He couldn’t sleep. Eventually, he sat up and climbed out of bed. His eyes drifted to Luca, then to Kenzo, and finally to Ash, who was sleeping quietly beside him.

With a sigh, Ming turned toward the window. Questions swirled through his mind like restless ghosts.

"Will it ever end? Will it ever stop?"

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a soft voice behind him.

“Mr. Ming?”

He turned. It was Luka, now awake, his tone gentle.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Luka asked.

Ming only nodded.

Luca sighed and got out of bed, walking over to stand beside him.

“Can I ask you something?” Ming asked quietly.

Luca gave a curious nod. “Of course.”

Ming hesitated, then asked, “Do you believe in Kenzo? Do you trust him? I mean… if someone told you he was doing something terrible—something that could hurt all of us—would you believe them?”

Luca stared at him, surprised. The question hung in the air, heavy and tense. Then he smiled faintly and replied, “No. No, I could never believe that Kenzo would hurt anyone. He’s too pure for that. So… the answer is no.”

Ming studied his face for a moment, then looked away and sighed.

“Alright. That’s your answer. I suppose it’s not surprising… he is your friend, after all.”

Silence settled between them. Ming looked up at the night sky. The stars were faint but still shimmering.

Finally, Luca spoke again. “Mr. Ming… it’s getting late. You should sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Ming nodded silently. Luka returned to his bed and soon drifted off. Ming stood still a moment longer, watching the stars, then looked back at Luca, Ash, and Kenzo. He sighed once more and walked back to his bed. Lying down, he slowly slipped into sleep.

[In Ming's Dream]

Ming found himself standing on a desolate mountain. Darkness cloaked the land around him. A sound—someone crying—echoed through the shadows.

He began to follow the voice. As he stepped forward, his foot landed on something hard. Looking down, he saw a strange object lying in the dirt.

It was a book—black, with golden edges. It shimmered faintly in the darkness, drawing his curiosity. Just as he reached to pick it up, the crying returned, louder this time.

He ignored the book and pressed on toward the voice.

As he walked, the shadows shifted. Soon, he came upon a man kneeling in the dirt, sobbing uncontrollably. In the man’s arms were two lifeless bodies.

The man clutched them close, grief shaking his frame. His face was turned downward, hidden—it was impossible to see who he was.

Ming stepped closer. One body was small—a child. The other, a woman. Both were terribly burned. The sight made Ming stagger back in shock.

Before he could process what he was seeing, a blinding light pierced the sky. He shut his eyes, shielding them with his hands.

When he opened them again, he was somewhere else.

He knew this place.

It was the field where he and his older brother used to play as children.

The air felt different here—warmer, peaceful. Ming looked around, stunned.

Someone was walking toward him.

It was his elder brother.

He looked just the same as the last time Ming had seen him—before his death. The same black, beautiful, medium-length hair, light brown eyes, and that kind, charming smile.

Ming froze. His mind and heart overflowed with emotion and memories. His brother stood in front of him, smiling.

In his brother’s hand was something, but Ming didn’t care what it was. All that mattered was that his brother was here, in front of him.

Then his brother held it up. Ming looked down. It was the same diary that his sister-in-law had given him at the funeral.

Ming stared at it in surprise, but before he could say anything, he heard someone calling his name.

The dream shattered.

He woke up to find Luca, Kenzo, and Ash calling him. Luka spoke.

“Mr. Ming, wake up. Sir Hikari called us for breakfast. Get up already—after breakfast, they’re going to train us.”

Ming sat up and nodded. Kenzo, Luca, and Ash were already ready, waiting for him to get dressed.

Ming got up, took his uniform from the wardrobe, and entered the washroom. He bathed and got ready. Almost thirty minutes later, he came out. His hair was still wet.

He looked at them and said, “Let’s go then.”

As they stepped out of the room, they saw Amaya waiting for them. She smiled and said, “Let’s go!”

With that, she led them toward the cafeteria. When they arrived, they found it was large and filled with all the trainees and trainers.

Amaya guided them toward the front, where Hikari was waiting. With him were two other leaders, Rin, Sofia, Akiko, three other passengers, and the old lady.

As everyone took their seats, most offered them warm smiles—everyone except Rin.

Hikari smiled and said, “Let’s start breakfast. After that, we’ll begin training.”

Everyone nodded and started eating.

But Ming’s thoughts were far away—lingering on that dream, the book, the diary, the crying man, the lifeless bodies, and his brother.

What is happening in my life? And why?

These questions wandered restlessly through his mind.

End of the chapter 7.