MAKISE: God damn, this... good-for-nothin' stain...

The evening sun is almost setting on an uneventful Sunday, especially at the Ishinara Residence, where everyone in the house is busy doing their weekend activities or their assigned chores.

Akari, the housewife, is in the kitchen as she prepares a few final touches to the cream stew she is preparing for tonight’s dinner.

Sitting near her at the dining table is her husband, Issei, quietly reading a bunch of days-old newspapers to catch up with the news.

Neyumi, the youngest of the family, is sitting in the living room, folding the laundry while watching a modern drama on the television.

MAKISE: Why can’t you just... go away...?

And cleaning the bathroom near the kitchen, all by himself while attired with a headscarf and rubber gloves is the eldest son, Makise, as he leans down to the ground, frustratingly working to scrub off a stubborn stain off the flooring tile.

MAKISE: God damn it! Clean, you stupid, son of a-

AKARI: Makise... shouting at the stain won’t help it go away.

MAKISE: Grr...

AKARI: And from the sound of it, you’re not cleaning it how I told you to.

MAKISE: What do you mean? I'm using this sponge that you gave me.

AKARI: With the baking soda?

MAKISE: Baking soda...? You didn’t say anything about any baking soda!

AKARI: I did. Three times.

MAKISE: You didn’t give me any at all-

AKARI: Look up.

He looks up from the ground and sees a box of baking soda on top of the sink.

MAKISE: … y-yeah, I know that! I’m just... trying something else so I don’t have to waste any-

AKARI: It’s a freshly-opened box, and we still got one more in the cabi-

MAKISE: Okay, okay! I got it!

He grabs the box from the sink with a deep, frustrated groan.

MAKISE: Why do I get to do the worst one...?

AKARI: You drew the short straw this time. And you can’t blame it on anyone else. They're all doing their chores, just like you.

MAKISE: Yeah, but Neyumi gets to watch TV when she folds the laundry.

AKARI: Oh yeah, that new show is on.

MAKISE: And she hardly does any work when her eyes are glued to the screen.

Sitting comfortably on the sofa with a mountain of clean, unfolded clothes in a basket on her right and a short stack of folded ones sitting next to her, Neyumi is fully fixated to the TV as it plays a drama show featuring a handsome man and a pretty lady embracing one another.

HANDSOME MAN: Oh, darling... the love of my life, the fire to my soul... how could I ever live without you?

PRETTY LADY: My love... the sparkle in my eyes, the air to my lungs... I will always love you, forever.

HANDSOME MAN: Darling...

PRETTY LADY: BUT... I have a terrible secret.

HANDSOME MAN: I will still love you, no matter what.

PRETTY LADY: I'm secretly...

HANDSOME MAN: …

PRETTY LADY: … in love with your FATHER!

HANDSOME MAN: Gasp!

PRETTY LADY: I'm sorry you have to hear this from me...

HANDSOME MAN: No... I understand. In fact... I, too, have a secret.

PRETTY LADY: What is it, my love?

HANDSOME MAN: I am...

The handsome man puts on a fake moustache.

HANDSOME MAN: … my FATHER!

PRETTY LADY: GASP!

NEYUMI: GASP! I did not see that coming.

AKARI: Neyumi!

NEYUMI: Ah!

Her mother calls her name from the kitchen-

NEYUMI: Yes?

AKARI: Are you finished?

NEYUMI: Y-yeah, I’m almost done!

-and she quickly goes back to working on the laundry.

AKARI: I should’ve told her to do it sooner.

MAKISE: And Ryuken likes to sort the trash. He always gets a kick every time it’s his turn.

AKARI: He knows what he’s doing.

Akari's face begins to somber as she starts thinking about Ryuken.

AKARI: He seems very tired recently...

MAKISE: He always looks tired.

AKARI: I don’t know... he’s been like this after he got back from his day out yesterday.

MAKISE: Did his favourite person in the world finally hurt his heart?

ISSEI: Yuugi likes to tease...

Issei speaks calmly from the dining table after taking a sip of water from his glass.

ISSEI: But he would never do anything to hurt Ryuken.

AKARI: Yeah... something else must have happened.

MAKISE: He's just going through his teenage phase. I'm still in it and it sucks.

AKARI: Hm...

MAKISE: And to top it off, I doing this stupid toilet-duty crap, and it sucks even more.

AKARI: Well, think of it as your punishment for stealing the sword.

MAKISE: I told you! It wasn’t me!

AKARI: Just put it back where you took it.

MAKISE: I CAN’T, cause I don’t have it! Why do you start to assume that I did it?

AKARI: Well, there was that time when you stole some candy from the sweets store.

MAKISE: I was just a kid!

AKARI: Or that one time when you stole that yoyo from the old neighbour’s son.

MAKISE: Th-that wasn’t how it happened...

AKARI: And that time when you stole your dad’s pack of cig-

MAKISE: Okay, okay! I knew what I did back then, but I didn’t steal it this time.

ISSEI: I believe him.

AKARI: Huh?

MAKISE: … you do, dad?

ISSEI: Yeah. I don’t think you’re lying this time.

AKARI: You think?

MAKISE: Yeah! Dad knows what’s up- wait... what do you mean, “this time”?

AKARI: It still doesn’t explain how it went missing.

ISSEI: Wanna hear what I think?

AKARI: Please don’t say it’s haunted.

ISSEI: I was thinking more on aliens, but never mind.

AKARI: Please take this seriously...

ISSEI: I am, but if it’s not Makise, then someone else must have taken it.

AKARI: Who else could it be?

…

RYUKEN: Yaaaaawn...

At the far end of the neighbourhood, Ryuken with a couple of trash-filled bags in his hands is walking to a garbage disposal station, where a bunch of burnable trash are neatly placed together under a blue hanging net.

As he lifts the blue net up to throw away the bags-

Kikikiki...

RYUKEN: Huh?!

-he hears a sharp and eerily familiar squeak out of nowhere, causing him to tense up in terror.

He frantically looks around his surroundings, trying the catch any glimpse of the-

Kikikiki...

RYUKEN: AHH!

He hears the noise above him and immediately looks up while bracing himself for danger-

Kikikiki...

RYUKEN: … uh?

-only to find a lone squirrel on a tree as it treats itself with a nut that it found.

