Without thinking twice, Kaito rushed forward.
His eyes locked onto Hayate.
His left fist hardened, skin darkening like stone.
He stepped in—
Concrete cracked—
And drove a punch straight toward Hayate's face.
Hayate didn't blink.
The punch stopped inches away—
Zzzzt—!
Hayate collapsed into a thin streak of lightning and vanished.
Kaito's fist tore through empty air.
WHOOM—
The force of the punch hit the rooftop gate behind Hayate, making the metal gate shake loudly.
Too fast—
ZAP!
Hayate appeared on Kaito's left, his hand in pocket.
Kaito reacted instantly. He twisted his body and threw a strong right punch straight at Hayate's face.
Zzzzt—!
Gone again.
Hayate reappeared on his right. Too close.
"Too slow," Hayate said calmly.
Kaito attacked again and again. He threw a hook punch, then a straight punch. After that, he swung his elbow, and drove his knee forward."
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
"But Hayate kept turning into lightning to escape. He disappeared before the hits could land, then appeared again—behind Kaito, beside him, or even above him .
He was mocking Mocking him.
Kaito changed his approach. He stopped throwing wide punches and used shorter, faster strikes. He slowed his breathing and focused. But even then, Hayate still dodged every attack .
Then one point
Hayate vanished—
Reappeared behind—
Hayate appeared behind Kaito and kicked.
Kaito reacted instantly. He raised both arms and crossed them in front of his chest to block.
BANG!
The kick hit his guard hard.
Hayate's leg was glowing with lightning, and the moment it touched Kaito's arms, electricity burst through him.
Even though he blocked, the force was too strong.
The impact pushed him backward across the rooftop.
The electric shock burned through his arms and into his body.
His muscles tightened from the shock.
His boots scraped against the concrete as he slid toward the edge.
He barely stopped himself before falling.
Kaito slowly lowered his arms.
Steam rose from his hands.
Thin burn marks and small scratches covered his forearms.
His skin was still hardened, but parts of it were cracked from the impact.
He was breathing heavily now.
Each breath was rough.
But his eyes never left Hayate.
He stared at him with sharp, tense focus
"Careful," Hayate said. "It's a long way down."
Kaito ignored him. Stepped forward.
Hayate moved faster now.
Hayate turned into lightning and rushed across the rooftop floor, close to Kaito's feet.
Kaito watched carefully.
Then he noticed something important.
Just before Hayate appeared again, the dust and small stones on the rooftop floor shifted slightly.
They moved as if something very fast had passed through them.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
He understood.
The movement on the ground was showing him where Hayate would appear.
Tiny pressure changes.
That was the key.
Hayate suddenly appeared right in front of Kaito.
Before Kaito could raise his arms, Hayate pushed his palm forward.
CRACK!
A blast of electricity exploded out of Hayate's hand.
It hit Kaito directly in the chest.
BOOOOM!
Kaito's eyes widened as his whole body shook from the electric shock.
The force lifted him off the ground and threw him backward across the rooftop.
Smoke rose from his shirt as electricity crawled over his body.
He pushed himself up immediately.
"that was fast but i am not giving up" Kaito said.
"No," he corrected quietly. "I am just toying with you "
Hayate vanished again.
This time Kaito focused on the ground instead of Hayate. He notice how the rock moves how the wind move the sounds of it .
Kaito kept his eyes on the rooftop floor.
Then he saw it.
The dust on the ground moved slightly to the right, like something fast was about to appear there.
Before Hayate could fully appear—
Kaito stepped forward instantly.
He threw a straight punch, fast like a spear.
THUD!
His fist hit something solid.
Hayate had just appeared, and Kaito's punch grazed his shoulder.
Hayate slid back half a step.
For the first time, his smirk faded.
"…Interesting. now i am going be little more serious" said by hayate
He vanished midair, reappeared behind, kicked at Kaito's head.
Kaito lowered his head and dodged it .
Then a immide Punch came to the throat—
And he Blocked with his hands .
The shockwavee of the electricity left his hands little burn
Then hayate tried vanish again but this time kaito was closed he instantly closed the gap between them and grabbed his collar . But hayate wasn't able to vanish this time cause he was grabbing his collar
Hayates face reaction changed immideatly from claim to Serious he said " now you did it "
And suddenly electricity burst out of hayates body but kaito resisted it
He was in pain his body filled with electricity he said in pain " noo not this time while making a serious face " .
He strength his first and gave the strongest punch could have possible when the punch was coming hayate tried to resist and increased the electricity but kaito bear the pain and landed the punch right on his face thhe force of the punch was so storg hayate flew and hit the wall and the wall itself got a crak
Hayate tried to vanish again.
But this time, Kaito stepped in and closed the gap instantly. His hand shot forward and grabbed Hayate by the collar before he could fully vanish into a lightning
He couldn't move.
