One morning in a Japanese dojo, three girls stood watching, dressed in matching white gi(1). They were members of Kaito's fan club, and they were there to cheer on Kaito, our protagonist.

Sakura, with her vibrant pink hair and infectious smile, chattered excitedly to the other trainees. Emi, with her thoughtful expression and wavy black hair, stood quietly, her mind focused on the upcoming battle. Aya, with her short blonde hair and adventurous spirit, twirled a camera around her neck, eager to capture every moment of the day.

As Kaito entered the dojo through the doorway, the girls cheered him as they spotted him, their voices ringing out with enthusiasm.

"Kaito, our star! Shine bright and never give up!" Sakura shouted, her voice carrying across the dojo.

"Kaito, our favorite fighter! We'll always cheer you on!" Emi added, her quiet voice more subdued but no less passionate.

"Kaito, our champion! We'll always be by your side!" Aya chimed in, a smile on her face as she shouted out.

The three of them came together for the final two parts, their voices ringing out loud and clear.

"Kaito, our hero! You made our hearts race!" they shouted together, the energy in the room almost tangible.

"Kaito, you inspired us to be strong! Keep fighting!" they finished, their voices rising to a crescendo.

Kaito looked slightly embarrassed at all the attention, but there was a hint of a smile on his face as he acknowledged the cheers of his fans. The girls continued to cheer him on as he prepared for his battle, the bright energy of their support filling the dojo.

As the cheering from the girls died down, the scene shifted to the interior of a traditional Japanese dojo. The morning sunlight shone through the open shoji screens, illuminating the spacious training hall. In the center of the room, two figures stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a steely gaze.

The first figure was Nakamura Hiro, the owner of the dojo and Kaito's father. He was dressed in a black hakama and a white kimono, which accentuated his toned physique. His spiky salt-and-pepper hair and thick mustache gave him a stern appearance, which was amplified by his piercing eyes.

The second figure was Nakamura Kaito, his son, dressed in a white gi and black belt. Kaito was tall and muscular, with short black hair and intense brown eyes. He stood with a confident and focused demeanor, ready to engage in the monthly battle with his father.

As the two men faced each other, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. The onlookers, including the girls who had been cheering for Kaito earlier, watched with bated breath as the two martial artists prepared for their battle.

Hiro broke the silence with a short laugh, his piercing eyes twinkling with amusement. "So, Kaito," he said, "are you ready to take me down this time?"

Kaito grinned, a fierce determination in his eyes. "You bet, old man," he retorted, cracking his knuckles. "I've been training hard for this."

From the corner, a lean young man observed the battle. He was Yamamoto Shou, 18 years old, a friend of Kaito and also the junior instructor of the dojo. His arms were crossed firmly over his chest as he watched his friend with a feeling of unease. Beside Shou, several trainees excitedly placed their bets on the outcome of the battle between father and son.

"Man, this is going to be intense," Trainee A said, eyeing the two opponents. "I can't believe it's already the 100th battle between Kaito and Hiro."

Trainee B nodded in agreement. "And Kaito still hasn't won a single one. Do you think he'll finally pull it off this time?"

Trainee C snickered. "Not a chance. His father is just too good."

And the sad thing is, Shou also agreed. As a senior instructor of the dojo, Kaito was an exceptionally skilled fighter, but Shou knew it wasn’t enough.

"Looks like you've been working hard, Kaito," Hiro said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "But let's not kid ourselves, you still don't stand a chance."

Kaito bristled at the remark. "I've been training harder than ever, and I'm not going to give up," he declared.

Hiro chuckled. "I like your spirit, son. But don't get too cocky."

"I'm not cocky," Kaito retorted. "I'm just confident."

Hiro noded. "Confidence is good, but skill is better. Show me what you've learned."

As Sakura, Emi, and Aya cheered from the sidelines, Kaito and Hiro rushed towards each other with intense focus and determination. The sound of their bodies colliding echoed through the room, as they engaged in a fierce and grueling battle. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and the sound of heavy breathing, as both father and son pushed themselves to the limit. This was no ordinary sparring match – this was a battle of wills, a test of strength and skill, a fight to the finish.

Kaito walked down the hallway of his high school. He slammed his locker shut and leaned against it, rubbing his sore arm. Feeling the weight of his defeat in his chest, he had just lost another battle with his father, the ritual that had been going on since he was ten years old.

" Don't be so hard on yourself. You're improving every time. You just need more practice and patience." Shou said soothingly.

