Kazuo PoV
Lady Amaya chuckled. "You just did pretty well." She paused, her gaze thoughtful. "I wonder if Raikū saw something in you that reminded him of himself as a youth."
I blushed. "I doubt that. Professor Raikū was so... confident. Charismatic. He could command a room with just a few words."
Raiki grinned and puffed his tiny chest out. "Like me, right?"
A smile crept over my face. He really was the spitting image of his father. "Indeed. Meanwhile, I can barely order tea without getting flustered."
He grinned between bites of his chicken. "Papa said you were one of the best students he ever had. He said your mind was like a library, and all you needed was the key to unlock it." The boy's directness was disarming.
My blush deepened. "He... he said that?"
"He did," Amaya confirmed, her smile softening. "He saw your potential, Kazuo. He saw your quiet strength and your dedication. He believed in you."
