispered secrets to the trees. Time felt like honey—slow, sweet, and sticky with memories.
On such a golden Sunday morning, Asuka rose with a quiet resolve. The sunlight filtered through her curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor as she tied her hair and picked a simple outfit—light, breezy, and easy to move in. It was Sunday, which meant Inupi would be home, and today she had made up her mind to visit him.
Her footsteps echoed lightly as she walked down the peaceful streets. Flowers nodded in gardens, bicycles rolled lazily by, and the world seemed dipped in a serene calm. When she reached Inupi's house, she pressed the doorbell, her heart oddly light.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Akane's gentle face. Her eyes lit up with surprise.
"Oh, it's Asuka," she greeted with a soft smile, stepping aside to let her in.
"Good morning, Akane," Asuka replied warmly, slipping off her shoes before making her way down the familiar hall.
She paused at Inupi's door and knocked lightly. The door swung open a moment later, revealing a wide-eyed Inupi, visibly taken aback.
"Asuka? You're here? I thought you wouldn't come," he said, blinking in surprise.
A playful smile danced on Asuka's lips. "Hehe, what made you think that?" she teased, stepping inside.
Inupi rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I don't know… You weren't there yesterday, so I thought maybe…"
"Ohhh, yesterday was Manjiro's birthday," she said with a fond smile. "I had to be there."
Inupi's eyes sparkled with interest. "Is that so? You know… my birthday's coming up too. It's on October 18."
"That's great," she grinned. "We'll celebrate all day long."
He narrowed his eyes, pretending to pout. "You don't look surprised."
"I'm just… not good with expressing things," she said with a small shrug. (She already knew about everything his birthday and other details so it wasn't first time for her to know this)
"I didn't know that," he murmured, watching her closely.
"Let's talk about that later. Come on, let's go out," she said, breaking the moment.
"Yeah, sure," he agreed, pulling on a jacket and stepping out with her.
The sun was high, shining down with lazy warmth. They walked in companionable silence until they reached a vending machine. Asuka turned to him with a smile, tossing him a cold juice can.
"Here, drink this."
"Thanks," Inupi said, catching it with both hands before cracking it open.
They sipped their drinks and continued walking, chatting about school, laughing at old jokes, and making fun of their classmates. The bond between them deepened in these quiet moments—simple, but rich with meaning.
Eventually, they arrived at a nearby park. The swings creaked gently in the wind, and the trees rustled as if sharing secrets. They sat down and kept chatting, legs lazily swinging as they talked about everything and nothing.
Suddenly, the peace was broken.
A group of middle schoolers swaggered into the park, their eyes narrowing when they spotted Asuka.
"Well, if it isn't loudmouth Asuka," one of them sneered. "You sure love using your mouth in martial arts class."
Asuka raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "Oh? You want to hear me use it now too?"
They scowled. "You got guts. Wanna prove something here?"
Inupi shifted uncomfortably. Asuka turned to him with a cheeky grin.
"Inupi, do you know how to fight ?," Asuka asked.
He hesitated, visibly nervous. "Y-Yeah… I mean, obviously. I'm a man, of course I do."
"Great," she said. "Go on then. Show us how much of a man you are."
He stood up, shaky but determined. I have to protect her, he thought, clenching his fists.
The boys laughed. "You scaredy-cat. Don't cry when we smack you."
"Let's see who ends up crying," Inupi muttered, trying to look fierce. But the moment they charged, he was knocked down with a single punch. He landed hard on the ground, gasping for breath.
The boys laughed. "Can't even get up?"
"We're not here for you anyway," they sneered. "We've got business with her."
Asuka stood up, her expression unreadable. She glanced at Inupi, who was still dazed.
"Take a rest, Inupi," she said calmly.
"But they'll hurt you too—let's call someone—" he began, panic rising in his voice.
"You hurt my friend," she said, voice cool and sharp, turning to the boys. "Even though he didn't even ask for it."
"He didn't?! You pushed him into fighting us!" one shouted.
"Oh, did I?" she said, tilting her head. "Well, doesn't matter now."
Her eyes flashed. "You'll pay for it."
Inupi, lying on the grass, stared up at her as dread swirled in his chest. Why are we here? Why didn't we just stay home? I can't protect her. What if something terrible happens? Should I run?
But before his thoughts could spiral further, everything changed.
In a blur of speed and precision, Asuka moved. The boys lunged at her, but they were no match. Her strikes were swift, her footwork sharp, her expression focused. One by one, the boys crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
Inupi's mouth fell open. What… just happened?
Who was she? The clumsy, silly girl who joked with him moments ago was gone—replaced by someone fierce and unshakable.
Asuka stood over them, her voice low but clear. "Don't hurt my friends."
"You're insane," one of them whimpered. "you asked him to fight us !"
She tilted her head. "Was I ? Doesn't matter. I'm ending it."
The boys scrambled up and ran off, yelling curses over their shoulders.
Asuka turned and extended a hand to Inupi. "You okay?"
He took her hand slowly, still stunned. "Y-Yeah…"
"Let's head home. We'll meet again tomorrow," she said, looking up at the sky as the sun dipped lower.
He stood beside her, quiet for a moment. Then, with a grin spreading on his face, he said, "Asuka, you're… so cool."
She let out a small laugh. "Hehe, not that much."
They walked back in silence, the weight of the day settling behind them. Another day ended—peaceful, surprising, and full of hidden strength.