The doors slammed open, by Ryo's hand.
He stood framed in the broken entrance, his blade already half-drawn, his sharp eyes sweeping over the wreckage, that had been the entrance.
Shattered glass and bodies lying on the floor because of a battle that had ended only moments ago.
The stench of blood still lingered in the air.
His voice cut through the silence.
"What happened here?!"
For a moment, no one spoke.
The air was heavy, pressing down on everyone in the room.
Kouji knelt on the cracked floor with his shoulders trembling, cautious again.
His lips moved, repeating the same two words over and over like a broken record.
"He's dead… he's dead… he's dead…"
Sora stood nearby, fists clenched at her sides. She didn't cry, but her gaze was distant and clouded with grief she refused to show.
Yumi was kneeling, her hands on her lap, where Kouji's head had been seconds ago.
The silence was broken by a voice that was neither cracked nor trembling.
"I didn't see everything," Yusei said, stepping forward.
His tone was calm, steady, like a blade that had never dulled.
"But someone came here. Someone powerful. He wasn't alone. They cut through the Association like paper. His aura… it wasn't just strong. It was above that. Even from where I stood, it crushed everything around him."
Kouji didn't react.
His fists slammed against the floor, once, twice, blood smearing across the tiles.
He kept whispering the words, as if saying them enough would make it undone, as if it was the only thing keeping his mind from breaking further.
"He's dead…"
Ryo's jaw tightened.
He'd seen them struggle before, but this time—this time it was different.
"Why was he here already?" Ryo thought. "I didn't even rest an hour before coming back. That speed… it makes no sense."
He turned to Yusei, his gaze sharp. "Who are you?"
Yusei met his eyes without hesitation. "I come from another Association district. I was sent here to recruit Ketsu. News of his victory in the dungeon reached us—we lost many, but many were saved because of him. My higher-ups thought he could change the balance in what's to come."
His hands flexed slightly at his sides. "But I didn't even get the chance before this happened."
Ryo's brow furrowed. He waved the talk away with a sharp gesture. "Put that aside for now."
His eyes cut to Sora.
Unlike Kouji, who had collapsed completely, Sora remained standing. Her face was pale, her hands trembling only slightly.
"Where is Ketsu?" Ryo asked, his voice quieter now. "He won, we should celebrate him?"
Sora's lips parted, but no words came. Her eyes fell to the floor. She turned her head slightly, as if unable to face him.
Ryo studied her, then looked back at Kouji—still whispering, still trembling.
Then he understood.
"…I see."
The words fell like lead.
"Ryo," Sora said without confidence in a sorrowed voice.
"What happened to your arm?"
"That's nothing, don't worry," Ryo answered, as he pulled out his phone and dialed quickly.
Kagami answered almost immediately.
"Ryo?" Her voice was faint but alert, noise of battle faintly in the background.
"Drop what you're doing," Ryo said, his voice was professional but taut with strain. "We need you back here. Something happened."
"I'm on a mission," Kagami replied. "I can't return in time. I'll call as soon as I can break free."
The line clicked off. Ryo lowered the phone unfazed.
Finally, he looked at everyone again. "Go. Rest. There's nothing more you can do here."
He turned to Yusei. His voice sharpened into command. "You. Follow me."
Yusei nodded once and silently followed.
As Ryo turned to leave, his eyes flicked to Kouji one last time.
The boy hadn't moved or spoken a real sentence.
Sora crouched beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kouji," she whispered, her voice soft but urgent. "Come on… please, stand up."
He didn't respond. His body was stiff, his gaze lost in some abyss.
So she looped her arm under his and pulled.
Yumi helped her to steady him.
He didn't resist nor did he help, but she gritted her teeth and dragged him up to his feet, half-carrying him toward his room. His head hung low, lips still moving with those same two words.
Yumi followed silently behind, her face pale as she sensed something inside him and left.
Sora took Kouji into his room and put him on the bed.
She walks back to the doorway and gives Kouji one last concerned look.
"See you tomorrow," she said and left.
The doors to Ryo's office closed with a heavy bang as Yusei stepped in after him.