Hiroshi (moving closer, placing his hands behind his back):
Where did you get this level of understanding?
Takero (bowing his head slightly with mysterious humility):
In-depth reading... and personal experiences.
Hiroshi (curious look):
Experiences? At your age?
Takeru (a look of confidence mixed with mystery):
"Some things cannot be learned from books... Professor."
[A moment of silence, suddenly broken by Riichi, his eyes wide]
Riichi (highly surprised, whispering to himself):
"Impossible... Takero?! But... he was badly injured! He collapsed in front of me after his fight with Naoko and Kurosaki...!"
[Ora speaks in his mind in a whisper]:
"His mana level... is still unstable. But he forced himself to come. Something is driving him to do this."
[Erica turns to Reiichi, then to Takero—realizing that something bigger is going on behind the scenes.]
Hiroshi (more interested tone, with a faint narcissistic smile):
"If you're interested, Takero... my research project needs minds like yours."
Takuro (closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them slowly):
"Maybe later... if this place is still standing by then."
[A fleeting look of surprise crosses Hiroshi's face. Then he laughs lightly.]
Hiroshi:
"Huh... you have a sharp tongue. Good."
[Then he turns his back to the blackboard, starts writing something incomprehensible—mathematical symbols and three-dimensional models—then stops, looks back at the students]
Hiroshi:
"Today's lesson is over... but what is starting now... is something that cannot be taught with letters."
[He slowly exits the hall, leaving everyone in shock. All eyes turn back to Takero.]
[The auditorium gradually empties, some students leave, whispers fill the room, but Reiichi does not move from his seat. His eyes are fixed on Takero, who is quietly gathering his things.]
Reiichi (slowly gets up and walks towards him):
"Takero..."
[Takuro turns around without emotion, as if he had been expecting him to come.]
Takuro:
"Reiichi..."
Reiichi (with a tone of hesitation and concern):
"What are you doing here? You... You were in a terrible state after the fight with Kurosaki and Naoko, so much so that you... suddenly disappeared."
Takero (looking him straight in the eye):
"I had to come back. There's no time for pity or hesitation. You know that yourself."
Reiichi (raising his voice):
"But your condition... Your body couldn't take it. Why take the risk?"
Takero (silent for a few seconds, then speaking slowly):
"Because I can't be late again... I can't be the weakest link."
[Ora speaks in Riichi's mind, in a calm voice]
"Riichi... The energy readings in his body are abnormal. There's something new inside him, something... reprogrammed."
Riichi (looking directly at him):
"Takero... Tell me honestly... Do you intend to join Hiroshi?"
[Takero slowly raises his eyes, looking into Reiichi's eyes without answering immediately. The silence lingers. Then he smiles a mysterious smile, it is unclear whether it is sarcasm or bitterness.]
Takero (in a low voice):
"Join... That word has many meanings, Riichi. Sometimes we don't choose our paths; our paths choose us."
Riichi (nervously):
"Answer me clearly. Hiroshi isn't just a researcher... He's willing to destroy everything to get what he wants. Are you going to join forces with a man like that?"
Takero (lowering his head slightly, then speaking without looking at him):
"Maybe I need to be close to him... to understand more. Or maybe because staying away is no longer an option."
[Ora whispers in Riichi's mind, in a low, warning voice:]
"Reichi... The fluctuations in his mana resemble the signature of an artificial nerve modification project. He has undergone some kind of change... but he still retains part of himself."
Reichi (taking a step back, whispering):
"He touched you... You're not the same as you were, are you?"
Takero (finally looking at him):
"And you? Are you still the same?"
[Then Takero calmly turns around and walks toward the exit. His steps do not signify escape, but rather the beginning of a mysterious path.]
Reiichi (watching him walk away):
"...I don't know yet."
Reiichi (thinking silently, while communicating internally with Aura):
"That wasn't the Takuro I know... His gaze, his voice, everything about him was... somehow distorted."
Ora (in a quiet inner voice, audible only to himself):
"Mana's analysis indicates deep external interference in his neural structure... Traces of behavioral modification techniques directly linked to Hiroshi's style."
Reiichi (clenching his fist discreetly):
"Which means he may have become his subordinate... or something worse."
[The auditorium doors suddenly open softly, and Erica enters with graceful steps. She gently arranges a strand of her hair as she looks at them.]
Erica (calmly, her eyes searching for an answer):
"I was looking for you. What happened? You seem distracted."
