The dojo air clung thick with sweat and old wood. Ryo wiped his forearm across his brow, breath ragged. His knuckles throbbed where he'd misjudged the dummy's counterweight. Again.
Yua leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, watching like a hawk that had already decided he was bad at being prey.
Yua: "Your stance is still trash."
Ryo shot her a glare but didn't argue—she wasn't wrong. Without his blade (still in pieces after last week's disaster), every movement felt off-balance, like fighting with one arm tied behind his back. He rolled his shoulder and reset. "So what? I make up for it with raw stubbornness?"
She snorted and pushed off the wall, stepping into the training space like it bent around her presence alone—no wasted motion, no hesitation. "Stubbornness gets you killed faster if you don't pair it with this." She tapped two fingers to her temple before dropping into a stance so fluid it looked effortless—knees slightly bent, weight centered between both feet as if gravity owed her a favor for bothering to acknowledge it existed at all… That was Anchor done right...
Ryo mirrored her pose—or tried to—but even he could tell something about him still screamed "teenager faking competence." Yua exhaled sharply through her nose before walking over without warning… and kicked his foot further apart!
Yua: "Wider."
She pressed down on his shoulders until they aligned properly beneath an invisible line only Hunters seemed able see then stepped back just as abruptly leaving him standing there feeling oddly adjusted... If she noticed how warm suddenly ears got she didn't mention thankfully instead opting inspect nails instead while casually dropping next lesson bomb-
Yua: "Also your world isn't some free playground."
A beat passed between them filled only by distant cicadas outside Dojo windows.... Then -
Ryo blinked twice before processing that sentence fully: ….What.
He turned head slowly toward where now examining wooden training sword rack pretending very hard not be avoiding eye contact when really?? After weeks of dodging direct questions about anything deeper than basic Seishu mechanics??? Now???? Here???
But true form Tsundere Master YUA remained steadfastly committed.
Ryo, carefully... : Okay…?
Yua: "...There are Hunters who fall to being something called 'rogue'."
Ryo blinked—not just once but like his eyes had started buffering—before blurting out something really smooth.
Ryo, eloquently... : "Uh… what."
Yua actually cracked a smile at that and for a second he swore he saw the ghost of a laugh-line crinkle near her eye before she went poker-face again.
Ryo: Can you repeat that one more time?
Yua: "Not hearing impaired here. Pay attention."
Ryo resisted urge to throw something at her. Instead, he tried again, a little slower this time.
Ryo: Explain, please. What do you mean by 'rogue.'
Yua finally met his gaze straight on with the same level of intensity one might reserve for a particularly interesting speck of dust on wall before finally deigning to elaborate with all grace of a cactus.
Yua: "Hunters become rogues when they... exceed standard protocol. They stop seeing the greater picture and focus on their own goals."
Ryo (still processing): Is that... bad?
Yua (dry, slightly condescendingly): "Of course it's bad. Every system needs rules. Even this one."
Ryo, a little too quick: That makes more sense when said out loud.
Yua: "...Glad we could agree."
Ryo (deadpan): Wow. Did we just have a human moment?
Yua: "Shut up. It's not a human moment. It's basic logic."
She crossed her arms, but the slightest twitch at the corner of her mouth betrayed her.
Ryo: "Uh-huh. Sure." He stretched, rolling his shoulders with a lazy grin. "So these rogues—any chance one of them's gonna show up and make my life harder?"
Yua side-eyed him like he'd just asked if rain was wet. "Obviously." She flicked his forehead with two fingers before he could dodge—her version of punctuation. "Especially since your dumb ratios keep lighting you up like festival lanterns in the dark. That's why we're fixing your stance first before some Hollow-Edge addict decides you're their next trophy kill."
Ryo rubbed his forehead, scowling but nodding along because—yeah, okay, fair point… Then another thought hit him like Yua's training stick (which she loved to whip out when he least expected it).
Ryo: "...Wait. You said 'we.' As in... you're sticking around for this mess?"
Silence stretched just long enough to be awkward before Yua scoffed and turned away sharply toward the dojo window—like suddenly finding twilight clouds fascinating was top priority today over answering stupid questions from idiots who couldn't hold Anchor properly yet somehow still had potential worth babysitting (allegedly).
When she finally spoke again? Her voice came out flatter than roadkill left baking in midday sun:
"...Don't flatter yourself."
But Ryo caught it anyway—that faintest pause right after saying it... that tiny hesitation where something else might've slipped free if either were braver people…
Instead though? He smirked wide enough for both them combined while popping knuckles theatrically despite knowing damn well how much she hated showboating during serious training sessions:
(Oh-ho.)
So naturally?
(He doubled down.)
The rooftop air tasted like over-steeped tea—bitter with city smog but oddly comforting once you got used to it. Ryo propped his elbows on the ledge, staring at the neon grid below while Yua sat cross-legged beside him, methodically dissecting a convenience store onigiri like it owed her money.
Ryo: "So let me get this straight—your whole 'Hunting Realm' is basically one giant feudal Japan cosplay?" He gestured vaguely toward her kimono sleeve. "Complete with sword-wielding weirdos and monster slaying?"