He couldn't vanish.
For a second, they were face to face.
Hayate's expression changed immediately. The calm look on his face faded. His eyes sharpened, his jaw tightening. He wasn't relaxed anymore.
He was serious.
"…Now you did it," Hayate said.
Suddenly, electricity burst out of his body.
It wasn't small sparks—it was a violent surge. Blue currents spread across his shoulders and arms, then exploded outward, directly into Kaito.
Kaito's body stiffened.
Pain shot through him instantly. His muscles locked, his teeth clenched. Electricity crawled over his skin, burning through his clothes, shaking his entire body.
But he didn't let go.
"Not… this time…" Kaito said through the pain, his face turning serious.
Hayate increased the electricity. The current became stronger, louder, more violent.
Kaito's body trembled, but he tightened his fist.
He pulled his arm back, even as the electricity surged through him. Every nerve screamed, but he endured it.
Then he threw the strongest punch he could.
As the punch came forward, Hayate tried to resist. The electricity flared even more, trying to stop him.
But Kaito endured the pain.
His fist landed directly on Hayate's face.
The impact was heavy and powerful.
Hayate's head snapped back, and his body was sent flying across the wall. He crashed into the wall with force.
The wall cracked from the impact.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Kaito was still standing.
Barely.
His breathing came out rough and uneven, chest rising and falling like he had just run through fire. A thin line of blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin before falling to the ground. His clothes were torn in several places, the fabric burned and blackened. Red scratches ran across his arms and neck.
His knees trembled.
For a second, it looked like he might collapse.
He steadied himself.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of it. When he looked up, there was a faint smile on his face.
He said "I figured it out How to land a hit on you."
He took a shallow breath.
"It won't take long now… before I bring you down."
Hayate pushed himself up from the cracked surface. Dust fell from his shoulders as he straightened. He calmly brushed off his clothes, smoothing the wrinkles like the fight had been a minor inconvenience. A small cut near his lip was still bleeding; he wiped it away with his thumb and looked at the smear of red for a brief second before flicking it aside.
His eyes shifted to Kaito.
Quiet. Measuring.
It didn't take him long, Hayate thought. He traced my movement so fast and so accurate…
A faint spark of recognition crossed his mind.
This boy is impressive.
The tension in his shoulders eased. His expression returned to its usual calm, almost gentle look. Then, slowly, a small smile formed.
Hayate said "For a moment you actually pushed me a little too far i was about to loose control."
His gaze sharpened just slightly beneath the smile.
"So whatever happens next don't blame me."
The air between them felt heavier.
Kaito stood there, wounded and shaking—
But still smiling back.
On the other side
Emika's breath felt tight.
Not because she was scared…
…but because she was thinking too fast.
Her eyes stayed locked on Shiori, but her mind kept moving like a stormy current.
Shiori is weapon-type… close combat is her territory.
Emika's fingers twitched slightly.
If I keep my distance, she'll just rush me down.
Then her gaze shifted to the girl standing beside Shiori.
Rion.
Rion stood with her arms loose, like she didn't even need to prepare. Her body looked calm, but the aura around her felt heavy—like the air itself was sinking.
Emika swallowed.
Rion's strength is pure physical power… and she can change weight by touch.
That meant one mistake could end everything.
If she touches me once… she can make my body heavy enough to collapse. Or light enough to throw me like a toy.
Her eyes narrowed.
I need distance from Rion too.
Her brain slammed into a wall.
No… wait.
Her pupils tightened.
If I stay far from Shiori, I lose.
If I stay close to Rion, I lose.
She felt her heartbeat thumping against her ribs like a warning drum.
Emika's lips parted slightly.
"…Tch."
Her eyes flickered between them again.
Shiori looked relaxed. Too relaxed. Almost like she was bored.
And that made Emika's skin crawl.
She's confident… she's hiding something.
Then suddenly—
Emika's eyes widened.
A small spark lit up inside her mind.
Yeah…
That'll work.
Her expression sharpened.
Water burst from her palms, not like a splash, but like a living thing obeying her will. It twisted and gathered, spinning in the air.
The water started forming a shape.
A head.
A torso.
Arms.
Legs.
In seconds, a human figure stood beside her.
It was Emika.
Or at least… it looked like her.
But it was pale and clear, like a statue made of pure water. No color. No warmth. Just a moving body-shaped liquid reflection.
The clone turned its head slowly.
Its blank face copied her posture perfectly.
Shiori blinked once, her lips curling upward slightly.
Rion's eyes narrowed.
"…A clone?"
Emika didn't answer. She didn't waste a second.
Her feet pushed off the ground.
Both Emikas moved at the same time.
The real one sprinted straight toward Shiori.
The water clone ran toward Rion.
Their footsteps slapped against the floor, fast and sharp.