Reiichi (quickly recovering, smiling slightly):
"Nothing important... Just thinking about the question Hiroshi asked. It was... difficult, that's all."
Erica (approaching him and sitting next to him):
"That's not all, is it? You're not the type to dodge questions, and your facial expression doesn't hide anything."
Reichi (pressing a button on his glasses, speaking secretly to Ora):
"Ora, don't talk now. Erika is here, she can't know about you."
Ora (whispering):
"Understood. I'll continue monitoring silently."
Erika (watching his features intently):
"If you're hiding something... just make sure it doesn't blow up in all our faces later."
Reiichi (calmly, looking down):
"I'm just... trying to understand things. That's all."
[A moment of silence, during which the two exchange mysterious glances. Then Erika stands up and adjusts the collar of her jacket.]
Erica:
"We can't be late. The next class is about to start."
Reiichi (raising his eyebrows, in a calm tone):
"Ah... Actually, classes are over for today."
[A brief moment of silence. Erica freezes in place, then her eyes flash with surprise.]
Erica (staring at him):
"What?! They're over? When did that happen?!"
Reiichi (with a faint smile as he looks at his watch):
"About half an hour ago... I mean, when Hiroshi came in and messed up time and space, things got a little out of control."
Erica (taking two steps back, putting her hand on her forehead):
"Great... Great! I missed the chance to use my mirror on a new lecturer."
Reiichi (sarcastically):
"Your mirror doesn't need a lecturer... It needs a therapist after today."
Erica (winking at him with a half-smile):
"It works perfectly, unlike your mana center."
Reiichi (clenching his fist):
"Oh, you're starting to attack during break time?"
Erica (heading toward the door):
"Just making sure you're still alive after Hiroshi's question."
[Reiichi takes a deep breath and speaks internally.]
Reiichi (to himself):
"I don't know where things are headed... but at least there are still moments that make me feel human."
[Reiichi walks away from Erika, takes out his smartphone with a heavy sigh, looks at the screen, and presses the call button: "Ryoko."]
[The phone rings twice, then the line opens.]
Ryoko (in her usual voice, cheerfully):
"Oh, Reiichi-kun! You missed me already? Didn't you have enough breakfast this morning?"
Reiichi (in a serious tone):
"Ryoko... We need to talk. It's not a simple matter, and it's not appropriate to discuss it over the phone."
Ryoko (his voice gradually becoming serious):
"Hmm, I see you've switched from sarcasm to disaster mode. Did something happen during class?"
Reiichi:
"Hiroshi showed up... unexpectedly. He gave a lecture and started going over complicated information... and—"
Ryoko (interrupting him):
"Wait, Hiroshi? Himself? At the college?"
Reiichi (calm but tense):
"Yes. And he knew all the details... as if he were testing us all. And Aura... didn't intervene."
[A heavy silence hangs over the call for a few seconds.]
Ryoko (finally, firmly):
"Where do you want to meet?"
Ryuichi:
"Can you come to the roof of the old science building? No one goes there now."
Ryoko:
"Five minutes and I'll be there."
[Ryuichi ends the call, looks up at the slightly cloudy sky, then whispers:]
"What are you planning, Hiroshi? And why now?"
The stairs leading to the roof of the old science building. Reiichi's steps quicken, followed by Erika, who has noticed an unusual seriousness on his face...
Erica (breathing lightly):
"Reiichi... Why are you in such a hurry? Can you tell me what's going on exactly?"
Reiichi (hesitant):
"There's someone... You have to see for yourself. It will become clearer when we get there."
[They reach the door to the roof. Reiichi quietly opens it, and sunlight floods the cracked floor of the roof.]
[In the center of the space, Ryoko stands leaning against the metal railing, gazing at the horizon as the wind plays with his silver hair.]
Ryoko (without turning around):
"You're here, Reichi. And you brought an unexpected guest."
Erica (a little surprised by his early arrival):
"Ryoko...? Why did you ask us to come to this particular place?"
Reiichi (in a low voice):
"I asked him to come. What happened today... we need to understand it together."
[Ryoko finally turns around, a wry smile on his face, but his eyes shining with seriousness.]
Ryoko:
"This meeting wasn't for fun. Hiroshi is back... and this time, he's not just a conceited scientist, but something more... threatening."
[Ryuichi steps forward, grabs the edge of the railing, and sighs slowly.]
