The sun sat high in the sky as Katsuo and Taka approached the gates of Habuya, its towering stone walls stretching out before them. Katsuo’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of the bustling market city. Brightly colored banners draped from windows and balconies, swaying gently in the breeze. The air hummed with the sounds of commerce—merchants calling out their goods, the clatter of carts along cobbled streets, and the steady murmur of hundreds of voices mingling in the lively city square.

“Habuya,” Taka said with a smirk, crossing his arms as they paused at the gates.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Let me warn you—this place is a maze. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll get lost in no time.”

Katsuo’s head was already turning from side to side, his eyes drinking in the scene in front of him. The market stalls seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions, overflowing with goods—fruits, weapons, fabrics, strange trinkets he couldn’t even name. The smells hit him all at once: roasting meat, spices, and the smell of a potential deal.

“So, where do we start?” Katsuo asked, excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

Taka shrugged, his lazy grin still in place.

“That’s the beauty of a place like this. There’s no real plan. You just wander, and eventually, something catches your eye.”

As they entered the city, the streets became narrower, lined with wooden stalls and makeshift carts. Merchants showed off their wares with loud, booming voices, offering everything from exotic spices to finely crafted blades. Children ran through the streets, their laughter mingling with the noise of the crowd. The cobblestone streets beneath Katsuo’s feet were worn and uneven, clearly having seen centuries of use.

Katsuo found himself drawn toward a stall that sold weapons—daggers, swords, and even axes. His eyes lingered on a particularly ornate sword, its blade curved and shining like a mirror.

"That one catches your eye?" the merchant asked, his voice sly and smooth.

Katsuo nodded, leaning in for a closer look.

"Yeah. How much for it?"

The merchant’s smile widened.

"Ah, for a fine blade like this? Fifteen gold pieces, and it’s yours."

Katsuo’s jaw dropped.

"Fifteen?! For one sword?"

The merchant chuckled.

"This is no ordinary blade, my friend. Forged in the fires of the Eastern Mountains. A true collector’s piece. Surely worth every coin."

Katsuo frowned, rubbing his chin as he tried to decide. Before he could respond, Taka stepped up, shaking his head.

"Don’t even think about it," Taka muttered, dragging Katsuo back a few steps.

"Fifteen gold for that? You’d be better off buying a stick and calling it a sword."

Katsuo glared at him.

"How was I supposed to know? It looks fancy."

"Fancy doesn’t mean good," Taka said, smirking.

"The market here thrives on people like you—new to the city and starry-eyed. Let’s try to avoid getting scammed, alright?"

Katsuo huffed, crossing his arms.

“Fine, fine. But I want to see more.”

They moved further into the market, and the sights only became more vibrant. A stall selling brightly colored silks and fabrics caught Katsuo’s eye. The merchant draped a rich, purple cloth over her arm, showcasing the intricate gold embroidery woven into the edges.

“Five gold for a sheet of this fine silk!” the merchant called, her voice sweet and alluring.

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Katsuo stared at the fabric, mesmerized.

“It’s beautiful.”

Taka rolled his eyes.

“Unless you’re planning on becoming a fashion designer, I suggest you keep moving.”

Katsuo’s face flushed.

“I wasn’t going to buy it! I just… never saw anything like it before.”

“Uh-huh,” Taka replied, clearly amused.

“Let’s see how long you can resist spending money in this place.”

They continued through the winding streets, Katsuo struggling to keep track of the twists and turns they were making. He was quickly realizing that Habuya was a labyrinth of market stalls, alleyways, and bustling crowds. At one point, they passed by an alleyway where a group of street performers had gathered, juggling flaming torches to the delight of a small crowd. Katsuo paused, entranced by the display of skill and dexterity.

"See anything you like?" Taka asked, his tone teasing.

Katsuo shook his head, trying to focus.

"I’m just… taking it all in. I’ve never seen anything like this before."

Taka grinned. "Habuya’s a place of wonders, no doubt. But keep your wits about you. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget that danger lurks in every corner."

As they walked through the narrow streets, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The crowd seemed to thin, and the noise quieted, though Katsuo wasn’t sure why. Then, from a small square up ahead, he heard the sound of metal clashing against metal.