Ryuken sighs exhaustively as he feels silly for getting scared too easily.

He proceeds to place his trash underneath the blue net and walks away feeling slightly embarrassed.

The streets are quiet and calm, with no car driving around on sight.

Ryuken keeps on walking through the peaceful neighbourhood as his eyes wander around, but not to enjoy the view.

He has walked these streets many times before and hardly encountered anything out of the ordinary, but today, he doesn’t feel safe as he used to.

His eyes look tense as he scans his surroundings for any strange movements in his sight.

His breathing gets heavier as he warily anticipates for any odd sound he could hear.

His hands tightly clasp together as his eyes dart at every corner he turns, making sure that there are no yellow eyes glowing from the shadows, waiting for him to drop his guard, ready to pounce at him when he least expect-

Meow!

RYUKEN: GYAAHHH!!!

Walking on a wall while crying out a soft meow is a stray cat as it passes by Ryuken, who just fell to the ground after screaming in horror.

With his bottom laying on the road, he looks up to the cat above him and feels awfully ashamed of himself after being genuinely terrified by a harmless meow.

He takes a deep breath to calm himself down and starts feeling somewhat grateful that it was just a cat that scared him, and not something greener.

Or anything else that seems... devilish than usual.

He gets up from the ground, brushes the dirt off his pants and continues to walk back to his home without trying to get any more paranoid.

Block after block through the still peaceful neighbourhood, he finally reaches the safe haven that is his house, proceeds to walk along the front yard and up to the front door.

As he was about to turn the knob, he hears the sound of a car engine and curiously turns around to see a black car arriving in front of his house as it parks on the side of the road.

Ryuken faces the car, wondering who would be visiting at this time of the day.

The rear door opens and out comes a young man in a suit with a stuffed sling bag on his side, greeting Ryuken with a friendly smile.

RYUKEN: Kenzaki-sempai?!

They both walk towards one another and meet in the middle of the front yard.

KENZAKI: Good evening, Ryuken.

RYUKEN: G-good evening... sempai.

KENZAKI: You look well.

RYUKEN: Uh, yeah... you too.

KENZAKI: Especially after yesterday.

RYUKEN: Ah?! Y-you knew?

KENZAKI: Mie told me about what happened. I'm glad to see you safe.

RYUKEN: Oh, I'm uh...

Ryuken’s eyes anxiously darts away-

RYUKEN: I'm glad to... still be here.

-as he tightly squeezes his left wrist.

RYUKEN: You came here just to check on me?

KENZAKI: I had some free time.

RYUKEN: Oh, t-thank you, Kenzaki-sempai.

KENZAKI: I’m also here to bring you something that might come in handy. Well... not as handy as I hoped for.

RYUKEN: What is it?

KENZAKI: You'll see. Is the sword in your room?

RYUKEN: Uh, yes.

KENZAKI: Do you mind? It won’t take long.

RYUKEN: Oh, uh... no. I don’t mind at all.

Kenzaki follows Ryuken as they walk towards the house together.

RYUKEN: What's with the suit?

KENZAKI: Oh, I... just came from a wedding.

RYUKEN: A wedding? How was it?

KENZAKI: The food was good.

…

AKARI: I told you to do one thing...

NEYUMI: But the show was getting good!

Akari sighs disappointedly at Neyumi as they both fold the rest of the laundry together in the living room.

AKARI: I thought you said you could multitask with these sorts of things.

NEYUMI: I'm telling you, if you watched the show, you would see what I mean.

MAKISE: Alright! I'm done!

Makise comes out of the kitchen to see his mother, breathing exhaustedly with a sweaty look on his face.

MAKISE: Where do I keep... pant... the sponge?

AKARI: What about upstairs?

MAKISE: You keep it upstairs?

AKARI: No, I mean the bathroom upstairs. Have you cleaned them too?

MAKISE: What?! You didn’t say anything about cleaning the ones upstairs!

AKARI: We do have more than one bathroom in this house.

MAKISE: I KNOW, but It’s almost nighttime. No one has time for that!

AKARI: I did ask you to do it earlier.

MAKISE: Yeah, but I was... doing something else!

NEYUMI: Just do it, Makise. The sooner you clean them, the faster you’ll finish.

MAKISE: Sound advice from someone who can’t do their chores on her own.

RYUKEN: I'm back.

Ryuken enters the living room-

AKARI: Oh, Ryuken. You're a little late than usua-

-with Kenzaki right next to him.

AKARI: Kenzaki?!

NEYUMI: Kenzaki-san!

MAKISE: The hell?!

KENZAKI: Greetings, everyone. It’s nice to see you again.

AKARI: It’s good to see you too.

NEYUMI: We miss you!

MAKISE: What do you want this time?

KENZAKI: I came here to see Ryuken for a bit. We have some work that we need to take care of.

RYUKEN: Y-yeah, he came here to do that... project thingy.

AKARI: Just for a short while?

KENZAKI: I’m afraid so.

AKARI: Not even for a quick meal?

KENZAKI: Thank you, but I'm saving my stomach for dinner tonight with my mom.

AKARI: Is that so?

KENZAKI: I did promise her earlier.

NEYUMI: Aww... you can’t join...?

MAKISE: Sounds good to me, and what’s with the fancy suit?

KENZAKI: I just came back from a wedding earlier.

AKARI: You look really handsome in it.

Kenzaki starts to blush from her compliment-

KENZAKI: Oh, uh... thank you.

-and lets out a small chuckle.

RYUKEN: … hmm...

ISSEI: Who's that I’m hearing?

Kenzaki hears a voice he’s never heard of from the kitchen.

AKARI: It's Kenzaki. Remember when we talked about him?

KENZAKI: Who's that?

RYUKEN: My dad. He’s back from work.

KENZAKI: Your dad? Well, I would love to meet-

Kenzaki’s eyes suddenly shot up before he could finish his sentence-

ISSEI: Oh, really? He's here?

-as he begins to feel an odd sense coming towards him.

ISSEI: So, this is the guy.

An adult man walks out from the kitchen and into the living room-

ISSEI: I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.

-walking closer and closer towards Kenzaki-

ISSEI: Enough to make me a little jealous, to be honest.

-until they finally face together, eye to eye.

