It had been three months since Kael left. The once vibrant academy now felt emptier, quieter, as if a vital piece had been taken away. The crisp December air filled the halls, snow falling softly outside, but the warmth of the academy's usual hustle and bustle had dulled. The students had grown accustomed to his absence, though they never stopped wondering where he had gone.
In the months since Kael's departure, the academy had heard reports of his relentless pursuit of justice. He had taken down over a hundred of the most notorious beasts and villains, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake. His name had become a whispered legend, but no one had seen him. No one knew where he was, and no one had any answers.
The empty room that had once been Kael's now stood as a silent reminder of the power and determination he had left behind. The bed was neatly made, the floor spotless, but the absence of his presence felt heavy in the air. Hana stood at the door, staring at the room with a mixture of sadness and longing. The snow outside seemed to reflect her mood, the coldness of winter matching the emptiness she felt inside.
"Hana," Tetsu called out from behind her, his voice breaking through her thoughts. "You've been standing there for a while. Are you okay?"
She didn't respond right away, her hand resting on the doorframe as she continued to stare at the room. The quiet, the stillness—it felt like a piece of her was missing.
"I'm fine," Hana finally said, her voice soft but firm. "Just thinking."
Tetsu stepped closer, glancing at Kael's empty room as well. He knew Hana had been taking Kael's departure hard, but he didn't know how to make it better. It wasn't something that could be fixed with a simple conversation. The bond between them was more than just friendship—it was something deeper, something Hana had never fully acknowledged until now.
"You miss him, don't you?" Tetsu asked gently, knowing the answer but needing to hear it.
Hana turned to face him, a small smile on her lips, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "I do. I never thought it would feel this... empty without him here."
Tetsu smirked, trying to lighten the mood as he always did. "I always knew you had a crush on him. You used to deny it, but it was obvious."
Hana flushed, her face turning pink as she crossed her arms. "I don't have a crush on him," she insisted, though her tone lacked conviction. "I just... admire him. I want to be like him. Strong, unstoppable... someone who can protect everyone."
Tetsu chuckled, not buying it for a second. "Yeah, sure, Hana. Just admit it already."
Hana shot him a glare, but it was clear her heart wasn't in it. She was still caught in the mix of emotions Kael's departure had left behind. She had always looked up to him, admired his strength, his unwavering sense of justice. Now, she missed him more than she ever expected.
"I just... wish I had told him how much he meant to me," she admitted quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
Tetsu's expression softened. He knew exactly what she meant. Kael had been a big part of their lives, and now that he was gone, it was like a hole had been ripped open. No one else could fill that void.
"We all miss him," Tetsu said, his voice unusually serious. "But you know Kael... he wouldn't want us to just sit around moping. He'd want us to keep moving forward."
Hana nodded slowly, though it was clear she still wasn't fully convinced. The sadness in her heart lingered, but she knew Tetsu was right. Kael had always pushed them to be better, to strive for greatness. And even though he was gone, she knew he would want them to continue fighting, to become stronger in his absence.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in white. Inside, the academy carried on, the students continuing their training and their lives, even if it felt like a little piece of them was missing.
Hana took one last look at Kael's room before turning away, the weight of his absence heavy on her shoulders. She didn't know when—or if—Kael would return, but she knew that until then, she would keep moving forward. She would become stronger, just as Kael had always believed she could.
And maybe, just maybe, when Kael came back, she'd be ready to tell him everything she never had the chance to say.