Don't waste tears on me. Carry forward... Live.
Kaijou jolted awake, sweat soaking his sheets. His mother's memory clawed at him—bitter, raw.
Then—black. Not darkness. Blocked. His vision refused to obey. His chest tightened, lungs straining.
Something's here.
Kaijou, is it?
The voice wasn't foreign. It was his own—warped, smug, dripping with amusement.
"What the hell? Who's there?"
Relax. It's me. Shibuma. Your resident alter ego. Born from your mom's death, your pain, and your… occasional incompetence.
Kaijou grimaced. "Born from my mom's death? Charming."
Don't flatter yourself. I'm just here to keep your brain from snapping. Think of me as the GPS in your idiot body.
"Wonderful," Kaijou muttered. "An unsolicited roommate in my head."
At least I'm entertaining. And maybe a little deadly.
He stepped into the sterile cafeteria, scanning the rows of Ascendants. Some familiar. Some strangers.
I need to unite them against Yamada.
Shibuma chuckled. Uniting? Cute. You've got a Messianic streak, Kaijou, but actions have consequences. Cause and effect. Always.
"Oh great," Kaijou whispered under his breath. "Now I've got a critic narrating my life."
Am I wrong?
Kaijou sat, tearing at the bread on his tray. "…Technically no. There's truth in your words."
See? I'm brilliant.
"Lucky guess."
A tap on his shoulder froze him.
"Hey." Hayami's voice. "Are you okay?"
"Uh—Hayami. I'm fine. Why?"
She crossed her arms, eyes sharp. "You've been talking to yourself for minutes. Did you lose it or something?"
Kaijou forced a laugh. "No, no. Just… tired. Don't worry."
Inside, Shibuma howled. She's catching on! Idiot!
Kaijou's smile stiffened. Shut up, Shibuma. If you were here, I'd punch you.
Where's the fun in that? Think of me as your personal Sora.
Kaijou's eyes narrowed. "First, I don't like him. Second, I'm nothing like him. And third—how the hell do you know about Sora?"
Easy. I swim in your memories, genius. I know everything you know.
Kaijou sighed inwardly. Perfect. No privacy. Ever.
Nope. But hey, at least you'll never be alone.
At another table, Hayami leaned toward Bakura. "Bakura-kun… I think Kaijou's losing it. He keeps talking to himself. Doesn't it feel… wrong?"
Bakura shook his head. "He just lost his mother. Let him cope how he wants. He'll find his footing."
Hayami exhaled. "Maybe I overreacted."
Bakura's gaze lingered on Kaijou. "We don't understand him yet. But let's give him a shot."
Hayami's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yeah. I believe he'll get us out of here. And we'll stand by him when he does."
Kaijou sat idly, staring at his tray. "Will it really be okay? Will I even survive this place?"
For once, Shibuma went quiet. Then, softly, Hey. Don't sink. We'll win this—for you.
And those two? Hayami and Bakura? They care. They'll be there when you need them.
Kaijou's eyes flicked to the pair, then down. "…I guess they're… friends."
Exactly. Friends. Precious treasures most never notice. But remember, Kaijou—diamonds are treasures too.
And diamonds cut deep.
A voice cut through the room. Yamada, calm and public, through the speakers.
"Ascendants. You have shown… remarkable progress. Time for your final test."
A pause. Smiles can be heard. "I introduce the Ascendant's Gladiator Test. Only the strongest will be released."
Murmurs snaked the room.
"Freedom is your prize," Yamada continued. "Succeed by surviving your peers. Fail and remain useful."
Kaijou felt the chill. Hayami's fists clenched.
"How ironic," she said. "He built us as weapons and now markets our blood for a puppet."
Kaijou's eyes tracked her. "Not wrong. Not fully right. Yamada will bait the strong. The prize will be a trap. He uses every force to break and remake his best asset."
Bakura thumbed his jaw. "So his eyes are on you and Sora. The two everyone fears."
Correct.
Hayami glanced toward Sora. "We should talk to him."
Kaijou shook his head. "No. He won't listen. His group drinks chaos. Satou stirs minds. Suki clings and manipulates. They don't care about being used. They want their own victories."
"To control them? Impossible. They don't bend. They take." Kaijou's voice was cold.
Bakura's face hardened. "Then what do we do?"
Kaijou watched a shaft of sunlight slant through a hole above. It cut the dust like a promise.
"We become what they are not. We show them reason. We show them why control can be broken."
Sora appeared with Satou and Suki. The air narrowed.
"Ah, Kaijou," Sora said, sweet as a blade. "Welcome back. How was Kaede's death for you?" Malice sat under the words.
Bakura balled his hands. Hayami's eyes flashed.
Kaijou stepped forward until he stood toe to toe with Sora. "Terrible," he said. "But I'm not the only one who lost something."
Sora's smile thinned. "And what does that make you?"
"You listen when your name is called," Kaijou said. "You're all ears for a master's reward. You chase the gift Kaede gave us."
Satou's grin flexed. Suki's pupils widened.
Sora's face cleared to unreadable. "You lost someone dear. You still stood. I will break you. You and everyone who follows you."
Kaijou didn't lower his eyes. "Try. I'll stand to prove you wrong. You'll keep trying to make me fall. We'll see who breaks first."