Chapter 10 – The Dance of a Cherry Blossom, Part 1

The white fox stretched, its nine tails moving as lightly as silk in the spring breeze. A gust of wind sent a cherry blossom petal swirling through the air, landing gently on its small nose.

Spring had arrived.

The cherry blossoms were blooming.

The cycle of rebirth had begun.

To Kairo,

From Dad.

May this piece of my novel give you strength in your darkest moments.

Tokyo — 11:26 AM — Café Yuro

Riven couldn't believe his eyes.

That Kairo… he wasn't the same boy he trained with. There was something different about him. It wasn't just the silver katana he wielded so confidently or his perfect stance. It was his gaze.

A mix of calm and determination. As if he already knew what to do.

— "OI, RIVEN!" Kairo's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

— "Get the girls out of here! I can't fight this thing and protect all of you at the same time!"

Riven clenched his fists, frustrated. He didn't like the idea of running while his friend risked his life. But he knew Kairo was right.

— "Got it… But don't you dare die on me. You can't die until I beat you at kendo."

For a moment, Kairo smiled. A melancholic smile.

— "I know, my friend. I won't break that promise. Not this time."

"Not this time?"

Riven pushed that thought aside and ran toward Lyra and Aenna.

But the Shadow attacked first.

With a chilling hiss, it lunged at them, its claws black as night.

Too fast.

But Kairo was ready.

A flash of silver sliced through the air. The katana intercepted the claws with a deafening clang. The café walls trembled.

Outside, the world froze.

Someone screamed.

Someone ran.

Someone pulled out their phone to record.

The eyes of the world were now on him.

Riven reached Lyra and Aenna, his heart pounding.

— "Are you okay?" he asked, breathless.

— "Yeah… But next time, let's pick a less exciting café," Lyra tried to joke, though her voice shook.

Aenna, however, was frozen. Her eyes locked on Kairo, mesmerized by the strange aura surrounding him.

— "Aenna! Earth to Sleeping Beauty!" Riven shouted, shaking her slightly.

She snapped out of it, her face flushing slightly.

— "S-sorry…"

— "Hey, today is not the time for romantic moments," Lyra teased with a nervous laugh.

Aenna exploded.

— "Lyra, what the hell are you saying?! Kairo is in there fighting alone, and we're just—" Her voice broke. She clenched her fists, trembling with anxiety.

Riven lowered his gaze. He felt just as helpless.

Without another word, they ran outside.

---

An Unfair Fight

The moment they stepped out of the café, chaos swallowed them whole.

Police sirens.

Officers with guns drawn.

News helicopters overhead.

Screams.

People fleeing.

It felt like stepping into an apocalyptic movie.

But they didn't care about any of that.

They only cared about Kairo.

— "Where is he?! Do you see him?!" Lyra yelled, spinning around in panic.

— "He's still inside…" Aenna whispered, short of breath.

Riven gritted his teeth, his heart racing.

— "He has to get out of there…"

But deep down, they all knew the truth.

He wouldn't run.

He would fight to the end.

---

Inside Café Yuro, the battle raged on.

Kairo moved with precision, his strikes flowing like a dance. But something was wrong.

His sword wasn't working.

With every slash, the blade merely bounced off as if striking metal. The Shadow didn't bleed. It didn't slow down.

— "This isn't possible… I've hit it at least a dozen times!"

The Shadow roared, shaking the walls.

Then, it vanished.

A blink of an eye.

And reappeared behind him.

Sharp, black teeth snapped open, ready to tear into his flesh.

But in the darkness of its mouth, something gleamed.

A violet stone.

Exactly like the creature's eyes.

Kairo understood.

— "Tsk! Got you."

He dodged at the last second, barely escaping the bite. Then, in one swift motion, he drove his blade straight into the stone.

A monstrous shriek split the air.

The Shadow convulsed, its form flickering like a broken illusion. Something inside it had shattered.

Then, with a final hiss, it collapsed to the floor. Motionless.

Silence filled the café.

Kairo stood there, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion. He didn't lower his guard.

Something inside him screamed: Run.

He spun around, ready to flee—

But a dark tendril lashed out, slamming him against the wall.

Blood filled his throat. He coughed, forcing himself to stand.

The Shadow was rising again.

But it wasn't the same anymore.

Its body swelled, growing until it nearly touched the ceiling. Its claws lengthened. Its aura grew heavier, suffocating.

Then, it roared.

The shockwave shattered the café windows.

Outside, Riven, Lyra, and Aenna ducked, shielding themselves from the flying debris.

— "Kairo!" Lyra screamed, tears in her eyes.

But inside, he was still standing.

The Shadow grinned, pointing a claw at him.

The battle had only just begun.

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