When Ayaka arrived at the stronghold, the tension hit her like a wall. Every glance from Jurou, Arisu, Ryota, and the others carried a weight that gnawed at her, making her steps quicker, her brow furrow deeper. She had sensed something was wrong before even stepping foot inside. Their silence spoke volumes, each face more concerned than the last. Jurou sat slumped on a stone wall, his face shadowed by frustration, while Arisu paced nearby, chewing on her bottom lip, barely masking her anxiety.
"What's going on?" Ayaka's voice cut through the silence, firm and unyielding.
Jurou barely looked up, but the exhale that escaped him carried the burden of days of worry. "It's Kazuichi," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his weary face. "He's been... different. Pushing himself, sure, but it's like he's shutting himself off. We haven't seen him outside his place for days. Just training nonstop."