Shou and Kaito had been friends since they were children. He had witnessed every battle between Kaito and his father, and he knew how much it had meant to Kaito. He also knew how much Kaito loved his father, despite their conflicts. Shou was a calm and level-headed young man who often served as a mediator between Kaito and his father when they argued or fought. He admired Kaito's drive and determination, but he also worried about him pushing himself too hard.

"Practice and patience? How long do I have to wait until I can beat him? He's always one step ahead of me. He doesn't even acknowledge me as a worthy opponent." Kaito said, clenching his fists.

"He does acknowledge you. He's proud of you."

"That's not how he shows it. He always taunts me and calls me weak. He never gives me any praise or encouragement. He treats me like a punching bag." Kaito said bitterly.

"Maybe he thinks that's the best way to motivate you. You know how he is. He doesn't express his emotions well." Shou said.

"That's no excuse. He's my father, not my enemy." Kaito said.

As they talked, they were unaware of the three girls who were watching them from a distance. They were Sakuya, Emi, and Aya, the members of Kaito fan club.

The three girls exchanged glances and nodded at each other before approaching Kaito and Shou with bright smiles.

"Kaito-kun(2) is so cool!" Sakuya gushed. "He almost won today! Did you see how he dodged that punch from his dad?"

"Yeah, he was awesome!" Aya agreed. "He's so brave and strong!"

"And handsome, too!" Emi added.

"I'm sure he'll win next time!" Sakura yelled enthusiastically.

Kaito felt a surge of gratitude and embarrassment as he listened to the girls' compliments. He knew they were trying to cheer him up after his defeat, but he couldn't help feeling awkward.

"..."

"Kaito." As saw his friend remained silence, Shou nudged him.

"...Thanks." Kaito said with a forced smile. "You're very kind."

"So, Kaito-kun," Sakuya said eagerly. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Maybe we can hang out together!"

"Or we can go watch a movie!" Aya suggested. "There's a new action film that looks amazing!"

"Or we can go to the park!" Emi said softly. "It's very relaxing there."

The girls were enthusiastic in their efforts to help him, but he wished they would leave him alone for a while. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and looked down at the ground, trying to think of a way to end the conversation and move away.

Just then suddenly a loud voice echoed through the hallway, startling everyone.

"Shou, we need to talk. Now!"

As they turned around, they saw a girl with black hair styled in a ponytail approaching them with an angry expression on her face. She was Shou’s girlfriend. At least for now.

Shou braced himself as he saw his girlfriend approach them. He knew that look all too well, and it wasn't good.

"Uh, sorry guys," he said awkwardly. "I need to go handle something with my girlfriend. We'll catch up with you later."

Kaito nodded understandingly as Shou hurried off with his girlfriend, leaving him alone with the three girls.

A few moments later, voices rose from a nearby stairwell.

"You stood me up last night." She hissed, her eyes flashing with anger "We had agreed to go to the movies, remember? I was waiting for you for an hour and you never came. You didn't even bother to call or text me. How do you think that made me feel?"

Shou paused for a moment before responding. He explained that there was an urgent situation came up at the dojo last night, so he had to stay there, and his phone ran out of battery, so he couldn't contact her. He apologized to her sincerely.

But the girl didn't seem to accept it.

"You always have some excuse, don't you? You're too busy with your martial arts and your team and your instructor duties. You don't have time for me or anyone else."

Shou chose to keep quiet.

The girl shook her head sadly. "Maybe we should just end this here," she said, hoping that Shou would beg for another chance.

But to surprise the girl, Shou simply nodded his head, accepting her decision. He knew she was right. They had nothing in common, and he didn't feel anything for her. He had only agreed to date her because she had asked him out and he didn't want to hurt her feelings.

"You!!?"

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging heavily in the air. Then he wished her well and said goodbye politely, then walked back to Kaito who was watching the scene from afar with sympathy.

The girl muttered something under her breath before moving off. "I get it now why they call you a heartbreaker," she said bitterly.

"Are you okay?" Kaito asked.

Shou nodded.

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Kaito sighed with relief as he flushed the toilet. He had been holding it in for too long. He hated this bathroom. It was a decrepit and filthy place. The ceiling board was rotting, leaving behind holes and stains. The tiles were broken and grimy. The air was stuffy and moldy. The light was out, but fortunately the window let in enough sunlight. He loathed this place, but it was the only option on this floor.

He walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet. The water was cold and rusty, but he didn't care. He splashed some on his face and looked up at the mirror, which was foggy with condensation. Next to it, on the wall, he saw something written in red.

"Don’t look back."

Kaito read the words slowly. He scoffed. Some idiot must have thought it was funny to scare people with this cheap trick. He ignored it and reached for a paper towel from the dispenser. It was empty, of course.

