Still seated, she gripped the metal spike in her right hand and yanked it out of Shuya's collarbone. Blood flicked off the tip as she simultaneously whipped her arm back in one sharp motion—fast enough to blur.
The spike was about to strike the side of his thigh when—
Clang!
Renzaki's katana slammed into the spike, knocking it clean out of her hand.
Rina rose in a single, blurring motion, lunging into a thrust. Her left hand tightened around her second spike, aiming straight for Renzaki's right flank.
He shifted just an inch to the side.
Her strike slid past him, throwing off her balance. She stumbled a step to the right—
—but stopped dead as the blunt backside of Renzaki's katana slammed against the front of her neck. The impact arrested her forward fall, forcing her to stand abruptly straight. Her brows knit slightly, confusion flickering across her face.
Her lips thinned for a moment before the corners twitched up. "You KazeKami really are fast."
"HEY!!"
A voice barked from behind—one of the guards at the stairs. "What in the hell are you doing?!"
More guards rushed in. They lifted Daigo onto a stretcher while others worked to free Kairen's body from the wall. They hurried them both away.
A guard standing a short distance behind Renzaki shouted, "Hey, kid! Get that katana off her neck!"
Renzaki calmly lowered his blade.
Rina touched the shallow line across her neck; thick, sticky blood coated her fingertip. A strange, satisfied smile touched her lips as she looked at it. "Such a clean cut. You're really—"
"Why... Why Why Why???"
Haruto's voice cracked. His head hung low, tears dripping to the floor. "Why did you hurt him? Why did you kill him? Did he deserve to die?!"
He lunged forward, but Naoki and Haruka grabbed his arms, pulling him back as he frantically fought to move.
Rina faced him with a calm gaze. "Do you know how many students they injured? How many lost their chance to chase their dreams because of people like them?" She paused, her voice dropping low. "This academy may look big, but it's empty for a reason. Students with potential leave because they're bullied until they break."
Haruto froze, fists tightening. Tears still fell.
Rina's eyes drifted to the faint swelling and dried bloodstain on Haruto's nose. She folded her arms, a soft, self-satisfied smile settled on her lips. "I'm guessing this guy hit you too. Then think of me as your older sister, who handled it for you. He's not going to touch you—or anyone else—again."
"To hell with a sister like that," Haruto muttered, staring at the floor. "A sister who doesn't value lives."
Tetsuya, still on all fours and trembling, looked up. "You… shouldn't have taken the law into your own hands. Even if they were wrong, you should've called the police—"
"My father is a police officer," Rina said, meeting his eyes. "If I help him, what's the issue?"
Renzaki slid his katana back into its saya. "Haruto. Naoki."
He turned half-around. "Come on. I needed to talk to you two."
Before he could take a step—
"Hey, boy."
Renzaki stopped. The same guard spoke again, his tone sharper. "How dare you hold a katana on a student's neck? You think we'll ignore that?"
The guard glared at him. "It was a damned good thing when we first kicked you all out of this Land." His voice was rough and pausing with contempt. "But we were foolish enough to grant a few of your kind permission to remain, and you repay us by intimidating students?" His lip curled. "Filthy Clan. Vicious Brutes. Get out!"
Renzaki clenched his fist. His gaze dropped quickly, the movement sharp and deliberate. His jaw remained locked as he walked away from the guard.
Naoki hooked his hand around Haruto's shoulder and nudged him forward, guiding him after Renzaki.
Haruka, Rina, and Tetsuya then left the area.
The guards cleared the area, then carried Shuya to the hospital.
Lunch had already ended. Reina sat in the classroom patiently waiting for Haruto and Naoki, but they still hadn't returned.
Haruto and Naoki stood with Renzaki by the sinks inside the washroom.
Naoki turned on the tap and dampened his uniform to remove the dust.
Haruto washed his face, eyes still swollen.
"Damn it," Naoki muttered, still scrubbing his shirt. "Uniform's messed up. Class is about to start and we're stuck here."
Renzaki, leaning against the wall, looked over. "Haruto, you really made it to Class 4?" A small smile tugged at his mouth. "You're doing well. You'll become a Hunter pretty soon."
Haruto kept rinsing his hands. "That's only because of Einzuro Sensei and you guys. Otherwise I'd still be in Class 1."
Naoki asked, "But Renzaki, why'd you come today? You barely show up."
"I just wanted to see you guys." Renzaki shifted his gaze away. "But I should head out now. I don't think anyone wants to see me today."
Haruto shut the tap and wiped his face with a towel. "You didn't do anything wrong. Why wouldn't they want to see you?"
Renzaki lowered his head slightly. "Putting my blade to that girl's neck. Knocking out that guard. I shouldn't have done either."
"How is that wrong?" Haruto said. "You always enter like that. You did the same last time."
Renzaki's lips twitched. "I would've met you earlier, actually. But I was getting yelled at in the office since morning. So… perfect timing, I guess."
Naoki sighed dramatically. "If you keep skipping school, of course you'll get scolded."