He can feel the core within him softly quivering, but it’s not a sensation he is new to.

In fact, he is all too familiar with this peculiar aura emanating from him, as the man reaches his hand out for a handshake.

ISSEI: My name is Ishinara Issei. It's nice to finally meet you.

KENZAKI: Oh, um... my name is Tetsunouji Kenzaki. It’s good to finally meet you too.

Kenzaki firmly shakes his hand back while hiding his subtle shocked expression with a polite smile.

ISSEI: So, how did you two meet?

KENZAKI: Well, I... I mean, the student council were looking for someone who could help us with a project.

ISSEI: The one about the show, huh? Must be fun for you then, Ryuken.

RYUKEN: I... try to be of help.

ISSEI: What year are you now?

KENZAKI: I'm currently in my third year.

ISSEI: Really? Same as Makise. Same class too?

MAKISE: Who would ever want to be in the same class as him?

KENZAKI: We were classmates in our first year together.

AKARI: Really? You could have been friends, Makise...

MAKISE: Why are you looking at me like I made a mistake?

ISSEI: Student council, huh? What role are you there?

KENZAKI: I am this year’s student council president.

ISSEI: President! No kidding. What does it take to be one?

KENZAKI: I suppose, it’s all about building trust with the rest of the school body. To hold such a role requires the support of those around you.

ISSEI: I agree. Trust is key.

KENZAKI: And there’s of course, upholding any duties given to you. It can be difficult and demanding, but we do what we can to the best of our ability.

ISSEI: Nothing to do with grades or being popular?

KENZAKI: While those are great for boosting your image, but with the right ambition, I do believe anyone can take up the role.

ISSEI: Trustworthy, responsible and ambitious; that’s all it takes to be a perfect leader, huh?

KENZAKI: There is always more to learn for any leader, new or experienced, as no one is truly perfect.

ISSEI: Ahahaha!

Issei bursts out laughing in delighted surprise.

ISSEI: You’re fully prepared to be part of the family business, I see?

KENZAKI: Oh, I... don’t think I'm that prepared, frankly.

ISSEI: You don’t?

KENZAKI: I have still a long way to go before I... work for my father.

ISSEI: Ah... I understand. Even at our best, we can still get the shakes.

KENZAKI: … yeah... at my best.

ISSEI: I shouldn’t keep you for too long. You both need to do some work right?

RYUKEN: Uh, yeah... we’re just gonna be in my room for a while.

KENZAKI: If you don’t mind me, everyone.

ISSEI: Alright, boys. Go on.

Kenzaki leaves the rest with a kind smile just before he follows Ryuken up to the stairs.

KENZAKI: Your father seems nice.

RYUKEN: He's just... being my dad, that’s all.

Before they reach to Ryuken’s room, Kenzaki starts to ask some questions he is curious about.

KENZAKI: What does your dad do?

RYUKEN: He works for a shipping line.

KENZAKI: Huh... is he busy all the time?

RYUKEN: Um... busy as everyone else, I guess.

KENZAKI: Meaning?

RYUKEN: Uh, you know... normal office hours, like anyone.

KENZAKI: I see. Last time I was here, he was on a business trip, right?

RYUKEN: Uh, yeah. He was.

KENZAKI: How often does he go for them?

RYUKEN: Um... at least once every few months. Sometimes less than that.

KENZAKI: He goes out of town every now and then, I assume?

RYUKEN: Pretty much. He used to be busier when I was younger.

KENZAKI: Really?

RYUKEN: Yeah... we mostly see him on weekends, but now he’s at home more often, so that’s neat.

KENZAKI: … when did this start?

RYUKEN: Huh?

KENZAKI: Your dad getting less busy?

RYUKEN: Uh, I think maybe... 5 or 6 years ago.

KENZAKI: Hmm...

As they finally reach his room, Ryuken, with a questionable look in his eyes, turns to Kenzaki and notices him staring out in deep thought.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: … Kenzaki-sempai?

KENZAKI: Ah?

RYUKEN: Why do you-

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: N-nevermind. Well, uh, this is my room. So, um...

He opens the door and invites Kenzaki to his single standard-sized bedroom.

Kenzaki enters inside and sees a desk next to the door with a small stack of school books lined up on one side, an assortment of stationaries collected in a plastic pen holder, and in the middle of the desk is a closed notebook with a pen poking out from the inside.

Next to the desk, he sees a wooden shelf filled with an array of manga books from the bottom to the middle row and DVDs occupying the top row, an empty clothes basket next to it, his clothes cabinet opposite his shelf with a mirror attached to one of its doors and his school uniform hanging on another, his neatly made bed next to a window and a few posters of a children’s show taped into the walls.

RYUKEN: Sorry if it’s a little messy.

KENZAKI: Oh, no. Not at all.

Kenzaki turns to Ryuken and sees his face looking slightly anxious.

KENZAKI: Are you okay?

RYUKEN: Oh! Uh... I'm alright.

KENZAKI: You never had anyone else come into your room?

RYUKEN: I do. My friends had come here before. Maybe it’s because... you've never been in here, so I feel a little nervous about it.

KENZAKI: Don’t worry. I get it.

RYUKEN: Ah, yeah... so, you want the sword, right?

KENZAKI: If you please.

Ryuken crouches next to his bed so he could pull out the sword bag he hides underneath.

KENZAKI: Did you practice with the coin?

RYUKEN: Uh, yes... it’s going well, actually.

KENZAKI: Do you mind showing me?

RYUKEN: Uh, sure. The coin is... probably on the desk.

Kenzaki turns to the desk and scans around to find the coin, until he finally sees it near his books and grabs it.

He also notices a baby dragon plush sitting at the corner of the desk, as it quietly stares beyond with its red button eyes.

KENZAKI: Hm...

RYUKEN: Kenzaki-sempai.

Kenzaki turns back to Ryuken and sees him holding the katana sword with both of his hands.

KENZAKI: Thank you, Ryuken. Just put it on the bed for now.

RYUKEN: Oh, okay.

Ryuken puts it on his bed and turns around to see Kenzaki handing him the Spirit Coin.

RYUKEN: Oh... r-right.

He grabs the coin and places it on his palm, so he could show Kenzaki the results of his practice.

KENZAKI: Remember what I taught you.

