The Meeting – Doubts, Promises, and the Future Unwritten
Serang City – Inside the Kisuke Household
The sun had settled into the horizon, painting the evening sky in muted shades of orange and violet. The humid air carried the scent of distant incense from the neighbor's house, mixing with the earthy aroma of fresh tea brewing in the Kisuke home. It was a peaceful setting, but inside the walls, the tension was anything but calm.
Seated at the small wooden dining table, Elly Muslich and Hendra Trisyadi sat across from Master Hayato, Master Renjiro, and Master Rahman, their expressions carefully composed yet unmistakably uncertain.
This was the second meeting, but the air was different now.
No longer just an offer, no longer just words—this was the moment where trust had to be earned.
Master Hayato (hands folded, voice steady):
"We understand your concerns."
Elly tightened her grip around her teacup.
Elly (measured, skeptical):
"You must know why we hesitate."
Master Rahman (gentle nod, tone warm):
"Of course. You fear losing him to something unknown."
Hendra crossed his arms, his sharp gaze unwavering.
Hendra (firm, protective):
"This offer—it came suddenly, without warning. You speak of passing down knowledge, but to what end?"
The Masters' Vow – A Legacy, Not a Hidden Agenda
The room settled into a moment of quiet, the weight of the question pressing between them.
Master Renjiro, ever composed, leaned slightly forward, his presence carrying unshaken precision.
Master Renjiro (calm but firm):
"We are not recruiters. We are not an organization. We are simply men nearing the twilight of our own journeys."
Elly blinked, taken aback.
Elly (softly, uncertain):
"You mean… this is simply to pass your knowledge?"
Master Hayato (nodding slightly, voice quiet but filled with intent):
"Nothing more. No debt, no obligation. Only inheritance—the kind that does not bind, but merely offers guidance."
Hendra exhaled slowly, studying each of them. He expected some deeper motive, some ulterior plan, but the clarity in their words carried no deception.
Master Rahman (earnest, sincere):
"Your son is not the first we have considered. But he is the first who moves with instinct—an awareness beyond his age."
Elly glanced at Misaki, seated just off to the side, shifting uncomfortably. He had remained silent, absorbing everything, unsure whether to feel excitement or unease.
Hendra (final question, voice edged with doubt):
"If we refuse, what then?"
Master Hayato (bowing slightly, unwavering tone):
"Then we leave, and the matter ends today."
The Test – Revealing Misaki's Natural Ability
Elly and Hendra exchanged a glance, their skepticism still lingering, but something about the masters' calm certainty had softened their hesitation.
Elly shifted slightly, her voice controlled yet curious.
Elly (measured, but considering):
"You claim our son carries something rare. Can you prove it?"
A subtle smile flickered across Master Rahman's lips.
Master Rahman (grinning slightly, glancing at Misaki):
"Perhaps Misaki himself will prove it for us."
Misaki stiffened.
He had expected them to demonstrate their skills—not suddenly put him in the spotlight.
Misaki (frowning slightly, uncertain):
"Prove what?"
Master Hayato (gesturing toward the open floor, voice even):
"We will not ask you to fight. Only to react."
Master Renjiro reached into his pocket, retrieving three small stones—smooth and identical in size. He rolled them effortlessly between his fingers before placing them gently onto the table.
Master Renjiro (explaining, gaze sharp):
"A simple challenge. Watch closely."
Before anyone could blink, he flicked the stones forward, sending them scattering in different directions across the smooth wooden floor.
Misaki's mind barely had time to process what was happening.
Then—instinct took over.
The Moment of Truth – Misaki's Reflexes in Action
Time slowed.
His chest tightened, his senses kicking into motion before thought could form.
One stone spun wildly, rolling toward the cabinet leg—Misaki moved immediately, his hand snapping forward, catching it mid-spin before it could disappear into the shadows.
Before he even registered the catch, his other hand was already moving toward the second stone, which was slipping beneath the chair leg—his fingers closed around it just as it vanished under the table.
The third—the most unpredictable—was bouncing toward the door, ready to roll out of reach completely.
Misaki shifted, twisting his weight, reaching just in time, snatching it into his palm before it could be lost.
Silence – And Realization
The room fell into stillness, the weight of the moment crashing down all at once.
Hendra's face had changed, no longer skeptical but something between realization and stunned acknowledgment.
Elly stared, her breath caught, eyes flicking between her son's steady hands clutching the stones and the masters, who simply watched without surprise.
Even Misaki himself blinked, confused.
Misaki (panting slightly, gripping the stones):
"I… I just caught them."
Master Rahman smiled, nodding knowingly.
Master Rahman (calm, almost amused):
"Not just caught them, boy. You tracked them, anticipated their motion, and moved without hesitation. That is the mark of natural instinct."
The Final Decision – Fate Steps Forward
Elly looked at her son, then at the masters, then at her husband.
Elly (soft, measured breath):
"He is… different."
Hendra nodded slowly, his skepticism melting away.
Hendra (finalizing, looking at the masters):
"No more tricks. No more tests. You vow never to take him from this home?"
Master Hayato, ever composed, bowed slightly, his words clear and final.
Master Hayato (calm, resolute):
"We vow never to take him. His choices will always be his own."
Another pause.
Then—Elly and Hendra nodded.
Tomorrow, training would begin.
Outside, the Night Whispers of Destiny
As the masters left, the air felt different—charged with a new beginning.
And in Misaki's heart, thrill battled with uncertainty.
What had he just discovered about himself?
And how far could he really go?
The shadows waited.
And Misaki Kisuke was ready to step forward.