For a split second, the battlefield felt like it froze.
Then—
Rion's face twisted with anger.
She stepped forward, veins slightly showing on her forearm as she clenched her fist.
"How dare you…" Rion growled, her voice deep and offended.
Her fist tightened harder.
"You think you can mock me by sending a cheap water puppet?!"
The air around her arm seemed to distort. Like gravity itself was gathering there.
Her knuckles cracked.
She lowered her stance, waiting for the clone to come closer, ready to smash it in one hit.
Meanwhile—
Shiori didn't move.
She didn't look nervous.
She didn't look angry.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, almost like a curious child watching a cute animal.
Her eyes sparkled.
Then she puffed her cheeks and made a baby-like face.
"Ooh myyy… myyy…"
Her voice was sweet, almost playful.
"You're really trying so hard, Emika."
She clasped her hands together near her face, acting innocent.
"You want to defeat me because you don't want me and Kaito to go on a date?"
Emika's eyebrows twitched.
Her jaw tightened.
This girl… she's serious?
Shiori smiled wider.
But it wasn't a normal smile.
It was cute…
and terrifying.
Like a doll smiling right before it breaks you.
"Okaaaay then," Shiori whispered softly.
"Let's see…"
Her eyes narrowed into sharp crescents.
"…who wins the date."
And then—
Her nails grew.
Not slowly.
Not naturally.
They extended instantly, stretching into long, razor-sharp blades.
They looked like thin swords attached to her fingertips.
The water clone closed the distance.
Its feet slapped against the rooftop, fast and light, leaving wet footprints behind like streaks of paint. The air around it trembled as Emika's control tightened.
Its arm swelled mid-run.
Water gathered into its forearm, compressing so hard it looked like muscle forming under skin. The fist expanded rapidly—bigger than a shield, bigger than a door—thick and heavy, with swirling currents twisting inside it like veins.
It wasn't just water anymore.
It was pressure.
A moving hammer.
Rion didn't step back.
She didn't even flinch.
She stood there with her shoulders relaxed, head slightly tilted, like she was watching something amusing. Her lips curved upward.
"That shit ain't gonna give me a single scratch," she said loudly, smiling like she was already bored.
The clone raised its massive fist.
The shadow of it swallowed Rion's entire body.
Then it dropped.
The fist came down with terrifying speed, dragging wind behind it. The rooftop groaned under the incoming force.
Rion stepped forward.
Not away.
Forward.
Her right arm pulled back in one smooth motion. Her elbow twisted, her shoulder rolled, and her fist tightened so hard her knuckles turned pale.
Then—
she punched.
The impact cracked the air.
A deep BOOM exploded across the rooftop like a cannon firing.
For a split second, everything froze.
The clone's fist stopped midair.
Then the surface of the water fist caved inward, rippling like a drum skin hit too hard. Pressure collided with pressure, and the sound that followed was sickening—like something huge being crushed.
Rion's punch tore through it like a cannonball through wet sand.
The entire water fist burst apart.
Not splashed—
shattered.
The force ripped the arm open from the inside, and the clone's whole body lost balance.
A heartbeat later, its torso broke apart too.
The clone collapsed into rain.
Water exploded outward in every direction, spraying across the rooftop, railing, walls—like the sky itself had burst.
Rion stood in the middle of it.
Drops ran down her forearm.
Steam rose faintly from her skin, not from heat, but from sheer kinetic force tearing through the air.
She exhaled through her nose.
"Pathetic."
A drop slid down her cheek.
She didn't notice the shadow forming behind her.
From the scattered rain—
water gathered again.
Not in a wave.
Not in a wall.
But thin.
Quiet.
Like a snake made of liquid.
A rope-shaped stream rose from the puddles behind her ankle and snapped upward.
It wrapped tight around both her legs.
Rion's smile vanished instantly.
Her eyes widened.
"What—?!"
She tried to step back, but her feet wouldn't move.
The rope tightened.
Then twisted.
Spun.
Faster. Faster.
The water cord rotated like a high-speed drill, wrapping around her legs until it became a spinning cyclone of pressure. The concrete under her shoes cracked slightly as the rope began pulling.
Rion gritted her teeth and swung her fist down, trying to smash it—
But it was already too late.
The rope snapped sideways.
Her body lifted off the ground.
Rion's eyes widened further, her arms flailing for balance.
The force was brutal.
She was thrown like a bullet from a gun.
She flew across the rooftop edge—
past the railing—
and straight into the open air.
Her body spun once, twice, before—
CRASH!
She slammed into the wall of a building far away.
Concrete exploded outward.
Dust burst like smoke.
A crater formed in the wall, spiderweb cracks spreading around it.
For a second, the entire rooftop fell silent.
Only the sound of falling dust and distant crumbling echoed.