RYUKEN: Uh... yeah.

Ryuken remembers what was taught to him when he first tried to raise it, but unbeknownst to Kenzaki, he has learned a different approach from someone else.

The coin on his palm slowly rises in a smooth and steady manner-

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: …

-until it finally stands upright on its edge.

KENZAKI: Wow! You got it! I knew you will get the hang of it.

RYUKEN: Ah... t-thank you, Kenzaki-sempai.

KENZAKI: I'm proud to see you have understood the basics of Spiritual Concentration.

RYUKEN: Y-yeah... j-just like you taught me! Haha...

KENZAKI: Now it’s time to show you how to apply the same basics to a different concept.

RYUKEN: Huh?

Kenzaki zips open the sling bag by his side as Ryuken curiously leans his head forward to see what’s inside.

KENZAKI: While spiritualized tools like the Spirit Coin can only react when Spiritual Force is applied to it, other tools react differently, depending on their intended use.

He opens up the bag-

KENZAKI: Some tools are planted with different powers and abilities.

-puts his hands inside-

KENZAKI: Some can create solid energy shapes from their Spiritual Force.

-pulls an object out of it-

KENZAKI: And some are used...

-and now holds in his hand-

KENZAKI: To hide its true form.

-a tall, yellow, 2-litre sized, stainless steel water bottle.

RYUKEN: A ... bottle?

Kenzaki walks to the bed where the katana sword lies peacefully.

He gets down on one knee and places the water bottle on top of the sword while still holding on to it tightly, and begins to close his eyes to quietly concentrate.

KENZAKI: …

A tiny sigil at the upper side of the bottle begins to light up, and at the same time, the circular dragon marking at the bottom of the sword’s sheath glows as well.

RYUKEN: … sempai?

He opens up his eyes, pushes the bottle downwards against the sword, and-

Poof!

-the sword disappears.

RYUKEN: Wha... what happened?!

Kenzaki stands up straight with the water bottle in his hand, which now has the dragon marking where the sigil was before.

RYUKEN: Where's the sword?!

Ryuken scans around his room, even under his bed as he desperately tries to find the missing katana sword.

RYUKEN: Wh-what did you to it?!

KENZAKI: I have it.

RYUKEN: What?

KENZAKI: It's right here.

Kenzaki points to the bottle in his hand.

RYUKEN: What?!

KENZAKI: The sword’s here.

RYUKEN: It's... in the bottle?

KENZAKI: Close enough. The sword IS the bottle.

RYUKEN: Huh...?

KENZAKI: This is no ordinary water bottle.

Ryuken confusedly stares into Kenzaki, who now holds the bottle sideways, channelling his Force into it-

KENZAKI: This-

-until the bottle swiftly changes into the sword in a blink of an eye.

KENZAKI: -is called a Shifter.

Ryuken witness the instant transformation before him in awe with his jaw wide open.

RYUKEN: Woah...

KENZAKI: Shifters are spiritualized tools that are made from common everyday items to conceal the true form of another tool, mostly used for hiding weapons like swords, clubs, shields, guns-

RYUKEN: Guns?!

KENZAKI: Yeah, guns. A very handy thing to have when you need to hide your alarmingly threatening or unusually large Spirit Weapons in public. You remember Tsuyuki’s Wind Spears, right?

RYUKEN: Oh! So... her pencils are Shifters?

KENZAKI: Correct.

RYUKEN: Kouga-san's gloves, too?

KENZAKI: Hmm... his Steel Gloves does use the same idea, but also different enough to be its own thing. Hard to say, since he builds them from scratch.

RYUKEN: He makes them?

KENZAKI: Yeah. Punching isn’t the only thing he’s good at.

RYUKEN: Woah... so, how do you do it?

KENZAKI: Same with the coin. You channel your Force from the Soul to your hand, but this time, flow it into the Shifter, so you could force it to change its form.

RYUKEN: Okay, so...

He stares into the sword and starts to think deeply on how it works.

RYUKEN: If I feel and think on... wanting the bottle to turn into a sword...

KENZAKI: Feel and think?

RYUKEN: Oh, I mean... if I just focus on the bottle, rather than focusing on the Soul and Force inside, it should still work, I think?

KENZAKI: Really?

Kenzaki tries to focus on the sword by itself to change its form, paying no attention to the Soul and Spiritual Force swirling inside of him, and to his surprise-

Poof!

-it actually works.

His eyes open wide in shock as he switches the Shifter to its bottle and sword forms repeatedly at a faster rate.

KENZAKI: Wow, that’s... so much easier.

RYUKEN: S-sempai?

KENZAKI: How do you find out about this?

RYUKEN: Oh, I uh... I was just, you know... I, um... p-playing around?

KENZAKI: Huh... that’s pretty amazing.

Kenzaki turns it back into a bottle again with a proud smile on his face.

KENZAKI: Seeing as you are right now, I shouldn’t have any worries teaching you the rest of the basics.

RYUKEN: Really?

KENZAKI: Yeah. I might teach you more than that. In fact, I could even teach you how to fight.

RYUKEN: F-fight?!

Ryuken’s face begin to sweat-

KENZAKI: I think it’s best that you learn some basic fighting techniques. If you ever got caught in another situation like yesterday, you could take care of them on your own, or hold them off just enough before we come to help.

-his legs start to shake-

KENZAKI: And with the Demon Sword in your hands, it could surely be useful in battle. I’m not so knowledgeable in them, but if they’re similar to Spirit Weapons, then I can probably teach you how to utilise its power.

-his hands begin to tremble-

KENZAKI: But a sword is still a valuable weapon to have, even if you can’t use its abilities. I know you’re still new to Kendo, so if you want, I can teach you some sword fighting techniques I know. What do you say, Ryuken?

RYUKEN: … that...

-his breathing gets harder-

RYUKEN: … pant ...

KENZAKI: … Ryuken?

RYUKEN: … that sounds... good...

-and his head feels lighter by the second.

RYUKEN: That's really... really goo-

Ryuken slouches downwards-

KENZAKI: Ryuken?!

-but manages to carefully sit on his bed.

RYUKEN: … pant... pant...

KENZAKI: Are you alright?

RYUKEN: Yeah, I'm- I'm fine. It's just...

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: I just need a second to...