BAM!

Suddenly, behind him, one of the stall doors slammed shut with a loud noise that echoed through the bathroom. Kaito jumped in surprise.

"Who is there?" Kaito called out, but he heard no answer. Only silence greeted him. Suddenly, something moved in the shadows, and a dark figure emerged from behind the door. As it slowly approached him, Kaito gasped at the sight of its face.

It was...

"Meow~"

A black cat purred as it licked the milk from the plastic glass. Against the backdrop of the clear blue sky, the cat's glossy fur shone in the sunlight, its green eyes closed in contentment. The soft breeze ruffled the cat's fur, but it remained unfazed, its focus solely on enjoying its creamy treat.

Kaito is sitting nearby, watching the cat with a smile. He had brought it to the school rooftop after their encounter in the toilet.

"Hey, you scared me back there," he said to the cat, as if it could understand him.

Kaito had learned to be brave from a young age. His father had taken him to the mountain and left him alone there when he was a child, as a test of his courage and survival skills. Kaito had endured the cold, the hunger and the loneliness, and had returned to his father with pride and confidence. But that did not mean he was fearless. There was something that he didn't believe existed, but if it did, he would be terrified: ghosts. He wondered what he would do if he ever saw a ghost and hoped he would never have to find out.

Kaito chuckled at his own silliness and reached out to pet the cat's fur. The cat purred and rubbed its head against his hand.

Kaito's phone rang, breaking the moment. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Shou.

"Moshi moshi(3)? " he answered.

"Dude, where are you?" Shou asked. "Class is about to start."

"I'm on the rooftop," Kaito said casually. " I decided to take a day off. Can you do me a favor and check me in?"

".....Fine."

Shou sighed but agreed. "I'll also bring you the note later at night training."

"Thanks, Shou. You're a good friend," Kaito said gratefully.

Shou hung up without asking any further questions. He knew Kaito needed some time alone after his defeat.

After hanging up the phone, Kaito laid down on the cold cement ground next to his new companion. The cat had curled up beside him, after finished drinking the milk. As he gazed up at the sky, memories of his morning battle with his father flooded his mind. He replayed every move he had made, analyzing his strengths and weaknesses. He wondered what he could have done better, and why he still couldn't defeat his father after a hundred battles.

"Kaito, you are wasting your time. You have no talent. You might have some victories under your belt, but you have never beaten me in a hundred matches. Do you think that's something to boast about?"

"Once more, your punishment is to clean the shrine."

** a scornful chuckle from his father.**

The words and laughter echoed in his mind, stirring up a wave of irritation. He tightened his grip on his fists and swore to himself that he would have his victory one day. As the wind caressed his face and the sun kissed his skin, Kaito drifted into a tranquil sleep.

A gust of wind swept over Kaito's body and jolted him awake. He felt disoriented as he sat up and scanned his surroundings. The sky had changed from blue and clear to gray and cloudy, and he could hear thunder rumbling in the distance. It was going to rain soon.

He checked his phone and saw that it was already past five. He had overslept by a lot. He rose to his feet and stretched his tired muscles, while scanning the rooftop for the black cat that had kept him company, but there was no sign of it anywhere. It must have gone off to hunt for food. He wished he could have said goodbye or thanked it for staying with him, but he knew he had no time to waste. He took his schoolbag and descended the stairs.

Kaito walked down the street, hands in his pockets, taking in the sights and sounds of his hometown. The sky above him growing darker with every passing minute. He was lost in thought, pondered the cleaning duty he was about to do. As he approached the flower shop, the door opened, and a girl stepped out, clutching a bouquet of white lilies.

For a moment, Kaito didn't recognize her. It had been years since they had last seen each other, and she had changed quite a bit. She was wearing a black dress, her hair tied back in a neat bun, and her face was more mature than he remembered.

"Reina?"

Reina heard his greeting, she turned and smiled.

"Kaito-san(2)," she said. "It's been a long time."

Kaito nodded, feeling a bit awkward. "Yes, it has," he replied. "How have you been?"

Reina shrugged. "Busy, as always," she said. "But I can't complain."

Kaito and Reina were born in the same year, but their lives were very different. Reina attended a prestigious school for the elite, and was a famous prodigy who inherited a massive corporation that operated in various industries, from technology to medicine to food. Kaito met her through his dojo, which was hired by her company to train their security staff. Sometimes, they would chat when she came to fetch her younger sister Rika, who was also a skilled martial artist. Kaito admired their smiles and wondered what became of them after he lost contact with them for five years.

