"Why didn't you kill me that day?" Shinro asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Toshiro's smile was like a ray of sunlight, illuminating the darkness. "Because you are my friend, like I said before," he replied, his eyes sparkling with warmth.
Shinro's sword slipped from his grasp, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn't expected Toshiro to say that. The words hung in the air, a palpable reminder of the complex bond between them.
Toshiro turned to leave, his laughter echoing through the forest. "I look forward to fighting you again someday!" he shouted, disappearing behind the trees.
A smile spread across Shinro's face, a sense of wonder still lingering in his eyes. He watched Toshiro vanish into the distance, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite understand.
As Toshiro walked away, he stopped and drew his sword, the red handle gleaming in the fading light. "I almost lost control," he whispered, his voice trembling. "If I had stayed longer, I would have killed those guys. It almost took control of me... I could feel its bloodlust."
The words were a stark reminder of the darkness that lurked within him, a constant battle he fought to keep at bay.
Meanwhile, Takahishi rose from the ground, dusting himself off. "All Grim Hunters are jerks. First, Niski, now this scar-faced guy," he muttered, shaking his head.
Shinro picked up his jacket and sword, his movements quiet and deliberate. "Let's get out of here, guys. We're done for today," he said, his eyes fixed on the yellow sky.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the three of them made their way back to their rooms, the tension between them palpable.
That night, as they settled into their beds, Crinix whispered to Takahishi, "Hey, Takahishi, you awake?"
Takahishi responded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah."
"Do you think Shinro is going to be okay?" Crinix asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Takahishi snorted. "Hmm, I don't care about him. For all I know, he got what he deserved."
Crinix's expression turned serious. "Don't be harsh, man. I think deep inside, Shinro was hurting, but he just didn't want to show it."
Takahishi chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Huh, like I care. Shinro is a big jerk. He always treats us like crap. He just got outsmarted by a bigger jerk."
As Takahishi drifted off to sleep, Crinix's eyes remained open, his thoughts consumed by the complex web of relationships between them.
The next morning, Crinix woke Takahishi up, and they began their daily routine. As they dressed, Takahishi turned to Crinix with a sly grin. "Hey, Crinix, I just thought of a great idea. Why don't we find that scar-faced guy tomorrow, so he can beat the crap out of Shinro?"
Takahishi's laughter echoed through the room, but Crinix just shook his head, a knowing glint in his eye.
That day Shinro didn't show to escort them to Hunter Academy, but Takahishi and Crinix didn't let it deter them. They arrived at Hunter Academy, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. As they entered their classroom, they were greeted by a sea of familiar faces, all chattering excitedly.
Takahishi and Crinix made their way to the front row, their eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble. They had barely settled into their seats when a figure emerged from the crowd, his eyes fixed intently on them.
Takahishi's heart sank, his eyes widening in terror as he recognized the approaching figure. Niski, the infamous bully, stood before them, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and curiosity.
Crinix, seemingly oblivious to the tension, looked up at Niski with a hint of curiosity. Takahishi, on the other hand, was frozen in fear, his body trembling like a leaf. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on Niski's fists, which were clenched at his sides.
The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. Niski's gaze lingered on Crinix, his voice low and menacing. "You're Crinix, right?"
Crinix nodded, his eyes never leaving Niski's face. "Yeah, what do you want?"
Niski's eyes narrowed, his fists tightening. Takahishi closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact. But instead of the expected punch, Niski's voice took on a surprising tone.
"I came to apologize," he muttered, his eyes darting to Takahishi. "I'm sorry about what I did to you the other day."
The room erupted into a collective gasp, Takahishi's eyes snapping open in shock. Crinix's expression mirrored Takahishi's, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
Niski's apology was met with stunned silence, the tension in the room dissipating slowly. Crinix shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "It wasn't much of a big deal."
Niski's gaze lingered on Crinix, his eyes burning with intensity. "I appreciate you letting me off the hook, but I have one request."
