The dojo smelled faintly of smoke and sweat the morning after the battle. Broken beams and cracked tiles still bore witness to the chaos that had unfolded in Z-City. Villagers busied themselves repairing the barricades, whispering about the fight. They spoke of Bang's unmatched grace, of Renji's fearless strikes… and of Kaizen, whose fists had cracked a monster's armor as though forged of lightning.
But there was another layer to their whispers. A hesitation. A chill. They had seen his distorted aura, if only for an instant. Some swore the boy's eyes had burned with something not human.
Inside the dojo, Kaizen sat cross-legged, fists resting on his knees. He tried to meditate, to drown the storm in silence, but the memory of the battle refused to fade. The sound of cracking carapace, the distortion in the air, the tremor in Renji's glare it all gnawed at him.
Bang entered quietly, his steps light but purposeful. The old master carried a tray of tea, setting it down before kneeling across from Kaizen.
"Your form last night was sharp," Bang said. "Precise. You listened when I told you to flow together."
Kaizen opened his eyes slowly, meeting his teacher's gaze. "But I almost lost it."
Bang's silence was answer enough.
"I felt it, Master," Kaizen continued, voice tight. "If I hadn't forced myself back… I don't know what I would've become."
Bang studied him carefully, his calm expression betraying the weight of his thoughts. "Power is not the problem, Kaizen. Control is. What I saw last night was not weakness it was a boy holding back a flood with his bare hands."
Kaizen's fists clenched. "What if the flood breaks?"
Bang poured tea, his hands steady. "Then we will face it. Together."
But the steel in his voice did little to mask the doubt in his eyes. Kaizen noticed. And it cut deeper than any claw.
In the training yard, Renji slammed his staff against a post, over and over, sweat dripping down his brow. Each strike echoed with frustration more than practice.
When Kaizen entered the yard, Renji froze mid-swing, his grip tightening.
"You shouldn't be here," Renji said flatly.
Kaizen frowned. "This is the dojo. I belong here as much as you do."
Renji turned, staff still in hand, his expression sharp. "Do you? Last night I saw you. Don't try to deny it you almost lost control. If Master Bang hadn't spoken, if you hadn't reined it in…"
Kaizen's chest tightened. "I didn't lose it."
"Not this time," Renji shot back. "But what about next time? Or the time after that? How long before you stop holding back and start destroying everything around you?"
Kaizen's fists trembled. "I'm not your enemy, Renji."
Renji stepped closer, eyes burning. "Then prove it. Prove you can control it or leave before you get one of us killed."
The air between them bristled, tension thick enough to snap. For a heartbeat, Kaizen almost let the storm flare, just to silence Renji's accusations. But he swallowed it back, forcing a long breath.
"Believe what you want," Kaizen muttered, turning away. "I'll prove myself to Master Bang… even if I never prove it to you."
Renji's grip tightened on his staff, but he said nothing. Only the cold weight of distrust lingered in his eyes.
That night, the dojo lanterns flickered weakly against the dark. Kaizen lay awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying Renji's words.
Leave before you get one of us killed.
The storm inside him swirled with doubt, louder than ever. He pressed his hands over his face, wishing he could tear it out of himself, wishing he could be normal.
A faint sound broke the silence the creak of the outer gate.
Kaizen sat up, heart pounding. He slipped quietly into the courtyard, eyes scanning the shadows.
"Who's there?"
No answer. Only the night breeze.
Then, from the far wall, a figure stepped into the moonlight. Tall, lean, wrapped in ragged clothing. Silver hair shimmered faintly, and a grin stretched across his face.
Kaizen froze.
Garou.
"You fight well, kid," Garou said casually, as if stepping into someone else's dojo at midnight was the most natural thing in the world. "Saw you take down that crab last night. Impressive for someone so… young."
Kaizen's fists clenched, though the storm inside him stirred in ways he didn't understand. This man's presence wasn't like a monster's. It wasn't like Bang's either. It was something else wild, predatory.
"You shouldn't be here," Kaizen said cautiously.
Garou chuckled. "Neither should you, storm-boy."
Kaizen stiffened.
"Oh, I saw it," Garou continued, stepping closer, his grin widening. "That little flash of power you tried to hide. It was beautiful. Terrifying. A storm trying to break free. And you trying to choke it down. Why?"
Kaizen's heart raced. "Because if I don't, it will destroy everything."
Garou's eyes gleamed. "Or it could destroy everyone who deserves it. Heroes. Monsters. Doesn't matter. Power like yours doesn't belong in chains."
Kaizen shook his head. "You're wrong. Master Bang is teaching me to control it. To use it the right way."
At the mention of Bang, Garou's smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of disdain. "Bang. Always trying to tame what should never be tamed. I know him better than you, kid. He'll keep you in a cage until you're just another obedient dog."
Kaizen's breath caught. "You… know him?"
Garou smirked. "Better than you ever will. I was his student once."
The revelation hit Kaizen like a blow. Garou Bang's student? The pieces clicked. His skill, his presence, his obsession with strength.
"Why are you here?" Kaizen demanded.
Garou's grin returned, sharper now. "To watch. To wait. To see how long you last before that storm rips you apart. And maybe, when the time is right… I'll be there to make sure it does."
He stepped back into the shadows, vanishing as suddenly as he had appeared.
Kaizen stood frozen, heart hammering, storm raging louder than ever.
When dawn came, Kaizen told no one of Garou's visit. Not Bang. Not Renji. The weight of it pressed down on him, heavier than the storm itself.
Because deep inside, he knew Garou was right about one thing.
The storm wasn't meant to stay caged forever.