“Sounds like a fight,” Taka said, perking up.

Katsuo followed the noise, weaving through the crowd until they reached an open area where a group of rough-looking men stood in a loose circle. At the center of the group was a single figure, standing tall and calm—a man with striking red hair, his sword gleaming in the fading sunlight.

“That’s him,” someone whispered nearby.

“Grant Russell.”

The men surrounding Grant looked uneasy, their hands gripping their weapons tightly. One of them stepped forward, his sword raised.

"You think you can just walk in here, Vanguard?" the man growled.

"This city doesn’t belong to your kind."

Grant didn’t respond immediately. He stood still, his gaze cold and unwavering. Without a word, he moved—faster than Katsuo’s eyes could follow. In an instant, his sword flashed, cutting through the air with deadly precision.

The man didn’t even have time to react. His sword fell from his hand, clattering to the ground, as he stumbled backward, a thin line of blood appearing on his cheek.

The rest of the group hesitated, clearly unsure of what to do. Grant lowered his sword, his posture relaxed but his presence intimidating.

“You’re not worth my time,” Grant said quietly, his voice low but firm. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the men standing in stunned silence.

Katsuo stared after him, his mind racing. There was something about Grant’s presence—his calmness in the face of danger, his effortless control over the situation—that left Katsuo both in awe and slightly unsettled.

“That was… amazing,” Katsuo whispered.

Taka smirked, clearly amused by Katsuo’s reaction.

“Grant’s something, alright. But don’t get starry-eyed just because you saw him take out a few street thugs. There’s a lot more to being strong than that.”

Katsuo nodded, though his mind was still focused on Grant. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just witnessed something important, something he couldn’t quite understand yet.

As the sun began to set, Katsuo and Taka continued their exploration of Habuya. They stopped at a few more stalls, though Katsuo found himself more distracted than before. The encounter with Grant lingered in his mind, fueling his curiosity and stirring something deep inside him.

At one stall, Katsuo picked up a strange, glowing crystal. “What do you think this does?” he asked, holding it up to the light.

The merchant grinned. “That there is a rare magical stone. Only five gold pieces, and it could be yours! It enhances strength—guaranteed to make you stronger in battle.”

Katsuo frowned, glancing at Taka.

“You think that’s real?”

Taka snorted. “For five gold? That’s probably a fancy paperweight. Come on, let’s keep moving.”

Katsuo sighed, putting the crystal down and following Taka through the crowd. Despite the liveliness of the market, his mind kept drifting back to Grant, to the way he had handled himself with such ease. It was as if he wasn’t even concerned about the men trying to fight him—like they were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

“You’re still thinking about him, aren’t you?” Taka asked, noticing the distant look in Katsuo’s eyes.

Katsuo shrugged. “I mean… yeah. That was incredible. The way he fought, how calm he was—he didn’t even need to try.”

Taka chuckled. “Grant’s good, no doubt. But don’t get obsessed. Strength like that doesn’t come from one fight. It comes from years of hard work, just like what we’ve been doing.”

Katsuo nodded, though the spark of curiosity and determination in his chest only burned brighter. He couldn’t help it. Grant was everything he wanted to be—strong, confident, and unshakable.

Katsuo knew he still had a long way to go, but seeing Grant in action had ignited something inside him.

As the evening set in and the market began to wind down, Katsuo and Taka made their way toward the edge of the city. The once-bustling streets were quieter now, the warm glow of lanterns illuminating the alleyways and casting long shadows across the cobblestone.

Katsuo glanced back at the heart of the city, his mind still racing with everything he had seen and heard.

“So, what now?”

Taka stretched, yawning loudly.

“Now? We rest. Tomorrow, we keep moving.”

“And where are we headed?” Katsuo asked, though he already knew the answer.

Taka smirked, his eyes glinting in the lantern light.

“Wherever the road takes us. You’re not done training yet. Not by a long shot.”

Katsuo grinned, feeling that familiar surge of excitement as they left Habuya behind. His thoughts drifted back to Grant, and to the path that lay ahead of him. He didn’t know what the future would bring, but one thing was clear—he would keep pushing, keep fighting, and one day, he’d stand as tall as the red-haired Vanguard.