The last class of the day had just ended, and Reisou, with 2B quietly trailing beside him, was making his way out of the second-year building when Ichika appeared once again.
However, this time, he wasn't alone.
Behind him walked a beautiful girl with long, dark brown hair tied into a ponytail that split into two strands halfway down, swaying gracefully with every step.
Her deep blue eyes gave off a calm vibe, and her body was slim with curves in all the right places.
"Hello again, Aragaki-san," Ichika said with a relaxed smile.
Reisou gave a simple nod and stole a quick glance at the girl beside Ichika.
Noticing his gaze, the smiling boy decided to introduce her.
"This is my childhood friend, Shinonono Houki," Ichika said. "We just finished a practical class in the gym, and she decided to tag along. Hope that's alright."
"No problem," Reisou replied. "Nice to meet you. I'm Aragaki Reisou from class 2E, and this is my... girlfriend, Hamashira Nibe."
Though Reisou hesitated saying the last part, everyone at school already assumed they were a couple—and 2B never denied it either.
Besides, they were stuck together most of the time, so denying it wouldn't have convinced anyone anyway.
When 2B heard him call her his girlfriend, a warm sensation blossomed in her chest.
A shy smile slowly formed on her lips, turning into an enchanting sight that caught both Ichika's and Houki's attention.
'So pretty...' the two thought at the same time, completely captivated.
"Something wrong?" Reisou asked, catching them off guard.
They both coughed nervously, and Houki stepped forward to greet them.
After a brief exchange, the group made their way toward the arena.
As they reached the entrance, they spotted a striking woman casually leaning against the wall.
Her long black hair was tied back in a low ponytail that reached her waist. She wore a form-fitting black suit that hugged her curves, and her long legs were wrapped in black stockings, giving her an elegant yet commanding presence.
Ichika recognized her immediately, and so did Reisou.
She was Orimura Chifuyu, Ichika's older sister.
Known as the fearsome Dark Witch, she was one of the most powerful shadow elemental users of her generation.
But after a certain incident, she retired from her position as an S-rank Hunter.
Even now, her fans insisted that if she hadn't retired, she would've easily climbed to the rank of National Hunter.
"Nee— I mean, Orimura-sensei, what are you doing here?" Ichika asked, almost slipping and calling her big sister in front of everyone.
Chifuyu was strict and serious, especially at school. She had warned him more than once not to call her that in public.
"Didn't you say this was going to be a challenge, not just a simple spar?" Chifuyu said coolly, her arms crossed as she looked over the group. "As a teacher, I'm here to officialize the match."
"That..." Ichika hesitated, unsure what to say.
He had already spoken with another teacher to approve the match, but now that his sister had shown up, he had a feeling she took over just so she could watch it herself.
Knowing Chifuyu, it was smarter to just roll with it—and give it everything he had. If nothing else, maybe he could make her proud.
So far, he'd only lost twice.
Once against his childhood friend Houki, and the other against his younger sister, Madoka.
Seeing the slightly helpless look on Ichika's face, Chifuyu let a barely noticeable smile slip through. She believed in her brother's strength just as much as she did in their younger sister's.
Both of them carried incredible potential.
Still in a good mood, her eyes casually drifted to Reisou. But the moment she looked at him, her expression stiffened.
There was something strange about him.
As a Darkness elemental user, Chifuyu had clashed with Hunters of all kinds over the years.
Over time, she'd learned to identify someone's element just by sensing their Nano-energy.
That's why when she looked at Reisou, she could feel his wind affinity, but at the same time, she swore there was a hint of light affinity mixed in.
It didn't make sense.
'This can't be...'
Chifuyu checked again and again.
Each time, the feeling grew stronger. He didn't just have a light affinity; he had a level far beyond any light elemental user she had ever encountered.
"You…" she began to speak, but then the sensation disappeared suddenly, fading away as if it had never existed.
"Is something wrong, Orimura-sensei?" Reisou asked, his brow furrowing as he caught her sharp gaze piercing straight through him like a blade.
