Kaito

Training with Kenshiko (Continued)

Kaede had just turned to leave, the sound of her footsteps almost lost to the soft hum of the dojo, when a voice cut through the silence.

"Spying on Ash?"

She froze mid-step, her heart skipping a beat as she turned slowly toward the source of the voice. Kaito stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, his gaze locked onto her with that familiar, teasing smirk.

Her pulse quickened for a split second before she regained her composure, her fingers instinctively tightening into fists. Kaede's expression remained neutral, but the heat in her chest was unmistakable. How long had he been standing there? she wondered, her thoughts racing.

"You've got a lot of nerve," Kaede replied, her voice as calm as she could muster, though the irritation behind it was clear. She hadn't expected him to catch her in the act, let alone call her out on it.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, the smirk never wavering. "Am I wrong?" he asked, his voice a mixture of amusement and mild curiosity. "You're watching him like he's a test subject."

Kaede's lips twitched, suppressing the urge to shoot back a sarcastic comment. Instead, she leaned against the wall with a casual grace, trying to regain control of the situation. "I'm not spying," she muttered. "I'm just observing. There's a difference."

"Oh, is there?" Kaito stepped closer, his eyes glinting with the faintest hint of mischief. "Seems to me you're just... curious about how Ash is going to handle all this. Wondering how far he's willing to go, huh?"

Kaede couldn't help but let out a frustrated breath, folding her arms across her chest. She hadn't realized how much of her own curiosity had been reflected in her actions. Watching Ash train wasn't just about his physical transformation—it was about figuring out who he was becoming in the process. Was he changing for the right reasons? Or was this another game he was learning to play?

"I'm not wondering," Kaede replied, her voice edged with something softer this time—something closer to concern. "I'm watching because this isn't just about getting through some training. It's about Ash fitting into their world. And he's... not exactly a socialite."

Kaito chuckled under his breath, an easy, knowing laugh. "Yeah, and you think you're any better?" His eyes glinted with teasing amusement as he leaned against the doorframe. "You're not fooling anyone, Kaede. You've got your own... curiosity about Ash. You always have."

Kaede's eyes flashed with a mixture of irritation and confusion, but before she could retort, Kaito's tone softened. "Don't worry, I'm not judging you." His gaze softened just a fraction. "I just know this: Ash is a lot tougher than you think. And if anyone can survive this, it's him."

She couldn't quite hide the twinge of defensiveness that ran through her at his words. "I never said I didn't think he could handle it."

Kaito smiled faintly, his gaze lingering for a moment. "Good. Because if you did, I'd have to question your judgment."

Kaede opened her mouth to argue, but found herself holding back. She'd been so focused on Ash's transformation, so caught up in how he was changing, that she hadn't considered how she was changing too. Kaito's words struck a chord with her, stirring something deeper than the surface irritation she'd felt moments ago.

Kaito turned, his back to her now as he began to walk away. "Just don't forget, Kaede," he called over his shoulder, "sometimes, it's not about what he learns. It's about what we learn from him."

Kaede stayed silent, her heart heavy with the weight of those words. Watching Ash train now felt like something more than mere curiosity. It was a reckoning. And she didn't know if she was ready for the answers it would bring.

As she turned to leave, her gaze lingered on Ash one last time. He hadn't noticed her presence, his focus completely on Kenshiko's precise instructions. But for the first time, Kaede wasn't just observing him—she was searching for something.

And she wasn't sure if she'd find it.