Shinso gasps as he hears the news about the sphere from Kaeya. "So it disappeared! The sphere disappeared once the eye on Nobu's sword opened, right?"
Kaeya nods, "Yeah, a portion of Kamaitachi's power definitely got reincarnated in Nobu! But I thought that his power was sealed after the demon war! How is it possible for Nobu to gain a sealed power?"
"It's not the whole pie though," Shinso explains as he leans on his seat, "Nobu just got a bit of Kamaitachi's power. Maybe around 20% or so!"
They fall into silence for a while as Kaeya puts his hand under his chin, analyzing the information. After a moment, he snaps his fingers, "That amount was leaked by Kamaitachi before they sealed his powers!" he adds, getting a nod of agreement from Shinso.
"They divided his power in two before sealing him to make it even harder for the next reincarnation to collect the power," continues Shinso, sighing lightly. "But to think that Kamaitachi was able to leak around 20% before being sealed, that demon is something..."
"Nobu... we're not going to tell him about it now, right?" asks Kaeya, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Shinso shakes his head, "He was unaware of the power he used in the last fight," he clarifies, "He didn't even notice the eye-opening on his sword, which means that he still doesn't know how to control it!"
"Let's give him some time before telling him about the power inside him," suggests Shinso. "If we come clean after he finds a way to control a bit of it, it should be better!"
"That does make sense," confirms Kaeya. "Only one week left before the tournament, I hope they haven't forgotten to get some rest, to be honest!"
As Kaeya expected, the newbies are working hard to hone their skills. Most of them are focused on enhancing their weaknesses. However, there is one exception - the king of laziness, Nobu. He can be found wandering around aimlessly, munching on chocolate and casually observing his team members' training.
Despite being aware of the upcoming tournament, Nobu seems unbothered by the lack of effort he is putting in. Instead, he is content to lounge around, seemingly oblivious to the efforts of his teammates.
Kaeya can't help but shake his head in disbelief. "How can Nobu be so nonchalant about this?" He asks, confused.
"Well, they say that resting is needed before such events, right?" Giggle Shinso awkwardly as he's amazed by Nobu's lack of seriousness.
As Nobu approaches the training camp, he feels a sudden heat wave spreading across the area, causing sweat to drip down his forehead. "It's Satomi!" he exclaims with excitement, sensing the girl's presence and her mastery of fire magic.
Without wasting any time, Nobu dashes towards the training area to see how Satomi is doing with her training. As he approaches, he sees her standing in the center of a ring of fire, her arms outstretched and her eyes closed in deep concentration.
Satomi raises her right palm forward, a confident smile on her lips as she chants the words for her spell. "Flame Magic: Blazing Garden," she incants, and as she does, a great field of fire with roses spreading all over the place bursts to life.
As she admires her handiwork, Satomi unsheathes her sword and raises it high, ready to begin her training. She fires her heels with some fire to boost her speed and then begins to move around the field she created, swinging her sword with quick and precise movements.
The flames dance around her as she trains, but Satomi is focused, her eyes fixed on her goal. She moves with grace and confidence, her sword a blur as she strikes at imaginary enemies.
Just as she begins to plan for her next spell, Satomi's concentration is broken by the sound of Nobu's applause. "That was awesome, Satomi!" he exclaims as he approaches her, causing her to cancel the Blazing Garden spell.
Satomi places a hand on her forehead, letting out a heavy sigh as she glances over at Nobu. "Nobu, come on. You can't keep slacking off like this. Ash isn't going to be a pushover, and he's training hard right now. You need to be doing the same."
Nobu simply shrugs his shoulders, a carefree smile on his face. "Eh, I'll pass for now," he says, causing Satomi to shake her head in disbelief. She sheathes her sword and turns to face him. "At the very least, have you been working on your All For One?"
Nobu nods, a hint of disappointment in his voice as he punches the air in front of him. "I've been working on it," he admits. "But I still get immobilized for a bit after using it once. It's not exactly ideal, but hey, what can I do about it?"