Emika didn't even look back for long.
Her eyes were already locked onto Shiori.
"…Now it's time."
She sprinted forward.
Her feet splashed through leftover water on the rooftop, using it as fuel. The water climbed up her arms like living armor, wrapping around her fists and compressing until it looked almost solid.
Her face was sharp.
Focused.
Her breathing was steady—but her heartbeat was loud in her ears.
She stepped in—
and punched.
The punch wasn't wild.
It was clean.
Straight.
Fast.
Shiori's eyes sharpened.
Her nails flashed.
She crossed them instantly like twin blades.
CLANG!
Water met sharpened edge.
The sound was loud, sharp, metallic—like steel hitting steel.
The shockwave pushed both their hair back.
Emika's fist pressed harder.
Water pressure exploded from her palm in a concentrated burst.
The force slammed into Shiori's guard and shoved her backward.
Shiori's feet scraped across the concrete, leaving thin skid marks.
She slid half a step.
Then another small one.
Her body stayed balanced, but the push was undeniable.
"Oh?" Shiori murmured, her eyes narrowing.
Her voice sounded amused.
But her posture was different now.
More serious.
The water stream stopped suddenly.
Emika lowered her arm.
And Shiori's gaze flicked left.
A clone.
Mid-air.
It had formed silently, using the water scattered around the battlefield. It hovered for a split second, fist already swollen—dense and spinning—descending like a hammer from above.
The clone's fist rotated as it fell, compressing itself tighter and tighter.
It wasn't just falling.
It was drilling downward.
Shiori reacted instantly.
Her eyes widened.
She bent her knees and jumped backward, her body twisting mid-air like a dancer dodging a blade.
The giant fist smashed into the rooftop.
KRAAAK!
The concrete shattered.
A crater opened, and spiderweb cracks spread outward like broken glass.
Chunks of stone flew up.
Dust exploded into the air.
Shiori landed lightly a few meters away, crouched low.
But her footing was still unstable—
she was still mid-motion.
And Emika's voice cut through the dust like a knife.
"Got you."
Shiori's eyes snapped forward.
That tiny window—
That single moment of imbalance—
was enough.
A water rope shot from Emika's palm.
Not slowly.
Not like a normal stream.
It snapped forward like a whip, cutting through the dust-filled air and wrapping tightly around Shiori's ankles with a wet SLAP.
The moment it tightened, the rope hardened—compressed water twisting into a dense, unbreakable bind.
Shiori's eyes widened.
It was the first real crack in her calm expression.
"Tch—!"
Her body was still mid-air.
Her legs jerked, trying to move, trying to twist out—
—but there was nothing to push off.
No ground.
No balance.
No leverage.
Her nails flashed as she tried to slice the rope, but the angle was wrong, her arms too far away, her body already being dragged.
Emika's hands clenched around the rope with both fists.
Her fingers dug into the cold, vibrating water cord as if she was holding the reins of a wild beast.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Now!"
She spun her body hard.
Once.
Shiori's body rotated with the rope, her torso snapping sideways.
Twice.
Her hair whipped around her face like a black storm.
Faster.
The rope tightened further, and Shiori's whole body was forced into a violent spin. Her arms flailed for a moment, nails cutting empty air, unable to find a target.
The wind howled around her.
The sound of her body slicing through the air grew louder and sharper with every rotation.
Emika's feet planted firmly.
Her legs trembled from the strain.
Water surged up her arms, reinforcing her grip, stabilizing her stance like an anchor.
Her jaw clenched.
Then she pulled.
And slammed.
Shiori's spinning body was whipped downward like a meteor.
BOOOOM!
The rooftop shook.
The impact wasn't soft.
It was brutal.
Concrete fractured instantly beneath Shiori's back and shoulders, spiderweb cracks exploding outward. Dust and rubble burst up into the air, and the shockwave rippled across the rooftop like an invisible wave.
For a moment—
Shiori didn't move.
The dust floated slowly, suspended like smoke after an explosion.
Emika stood there, breathing heavily.
Her chest rose and fell hard, shoulders shaking slightly.
Her arms felt numb.
Her fingers were stiff from compression control.
Too much water.
Too much pressure.
Too much output.
Her throat felt dry.
Did it work…?
Then—
A small sound.
A quiet scrape.
Shiori's hand moved.
She pushed herself up slowly, as if she had all the time in the world.
Dust slid off her shoulders.
Her hair fell back into place.
There were scratches across her cheek and neck now. A thin line of blood ran from the corner of her lip.
Shiori wiped it with her thumb.
She stared at the blood for a second.
Then smiled.
Still cute.
Still terrifying.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, gleaming with excitement.
"…You're not half bad."
Her voice was calm.
But the way she said it—
made it feel like a promise.
Like she wasn't complimenting Emika…
She was warning her.