several weeks passed, and Kaito's training continued beneath the ever-changing sky. The once-clumsy steps were now sharper, more focused. He could feel the wind more clearly, not just on his skin—but in his chest, just beneath the surface.
That morning, after an intense round of movement drills, Kaito dropped onto the grass near the training grounds. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, and sweat clung to his forehead. He closed his eyes, letting the breeze cool his small body.
Footsteps padded softly through the grass.
When he opened his eyes, his mother, Hana, stood above him, smiling. The gentle wind played with her long white hair and robes, making her seem like she had stepped out of the sky itself.
"Mom?" Kaito blinked, grinning.
She leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You've been working hard."
Kaito giggled as she sat down beside him and pulled him into her lap. She began ruffling his hair affectionately, her fingers threading through the white strands. "My little wind," she whispered.
He beamed. "I'm getting better!"
"You're getting stronger too," she said warmly, brushing grass from his cheek.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out playfully, "You call that training? If you want real training, you should come with me instead."
Kaito looked up to see his father, Toru, striding toward them with a confident grin and arms crossed. His hair was just as white but slightly messier, and his robes were tied more loosely than usual.
"Oh no," Hana said, laughing. "Here comes the bragging."
Toru scooped Kaito up into his arms, spinning him once before holding him proudly in the air. "What do you say, champ? Train with your old man? I'm way stronger than Master Akira."
Kaito blinked and smiled to himself, thinking:
We all know Master Akira's going to dismantle you…
Toru froze and turned dramatically to Hana. "Honey, back me up here. Tell him the truth!"
She raised a brow. "Stop feeding your child lies, Toru."
"Lies?" Toru gasped, clutching his chest in mock heartbreak. "You wound me."
He gently set Kaito down and leaned in to steal a quick kiss from Hana, who swatted him with her sleeve in protest—though she was smiling the whole time.
"You're embarrassing," she mumbled, blushing.
"And you love it," Toru grinned.
Kaito laughed as his parents continued their playful exchange, the moment feeling as light and free as the wind around them.
Just then, Master Akira appeared near the entrance of the training field, his arms folded behind his back. His sharp eyes softened as he watched the family.
"Come, Kaito," he said. "Let's take a walk. Let the lovebirds enjoy their flirting in peace."
Kaito jumped to his feet eagerly. "Yes, Master!"
As they strolled through the village, Kaito looked up at the older man beside him. Akira walked with quiet confidence, his robe flowing behind him, white hair tied loosely. A few girls they passed paused, whispering and blushing. Kaito tilted his head, confused.
"Why do they all look like they're about to faint?" he asked.
Akira chuckled lightly. "You'll understand when you're older."
The two continued through the white-stone paths of the Wind Clan village. Wind chimes jingled from rooftops. Elderly women offered fruit to children. Young warriors practiced their stance beneath tall banners. The air smelled of clean sky and morning bread.
As they walked deeper into the heart of the Wind Clan village, the quiet buzz of daily life surrounded them.
Kaito walked a few steps ahead, arms swinging, trying to match Master Akira's long, steady stride. But something caught his attention up ahead—a small voice raised in protest.
"Reiji, I can carry it! I'm not a baby!"
Near a fruit stall, a little girl with messy white hair stood on her toes, clutching a wooden basket nearly the size of her chest. She puffed out her cheeks as she reached for another plum, even though her basket was already overflowing.
Beside her stood a tall, lean boy—about twelve —with calm eyes and a slightly amused expression. He carried a bundle of folded cloth, a loaf of bread, and a string of garlic bulbs slung over his shoulder.
"You said that ten minutes ago, Yumi. Then you almost dropped the eggs."
"That was your fault!" Yumi huffed, clearly indignant.
Kaito's face lit up. "Yumi! Reiji!"
The girl turned at the sound of her name and lit up like a lantern. "Kaito!"
She ran toward him, basket wobbling wildly in her small arms. As she got close, the wind gave a playful gust, and two plums tumbled out and rolled across the stone path.
"Oops!" she gasped, quickly chasing after them.
Kaito crouched to help, scooping one up and handing it back. "That basket looks heavy. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm strong!" she declared, standing tall—then nearly tipping over from the weight. Reiji reached over, casually plucking the basket from her arms with one hand.
"I'll take that," he said coolly. "She insisted on buying more than we needed. Again."
"We're shopping for Mama!" Yumi said proudly, holding up her empty arms now that she was free. "I picked the best plums in the whole village."
Master Akira walked up behind Kaito, hands tucked into his sleeves, eyes calm as ever. "Helping your mother, are you? That's good."
Reiji nodded, shifting the load of groceries in his arms. "She asked us to bring back food for dinner. Yumi's making it take longer, but... she means well."
"I do!" she said, clinging to her big brother's sleeve.
Kaito giggled. "You two make a good team."
"Do you want to come with us?" Yumi asked, her eyes wide with hope. "We still have to get noodles and maybe honey dumplings if Reiji says yes."