Ryuichi:
"He suddenly appeared as a professor, asking questions that no one knows the answers to, questions that only someone deeply involved in artificial intelligence would know."
[A moment of silence, broken by the wind blowing across the rooftop.]
Ryoko (closing his eyes):
"He's started to make his moves... as if this is just the beginning."
Erica (in a low voice):
"And that means... we're no longer just reacting... we're inside his game."
[After a moment of silence, Ryuichi turns to Ryoko, his gaze clouded with concern.]
Ryuichi (in a low voice):
"Ryoko... there's something else... Takero."
Ryoko (raising his eyebrows, looking away from the horizon toward him):
"Takero? Wasn't he injured in the confrontation with Naoko and Kurusaki? What's wrong with him?"
Reichi (looking down):
"He was at the last lecture... with Hiroshi."
Erica (surprised):
"What?! But he was in such a bad state! How could he suddenly show up as if nothing had happened?"
Reiichi (staring into Ryoko's eyes):
"Not only that... He answered Hiroshi's complicated question, which no one else knew. It seemed... as if he was cooperating with him."
Ryoko (lowering his voice and intensifying his gaze):
"...Does that mean he joined him?"
Ryuichi (shaking his head slowly):
"I asked him... He didn't answer clearly. He just gave me a vague look and said something ambiguous."
Erica (looking at Ryoko with concern):
"If what you say is true... that means Hiroshi has started forming his own cell within the college."
[Ryoko crosses his arms, his eyes darting around with slight nervousness.]
Ryoko:
"This isn't good... Hiroshi knows how to prey on those who are at a breaking point."
[Reichi tightens his fist slightly, but suddenly he hears Ora's voice whispering in his ear.]
Ora (in a low voice through his glasses):
"Be careful, don't say any more... Erika doesn't know about me yet."
Reichi (quickly recovering from his confusion and saying):
"We have to be more careful from now on... Maybe everything around us... is not what we think it is."
Ryoko (looking at him with understanding and a wry smile):
"You're finally starting to talk like a leader, not just a student."
Erica (looking at the two of them):
"I think we need to have a meeting soon... We don't know how long it will be before Hiroshi actually makes his move."
Ryoko (firmly, playing with his arm):
"Before you think about anything else, you need to go to the training hall. Don't let your fragile mana center be an excuse or a reason to hide behind."
Reiichi (fidgeting and trying to evade):
"But... training? Can't we just use mana directly in battle? Constant training... it might get a little boring."
Erika (laughing lightly):
"Ryoko, don't listen to him, he's just trying to get out of training."
Ryoko (with a wry smile):
"I don't care if it's boring, or even if it turns into a game of jump rope, training is what makes you able to face the nightmares that await you."
Reiichi (panicked, waving his hands):
"Nightmares? Wait! Are you saying I live in nightmares?"
Erica (smiling slyly):
"Oh, he means the monsters that appear when you fail in battle."
Ryoko (laughing and heading for the door):
"Enough talk, let's get moving, and don't forget to drink herbal tea before bed, it might help you sleep peacefully."
Reiichi (complaining):
"Herbal tea? Isn't there anything more manly than herbal tea?"
Erika (gently grabbing his shoulder):
"If you want to stay strong, you have to accept advice, no matter how strange it may be."
Ryoko (whispering to Ryuichi as he walks out the door):
"And if you don't go to training, I'll make the fragile Mana Center a story that will be told for generations... like a weak tiger."
Reiichi (sighs bitterly and calls out to them):
"Wait! Don't rejoice too soon, I promise I'll go... at least before I become a sad tiger."
Erika (laughing):
"That's the spirit I want to see."
Ryoko (smiling confidently):
"Come with me to the training hall where I practice. There you will learn the meaning of true seriousness, and your weak mana center will no longer be an obstacle."
Reiichi (hesitating a little, then smiling slightly):
"Well, it looks like I have no choice but to accept. I don't want to be a burden to you in the upcoming battles."
Erica (joking):
"That's the spirit. Let's see if you can keep up with Ryoko in the gym."
Ryoko (looking at Reichi defiantly):
"Get ready, it won't be easy, and I'll be expecting a lot from you."
Reichi (in a low voice to himself):
"At least this time there will be no excuses."
As the sun began to set, its warm rays began to seep through the windows of Miko's house, covering the room with a golden halo that hung over the atmosphere. At that moment, Ryuichi gathered with Miko, Natsumi, and Erika in the living room, where the conversation intensified after an eventful day.
