Chapter 95: A Night Encounter

Yame noticed Syoruha leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed and a faint smirk on his face. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Where's Ryuosho? Weren't you training him?"

Syoruha shrugged nonchalantly, his tone laced with mild irritation. "He bailed. Said he needed to pee and never came back."

The atmosphere, once calm, became charged with a strange tension. Yame froze for a moment, her brows knitting tightly together. "He ran off? What happened?"

Standing nearby, Riyugi also looked puzzled. "Why would Ryuosho just leave? He's always been so eager to train."

Syoruha let out a dry chuckle, his tone dripping with mockery. "Eager? That's just what you all imagined. When it comes to actual hardship, people like him always reveal their true colors."

Yame's frown deepened, her dissatisfaction evident. "Training is essential. If he had a problem, he should've just said so instead of vanishing like this."

Syoruha smirked coldly, casting a sideways glance at Yame. "Who knows? Maybe he finally realized his limits. Figured it's pointless and gave up altogether."

Riyugi sighed softly, her worry etched into her features. "What's really going on with Ryuosho?"

Late Night in the Park

Under the dim glow of a streetlamp, Shingin sat alone on a park bench, his thoughts a chaotic tangle. His head hung low, hands limp on his knees, and his unfocused gaze seemed to pierce through the foggy void in his mind. The air was damp and cold, yet his inner turmoil felt even colder.

Why is everyone so obsessed with getting stronger? Willing to endure endless hardship for battle? What drives them?

The questions churned in his mind, spiraling into darker thoughts. Their enemies were relentless, one more formidable than the last, like an abyss without end. The watchers were already nightmarish enough, but the appearance of Akari and Hayato had driven home a terrifying truth—greater threats loomed still.

To defeat such adversaries, would he have to become a monster as well? A being of immeasurable strength, devoid of any emotion or humanity?

The mere thought of such a future filled him with dread. He longed to remain with his companions, not to be thrust into lonely isolation by power.

A faint sound of sobbing broke through his musings. Startled, Shingin looked up and followed the sound. Under the streetlamp a short distance away, he saw a small figure curled up on the ground. It was a little girl, her thin arms hugging her knees, her shoulders trembling as she cried softly.

Shingin hesitated but eventually stood and walked toward her. Hearing his footsteps, the girl jerked her head up, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the cold light. Fear flickered in her eyes, and she shrank back like a frightened animal.

He stopped a few steps away, speaking gently. "I mean no harm. Are you alright? What happened?"

The girl lowered her head, her sobs barely audible. "I... I'm fine."

Her frailty tugged at Shingin's heart. Softening his tone further, he said, "I'm not much, but maybe I can help. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

After a long pause, the girl finally murmured, her voice quivering with fear, "They bullied me... the seniors at my job..."

Her words were laced with helplessness, as though the world itself had turned against her.

Shingin frowned in confusion. "You said you have a job? But you're no older than ten. Why are you working so young?"

The girl clutched her knees tighter, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to save enough money… to travel around the world."

Shingin blinked, surprised by her response. "Travel the world? Is that your dream?"

She shook her head slowly. "No… it's to find my family. I can go without food or drink, but to cross the seas… I need money."

Her words struck him like a blade. Shingin's breath hitched, his gaze dropping to her oversized sleeves, which nearly hid her small hands. Peering closer, he noticed she was clutching something tightly.

His heart quickened. "What's that in your hand? Can I see it?"

The girl hesitated, her wary eyes darting between him and her hand. Slowly, she extended the object toward him.

Shingin took it gently. It was a worn photograph, its edges frayed and yellowed. The center was half-burned, leaving behind charred remains. Despite its state, the image of two figures was still discernible.

The girl was unmistakable, but beside her stood a boy whose face was partially burned away. Yet, with just one glance, Shingin recognized him. His breath caught, memories flooding his mind in an uncontrollable tide.

"This… can't be…" His hands trembled as the photograph threatened to slip from his grasp. Forcing himself to stay calm, he steadied his voice. "What's your name?"

The girl shrank back slightly, her tone timid. "Shizuha."

Those two syllables reverberated through his mind like a hammer striking a bell. His pulse raced as the world seemed to spin. He clutched the photo tighter, his voice trembling. "Shizuha... Are you from the Kaidu family?"

The girl's eyes widened in confusion and shock, nodding slowly. Shingin's voice cracked as he asked, "Is your name… Kaidu Shizuha?"

The girl froze, her expression shifting to one of disbelief. "How… how do you know my name?"

Shingin stood motionless, the photograph in his hand and the girl before him merging with a ghost from his past. Old wounds, long buried, reopened as memories and pain surged back. His throat tightened, and for a long moment, he couldn't speak.

"You…" His voice was barely audible, his eyes glistening. "I'm…"

But he couldn't finish. His vision blurred with tears, and he could only stand there, the weight of fate's cruel twist pressing down on him. That night, the park became the stage for a reunion neither of them could have foreseen, a moment destined to leave an indelible mark on Shingin's soul.