Yua's eye twitched. "You're an idiot." She crushed the rice ball wrapper in her fist before tossing it at his face with sniper precision. "It's not a 'cosplay.' It's duty."
Ryo caught the trash mid-air (barely) and smirked despite himself, letting silence stretch until Yua exhaled through her nose—her version of defeat when dealing with his brand of stubbornness.
Ryo: "Sure. Whatever. But you gotta admit it sounds like something out of one of those old samurai flicks my grandfather used to watch."
Yua's side-long glare told him exactly what she thought about that comparison. He grinned wider.
Ryo: "Come on! You can't tell me you don't see the similarities. Ancient Japan. Secret societies. Bloodthirsty creatures. A stoic warrior type—"
He jerked a thumb at her before she could protest.
Ryo: "That's you, by the way."
Yua, dryly: "I'm honored."
She shifted position so her back was against the ledge now, but still refused to look directly at him—stubborn, but it was part of her charm. Ryo leaned in closer, enjoying the push-and-pull banter too much to stop.
Ryo: "I mean, you even kinda dress like one. You just need a topknot hairdo and a cool ninja mask or something and boom — instant badass warrior chic."
Yua, deadpan: "You have zero self-preservation instincts, do you?"
Ryo shrugged, still smiling. "Not particularly, no." He was used to her threats by now, and secretly enjoyed how easily he could get under her skin.
Ryo: "But back to the topic at hand..." He paused for dramatic effect—another thing he knew drove her crazy.
Yua, already annoyed: "Are you done being insufferable yet?"
Ryo: "For now, yeah."
He shifted focus back to the city lights dancing on the horizon. Despite the constant car horns and distant sirens, there was a soothing rhythm to all of it—like the pulse of some mechanical heart.
Ryo: "So… I have another question."
Yua glanced sideways at him through a curtain of black hair. She exhaled through her nose—her usual 'go ahead, but make it quick' sigh—and waited for the inevitable stupidity.
Ryo: "What's the hunting realm's geographical makeup? Like is it one big area of hunters working together, or are there factions?"
Yua: "Alright, let's do this quick."
She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, all business. "The Hunting realm is divided up into several regions. Called Territories."
Ryo nodded, silently committing the term to memory. "And these territories are like… provinces or states kinda thing?"
Yua tilted her head to one side, considering the comparison. "Sort of. Each territory has its own unique culture, laws, and… problems."
Ryo: "Problems?"
Yua nodded, expression darkening. "Problems as in... monsters, Kaimons, rogue Hunters. All the fun stuff that keeps us busy."
Ryo frowned. "Rogue Hunters? Like… killers? Murderers?"
Yua's gaze sharpened. "Bingo."
Ryo: "What region are you from?"
Yua: "I'm from a region called Ishikawa."
Ryo tried sounding out the unfamiliar syllables. "Ishikawa…"
Yua watched him struggle with a barely suppressed smirk, then finally took pity on his butchered pronunciation. "Close enough." Her gaze drifted back out to the city below, where traffic hummed relentlessly against the night sky. "It's mountainous. Pine forests. Hot springs. Lots of old traditions."
Ryo (curiously): "So… is the hunting realm small then? Because the human realm isn't just earth it's entire observable universe."
Yua: "Ah. Fair question."
She leaned back on her hands, looking almost relaxed for the first time all evening. "Technically speaking, the Hunting Realm exists outside the normal space-time continuum. It's not bound to any one planet or universe."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "So… it's like its own separate pocket dimension?"
Yua: "Something like that. Think of it more as... layers wrapped around reality. Some areas are anchored to places in the human realm, others exist purely on their own."
She hesitated, then added with a rare flicker of amusement: "And before you ask—no, we don't hunt aliens."
Ryo grinned. "Damn. There go my dreams of space samurai."
Yua: "So... speaking of warriors, I should probably mention something else about Ishikawa."
Ryo leaned closer, sensing the shift in tone.
Ryo: "Yeah?"
Yua met his gaze directly now, a hint of tension in her eyes. "Every year, all the major villages send their best Hunters to participate in... a tournament of sorts."
Ryo blinked, taken aback by her sudden seriousness. "A tournament? Like, a fighting competition?"
Yua: "In a sense, yes."
She ran a hand through her hair, still refusing to break eye contact. "It's a longstanding tradition in Ishikawa. A way to test skills, build alliances, settle disputes... and prove who's the strongest."
Ryo tried to picture it—a gathering of fierce warriors battling it out in some ancient arena. "Sounds kind of insane..."
Yua: "It's called the 'Tournament of Ten Thousand Flowers'. And it's more than just a showcase of skills."
Ryo leaned closer, intrigued despite himself. "What else is it for then?"
Yua took a deep breath, as if weighing her words carefully. "The tournament serves as a way to determine new promotions... from the lowest rank of Hunter all the way up to the elusive Bakuha."
Ryo frowned, confused. "Bakuha?"
Yua: "It translates to 'White Tiger'. Basically, they're a kind of... top tier group within our society."
Ryo's brow furrowed. "Top tier as in... the elite of the elite?"
