The weekend morning drifted by slowly.
Akira was adjusting his gauntlet straps when a knock echoed from the door.
"Who's that?" he muttered, walking to open it.
When the door creaked wide, Rei stood outside, hands folded behind her back, dressed casually in a white zip hoodie and black jeans. Her hair was tied up, a few strands falling over her temple. She gave him a small smile.
"Yo," she said.
"…Rei?"
"I didn't think you'd open," she smirked. "Guess you're not out hunting monsters today."
Akira blinked. "How did you even know where I live?"
"Tracked down your house and here I am," she said simply. "You never answer your messages."
Before he could reply, a voice called from inside:
"Onii-chaaaaan!"
Yuna peeked around the corner, blinking sleepily. "Who's that? Is she your new girlfriend?"
Akira turned red instantly. "No! She's not—Yuna, go brush your teeth."
Yuna just grinned and wandered off muttering, "I knew it."
Rei stifled a laugh. "She's cute."
Akira rubbed his temple. "Come in before she says something else."
They stepped inside. The place was small, but clean. Rei scanned the space briefly before Akira gestured to his room.
"Let's talk there."
—
Inside his room, Rei sat on the edge of his bed while Akira leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"So?" he asked.
She didn't answer immediately. Her fingers fidgeted with her sleeve before she finally spoke.
"…I've felt something strange lately," she said. "Like… a presence in me. It started with a cut I got during training. I didn't tell anyone, but I placed my hand over it and… it closed. In seconds."
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And then again… I helped a stray dog that was hit near the tracks. I touched it, and its leg reset. No one else saw it. Just me."
"Zeir," he said quietly.
She nodded. "I think it's awakening."
"Have you told your school?"
"No. I didn't want to deal with officials or the Zeir registry. Not yet. That's why I came to you."
Akira stayed silent.
"…I know you sneak into gates, Akira. You think no one notices, but I've seen the bruises. The burns. The blood on your shoes even when you try to hide it."
He looked away.
"I'm not asking to be your partner," she added quickly. "But I thought… maybe you'd know what to do."
Akira let out a breath and sat beside his desk.
"If what you have is healing-based," he said, "then it's rare. It's not combat-oriented. But it's valuable."
She looked at him, hopeful.
"But it's also dangerous," he continued, firmly but gently. "You're not trained for gate combat. You don't know the depths yet — how fast you can die. One mistake and it's over."
Rei bit her lip but said nothing.
"I've made it this far because I've studied, planned, bled, and survived on instinct. Even then... I almost died."
He glanced at his hand, remembering the beast. The crushed ribs. The smoke.
"I'm not saying don't use your power. Just… don't rush in looking for meaning. It'll come. But if you force it, you'll be a liability — to yourself, and to others."
Her shoulders dropped, but she nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
"But," Akira added, "if it grows, and you want to train with someone… I'll help you."
That made her smile again.
"Thanks, Akira."
—
They decided to head out for lunch, walking together to a nearby corner restaurant that served cheap miso and grilled rice.
They sat near the window, steam curling from their bowls.
"So," Rei said between bites, "my regional tournament's in two weeks. If I win this one, I go national."
"You'll win," Akira said without hesitation.
She blinked. "That easy, huh?"
"You train like hell. I've seen it. You're not flashy — but you don't stop. That counts."
She gave a small laugh. "You're bad at compliments."
He shrugged. "Still true."
—
The sun had shifted lower by the time they returned to the residential street where they'd part ways.
Rei stood quietly beside him, hands behind her back.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward and hugged him.
Not playful.
Warm. Close. Real.
"Take care, Akira-kun," she whispered.
He froze. Completely.
Before he could reply, she stepped back and turned with a wave.
Akira stood there a few seconds longer, stunned.
Then finally, a breath escaped his lips.
"…What the hell just happened?"
He shook his head. Focus. Not now.
—
Back home, Yuna was watching something on her tablet as Akira entered.
"Welcome ba—wait, are you smiling?"
"I'm not," he muttered quickly and shut the door to his room.
He opened his laptop, pulled up a private network of gate activity logs — mostly rumors, unclaimed openings, and whispers from freelance hunters.
Now he needed something low-profile. Quiet. Off-the-radar.
He narrowed his search by district.
"Warehouse zone… no, too many patrols."
"Drain line near the collapsed station… maybe."
"But that one collapsed last month."
"Wait…"
He clicked on a listing with no registered guild claim.
"Gate 84-G — maintenance sector, inactive subway line."
> Reported two days ago. No government response. Locals say the air feels "cold."
"Bingo," he muttered.
Unlisted. Abandoned. No guard rotation.
He stared at the screen for a moment longer. Then zipped up his jacket, pulled the black wristband on, and slung a small ration pack over his back.
"Inventory."
The portal blinked open. He placed in:
Water purifier.
Compact field light.
Nutrient packs.
Heat block.
A spare shirt.
His twin blades.
The portal vanished.
As he stepped toward the door, Yuna looked up.
"Onii-chan? Where are you going again?"
Akira forced a smile.
"Just some business. I won't be long."
She tilted her head.
"You always say that."
"…If night falls and I'm not back yet, lock the door and don't open for anyone. Got it?"
Yuna blinked, then nodded solemnly.
"I'll wait. But don't get hurt."
Akira opened the door. The cold wind of evening hit his face.
He stared out into the streets, quiet and empty.
Then whispered:
"Time to hunt."