Crinix's curiosity was piqued, his eyes locked on Niski's. "What is it?"
Niski's grin was unexpected, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can you please be my rival?"
The room fell silent once more, Crinix's eyes narrowing in confusion. "Rival? Why me?"
Niski's expression turned serious, his voice taking on a tone of reverence. "Back then, when I fought you, I saw something in you. As I was about to kill you, I looked closely at your eyes. I saw great strength in your eyes, you didn't even flinch while I was about to kill you."
Takahishi's eyes widened in awe, his fear momentarily forgotten. Niski's words were like a revelation, his gaze burning with intensity.
"You possess great strength inside you, Crinix. You are the only person who can match my power, and no one has ever dared to challenge me until now."
Crinix's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes locked on Niski's. "Well, I guess that settles it. I'll be your rival for now."
Niski's grin grew even wider as he chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I want to fight you again one day, when your power is at its fullest," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation.
Crinix and Takahishi exchanged a confused glance. Niski's sudden change in behavior was unsettling, to say the least.
Niski's cheerful voice cut through the tension. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then, Crinix." He tucked his hands into his pockets and sauntered towards the back of the room, whistling a tune.
As soon as Niski was out of earshot, Takahishi turned to Crinix, his voice barely above a whisper. "Huh, what just happened?" His eyes were wide with confusion, his brow furrowed in concern.
Crinix shook his head, equally perplexed. "I don't know, but I think we just got out of a tight spot."
Takahishi's expression turned skeptical. "I don't trust that Niski guy. For all I know, he might try to kill us."
Crinix placed a reassuring hand on Takahishi's shoulder. "Takahishi, I have a feeling he won't be bothering us again."
Takahishi's eyes narrowed. "Maybe, but I still don't trust him. That guy gives me the creeps."
Just as it seemed like the tension had dissipated, a massive explosion rocked the room. White smoke billowed everywhere, reducing visibility to near zero.
Coughing and sputtering, Hiruki stumbled into view, his eyes streaming with tears. "I think I used too much gunpowder," he wheezed, his face smeared with soot.
The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Hiruki as he grinned sheepishly. "Good morning, everyone! Let's begin our lesson for today, shall we?"
Hiruki turned to face the board, scribbling "Soul Energy" in bold letters. "Our lesson for today is about Soul Energy," he announced, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Crinix and Takahishi exchanged a knowing glance. They had heard of Soul Energy before, but they were eager to learn more.
Hiruki began to pace the room, his hands gesturing animatedly. "Most of you are probably wondering what Soul Energy is. Well, let me tell you – it's the energy that resides within our bodies, also known as Spirit Energy. We Grim Hunters are born with it, and without it, we wouldn't be able to perform our Divine Techniques."
Hiruki paused, surveying the room to ensure everyone was paying attention. "People without Soul Energy or low Soul Energy can't see Grims. That's why you'll find that most people in the human world can't see Grims."
Crinix's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. He remembered the day the Soul Eater attacked the asylum, and how no one else could see it. It was because they lacked Soul Energy.
Hiruki continued, his voice filled with passion. "We Grim Hunters possess Soul Energy, which gives us superhuman reflexes and inhuman strength. We use this energy to perform Divine Techniques and incantations."
A student raised her hand, and Hiruki nodded for her to speak. "Aura, what is it?" she asked, her curiosity evident.
Hiruki's grin grew wider. "Ah, Aura! It's a particular quality or atmosphere surrounding a person. It can also be used to measure Soul Energy."
Kinji, the student from the front row, spoke up. "Huh, how is that even possible? How can we measure something that's inside our bodies?"
Hiruki chuckled. "Ah, that's a great question, Kinji! Measuring Soul Energy is a complex process, but essentially, it involves sensing the Aura that surrounds each person. The stronger the Aura, the higher the Soul Energy."
As Hiruki continued to explain, Crinix found himself becoming more and more engrossed in the lesson. He couldn't wait to learn more about Soul Energy and how to harness it.