Haruto lowered his eyes. "It must be so difficult for you to be here. Everyone keeps hating you just because of your leader."
Renzaki exhaled slowly. "I'm used to it now. Because of his decisions, we have to face all this hatred. So many wars start because of that hate, and so many innocent people die because of it, but he doesn't care."
Naoki crossed his arms. "You're just talking big. I'll defeat him before you even get the chance."
"You?" Haruto blinked. "Why do you even hate him?"
"No idea," Naoki shrugged. "Just felt like saying it. But if we're friends, I'll help you take him down."
Haruto nodded. "Me too."
Renzaki pushed his hands into his pockets, leaned away from the wall, and started walking. "If you two are done, get back to class. Shintara-sensei's waiting. I'll see you outside."
Haruto said, "So… you're not coming?"
Renzaki glanced back. "Told you. No one wants to see my face today. I'm heading out. I'll come again later."
Naoki tapped his foot sharply. "You always find some excuse not to come."
Haruto leaned toward Naoki and murmured, "Just like you?"
Naoki pouted and huffed at him.
After that, Renzaki walked off, and Haruto and Naoki returned to class. Reina snapped her head toward them, her forehead instantly gaining a large red vein.
Haruka and Rina were also shifted to Class 4.
Kairen and Daigo were now at the hospital. The academy placed a short-term ban on them due to the seriousness of the incident.
…
A new day started.
Haruto walked along the stone path toward the academy, his hands gripping the straps of his backpack. The morning air was calm, soft, almost peaceful. People around him were busy with their routines—small laughs and light chatter.
Before he reached the gate, he noticed a small girl standing outside—short height, tiny ponytail, around eleven years old. She held a notebook close to her chest with her left hand, her right arm bent, the sleeve lightly nibbled by her teeth.
Haruto quickly walked up to her. He suddenly stopped, his eyes lighting up and a wide, beaming smile stretching across his face. "Whoa! Yui! How are you? It's been so long!"
A sudden heat rushed to Yui's cheeks, and she instinctively raised the notebook to hide her face.
Haruto smiled kindly. "What are you doing here? Come on, let's go inside."
"Ha… Haru-to…kun?" Yui whispered faintly.
"Hm? What happened?"
She glanced left and right quickly. Her brows lowered just a little, lips pressed softly, cheeks still warm. She grabbed the straps of her bag near the bottom and quietly fell into step beside him.
They walked through the academy gate together.
Inside, students were training, chatting, running around. Yui's eyes drifted to them while she chewed lightly on her right sleeve again.
Haruto glanced at her small face. She was still looking at the training students. He noticed the tiny curve of her lower lip and the soft, focused intensity in her eyes.
Then suddenly—
"Oh! I just remembered!" Haruto leaned down slightly. "I wanna show you something. Come on!" He took her wrist and gave a quick tug. A small, choked sound left Yui's throat, her eyes snapping wide as they both began to hurry forward.
But he stopped.
He frowned and released her wrist, staring at his hand. "Huh? Why did that feel wet?"
He looked at her sleeve—a small, wet patch marked the corner.
Yui froze.
Haruto blinked. "Were you crying or something?"
Red flooded Yui's face. She snapped open her notebook and pressed the pages tight against her flushed cheeks.
"U-Uh…" Yui's voice came out tiny and stuck behind the notebook.
Haruto scratched his head, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. "S-Sorry. If I messed up somehow."
"N-No… I-I'm the one who should apologize..." Yui whispered softly.
A small, awkward smile played on Haruto's lips. "No need for that. Forget it."
They continued walking toward the academy building. Yui lowered the notebook, pressing it to her chest with both hands.
Haruto spoke, his tone light, "Actually, I was trying to say—I'm in Class 4 now." He tilted his head slightly toward her. "What about you?"
"I-I… I'm in Class 1," Yui squeaked, her voice just a tiny rush of air.
"What??" Haruto's eyes went wide, a frown forming across his brows. "That class is empty now; no one is studying there anymore."
He rubbed his thumb against his chin, looking away. "Maybe you haven't been coming for so many days, which is why you fell behind. They might shift you forward too."
They entered the main building door. The corridor forked instantly, one path turning left, the other right.
Haruto lifted his hand with a cheerful smile. "Alright, see you later. Take care." And he jogged off toward Class 4.
Yui stayed in place, silently. Even her hands, holding the notebook, had turned the same rosy pink as her cheeks.
She walked to Class 1—but found it empty.
She just stood there outside the door, frozen, unsure where to go.
Students walked past her, entering their classes one by one. She couldn't bring herself to move.
Then Okamoto spotted her. He took her hand and guided her to the office.
…
The office took Yui's test; seeing her mental capacity, she was immediately shifted to Class 4.
Yui stood near the Class 4 door, hesitating.
She tried peeking inside from the left, then from the right, but couldn't go in.
She moved to the right side of the door and leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath.
Suddenly—
A voice came from the right. "...You?"
She turned her neck. Haruto was standing there, coming back from the washroom area.