Nobu looks over at Satomi, admiration in his eyes as he watches her catch her breath after a strenuous training session. "You are pretty dedicated to becoming stronger," he says with a chuckle. "Unlike me, you actually put in the work."
Satomi smiles warmly at her friend, a glint of determination in her vermillion eyes. "Of course I am," she replies. "I mean, I want to be able to stand by his side as an equal, not just rely on him to protect us all the time. I want to be strong enough to protect him too when the time comes."
Nobu notices Satomi hugging her knees tightly to her chest and nods in her direction. "You're talking about Reina, right?" he asks, observing as her dark hair cascades around her face, partially covering her vermillion eyes as she nods slowly, her expression one of gratefulness.
Nobu looks up to the sky, as if in deep contemplation. "You're right," he says. "We can't just sit around and let Reina do all the work just because he's older. We need to step up and become stronger ourselves."
He stands up, dusting off his clothes. "As for me, I don't just want to be his equal," he declares, a fierce look in his eyes. "I want to surpass him. I want to become the strongest so that I can protect everyone and make sure you all get to your goals!"
Satomi chuckles, tilting her head slightly to the right. "You're still clinging onto your childish fantasies, I see," she says with a teasing tone.
Nobu's eyes slowly turn pink as he turns to Satomi, a sly grin on his face. Satomi is taken aback, surprised to see Nobu's eyes change to pink for the first time. "P...Pink?" she thinks to herself, wondering what kind of feeling he is about to express.
"Your presence became so warm and fuzzy when you brought up Reina, you know!" confesses Nobu, his grin growing even wilder. Satomi's chest sinks a bit at his words. "So you do love him after all, huh?" he continues. "Why are you playing hard to get, then?"
Satomi's cheeks turn bright red as she stammers out a response. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she says, trying to regain her composure. "I-I just want to be able to stand by Reina's side as an equal. That's all."
"Look at you, all flushed and red!" exclaims Nobu, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he kneels down to get a closer look at Satomi's blushing face. "You must really love the guy! Come on, be honest with me, girl!"
Satomi stammers, her words barely audible as she tries to compose herself. "Sh...shut up," she finally manages, her hand flying up to lightly hit Nobu on the head.
"Ow!" He winces playfully, but his eyes remain fixed on Satomi's face, admiring the way her cheeks remain flushed even as she pouts at him. He can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at having caught her off guard, reveling at the moment as he watches her fidget under his gaze.
"He loves you too, you know!" Nobu taunts, enjoying the way Satomi's frustration grows. She stands up, her hand raised as if to warn him not to push his luck any further. "O... OY! Quit bringing it up, will you!"
"Okay, okay, my bad!" Nobu backs off, holding his hands up defensively. He can't help but grin, pleased with himself for teasing Satomi so mercilessly.
Satomi mutters under her breath, her voice barely audible as she twirls a strand of her hair between her fingers. "So what if I like him a little?" she admits, finally breaking down and confiding in her friend.
"Don't tsundere around me," Nobu retorts, his eyes returning to their usual dark blue. "Anyway, I think you've had enough rest now. Keep up the good work."
"Ummm... Nobu... Wait a sec," Satomi interrupts, grabbing his shoulder to stop him from leaving. "I have a favor to ask. Is that okay?"
"What is it?" Nobu asks, ready to offer his help.
"It's about your last fight," She admits, her eyes blazing with determination. "I want to know if you noticed something during the battle against our masters."
Nobu's expression turns serious as he realizes the gravity of Satomi's request. So, he answers her call and trains with the girl a little until she gets her request satisfied.
As he makes his way through the dense forest, Nobu suddenly comes across the serene sight of Yagami meditating. His friend is seated on a bed of lush green grass, his posture poised and graceful with his hands resting gently on his thighs. The stillness of the surrounding trees seems to have seeped into Yagami's very being, and the peace radiating from him is palpable.
As Yagami controls his breathing, the lines of tension on his face gradually ease away, leaving behind an almost ethereal visage. The sunlight filtering through the trees catches on his fluffy brown hair, causing it to sway gently in the breeze. The effect is enchanting, and Nobu can't help but be drawn in by the sheer charisma exuding from his friend's calm composure.
