The early morning light barely touched the courtyard as Kaito stood by the koi pond, his reflection flickering in the water’s surface. He tightened his grip on the fabric of his cloak, his mind clouded with the same lingering doubt that had haunted him for years. His family’s whispers, the weight of their expectations—everything bore down on him as he prepared for the path ahead.

Haruto’s familiar voice cut through the quiet. “You’re really going through with this, huh?”

Kaito turned, seeing his childhood friend standing casually with arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Haruto had always had that easy confidence—something Kaito envied. He’d grown used to it, but this time, there was something sharper in Haruto’s gaze, something more biting in his words.

“I have to,” Kaito replied,

trying to sound certain. His throat felt tight, though, betraying his uncertainty.

Haruto took a step closer, hands slipping into his pockets. “You say that, but…” He trailed off, his eyes scanning Kaito as though sizing him up. “You’ve never exactly been the strongest, have you? What makes you think you’ll survive an island full of monsters and cutthroats?”

Kaito stiffened, feeling the familiar sting of those words. He clenched his fists. “I’m not the same as before.”

Haruto snorted. “Is that right?” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Because last time we sparred, you didn’t even manage to land a hit.”

Without thinking, Kaito stepped forward, fists raised in a defensive stance. “I’ll show you.”

Haruto blinked in mild surprise but quickly shrugged, raising his hands in a loose fighting stance. “Alright then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Kaito lunged, throwing a quick punch aimed at Haruto’s side. Haruto dodged effortlessly, sidestepping and catching Kaito’s wrist before twisting him off balance. Kaito tried to recover, sweeping low with his leg, but Haruto stepped back, avoiding the attack with ease.

“Too slow,” Haruto muttered, his grip on Kaito firm as he pushed him back. Kaito stumbled but quickly regained his footing, launching another punch. Haruto deflected it again, this time shoving Kaito hard enough that he staggered.

Kaito’s breath came in ragged bursts, his frustration building with each failed strike. He charged once more, this time with more force, but Haruto sidestepped him smoothly, catching Kaito’s arm and twisting him down to the ground.

“Still not good enough,” Haruto said, looking down at him. “And you’re planning to face actual enemies ?”

Kaito lay on the cold stone, his body aching from the impact, but the worst pain came from the realization that Haruto was right. He hadn’t improved. His strength, his skill—it was still far from where it needed to be.

Haruto leaned over him, his voice low.

“You’re not just risking your life, you know. You’ve got Yuna to think about.”

Kaito’s eyes snapped up at the mention of his fiancée.

“Yeah,” Haruto continued, a slight smirk on his lips. “You think she’s going to wait around for you forever? A weakling who can’t even hold his own? Someone’s going to come along who’s stronger, more capable. She’ll see it eventually.”

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The words hit harder than any of Haruto’s strikes. Yuna’s image flashed in Kaito’s mind—her quiet disappointment, her growing distance. He knew their engagement wasn’t built on love, but the thought of her looking at him with pity, or worse, indifference, cut deep.

“Shut up,” Kaito muttered, pushing himself to his feet.

Haruto shrugged. “I’m just being real with you. You can’t protect her. You can’t even protect yourself.”

Kaito’s fists clenched, but the truth in Haruto’s words stung too much for him to respond. Instead, he stood there, silent, the weight of his weakness pressing down on him.

“Look,” Haruto said, his tone softening, “you don’t have to do this. No one’s expecting you to come back a hero. Just stay here, live out what time you have left. You’re not going to break the curse.”

Kaito glared at him. “I have to try.”

Haruto sighed, shaking his head. “Suit yourself. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kaito alone by the pond, the koi still swimming peacefully beneath the surface. The gentle ripple of the water felt like a contrast to the turmoil in Kaito’s chest. Haruto’s words lingered like a dark cloud, but Kaito refused to let them fully sink in. He had already decided his path, even if no one else believed in him.

Later that day, Kaito stood in the dimly lit hall of his family’s ancestral chamber, staring at the map laid out before him. Aiko, his older sister, stood beside him, her expression calm but distant. She had always been the strong one—the one everyone expected to carry the burden of their cursed legacy. Now, she was fading, and her time was running out.

“The island isn’t just dangerous,” Aiko said quietly. “It’s a death sentence for anyone who isn’t prepared. The clans there don’t care about family names or legacies. They’ll tear you apart if they think you’re a Stranger .”

Kaito’s eyes traced the outline of the island on the map. Legends spoke of the place as a lawless land, where monsters roamed and barbarian clans waged endless battles. But somewhere on that island lay the temple—and, more importantly, the man known as the “Time Reverser.”

“There’s no choice,” Kaito replied, his voice steadier than before. “If I don’t do this, we’ll all be trapped by this curse. There’s no future for any of us.”

Aiko’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, her sharp eyes softening. “You’ve always been different from the rest of us, Kaito,” she murmured. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. But you need to understand what you’re walking into. The Time Reverser… he’s not a man to be taken lightly, he is—”

“So, I just need to bring back his heart, right?” Kaito replied in confidence.

Aiko nodded. “That’s right. If you manage to defeat him and bring back his heart, I’ll give you The Aionios Dorea. It’s your only ticket. But remember—if you fail, then you’re not worthy…” Her voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

“I won’t fail,” Kaito said, his jaw set.

Aiko watched him carefully, her voice quieter now. “You’ve heard what Haruto thinks. What we think. You’ve always been… different. Weaker, they say. This is your chance to prove us wrong.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken fears. Kaito understood the weight of this challenge. Aiko had always been his fiercest protector, but even she had her doubts. Yet, somewhere in her words, he sensed hope—a belief that maybe, just maybe, he could succeed.

“Prepare yourself,” Aiko said, stepping back. “The island will test you in ways you can’t imagine. And the Time Reverser—he doesn’t lose easily.”

Kaito nodded, determination surging through him. The path ahead was perilous, but he had no other choice. This was his only chance to break the curse and prove to himself—and everyone else—that he wasn’t weak. That he was worthy of the Arakawa legacy.

As the sun began to set, Kaito packed his belongings, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The island was more than just a battleground—it was a place of trials, filled with dangers far beyond anything he had ever faced. Monsters, barbarian clans, and the terrifying figure known as the Time Reverser awaited him. It was a challenge meant to break him, but Kaito’s resolve had never been stronger.

As he stood at the edge of the estate, staring out at the distant horizon, Haruto’s words echoed in his mind.

“You can’t protect her. You can’t even protect yourself.”

Kaito clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He would prove them wrong—Haruto, Yuna, his family. He would break the curse, no matter what it took.