Reiichi stood at the window, gazing at the sky that was beginning to turn orange-red, while Miko prepared a cup of tea in the kitchen. Natsumi was reviewing some papers related to their upcoming training, while Erika sat on the sofa looking at Reichi with a slight smile, reflecting her satisfaction with their meeting.
Reichi said in a calm but enthusiastic tone:
"Today has been full of surprises, especially after meeting Takero at the college. I feel like things are heading in a new direction."
Natsumi replied optimistically:
"Yes, we have to be prepared for whatever comes, especially with threats beyond our current capabilities."
Miko looked at them and said with a sweet smile:
"But don't forget, cooperation and teamwork are the secret to our strength. None of us can face everything alone."
Erika added energetically:
"And I'm here to make sure no one gets left behind."
Just as the sun began to set behind the horizon, the doorbell rang, and a slight silence fell over the room. Miko looked up at the door in surprise.
She said as she got up:
"Who could it be at this hour?"
She opened the door cautiously and was surprised to see Ryoko standing in front of her, frowning as usual, carrying a black gym bag embroidered with the training hall's logo on his shoulder.
Miko smiled and said:
"Ryoko? I wasn't expecting you now. Come in."
Ryoko entered with confident steps, nodding his head to greet everyone, then stood in front of Reichi, who was about to get up to greet him. However, his eyes quickly stopped at the bag hanging on Ryoko's shoulder, which aroused his curiosity.
Reichi asked him in surprise:
"What are you doing with that bag? Don't tell me you're..."
Ryoko interrupted him in a semi-serious tone with a slight smile on his lips:
"It's time to go to the training hall. I'm already late. From now on... you're coming with me."
Ryuichi's eyes widened and he said, confused:
"What? Now? Don't you see that it's..."
Ryoko raised his finger, interrupting him:
"There's no time for laziness. Your fragile mana center won't be cured by idleness. The real training starts now, buddy."
Natsumi laughed lightly as she put her teacup aside:
"You two never cease to surprise me."
Erica smiled calmly and said:
"Good luck, Reichi... Your body will turn into a pile of muscles if you continue training under this maniac."
Reiichi looked at everyone resignedly, then sighed as he hesitantly jumped to his feet:
"I guess there's no escape then..."
Ryoko replied sarcastically:
"Finally, you've decided to get serious about your life."
Then they headed toward the door together, amid light laughter from those present, and the fragrance of sunset bid them farewell with enchanting silence. And so began a new journey for Riichi... of a completely different kind.
In the silence of the evening, as Reichi and his companion Ryoko arrived at the training hall, the doors to another world opened before them... a world filled with the smell of determination and sweat, punctuated by the echo of iron weights and the sound of trainees' feet on the hard floor.
Reichi entered, scanning the place with his wide eyes. The hall was spacious with a light-reflecting gray floor, scattered with advanced equipment and energy pools for mana checks, as well as indoor battle arenas surrounded by protective energy fields.
The sounds of clashes, training shouts, and light music in the background... all created a lively atmosphere that ignited a spirit of challenge within.
Some trainees approached Ryoko, recognized him immediately, and waved to him admiringly:
"Ha! The monsters are back in the hall. Oh, who is this new young comrade?"
Ryoko smiled confidently and pointed to Reiichi:
"My comrade in the coming battles. Treat this boy kindly, for his mana center is as fragile as an eggshell."
Some of them laughed and greeted Reiichi warmly, while one muttered:
"It's okay, as long as he came with you, he must have something special..."
Reiichi felt a little nervous, but the warm atmosphere eased his tension. He looked around to take in the magnitude of what he had entered. This place was different... There was no room for the weak or the hesitant here.
At that moment, he began to feel a strange vibration... powerful... heavy, as if it were pulling the air around him.
He whispered in his mind:
"...What is this feeling?"
Suddenly, familiar words echoed in his mind. It was Ora, in a soft but firm voice:
"Reiichi... Don't go near that person... Their mana is abnormal... Deadly."
Reiichi looked up nervously and saw a man sitting in the far corner of the hall. He wasn't moving. His head was tilted slightly downward, and a white towel covered his head and shoulders. His massive arms were raised and resting on his knees, and his back was slightly arched like a dormant beast.
But his eyes, despite the shadows, were shining... watching Riichi steadily, as if searching inside him.
Riichi said to himself, swallowing the silence:
> "That person... what exactly is he?"