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "Depends if you behave."
Kaito looked up at Master Akira, who shook his head gently, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Not today. We've still got a bit of walking to do. But next time, maybe."
Yumi pouted but nodded. "Okay… but only if you promise."
"Promise," Kaito said with a grin, holding up his pinky.
After the promise was sealed, Reiji gave Kaito a nod—calm, respectful, like an older brother figure—and gently guided his sister back toward the merchant row. She chatted the whole way, pointing at snacks and trinkets.
Kaito watched them go, his chest warm.
"They're good kids," Akira said softly.
Kaito nodded. "Our family's pretty great, huh?"
Akira said nothing, but the gentle wind that curled around them seemed to agree.
They continued walking until the village path gave way to a quiet cliffside overlooking the vast valley below. The wind was softer here, as if holding its breath. Akira sat on a flat stone ledge, legs crossed, eyes watching the clouds drift in slow formation.
Kaito joined him, legs dangling off the edge. For a few moments, neither spoke.
Then Kaito tilted his head.
"Master Akira… how come you never talk about your family?"
Akira blinked, then gave a light laugh — not joyful but distant, hollow.
"I don't have one."
Kaito frowned. "You mean… they're gone?"
Akira's smile didn't reach his eyes. He looked out toward the horizon.
"Who knows," he said, though his eyes said otherwise.
The silence that followed wasn't heavy — just quiet. The kind of quiet the wind makes when it knows not to interrupt.
Kaito let his legs swing back and forth slowly. He exhaled deeply.
"Lately… I've been training every day. I try everything. But no matter what I do, I still can't catch up to Rize."
Akira didn't respond immediately. He leaned back on his hands, gaze distant, expression unreadable.
Then he chuckled. "That's because Rize is training harder than you."
Kaito blinked, then muttered, "Yeah… he trains hard too."
Akira smirked. "Not just hard. Way harder than you. And don't forget—he's a prodigy."
Kaito sat up straighter, shoulders tense. "Prodigy or not… I'll train even harder. I'll beat him one day."
He clenched his fists in his lap.
"No... not just beat him. I want to be the strongest. Stronger than him, stronger than everyone. Strong like you."
Akira raised a brow. "Me?"
Kaito nodded quickly. "Yeah. Everyone says you're the strongest in the clan. That's... really cool."
He looked at Akira with admiration glowing in his eyes.
"So... what does it mean to be the strongest?"
Akira didn't answer right away.
Instead, he closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the wind. The silence lingered — long enough that Kaito began to wonder if he would answer at all.
Then Akira finally spoke, voice low.
"Everyone thinks strength is about power — standing at the top, above everyone else, or how many enemies you can destroy. But that's not what makes someone the strongest."
He turned fully to face Kaito, his tone shifting to something deeper.
" Power means nothing if it bends to your emotions. The strongest man isn't the one who wins the most battles… it's the one who knows when not to fight."
Kaito listened, brows drawn together, quietly absorbing each word.
Akira continued.
"Being the strongest isn't about defeating others. It's about carrying others. About standing still when the whole world tries to move you. About protecting something... even when it would be easier to let it go."
Kaito's eyes searched Akira's face as if trying to memorize every word.
"You don't own power. You carry it — like a blade without a sheath. Every swing is a risk. And if you're not careful, it cuts the ones you love."
The wind shifted again, brushing gently through their hair.
"I've seen monsters with power and children with purpose. You know what separates them?"
"Control."
"If your strength can't protect the ones you love — then it's worthless."
"And if it ever costs you your family…"
"…then it was never worth chasing in the first place."
Kaito stared ahead, heart thudding quietly in his chest.
Akira didn't look at him — he just stared into the horizon.
"I didn't become the strongest because I wanted to. I became the strongest because I had to.
But sometimes... even that isn't enough."
Akira finally turned to him with a serious look in his eyes.
"And between you and Rize... if either of you want to stand at the top, ask yourself this—"
"Can you carry that kind of pain?"
Kaito swallowed hard, feeling those words sit heavy in his chest. He looked down, then up again at Akira.
Kaito said nothing at first. The wind stirred gently, but inside, his thoughts howled.
"Is that why… you don't have a family? because you weren't strong enough?" he asked gently.
Akira smiled, but it was a tired smile — like someone remembering a storm that never fully passed.
"…Maybe."
Later that evening, as the sun dipped behind the hills, Kaito sat between his parents as they watched the skies slowly turn golden.
Toru cleared his throat. "Kaito," he said, "we've got something to tell you."
Hana reached for Kaito's hand, placing it gently on her stomach.
"You're going to be a big brother."
Kaito's eyes widened, and for a second, the breeze seemed to pause.
"Really?" he said, blinking. "I'm… gonna be a brother?"
Hana nodded, her smile brighter than the setting sun.
The wind picked up again, wrapping around them like a silent vow — one only the sky could hear.