KENZAKI: Are you sure you’re alright?

Ryuken was thinking of answering with the same words as before-

RYUKEN: …

-but at this point, it won’t do him much good to keep hiding it.

RYUKEN: … not since yesterday.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: Actually, I don’t think I've been alright since I... opened that thing.

Ryuken glances at the shifted Demon Sword Kenzaki holds in his hand.

RYUKEN: I haven’t been sleeping well in the past week. Every time I do, my head just keeps flashing to the sword, the Demon inside, the Stone Ape, and my dream... I'm starting to see it differently than I used to.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: But yesterday was... much worse. I couldn’t sleep at all. I just couldn’t. That feeling I had, when those Imp Lizards chased me... it won’t go away. I close my eyes to force myself to sleep, but I could still see them... all of them, charging at me.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: When they got to me. I really didn’t know what to do. I don’t know how to get out, until I saw Mie-san was inside it too, and for a moment, I was hopeful that she would get us out. And she did! But... those things keep pulling me back in.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: They all wrapped around me, trapping me real deep inside of them. I couldn’t see anything, or say something, or even move at all. It was very hot, very hard to breathe. I really thought that it was over for me.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: I don’t think I thanked Mie-san enough. She did more than just saved me from a bunch of green imps. And I know I don’t show it, but I really am... so grateful that she got me out of that swarm.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: But I also can’t help but feel bad, that she had to help me in the first place. I really wished I could do something to help, or anything so that I don’t have to rely on her or anybody, but I really have... no control to these kinds of things.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: I know this might sound silly, since I’ve... only faced two, and you’ve probably faced like, a hundred of them, but I really don’t think... me becoming an Exorcist would work out. I don’t think I could go on like how you think I could.

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: But I know that I need this! There’s a lot that I need to know! I need to know about the sword, about who’s in it, about who I am, or... what I am. But I'm also afraid that... that the truth may not be what I want to hear, and... I won’t be able to accept it. I... I...

KENZAKI: …

RYUKEN: I don’t know if I could be ready... for any of it.

Guilt.

Frustration.

Fear.

All these bleak emotions reflect in Ryuken’s eyes as he tiredly stares down beyond his bedroom floor, with no more words left to say.

No more words left to scream.

Kenzaki could only stand in silence while he listens to everything Ryuken wanted to say from his heart.

But now that Ryuken has nothing else left to let out, Kenzaki starts sitting down next to him, and joins him for a short moment of peace-

KENZAKI: …

-until he finally begins to speak.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: Do you mind if I... share something with you?

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: I didn’t come from a wedding today. I... met with my father earlier.

Ryuken curiously glances at Kenzaki when he corrected a lie he told earlier.

KENZAKI: I got a call from him yesterday, and he told me to come meet him... so I did. I woke up early in the morning, dress as nicely as I could, and move out immediately to where my father waited for me.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: I haven’t seen him in years, and I couldn’t tell what he wanted from me, but I told myself, that whatever he wishes for me, I would fulfil it with everything I have. I will be a good son, and do whatever he says. And, then he... told me to work for him.

RYUKEN: …?

KENZAKI: Not in a year, or in a month, or even in a week... he wants me to work for him immediately. And I've said this before, not just to others but to myself, that I am fully prepared to join my father in his growing empire and continue on his legacy. And then that day came, and I realize that... I wasn’t.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: The thought of becoming part of my father’s world in an instant, really... scared me to say the least. And all those years prepping for it, all that time anticipating myself for this day to come, they all just... disappear, the second it finally happened.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: I thought that, if had prepared myself more, if I knew that something like this might happen, I may have a better chance handling it. I may have a better shot in getting myself ready for it. But no matter how I do it, I still won’t be ready for any of it. Because the truth is...

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: No one is ever truly ready for anything.

Ryuken raises his head to meet Kenzaki’s eyes as they now both deeply stare at one another.

KENZAKI: You were never ready to be part of this world, Ryuken, and you never will be. This world chose you, and you desperately want to know why. I couldn’t imagine being welcomed to this kind of life through your eyes, but you should never feel alone, Ryuken. You are never alone in this.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: We were never ready to face the Stone Ape all by ourselves, and Mie was never ready to save you from those Imp Lizards, but we act as best as we can, to the best of our abilities. We could never do it as perfectly as we wished, but it never stops us from trying.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: Life is already full of risk at it is, but being an Exorcist escalates them even further. They could appear as wild, vicious creatures, the likes many could never imagine, and many aren’t willing to face. And sometimes... they could appear as one of us.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: I can’t assure you that you won’t meet these dangers if you seek for your truth, but I do know... that these are not dangers that you can’t fight against. I promise you, that this path will not be easy... but never impossible.

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: You should never feel ashamed to ask for help, Ryuken. You should never feel bad for not being able to do what others can. You need my help, and you will have it. I'll help you find your truth. I'll help you find the answers you seek. I'll do whatever I can to get you there, and once you do...

RYUKEN: …

KENZAKI: The rest is up to you.

Ryuken’s eyes glow in awe after hearing Kenzaki's emotionally-driven words, that not only gives him the hope he needs to clear his mind of the despair he suffers alone, but also shows him a side of Kenzaki he’s never seen.

To see Kenzaki being so open and vulnerable when he always looks strong and confident, especially after Ryuken himself broke in front of him as he couldn’t allow himself to bottle up his true emotions inside, was never something he could ever predict.

RYUKEN: I... did not expect you to say something like that.

KENZAKI: I didn’t expect it either.

RYUKEN: But, thank you... for sharing that with me. I know you have been supportive of me since this all started, but I never thought you would be... willing to go that far.

KENZAKI: I can’t promise that it would be a smooth journey, but I want to be there in every step of the way.

They both quietly smile appreciatively to each other, and in their silence, they could feel themselves understanding one another.

And through their understanding, their trust for each other strengthens, and their bond further deepens after one emotionally eventful day.

RYUKEN: Thank you, Kenzaki-sempai. I wasn’t thinking straight when I blurted out whatever nonsense that came out of my mouth. I guess I just... needed to let out some steam, once in a while.

KENZAKI: You’re not the only one who needed it.

RYUKEN: Hahaha, right. But, would you still have time to help me while doing your job?

KENZAKI: What job?