Yua nodded, looking almost solemn now. "Exactly. Only 12 people can ever reach that level. And winning the tournament is one fast-track path to getting promoted."
Yua: "But even the Bakuha answer to one final authority—a leader they call the 'Shiro no Ouji'."
Ryo squinted at the unfamiliar name. "Shiro no Ouji... 'White Prince'?"
Yua nodded, a hint of grudging approval in her eyes. "You catch on quickly. The Shiro no Ouji is considered the most skilled and experienced Hunter in the entire territory."
Ryo starts rubbing his temple
Ryo: "Alright, I think my brain's officially fried for the night."
He groaned and stretched, cracking his neck with a sigh. "Missions, tournaments, White Princes—yeah. I need sleep before this turns into actual gibberish."
Yua scoffed but didn't argue as he stood up—though she did flick another onigiri wrapper at the back of his head for good measure.
Yua: "Fine. Go rest your tiny human mind." A pause. Then quieter: "...Training doesn't stop tomorrow just because you whine about it."
Ryo smirked over his shoulder as he walked away, tossing a lazy wave without turning around fully:
"Wouldn't dream of slacking off... Tsundere-sensei~"
The last thing he heard before sliding the rooftop door shut? The unmistakable sound of Yua biting back what was absolutely not laughter behind him—just barely swallowed down into her usual annoyed grumbling instead…
Yua turned around "where are you headed?"
Ryo, shrugging on hoodie: "Home, obviously. Where else would I be at this hour?"
Yua arched an eyebrow, arms still crossed. "You're walking back alone." It wasn't a question.
Ryo rolled his eyes, half-amused and half-exasperated. "Yeah, yeah. Big city, late night, potential monsters lurking—I got the memo after the third lecture this week."
Yua gives him a look then vanishes.
Ryo finds his way and when he enters Yua is sitting at the table.
Ryo, stepping into the kitchen: "What the—how did you beat me here?!"
Yua sat at the table with perfect posture, sipping tea like she hadn't just teleported across town in two seconds flat. "Hunters don't walk when we can move."
Rumi giggled behind her juice box, kicking her feet under the chair. "Big bro got outrun by a girl in a kimono~!"
Ryo pointed accusingly between them. "...This is betrayal."
Yua smirked into her cup—just once—before schooling her face back to neutrality. "...Training starts at dawn."
Ryo: "I can't! School starts again tomorrow and I actually need my sleep. Believe it or not, some of us still have to deal with homework and tests and stuff that'll be impossible if I'm sleep deprived."
Yua raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, unperturbed. "Your education or training? Which do you value more?"
Ryo groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "You really gonna pull the "duty before self" card here?"
Ryo stood in front of Yua, arms crossed and trying his best to look defiant. Yua met his gaze levelly, expression as unreadable as ever. The only sound for several seconds was the quiet ticking of the nearby clock.
...Then Rumi giggled at the kitchen table, breaking the tension entirely. "Is this supposed to be a staring contest or something?"
Ryo shot Rumi a side eye before shifting his focus back to Yua, trying to regain his composure. "It may as well be," he grumbled under his breath.
Yua quirked an eyebrow, clearly finding this whole exchange more amusing than threatening. It only made Ryo more determined to stand his ground.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "Look, I'm serious. I need my sleep if I'm going to make it through classes tomorrow. I can't just skip on homework—not when midterms are right around the corner."
Kujuro stood in the doorway, his expression stoic but tinged with a hint of concern. He nodded at Yua and Ryo, who were still in their standoff. Kujuro: "Yua, a moment, please."
Yua's gaze snapped to him, any vestiges of humor vanishing instantly as she rose to meet him halfway. "What is it?"
Kujuro lowered his voice, ensuring Rumi couldn't overhear. "It's about the other night."
Yua stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "What about it?"
Kujuro took a step closer, his tone leaving no room for argument. "He can't forget again. The risks are too great."
Yua's gaze flicked back to Ryo, still standing there like the world's least imposing sentry. "I understand," she said quietly, "but pressuring him won't help either."
Kujuro held Yua's gaze for a beat longer before exhaling through his nose—his version of reluctant acceptance. "School takes priority," he admitted, though his tone made it clear this wasn't a concession so much as strategy. Then, quieter: "But that doesn't mean he walks alone."
Yua caught the implication immediately (of course she did). Her eyes flicked toward Ryo—currently distracted by Rumi shoving a crayon drawing of "Cool Sword Lady Yua" in his face—before she gave Kujuro the barest nod and turned on her heel.
Yua paused at the doorway, one hand resting on the frame as she glanced back over her shoulder. "Don't forget. Training resumes tomorrow."
Ryo groaned dramatically, but there was no real heat behind it—just exhaustion and the faintest hint of amusement. "Yeah, yeah… I know."
She held his gaze for a second longer than necessary before finally turning away with a soft "Hn." And then she was gone—vanishing into the night like she'd never been there at all.
Ryo sighed and rubbed his face, already dreading both school and whatever brutal regime Yua had planned for him next... but strangely? He didn't hate the thought as much as he should have.
🌀 End Of Chapter Sixteen