The atmosphere atop Mt. Tashiro was crisp and invigorating, the mountain air carrying with it a sense of tranquility that belied the intensity of the training grounds nestled within its slopes. Ren, Kaito, and Aria stood outside the entrance to the special training grounds, their silhouettes outlined against the backdrop of the towering peaks that surrounded them.
Kaito's frustration was palpable as he struggled to find the right words to express himself. "I... Uh... Damn it," he muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing in concentration as he searched for the elusive thread of thought that had slipped through his grasp.
Aria couldn't help but chuckle at Kaito's predicament, her laughter echoing through the crisp mountain air. "It seems like you forgot how to speak, Kaito," she teased, her tone light and playful as she watched her companion's struggle.
Ren, ever the stoic figure, observed the exchange with a sense of detached amusement. "It does seem like it," he agreed, his voice calm and measured as he offered his assessment of the situation.
Kaito, growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to articulate his thoughts, took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Give me a moment," he pleaded, his voice tinged with frustration as he struggled to regain his composure. "I was just thinking of something, and forgot what I wanted to say!"
Ren raised an eyebrow at Kaito's explanation, his expression betraying a hint of skepticism. "That's not the best justification," he remarked, his tone dry and matter-of-fact as he assessed Kaito's reasoning.
But Kaito was undeterred by Ren's skepticism, his frustration giving way to a sense of determination as he sought to explain himself. "Stop being so formal," he insisted, his voice tinged with a note of exasperation. "We know each other, and... Well, just use the word 'reasoning'," he continued, his words tumbling out in a rush as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. "You don't need to be so formal with us."
Ren's response was swift and unequivocal. "Negative," he stated flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument as he reaffirmed his commitment to propriety and formality.
Aria, meanwhile, could barely contain her amusement at the exchange unfolding before her. Her laughter bubbled up from deep within her, her mirth infectious as she watched her companions navigate the intricacies of their conversation with a sense of bemusement.
As the trio stood outside the training grounds, Kaito's mind buzzed with thoughts and ideas, his gaze distant as he pondered the potential implications of his newfound knowledge. "I didn't tell it to Aria," he mused silently, his thoughts a whirlwind of contemplation and speculation. "But I did learn something... A way of possibly separating Enishi from the vessel he's using, well... If he even uses a vessel."
As Kaito stood in silence, lost in his thoughts, the wheels of his mind turned furiously as he mulled over the revelation he had stumbled upon. His discovery held the potential to shift the balance of power in their ongoing struggle against Enishi, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape.
Aria, ever perceptive, noticed the change in Kaito's demeanor and sensed the weight of his thoughts bearing down on him. With a gentle nudge, she sought to bring him back to the present moment, her voice cutting through the silence like a beacon in the darkness. "Snap out of it, Kaito," she urged, her tone filled with concern as she reached out to him in silent support.
Ren, always the astute observer, couldn't help but interject with his trademark dry humor, his words laced with a hint of amusement as he commented on the dynamic between Kaito and Aria. "Why am I not surprised that a couple like you acts like you don't date?" he remarked, his tone teasing yet affectionate as he observed their interactions.
Aria, caught off guard by Ren's comment, couldn't help but feel a twinge of confusion at his words. "What do you mean? We didn't deny our relationship," she protested, her brow furrowing in confusion as she sought to understand Ren's perspective.
Kaito, meanwhile, found himself grappling with a mix of emotions as he processed Ren's words. "Yeah... What's wrong with our relationship?" he echoed, his tone tinged with a hint of defensiveness as he bristled at the implication that there was something amiss with their connection.
Ren, ever enigmatic, offered no further explanation, his silence hanging heavy in the air as he contemplated the complexities of human relationships. "You just... well, forget it," he finally conceded, his tone tinged with a note of confusion as he shook his head in bemusement. "I'm a little confused as of right now..."
As the trio engaged in their familiar banter, the atmosphere was light and tinged with a sense of camaraderie. Yet, beneath the surface, there lingered a palpable tension, born from the weight of unspoken truths and unresolved questions.
Kaito, ever the voice of reason, couldn't help but voice his concerns in response to Ren's cryptic remarks. "You cannot just say stuff like that and expect us to not question you," he remarked, his tone tinged with a hint of frustration as he sought clarity amidst the ambiguity.
Ren, for his part, offered little in the way of explanation, opting instead for his trademark enigmatic response. "I know, you don't need to tell me," he replied, his expression inscrutable as he deflected Kaito's inquiries with practiced ease.
Aria, sensing the growing tension between her companions, sought to diffuse the situation with a gentle plea for peace. "Let's just forget about it," she suggested, her voice soft and soothing as she attempted to steer the conversation back towards safer waters.
Yet, Ren's curiosity seemed to be piqued by a different matter altogether, as he turned his attention to Aria with a probing question. "By the way, Aria, did you, by any chance, inform Kaito about what I've told you?" he inquired, his gaze piercing as he awaited her response.
Caught off guard by Ren's query, Aria hesitated for a moment before conceding to the truth. "Oh, that... Eh... I did," she admitted, her voice tinged with a note of uncertainty as she grappled with the consequences of her actions.
Ren's reaction was one of mild amusement, as he seemed to take Aria's confession in stride. "I knew it, well, it doesn't matter," he remarked casually, his tone betraying a hint of amusement as he dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand.
Kaito, eager to move past the awkward exchange, quickly chimed in in agreement. "Yes, it doesn't matter," he echoed, his tone echoing Ren's nonchalant demeanor as he sought to downplay the significance of the revelation.
Ren, ever observant, couldn't help but note Kaito's tendency to echo the sentiments of those around him. "You like repeating what people say, don't you?" he remarked teasingly, his lips quirking up into a playful smile as he teased his friend.
Kaito, caught off guard by Ren's observation, found himself sputtering in protest. "What? No!" he exclaimed, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he attempted to defend himself against Ren's playful accusation.
However, before the trio could delve any further into their playful banter, their attention was abruptly diverted by the sound of a voice calling out to them from behind. "Hey, you. You're Altharion's vessel, aren't you?" the voice called out, its tone laced with curiosity and intrigue.
Startled by the unexpected interruption, Kaito, Aria, and Ren quickly turned around to face the source of the voice.