RYUKEN: Well, you know... what your father asks of you.

KENZAKI: Oh, don’t worry about that. Luckily, he gave me time until I graduate.

RYUKEN: Oh, that’s- that’s good!

KENZAKI: I'll still be here for a while. Definitely enough time to teach you what you need to learn. Which reminds me... here.

RYUKEN: Huh?

Kenzaki hands Ryuken the Shifter, inviting him to do it on his own.

RYUKEN: Oh...

Ryuken grabs the bottle and holds it tightly in his hand as he strongly focuses on transforming back into its original form.

And as soon as he thinks it-

Poof!

-he now holds the sword in his hand.

RYUKEN: Woah...

He does it again and now holds the yellow water bottle.

RYUKEN: Um... does it, uh...

KENZAKI: Hm?

RYUKEN: … does it come in any other colours?

KENZAKI: That's the only one of its kind.

RYUKEN: Oh... just one.

KENZAKI: You don’t like yellow?

RYUKEN: Eh... it stands out too much. Should I bring this everywhere I go?

KENZAKI: You can if you want. You can also fill it with water and drink from it.

RYUKEN: Wait, you can?

KENZAKI: Yeah, it’s a water bottle.

RYUKEN: Oh... I thought it's useless in this form.

KENZAKI: Not at all.

RYUKEN: Huh...

KENZAKI: I was hoping to get something smaller, but this is the best that Vinny could get.

RYUKEN: Vinny...? He’s helping me get into... Central, right?

KENZAKI: Yeah. Just wait a little longer.

RYUKEN: Okay. I just hope nothing happens till that day. I guess we could use that time to train, right?

KENZAKI: I guess we could.

RYUKEN: Hmm...

KENZAKI: Or not.

RYUKEN: Huh?

KENZAKI: How about this? I'll only train you, if you want me to.

RYUKEN: What?

KENZAKI: I know that I can’t teach you everything, especially in a short period of time. You’re going to learn most of it once you enter the Academy. So, this is my proposal. Whenever you want to learn to defend yourself against Demons, just ask for me and I’ll teach you what you need.

RYUKEN: Just ask for you?

KENZAKI: Anytime, anywhere. If you don’t feel like it, that’s completely fine.

RYUKEN: Wow, you’re... giving me a lot of power in this.

KENZAKI: I don’t want to force you to do anything that you don’t feel like doing. Whenever you’re comfortable, just come to me and I'll be ready.

RYUKEN: Then, is it okay if I... take tomorrow off?

KENZAKI: It's up to you.

RYUKEN: Oh, uh... what if I take the whole week off?

KENZAKI: It's up to you.

RYUKEN: Really?! Okay, I won’t do that. I’ll just take tomorrow off. Tuesday should be fine for me.

KENZAKI: Good. I'll see you on Tuesday, if you wish.

RYUKEN: T-thank you, Kenzaki-sempai.

KENZAKI: No problem.

RYUKEN: No, really, I- I can’t thank you enough. You're giving me a lot of freedom in this, and I don’t know if I deserve it, but... I really appreciate it. So... thank you.

Kenzaki cracks a warm smile-

KENZAKI: It is my pleasure.

-and Ryuken smiles back, as they both exchange a trustful look to one another.

Kenzaki sees the sun setting outside the window and cordially gets up to leave for home.

KENZAKI: I should be going home for now. It's been a looong day for me.

RYUKEN: Haha, alright. I’ll walk you to the door.

Ryuken gets up from his bed, opens the door and leaves his room, but not before petting the head of the baby dragon plush on his desk.

KENZAKI: Is that yours?

RYUKEN: Oh, yeah. I had it since I was little.

KENZAKI: It's very sweet how you pet it just now.

RYUKEN: Oh, you saw that?!

Ryuken’s cheeks start to blush red.

RYUKEN: I didn’t even realize I was doing it... quite a hard habit to break.

KENZAKI: Don’t be shy about it.

RYUKEN: I don’t even remember when I started it. Maybe I once thought that it’ll bring me good luck, or something.

Ryuken continues to walk away and leads Kenzaki to the bottom floor.

Kenzaki follows after, but before he leaves the room, he looks at the dragon plush one more time-

KENZAKI: …

-and pets its head.

Ryuken and Kenzaki reach to the ground floor and enters the living room to see Issei and Neyumi watching TV together while Makise tiredly lays his head on the couch.

KENZAKI: I will be leaving now, Ishinara-san.

ISSEI: Oh, you are? If only we had more time to get to know each other.

KENZAKI: Don’t worry, Ishinara-san. I won’t be going anywhere.

ISSEI: Don’t hesitate to come back again.

NEYUMI: Come back soon, Kenzaki-san!

MAKISE: I really don’t want this to be a normal occurrence.

KENZAKI: Thank you everyone for your hospitality. I wish you all a good night.

They exchange their goodbyes to each other before Kenzaki follows Ryuken to the front door.

As Kenzaki steps his foot outside-

AKARI: Wait!

Akari shouts from the kitchen before Kenzaki could finally leave, and comes out with a food box in her hand as she walks to them.

AKARI: Here.

KENZAKI: What's this?

AKARI: Some cream stew I've packaged for you. Please, take it.

KENZAKI: Oh, uh...

Kenzaki reaches his hand to grab the food container from Akari, and stares into it with a grateful smile.

KENZAKI: T-thank you, Ishinara-san.

AKARI: Don’t forget to have your mom try it, alright?

KENZAKI: Oh, I will! Uh... hold on just a minute.

Kenzaki walks to the car waiting outside by the road.

AKARI: Is he coming back?

Ryuken and Akari stand by the front door as they watch him talking to someone through the car window.

RYUKEN: He told us to wait.

They see a young, handsome gentleman coming out of the car while the car’s trunk opens.

NEYUMI: Who's that guy in the suit?

They see Kenzaki and the gentleman going to the trunk and opening up a blue box from inside.

ISSEI: Is that an icebox?

They see them closing the trunk as Kenzaki walks back to the house with a bag of goods-

MAKISE: Since everyone’s here, might as well.

-approaching the Ishinara family with an offering in return.

KENZAKI: Please, accept this gift.

AKARI: What is it?

KENZAKI: They're chicken skewers I bought earlier.

