Corpses littered the ground, their blood pooling into the cracks of the concrete.

Even with the overwhelming amount of evidence left, he made no effort to erase anything.

The mission was complete—that was all that mattered. With nothing left to do, he sheathed his katana with a soft click and exited the warehouse, stepping back into the night without a second glance. A wandering thought came to him along his lonely walk back to the base.

"Is this it? Is this...my purpose?"

The question remained unanswered.

After hours of walking, Kurashi returned to Naishotetsu early in the morning, the rising sun hanging over his head. Through the streets and inside the main temple, Kurashi stepped into the main office.

"Oh, you're back," Hikari stated as he looked up from his desk, his eyes softening as he saw Kurashi. "What's your status?"

"The mission is complete..."

There was no trace of pride or relief—just the simple, factual response Hikari had come to expect.

Hikari exhaled deeply as he leaned back in his chair.

"That's great to hear...I'll handle the report, so head back and rest up."

As he turned to leave, Hakari's eyes narrowed on Kurashi.

"Wait a sec!" Hikari spoke out, his voice almost commanding.

Rising from his chair, Hikari crossed the room quickly, his sharp eyes scanning Kurashi. Noticing the blood-stained tear on Kurashi's shoulder, Hikari brushed at the torn fabric to reveal the shallow cut visible just beneath.

"What happened?"

"It's nothing..." Kurashi stated quietly, pulling away from Hikari's grasp.

"Stop moving..."

Hikari frowned as he saw the other cut on Kurashi's side. Though the cut wasn't deep, the dried blood made it look far worse than it was.

"Go to the infirmary...Get it treated before you head back to the house."

Kurashi didn't respond, but gave a faint nod and turned to leave.

As the door closed behind Kurashi, the weight of unspoken words settled in the room.

"Sometimes, I really do wonder what's going on in that head of yours," Hikari muttered to the empty room.

Back at the house, the first thing Kurashi did was take a shower. Steam filled the room as the hot water cascaded down his fatigued body. His wounds, still stained with the dried blood from his mission, began to wash away, the crimson water dissolving into the drain.

After the shower, Kurashi pulled on a loose shirt and sweatpants, making his way to his bed. When his head hit the pillow, he instantly fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

The next day passed slowly.

The house was completely silent, as it often was when Hikari wasn't around. Just like every other day, Kurashi had no desire to do anything—no urge to eat, no interest in leaving his room. He simply stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind as blank as the walls around him.

Then, around midnight, an unsettling sound pierced the stillness. A cough so deep and painful, it sounded like it was tearing through someone's chest. 

Reluctantly, Kurashi slid off from the side of the bed. Quietly making his way across the room, he pulled the door open just slightly to peek through. In the dim light of the hallway, he saw Hikari hunched over the kitchen sink. His body shook with each agonizing cough, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

Kurashi paused for a moment, staring at the sight.

No words

No movement

Instead, he simply shut the door, softly and without a sound, and returned to his bed once more. For the rest of the night, Kurashi sat in silence while listening to the faint sounds of Hikari's coughing echoing through the house. 

The next few days seemed to blur together, each one just like the last. Kurashi barely left his room, doing nothing more than observing the slow, relentless passage of time.

10:13 a.m. November 6, 2022

A soft knock echoed on Kurashi's door.

"Kurashi?" Hikari's voice came from the other side of the door, calm yet insistent. "You in there? I need to talk to you for a minute."

A moment of silence passed before the door slid open. There Kurashi leaned against the door frame, his shoulders slumped over and the dark circles under his eyes even more prominent.

Hikari frowned when he saw Kurashi.

"You good? Have you not been getting any sleep?"

Kurashi shrugged his shoulders lazily.

"What do you need?"

Later, they were in the living room. On the couch, Kurashi sat down with his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of black coffee. In the kitchen, Hikari cooked lunch over the stove.

"About the training...it's just an annual thing we do here."

Hikari moved the pan off of the heat, stepping over to a cutting board to slice vegetables.

"Down the mountain range, there's a training ground that you'll attend."

"When?" Kurashi asked quietly, his voice barely audible over Hikari's cutting.

"A few days from now...The 11th to be exact. You'll be staying there for a while, so pack what you need before you leave, alright?"

As usual, Kurashi dismissed himself as he walked off to his room.

"Hey, wait a minute. The food is almost do-"

Hikari was cut off when Kurashi's door clicked shut. Alone in the kitchen, Hikari sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.

7:47 a.m. November 11, 2022

"Remember, just follow the stream down the mountain..." Hikari stated at the front door, his hands tucked in his pockets. "You should know when you've made it."

Standing outside the front door, Kurashi threw his backpack over his shoulder, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Alright, if you're good to go. I won't hold you here any longer. Just make sure you make the most out of your time there. It's important..."

With that, Kurashi set out for Naishotetsu's training ground.

Outside of the base, Kurashi followed a path alongside the stream that flowed out from beneath the base. The gentle sound of the river streaming down was soothing for the lonely walk, its clear waters revealing both pebbles and small fish.

After a while, the training ground came into view.

The grounds consisted of a set of buildings that surrounded a vast center field. Though the field was expansive, the grass remained lush and well-maintained. The buildings, resembling those inside the base, were of traditional Japanese architecture.

Scattered across the center field were other members who had come for training. Instructors were also there, dressed in a distinct black uniform, shouting directions and corrections so all could hear.

Noticing a large group of members huddled together, he walked over to them, only close enough to listen.

"Boy dormitory on the right! Girl dormitory on the left!" A female instructor commanded, her tone leaving no room for questions. "Take your time settling down. You all will begin your training tomorrow morning."

Entering the dorm's main lobby, where trainees were already forming bonds, he walked through the crowded entrance to the right wing of the building. At the end of the narrow hall was Kurashi's room, a deliberate choice to ensure minimal disturbance.

The door creaked open as he stepped in. The room was small yet sufficient, furnished with a single bed, a wooden desk, and a chair. Setting his bag down on the bed, he unpacked the necessities that he brought with him. After unpacking his things, Kurashi sat at the edge of the bed, his gaze fixated on the single window in his room.

Early the next morning, an announcement was made.