Meanwhile, the Kouhei Faction slowly slipped back into their rhythm. The chaos from the Nagano Family's attack had shaken them, but now, life seemed to have returned to a kind of normalcy. The air in the estate felt calmer, lighter—as though the tension had finally lifted.
Out in the courtyard, Kouhei was locked in training with Aria.
The clash of steel and the sharp sound of air splitting echoed around the space. Kouhei swung his sword in a clean arc, cutting through the air straight toward her. Aria's body bent smoothly, ducking low in one fluid motion, her hair brushing the air as she evaded. But Kouhei didn't hesitate—he immediately followed up, twisting his grip and driving his sword upward in a rising slash.
Aria's body reacted instinctively. She pushed off, leaping back with a gymnast's grace, her legs spreading midair in a perfect split as the blade carved through the space she'd just been in.