RYUKEN: Woah, really?

KENZAKI: They’re frozen, so you’ll have to grill them yourself.

AKARI: Oh, how wonderful! Thank you so much!

KENZAKI: You’re welcome. If you’ll excuse me, I should be going now. Have a good night, everyone.

ISSEI: You too.

AKARI: Take care!

RYUKEN: See you, sempai!

NEYUMI: Bye-bye!

MAKISE: Buzz off.

The Ishinara family happily wave their goodbyes to Kenzaki, who waves back at them with a gratified smile as he walks to the car for a ride home.

The young gentleman earlier waits for Kenzaki with a greeting smile as he opens the car door for him to enter.

ISSEI: Very fancy...

AKARI: Is that a butler?

RYUKEN: Wow, I think that is one.

NEYUMI: Wait, butlers are real?!

MAKISE: That can’t be a butler. He's not wearing a bow tie.

After they both got into their car, the Ishinara family watches them as they soon drive off from the neighbourhood to reach their final destination of the day.

ISSEI: …

AKARI: …

RYUKEN: …

NEYUMI: …

MAKISE: Alright... now that he’s gone, how about some of those chicken skewers?

AKARI: You know we’re having stew tonight?

MAKISE: Yeah, but the chicken skewers though...

AKARI: We'll eat them eventually. Just be patient.

RYUKEN: They do look really good.

AKARI: I wonder where he bought them.

ISSEI: They aren’t many places selling these here.

NEYUMI: He may have gotten them from the wedding.

MAKISE: What wedding serves chicken skewers?

They all go back into the house to spend the rest of the night together at home.

…

Alone in his own room, Ryuken is sitting at his desk, working on the rest of his homework before bedtime.

As he ponders for a while, his eyes glance at the bottle standing calmly on his desk on the left.

He thoroughly studies it from top to bottom and is fixated by the dragon marking on its side, the same one on the katana sheath.

RYUKEN: Hmm...

Knock! Knock!

RYUKEN: Come in.

AKARI: Hey, Ryuken.

Akari opens the door and meets Ryuken’s eyes with a loving smile.

AKARI: Homework, I see.

RYUKEN: Just a bit before bed.

She looks down at the desk and notices the water bottle below her.

AKARI: Huh...

She grabs it and checks it out of curiosity.

RYUKEN: Oh! That’s, uh-

AKARI: You bought this?

RYUKEN: Uh... y-yeah...

AKARI: Strange choice, but okay. Are you sleeping well?

RYUKEN: Uh, yeah... sure. Why?

AKARI: You seem very tired recently, and I'm just wondering if you’re alright.

RYUKEN: Y-yeah, I’m alright. There's a bunch of work at school... you know? Classes, clubs, and this project we’re- we’re working on, there’s just a... a lot that is happening nowadays.

AKARI: I see. It's good to see you be more active and spending your time with your friends, but... you do need a break from all these things from time to time.

RYUKEN: Well, I... am in a break right now.

AKARI: No, you’re not. You're still doing your homework, and I bet you’re still thinking about the other stuff in your head, right?

RYUKEN: R-right...

AKARI: Sleep is a good way to forget all about it till you wake up. It’s a little early than usual, but maybe it’s best to hit the blankets by now.

RYUKEN: Y-yeah... I’ll try.

AKARI: If you want, I can whip up some warm milk to help you sleep.

RYUKEN: Do they really work?

AKARI: Sure, they work. They all say it does.

RYUKEN: Who's “they”?

AKARI: The people from the TV and magazines. They seem to know what they’re talking about.

RYUKEN: Right... but that’s okay, mom. It's not really a big deal or anything.

AKARI: Of course, it’s a big deal. My son’s not getting enough sleep. That alone can leave me up at night just thinking about it, aside from the missing sword.

RYUKEN: The- the sword?

AKARI: Yeah... I don’t know where it is now. I don’t know who took it or what happened to it. I assumed it was Makise, but it was wrong of me to accuse him at first.

RYUKEN: I mean... it makes sense why you would.

AKARI: I guess... you happen to know anything about it?

Ryuken sweats nervously as he quickly glances at the bottle in Akari’s hand.

RYUKEN: I... I don’t, actually. Sorry...

AKARI: Don’t be sorry. It's not like you have anything to do with it.

She calmly places the bottle on the desk, and as Ryuken quietly gazes onto it, Akari concerningly looks back at him.

RYUKEN: …

AKARI: Ryuken?

RYUKEN: Y-yes?

AKARI: Is there something on your mind?

RYUKEN: N-no, actually. I'm fine.

AKARI: If there’s anything you want to share, I’m all ears.

RYUKEN: I- I know, but I'm good.

AKARI: …

RYUKEN: …

AKARI: Ryuken, I know you don’t want to bother me with your day or how you’ve been, but... you shouldn’t feel bad if you want someone to listen to you.

RYUKEN: … I-

Ryuken hesitates to say what he has been keeping from her, knowing well that it isn’t something she can comprehend.

AKARI: …

RYUKEN: … I just don’t think that you’ll...

AKARI: That I won’t understand?

RYUKEN: Um...

AKARI: That's why I’m here for. To understand.

RYUKEN: … I-

AKARI: …

RYUKEN: I don’t feel like... I could share it right now.

AKARI: …

RYUKEN: Maybe one day, but... not tonight.

AKARI: … okay.

Akari looks defeated, wanting him to open up to her, but wouldn’t want to force it out without stressing him further.

AKARI: I'll be back with the milk, okay?

RYUKEN: Ah... alright, mom.

Akari closes the door behind her and is on her way to prepare a simple remedy for Ryuken to sleep.

Even though he has voiced out his mind to Kenzaki earlier, there are still some truths he has yet to reveal to anyone.

Not just to his mother, but to everyone he knows and cares for in his life.

He stares deeply into the concealed katana sword standing on his desk, wondering if he will ever show its true colours, or won’t ever unveil its reality till the end of his days.

…

The moon hides in the cloudy night sky above the town plaza of Senko Street.

What was a bustling place filled with visitors and shoppers to spend their weekend with their family and friends, has now quieted down to a whimper as the shops begin to close down for the night.

Walking along the near-empty plaza are four delinquent teenagers, simply roaming around with nowhere to go.

GURISU: Oi, Rin.