They continued chatting, catching up on old times. Kaito asked her about her family's company, and she told him about her plans to take over one day. He told her about the dojo, and how it had been thriving under his father's guidance. Kaito could sense that there was something different about Reina, but he couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed more mature, more serious, and colder than before.

Then Kaito made his mistake...

"So, have you seen Rika around lately?" he asked casually.

At the mention of her sister's name, Reina's expression changed. She paused for a few seconds, her eyes fixed on Kaito. The air around them seemed to grow tense.

Kaito thought he might have said something wrong. He could see the anger building in Reina's eyes.

"Reina-san, is everything okay?" Kaito asked, concerned.

"Rika," she repeated, her voice low and dangerous. "You're asking about Rika."

Kaito swallowed nervously. He hadn't seen this side of Reina before.

Reina clenched her fist, and Kaito could see she was about to slap him. But he reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist in midair before she could make contact.

[https://i.imgur.com/iROc9ax.png]

At that moment, the door of a black luxury car parked on the side of the road opened, and three men in black suit stepped out, they were Reina’s guards. Kaito could see the confusion on the guard's face as he tried to understand the situation.

Without saying a word, Reina pulled her wrist away and got into the car. She walked away without looking back. The guard got back in the car and started the engine, and they drove off.

Kaito stood there for a moment, watching the car disappear down the street. He couldn't understand what had just happened. He felt a cold breeze on his face and shivered.

**The sky darkened and raindrops began to fall, accompanied by a strong wind. People clutched their umbrellas and coats, trying to keep their balance. It was clear that this was not a normal rain but a storm.**

Kaito still was unaware that his encounter with Reina was the first step in a sinister plot that would soon engulf him.

The wind howled and the rain poured down on the quiet street. The trees swayed and shook their leaves, and the lake rippled and splashed. It was a gloomy evening.

The door to the old shrine house creaked open, letting in a gust of wind and rain. Three people entered quickly. They are Kaito and his two trainee, Sakura and Boro.

"Thank you for coming with me today," Kaito said as he closed the door behind them. "I really appreciate your help."

The shrine owned by Kaito's family is located near the mountain, not too far from the dojo. Normally, it remains closed to the public, only opening its doors during family events. Initially, Kaito had no intention of asking Sakura and Boro, they approached him, offering their hands. Witnessing their earnestness, Kaito couldn't turn down their offer.

"It's our pleasure, Kaito-kun," Sakura said with a forced smile, her eyes darting around the room. She was the president of Kaito's fan club, but in this environment, her enthusiasm was nowhere to be found.

Boro nodded in agreement, his expression pensive. He was Kaito's kohai(2). He had short blond hair and blue eyes that contrasted with his tan skin. He had joined the dojo a year ago and looked up to Kaito as his role model.

"It's our responsibility to help you," Boro said, trying to sound confident. "We'll do whatever we can."

Sakura then lowered her voice and said:

"I'm sorry that Aya-chan and Emi-chan(2) couldn't make it, they really want to come too but Aya had to study for her exams tomorrow...and Emi just got sick because of the cold...so it's just me today..."

"It’s okay. Thank you all," Kaito said kindly.

The three of them looked around the shrine house. It was an old building that belonged to Kaito's family for generations. The spacious interior was filled with valuable items and antiques that reflected their history and culture. There were some old training outfits hanging on the walls, along with swords and spears that had been used by their ancestors. There were also some old lanterns that lit up the room with a warm glow.

Kaito smiled as he saw his heritage around him. He felt proud of being part of such a noble lineage.

"This place is amazing," Boro said with awe.

"Let's get started then," Kaito said cheerfully. "We have a lot of work to do."

Kaito, Sakura, and Boro started cleaning the shrine house. They dusted off the shelves, swept the floor, and wiped dirty things. As they worked, they chatted about various items in the shrine that catch their attention. Sakura and Boro asked Kaito about their meanings and origins, and complimented him on his family's heritage. Kaito was not able to answer all of their questions but did his best to explain what he knew. He told them that some of the items were antiques that had been passed down for generations.

While cleaning, Sakura noticed a medium-sized wooden black box that stood out from the rest of the items. It looked clean and new compared to the dusty and old objects around it. She wondered what was inside it and tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. She called Boro, who was nearby delicately polishing the precious item without damaging it, to help.

"What's this?" Boro asked.

"I don't know." Sakura answered.

"Let me see," Boro said as he carefully examined the box for any clues. He ran his hand over its smooth surface, but there was no discernible opening. He tried using force, but to no avail.

On the side, under the yellow light of the lanterns, Sakura spotted an old symbol. It was a perfectly round circle, divided into two symmetrical halves by a sinuous line. One half was black and the other white, each containing a smaller circle of the opposite color.

