— The Second Day in the Village —(With the sunrise casting golden light and the fog slowly lifting from the village edges, Hikaru and Kyoji stood in the dirt courtyard behind the houses. Wooden swords in hand, their eyes gleamed with determination, untouched by the morning chill.)
Kyoji(tightens his grip, smiling confidently):"Remember when I used to pant after just three strikes? Those days are over, Hikaru."
Hikaru(adjusts his stance, gaze serious):"Good... because I don't go easy anymore."
(A moment of silence... then, like a spark, Kyoji launches first. He strikes rapidly, one blow after another, with newfound speed and fluidity.)
Kyoji(attacking fiercely):"I've learned so much… and my resolve is no longer fragile!"
Hikaru(blocking, ducking, turning):"You're talking more than usual..."
(Kyoji strikes from the side, forcing Hikaru to step back half a pace, then Hikaru responds with a vertical slash that slices through the air between them. Kyoji dodges, spins, and attacks from behind—but Hikaru anticipates it, leaping back.)
(The pace quickens. Wooden swords clash like thunder, and sharp breaths echo through the morning air.)
Kyoji(breathing hard, advancing):"I won't be your shadow anymore!"
Hikaru(flashing a brief smile):"Then show me!"
(Now Hikaru attacks, stirring dust with his speed—a high strike, then a sudden side slash that pushes Kyoji back. But Kyoji doesn't yield—he leaps and delivers a diagonal blow that nearly grazes Hikaru's shoulder.)
Hikaru(steps back, panting):"You've really changed..."
Kyoji(laughs mid-fight):"And I'm not done yet!"
(They strike simultaneously. The wooden swords lock in the center, their eyes and breaths close.)
Kyoji(quietly):"Thank you... for pushing me to grow."
Hikaru(pressing forward with his sword):"And I'm proud of you."
(Suddenly, Hikaru spots a slight hesitation—he spins swiftly behind Kyoji and taps his shoulder with the tip of his sword — the final strike.)
(Kyoji freezes, then laughs and drops to one knee in surrender, raising a hand.)
Kyoji(smiling, breathless):"Alright... I still have a long way to go. But I've never been this close to winning before."
Hikaru(offering his hand to help him up):"You were amazing. I'll be waiting... for the next round."
(They shake hands in the middle of the courtyard. The sun climbs higher, scattering its light over the earth marked by their footsteps, while the sound of clashing swords lingers in the air — a memory of the beginning of their true strength.)
(Then... a soft but distinct clapping breaks the silence. It comes from a shadowed corner near the training wall.)(A man in his fifties steps into view. His blond-gray hair dances with the breeze, his skin weathered by countless battles. He wears a pristine white armor — not ornate, but practical, heavy, and as if molded to his body. His stride is steady, his expression calm, but his eyes... carry a dormant fire that still glows.)
The Man(in a confident, warm voice):"What a fight... I could hear it from the far end of the village."
(Hikaru flinches slightly, hand instinctively moving to his wooden sword. Kyoji takes a step back, whispering, eyes wide:)
Kyoji(in a hushed tone):"I didn't sense him at all… no footsteps, no shadow."
The Man(chuckling softly, without menace):"Relax. I'm not an enemy… quite the opposite, really. I admired your spirit."
(He steps closer, stopping at a respectful distance, hands behind his back.)
The Man:"You're not beginners... but you're still at the foot of the ladder. I saw a rare seed in both of you… and I simply wanted to witness it for myself."
(He turns to Kyoji):"Your resolve is strong… but don't rely too much on defense. Sometimes, take the first step."
(Then, looking at Hikaru — his gaze sharp and deep.)
The Man:"And you… you're carrying a question that has no answer yet. But you'll find it… if you don't falter."
(He pauses, then turns quietly, walking away.)
The Man(his voice carries despite the distance):"When the time comes… I may extend my hand to you."
(Then he stops, glances halfway over his shoulder, half his face cloaked in shadow.)
The Man(his voice deeper, laced with an unspoken promise):"Until then… don't die."
(He vanishes into the forest path… as if he had never been there at all.)
Hikaru(looking at Kyoji, tense):"It felt like we stood before a master… or something more."
Kyoji(quietly):"And we may need him… sooner than we think."
— After Their Encounter with the Mysterious Man —(Hikaru and Kyoji left the training grounds once the tension of the moment had settled. The strange man had vanished as silently and mysteriously as he appeared. Neither of them said much about his presence… but the impression he left lingered, quietly, in their hearts.)
(They decided to take a walk, exploring corners of the village on this calm evening, while the cool breeze slipped through the alleyways, carrying the scents of fresh bread and burning wood.)
(In one of the open courtyards, Hikaru suddenly stopped. His gaze froze on a simple yet aching scene: children chasing each other, their laughter filling the air, while parents sat by the fires, smiling, wiping dust off their little ones' faces. Life here… was normal, innocent, warm.)
(Hikaru's expression slowly hardened. His breath grew shallow. Images danced in his mind: his grandfather teaching him how to hold a sword, his grandmother's laughter calling him at sunset, the face of an old friend in the fields—days now reduced to distorted memories after the destruction.)
(He closed his eyes, and the deep scar in his heart began to bleed again—without blood.)
Kyoji(noticing silently, then walking up to stand beside him):"Do you see them? I used to dream of living like that when I was little… without fear, without swords."
(Hikaru doesn't respond… his eyes fixed on the sky.)
Kyoji(with a gentle smile, suddenly throws an arm around Hikaru in a firm, unexpected hug):"But we're not alone anymore. Did you forget? I'm here, you idiot… we're family now, whether the world likes it or not."
(Hikaru is surprised for a moment… then his cold expression softens. His grip loosens, and a warm smile begins to form on his lips—like his heart remembered how to beat again.)
Hikaru(quiet but full of resolve):"Yeah… you're all I have now. You're my brother, my shield, and the memories still to come."
(They fall silent for a moment, watching the children who are still running around… but now, life seemed to be inviting them—not to run from the past, but to face it, together.)
(And as they continued walking through the village, which was slowly falling asleep under a blanket of peace, their steps carried a new weight… the weight of belonging, and the weight of hope.)