A heavy young man with large sunglasses and a black motorcycle jacket over his uniform, calls out his friend while sleekly combing his thick, black pompadour hair.

KIRIN: What do you want...?

A tall, slender, bald young man with some piercings on his face while wearing a yellow hoodie and baggy jeans, turns to Gurisu with an annoyed look across his face.

GURISU: Which one you like?

He faces Kirin and tilts his sunglasses at him.

GURISU: This?

He takes off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of prescription glasses underneath, and puts on a different yet similar-looking sunglasses.

GURISU: Or this?

KIRIN: Dude, I dunno! They both look the same!

GURISU: No, this one has gems at the end of them.

KIRIN: So?

GURISU: They cost 5000 more yen than the other one.

KIRIN: Dude... even with a billion yen, it won’t make your face less punchable.

GURISU: It’s not like you can throw a decent punch.

Kirin sneers furiously from Gurisu’s insult and begins to yell-

KIRIN: What did you say t-

-but Gurisu turns away to seek another opinion.

KIRIN: H-hey!

GURISU: Oi, Myuto.

The shortest of the four, covering his face with a surgical mask and an orange cap on his head, quietly listens to his music with a pair of big headphones covering his ears.

MYUTO: …

GURISU: Which one you like?

Myuto bops his head to the beat of the music.

GURISU: Oh, what about this one?

He bops his head again.

GURISU: But this one’s cheap, though...

He bops his head again.

GURISU: Ehhh? Are you sure?

KIRIN: HEY!

Kirin sucker punches Gurisu in his large, thick stomach-

GURISU: …

KIRIN: …

-but it doesn’t seem to be effective.

KIRIN: Can you at least pretend that it hurt?!

GURISU: Huh? Wha- what happened?

KIRIN: Stop making yourself look like a wannabe biker leader! No lady would ever want to date your fat ass.

GURISU: Says the guy who gets piercings just to look mean! Might as well tape a crowbar on that shiny head.

KIRIN: Blind Bat!

GURISU: Skinny Bones!

KIRIN: Slimy Pig!

GURISU: Lanky Wimp!

TAKU: SHUT UP!!!

They both stop arguing after being yelled at by their leader, Taku, with long, bleached blonde hair and wearing a red bomber jacket over his uniform, who now is madly pissed off by his two lackeys behind him.

TAKU: Just shut the hell up! My ears are bleeding just from your breath alone! Sigh... I can’t believe I'm stuck with you guys tonight.

KIRIN: Why aren’t you with Mai?

TAKU: … we broke up.

KIRIN: Again? You couldn’t even last a day together.

GURISU: Aw, man... I was just about to ask you to hook me up with her friends.

KIRIN: With a hair like that, not even a fly would land on you.

GURISU: Hey! I'll have you know, that my handsome, luscious hair is a certified, bona fide, chick magnet!

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Gurisu quickly glances at a sudden pretty sight in the corner of his eye.

GURISU: Speaking of chicks... blonde bombshell, 2 o’clock!

They all turn to their right and sees a beautiful young girl with long, wavy golden-blonde hair in a black trench coat that covers up her whole body, walking in the opposite direction in her black high heel boots as it makes a sharp clack with every step.

GURISU: Damn... she’s really hot!

TAKU: How old is she?

KIRIN: Is she a foreigner?

MYUTO: …

GURISU: Yo, Rin! Watch and learn...

KIRIN: You really wanna try your hands on her, Risu?

GURISU: I better before Taku gets to her.

TAKU: Nah... I'm not into blondes.

KIRIN: Isn't Mai blonde?

TAKU: Hmm...

GURISU: Now, you will witness how a REAL man, charms a lady...

Gurisu walks away with a confident smirk on his face, taking his shot to hit on the lone blonde by himself, while the rest of them watches him from afar.

Taku stares blankly with his hands in his pocket.

Kirin worriedly shakes his head with his arms crossed.

Myuto quietly cheers for him with a supportive thumbs up.

Gurisu walks up to the blonde girl and follows her by her side.

GURISU: Hey, baby... what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?

BLONDE: …

GURISU: I have a feeling you’re new here. I can you show to the best places this town has to offer.

BLONDE: …

GURISU: Me and my friends over there knows how to take care of someone as beautiful as yourself.

BLONDE: …

GURISU: Just follow us for the night. Get a few drinks, sing some songs, take our time to know each other...

Not a word he said has stopped the girl from walking as her eyes are locked in straight ahead.

BLONDE: …

GURISU: Uh... hey, wait!

Gurisu quickly catches up to her and grabs her left shoulder with his right hand.

GURISU: Come on, sweetie... just a few drinks won’t hurt. It'll be fun, I swear!

The girl gently lays her right hand on Gurisu’s hand-

GURISU: Oh! I know you’re into it. I can tell. Damn, your hands are sof-

-and breaks his fingers.

CRACK!

GURISU: GYAAAHHH!!!

As soon as she lets go of her tight grip, Gurisu falls to the ground on his back, shakily holding his right hand in pain as tears start flowing down on his plump cheeks.

MYUTO: …?!

TAKU: Gurisu?!

KIRIN: RISU!!!

The three of them rushes towards their injured friend as he loudly sobs in pain.

KIRIN: Risu! What happened?!

GURISU: My... my... sob... my fingers...!!!

TAKU: Wh-what did she do?

KIRIN: We gotta get him to the hospital. Myuto!

Myuto holds up his phone with a dialled number on it.

KIRIN: Good. Let’s find you some ice before the ambulance comes. Oi, Taku! Help me out!

Taku quietly stares at the girl as she calmly walks away without looking back.

TAKU: … what the hell?

KIRIN: Taku!

TAKU: Ah?!

KIRIN: Come on! Help me out here!

Taku, Kirin and Myuto work together to lift Gurisu up on his feet, but they find it difficult to do so.

MYUTO: …!

KIRIN: Come on, Risu!

TAKU: Get up!

GURISU: But my fingers...!

KIRIN: Are your legs broken, fat ass?!

Far away from the loud cries of a rejected broken-fingered “ladies’ man”, the blonde girl in the black trench coat keeps on walking, as her high heel boots loudly step on the ground with a sharp-

Clack! Clack! Clack!

End of Chapter 23