Yagami's features are strikingly attractive - his skin is clear and radiant, just like his gentle light magic. His round face is framed perfectly by his tousled hair, and the serenity of his meditation seems to have added an extra glow to his already handsome appearance. Truly, Yagami is a stunning 'Ikemen', and Nobu can't help but be impressed by his friend's inner peace and outward beauty.
Nobu moves cautiously through the forest, careful not to disturb the peaceful stillness that surrounds Yagami. He approaches his friend from behind, moving stealthily so as not to interrupt his meditation. As he draws closer, he can see that Yagami is completely immersed in his practice, his senses seemingly attuned to the natural world around him.
Despite being devoid of magic himself, Nobu senses that there is something more to Yagami's lack of awareness. It's as if his friend has become one with the energy of the forest, melding with the very essence of the trees and earth. It's a powerful feeling and one that Nobu can't help but admire.
Nobu stands there, transfixed by the sight of Yagami's peaceful meditation. His eyes flicker back and forth between blue and orange, a sign that he's deep in thought and perhaps even struggling with a decision.
After a few moments of hesitation, Nobu makes up his mind. He raises his hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he contemplates whether or not to follow through.
"Nevermind, I'll do it!" Then, with a sudden burst of confidence, he decides to go for it.
Without warning, Nobu slams his hand down on Yagami's back, shattering his friend's concentration and sending him tumbling forward. Yagami hits the ground face-first, his body convulsing with shock and surprise.
"Yo Yagami! How are you doing?" Nobu bellows, his voice ringing out through the forest. He grins broadly, pleased with himself for having pulled off such a daring feat.
Yagami slowly raises his head, his face now smudged with mud from the fall. He stares at Nobu with those emerald eyes, a mix of annoyance and resignation in them.
"S... Sorry!" Stammer Nobu, his face still one of dumbness. He had not meant to be so aggressive, and he knows that he has let his impulsive nature get the better of him.
"At least try looking sorry," Yagami sighs, his voice tinged with frustration. He dusts himself off, trying to shake off the residual anger that still lingers within him.
"Hey, do you have a tissue or something?" he asks, looking up at Nobu. Despite his annoyance, Yagami can't help but feel a sense of fondness for his friend. No matter how impulsive or thoughtless Nobu can be, Yagami still considers him a close friend.
Nobu rummages in his pocket and pulls out a small piece of cloth. He hands it to Yagami, who takes it gratefully. "Thank you," Yagami says, looking down at the cloth. But as he inspects it more closely, he realizes that it's a bit dirty with chocolate smudges. He can't help but feel a twinge of annoyance.
"Is he for real?" Yagami mutters to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. He knows that Nobu means well, but sometimes his friend's boldness can be frustrating.
Despite his reservations, Yagami begins to use the cloth to wipe the mud off his face. The cloth is soft and absorbs the dirt easily, leaving his skin feeling clean and refreshed.
Nobu inquires, "Are you meditating? Don't you think it would be more beneficial to focus on improving your fighting skills since you're up against Reina, who's currently the strongest among us?"
Yagami takes a seat, and as he does, he emits dazzling particles of light that captivate the onlooker. "Yes, I was meditating," he affirms. "But as you know, I'm a healer, and I don't possess any offensive abilities right now. So, there's no point in working on that at the moment."
Even though the outcome of their match has already been predetermined, Yagami admits, "I'm not concerned about it. The tournament is just a simple test to determine our relative strengths. But, as a team, those rankings hold no significance to me."
"I want our entire team to be strong and dependable," Yagami declares as he playfully sends a tiny bubble of light towards Nobu, who eagerly reaches out to catch it like a child. "As long as we can achieve that, I'm content."
As Nobu continues to play with the light bubble, Yagami suddenly snaps his fingers, causing the bubble to vanish. Nobu turns to him with a cute, teary expression, and Yagami chuckles at his friend's adorable reaction.