"No." Chifuyu replied, her tone calm but serious. "I just want to ask you not to go easy on my brother. Use all your strength against him."
Upon hearing her, Ichika's eyes twitched, wondering if his sister really loved him or not.
What kind of sister would tell someone to go all out and beat her brother with everything they've got?
Oh right, his two sisters would!
"Don't worry, Orimura-sensei. Holding back isn't really my style," Reisou said with a slight smile, making Ichika swallow hard.
Even Houki could tell there was something off about him.
Chifuyu gave a brief nod and turned to head inside the arena. The group followed behind her in silence, eventually arriving at an vacant fighting area.
Only a handful of students were around, either sparring casually or practicing their elemental skills.
The moment they noticed Chifuyu, they stopped immediately.
Her presence alone was enough to silence the room.
Reisou wasted no time and stepped into the fighting area, not even bothering to stop by the changing room.
Ichika, on the other hand, went to the changing room and came back wearing his gym outfit.
They stood across from each other, eyes locked with confident gazes.
Reisou gripped a lance replica, freshly chosen from the armory Chifuyu had opened moments ago, while Ichika stood ready with a katana held firmly at his side.
*Sshhwee!
The sharp sound of a whistle cut through the air as Chifuyu signaled the start of the match.
Houki quietly rooted for Ichika, then stole a glance at 2B.
She saw that the white-haired girl remained composed, her expression still and unreadable, as if the outcome didn't concern her in the slightest.
A few other students paused their training to watch the match unfold.
Whispers of excitement spread quickly, and soon bets were being placed, with most siding with Ichika due to his reputation and the fact that he was the younger brother of the legendary Dark Witch.
In the fighting area, Reisou and Ichika clashed fiercely.
Ichika kept up relentless pressure, swinging his katana with precision, while Reisou skillfully defended himself, narrowly dodging each attack.
So far, neither had revealed any special techniques or elemental power.
It was a battle of raw skill and endurance, each testing the other's limits.
Reisou had to admit—his opponent wasn't bad. Ichika's swordsmanship was likely at an intermediate level.
Still, ever since entering the Gates, Reisou had felt his combat skills steadily improve.
✫| Fire Slash |✫
Suddenly, Ichika pulled back, his sword igniting with fiery red flames. With a sharp downward swing, he unleashed a vertical arc of fire that surged toward Reisou like a blazing wave.
"Resorting to techniques already?" Reisou said with a faint smile as his lance darkened, wrapped in a coating of Armament Haki.
With a single swing of his lance, Reisou effortlessly dispersed the incoming fire wave.
Ichika narrowed his eyes, realizing this was going to be a much tougher fight than he had anticipated.
✫| Enhancement |✫
This time, Reisou didn't wait for Ichika to make the first move.
Activating his technique, he closed the distance and delivered a swift horizontal slash with his lance.
Ichika moved to block with his katana, but the impact sent a jolt through his arms, making them tremble from the force.
Before he could recover, a sharp pain exploded in his chest.
Reisou had used the moment of the clash to land a well-timed kick.
Everyone was surprised by how fast he was, especially Chifuyu.
According to the updated profile sent by her friend Miwa, Reisou possessed three Innate Skills, which was extremely rare.
Despite his smaller Nano reserves, his fighting skills, adaptability, and stamina ranked him among the geniuses—just like her own brother.
But Chifuyu couldn't shake the thought that once her brother unleashed his Innate Skill, victory would be almost guaranteed.
And just as she expected, the moment Reisou prepared to strike again, dark energy surged from Ichika's body, enveloping him in a shadowy aura.
✢| Gravity Two |✢
A crushing weight settled over Reisou, trying to press him down.
Immediately, he realized this was Ichika's Innate Skill.
'Gravity, huh? I don't know whether to laugh or be worried,' Reisou thought as he put some distance between them.
Ichika raised his katana, ready to strike once more.
This time, he was certain the victory was his.