"Kaito-kun, do you know what this is?" Sakura shouted to Kaito, who was busy removing the spider webs from the wall with his climbing skills.

He descended from the wall and walked over to Sakura.

"Where did you get that? I've never seen it before." He examined the black wooden box carefully. He had cleaned the shrine many times before, but he had never noticed this box. Who had left it here and when?

He looked closer at the symbol on the box, but it was not his family crest.

"What's inside?" Kaito asked.

"We don't know. The box seems to be jammed. We couldn't open it." Boro said.

"Let me try." Kaito said as he took the box from Boro's hands. He felt a slight click as he lifted the lid, and it opened easily. He was surprised by how light it was.

"Wow, Kaito-senpai(2), you're so strong." Boro said with admiration.

"That's why we love you, Kaito-kun." Sakura said with a smile.

Kaito felt a blush rising on his cheeks. He didn't want to disappoint them, but he knew he didn't do anything special to open the box. He decided to change the subject.

"Let's see what's inside."

The three together looked at the content inside with a sense of curiosity and excitement...

Aaaaaaaaah!

A piercing shriek filled the dojo, followed by a sudden blackness as the lights went out. The sky outside roared with thunder and rain.

Shou, who was instructing his trainees, quickly made his way to the source of the sound. He dodged the other apprentices in the dark with ease.

"Are you alright? What happened?"

He heard her trembling voice reply, "I...I'm sorry sensei(2). The thunder scared me."

The girl's face was pale and her hands shook as she spoke. Sensing her fear, he gently touched her shoulder to comfort her.

"It's alright. Breathe deeply."

Without light, the trainees grew more nervous. Once Shou was sure the girl was fine, he climbed to the top of the dojo using his phone's flashlight. He spoke in a composed voice. "Everyone stay calm." He waited for them to quiet down before he continued. "I just looked at the weather forecast. The storm has gotten stronger and caused a power outage in many areas. For your safety, we will stop the training for today."

He heard mixed reactions from his students. Some were relieved, some were disappointed. He was passionate about martial arts too, and he didn't like to interrupt their practice. But he also knew that safety was paramount.

"Please gather your things and move to the door in an orderly fashion." He instructed them.

As he was about to leave, he heard footsteps from another door. He turned around and saw Kaito holding a lantern, followed by Sakura and Boro. Other than Kaito, Sakura and Boro looked scared. Shou was about to ask them what had happened, but Kaito spoke first.

"Is everyone okay? We were cleaning the shrine when we saw the lights go out in the hallway. We got worried."

"Everyone is fine. It seems that the storm has caused an outage. I just told everyone to go home." Shou said.

"That's a good call, Shou." Kaito said. Then he looked at Sakura and Boro. They seemed shaken by something. Kaito put his hands on their shoulders, trying to comfort them.

"Sakura and Boro, you two should also hurry home before the storm gets worse." He continued. "Forget what you saw, get some rest, everything will be okay.” He paused for a moment before expressed his gratutude.” And thank you for helping today."

Sakura broke her silence and bowed to him gratefully.

"No, thank you Kaito-kun for allowing me to assist you today."

Followed by Boro, he nodded earnestly.

"Yes, thank you Kaito-senpai for teaching us about the shrine today."

Shou was curious about what they had seen in the shrine that had frightened them so much, but he decided to leave it for another day.

Kaito bid farewell to his friends and shut the main gate of his traditional Japanese house. The storm was raging outside, but he did not head to his residence. Instead, he walked across the garden, past the pond and the stone lantern, towards the library room of his family’s main house, which was located on the right behind the dojo, where generations of books and memorabilia were stored. As he made his way through the engawa(4), he could not help but think of what had happened at the shrine earlier...

Note for Chapter 1:

(1): A gi outfit is a type of clothing worn in traditional martial arts, such as karate, judo, and jiu-jitsu,...

(2): "-san, -kun, -chan, -sensei, -senpai, -kohai,..." are Japanese honorific suffixes, that are often used as a way of showing respect, affection, or familiarity towards someone.

** -san is "Mr.," "Ms.," or "Mrs." In English. -kun is used for young men, boys. -chan is used for young children, women, and girls. -sensei is used for teacher. Senpai refers to someone with more experience on the field, whereas kohai refers to someone younger and with less experience.

(3): "Moshi moshi" is a common phrase used when answering the phone in Japan, it means “hello”.

(4): "engawa" is a Japanese architectural feature that is typically a narrow strip of flooring that runs alongside the outer walls of a house or building.