"Speaking of training, why aren't you working on improving your fighting skills, Nobu?" Yagami inquires, extending a chocolate bar toward him. Nobu's face lights up with delight at this unexpected gesture of kindness.
"You know you need to work on your fighting style too," Yagami continues with a grin.
Nobu eagerly unwraps the chocolate bar, taking a bite before questioning Yagami, "Fighting style? What do you mean?"
"Well, for starters, you still haven't quite mastered using your sword," Yagami admits, recalling Nobu's fights. "Perhaps it's because you only recently acquired it, but that's not all. You also take too long to execute your switch technique, even though I know you can do it faster with practice. Additionally, your fighting stance is too open, leaving you vulnerable to attacks, not to mention your lack of magic. You need to focus on defending yourself if you don't want to get hurt..."
As Yagami voices his concerns, he notices Nobu's expression fall slightly. "Are my weaknesses that obvy?" Asks Nobu, still munching on his chocolate while sobbing.
Yagami quickly jumps in to lift Nobu's spirits, "Don't worry, you also have exceptional talent! But you still need to work on improving your skills."
Nobu simply nods, aware that Yagami is right. However, the thought of putting in the effort required to train is still unappealing to him, "But I'm just too lazy to train!" he admits.
"Quit acting like a child!" scolds Yagami, flicking Nobu's forehead lightly.
"Ow!" cries Nobu, holding his forehead. "Why do I always end up getting scolded by you guys?" he asks with a pout.
"Anyways, do you have any advice on what I should work on?" asks Nobu, finally considering the idea of training. "Who knows, I might actually give it a shot!"
"Let me think..." Yagami ponders, placing a hand under his chin. "Perhaps you could work on your battle stance. And finding a style that suits your powers would be beneficial as well. You know, the way you handle your weapon and move during a fight."
"Also, try to incorporate your speed and agility into your style," Yagami adds with a nod. "Your swiftness is definitely one of your strengths. It can be troublesome to your opponent if you can handle it well!"
"Okay, I'll give it a try," agrees Nobu, placing a hand on Yagami's shoulder. "Thanks for the advice, man! I'll leave you to your meditation now."
"Good luck with your training," Yagami waves as Nobu departs from the forest, and then he returns to his meditation.
"I was planning on telling him to dive deeper and try to find a way to awaken the power surge that he got last time," Mutters Yagami as he closes his eyes, "But it won't be a good idea if he works on all of that stuff simultaneously!"
As the sun begins to set, painting the sky with a spectrum of orange and pink, its warm light casts a reflection on the nearby river. Nobu walks across the bridge, making his way to a park filled with an array of beautiful flowers and trees.
This park is a peaceful place, and the scent of flowers is both calming and invigorating at the same time. Nobu takes a deep breath, feeling the tension of the day start to fade away as he enters the serene surroundings.
His attention is drawn to something in the park, and he raises his head to find Sayuri dancing gracefully in a short, cute white dress that flows gently with the wind. The dress has a delicate lace pattern on the top, with a ruffled hemline that ends just above her knees. The fabric of the dress seems to be light and airy as if it's made for a warm spring day just like this one. It complements her slender figure perfectly, accentuating her curves in all the right places. The overall effect is enchanting, making her look like a fairy dancing in a magical forest.
She's all by herself, moving with such fluidity and grace that it's hard to take his eyes off her. The way she moves, it's as if she's completely lost in the moment, lost in the music that only she can hear. Nobu watches, captivated by her elegance and beauty, feeling a sense of tranquility wash over him as he takes in the scene before him.
Completing her dance routine along with her training session, Sayuri comes to a halt as she lifts her perfectly stretched eyelids, her silver eyes reflecting the picturesque scenery of the garden and the sun setting behind it, before turning her gaze towards Nobu
As Sayuri shifts her gaze slightly to the left, she notices her friend standing there, causing her to slightly part her lips in surprise at his sudden appearance. But quickly recovering, she turns to him with a warm smile, her silver eyes now reflecting both the garden scenery and Nobu's presence in it.
"And here I am, thinking that you wouldn't pay me a visit today!"