A month of training flew by with discipline: a daily routine of a 6-mile run, 800 push-ups, and 2 hours of sparring each day. After the vigorous training, Kurashi's lean frame became well-toned with muscle, and his movements were now swift and methodical. With his sharpened mind, his blade moved with precision, as if he had years of experience as a swordsman. Through the improvements of his training, his demeanor had yet to change.
4:30 a.m., October 25, 2022...the day after the training ended, Kurashi and Hikari walked through the streets to the cliff edge, the matte grey sky clouding above them.
"I have to admit, it's impressive how far you've come in such a short time." Hikari stated with a reassuring smile, a hint of nostalgia within his voice "You're developing way faster than I did at your age...kind of envy it."
"Am I?"
"Sure are...probably took me six months to get where you are now."
"Six months?"
"Yeah...I was a pretty slow learner back then.", Hikari stated while scratching the back of his neck.
The two sat in silence for a moment as Hikari thought to himself, the cool morning air flowing past them.
"With how smoothly things are going. I think we can speed up the process a bit."
Kurashi stood there in silence, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"It's time...time to unlock your ryokukami."
At the very edge of the cliff, Kurashi sat down, gazing off into the horizon.
"Alright, close your eyes."
As Kurashi slowly closed his eyes, the view in front of him faded away.
"Relax...take a deep breath," Hikari stated calmly as he stood behind Kurashi.
Back straightened, eyes closed, shoulders relaxed, and hands gently resting on his knees, Kurashi took a deep breath in.
"To awaken, you need to be in a state of tranquility...blocking out all outside sources. When that time comes, your soul with be in its purest form...Sink into your inner world and let the light guide you."
Hikari waited a moment to let his words sink in before continuing.
"This is your world, so I won't be able to help from this point on..." Hikari stated as turned to walk away "Good luck...I'll be here when you return."
Two days passed, and Kurashi had still yet to make any progress within the time. Even with the lack of advancement, Kurashi remained composed, tuning out all outside distractions.
When night fell on the third night, Kurashi's eyes fluttered open, finding himself engulfed in a realm of profound darkness. It wasn't the typical darkness of the night, but an abyssal void that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. It was as though he had stepped into a world untouched by time, where the boundaries of reality blurred into obscurity.
Slowly, Kurashi pushed himself up from where he had been kneeling, feeling the eerie stillness of the air as he rose. With each step he took, small ripples spread outwards from where his foot touched the ground, creating a gentle splashing sound that reverberated through the emptiness around him. As he walked further, Kurashi felt a subtle pull, a gravitational force that drew him deeper into the vast emptiness.
It was then that a dim white light came into view, piercing through the veil of utter darkness. As Kurashi moved forward, the blur sharpened, revealing a radiant white orb suspended in the void. Extending his right hand, he reached out for the orb. As his fingers inched closer, his hand was repelled by an unknown force. It was as if an invisible barrier surrounded it, keeping Kurashi from ever making contact. With a resolute breath, Kurashi closed his eyes and surrendered himself to the unknown.
The force that once stood between Kurashi and the orb slowly began to dissolve, fading away like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Kurashi's hand descended further into the surface of the orb, seeming to merge with its boundless energy. In a firm grasp, Kurashi closed his hand around the orb, his fingers wrapping around its ethereal form. At that moment, a blinding white flash emitted from his right hand, forcing him to close his eyes shut.
When Kurashi opened his eyes, he found himself kneeling by the cliff edge once more, the familiar landscape stretching out before him. Adjusting his eyes back to the real world, the sound of approaching footsteps became more vivid.
"You back?" Hikari questioned as he walked up to the edge "How'd it go?"
Kurashi looked down at his right hand in silence, confused as to where the orb went.
"The light...did you find it?"
"Yeah, it was right here..." Kurashi responded in a whisper, still looking at his right hand.
"Hmm, sounds like a success to me..."
Hikari's gaze locked onto Kurashi, a sense of fulfillment in his expression.
"Already, huh? This kid never fails to impress me." Hikari thought.
"What now?", Kurashi questioned as he stood up from the ground.
"Take out your blade..."
Kurashi hesitated for a second before unsheathing his katana, holding it by his right side.
"You see, the Ito clan were known for their psychic powers, each branch of the clan specializing in their own unique abilities: mind reading, mind control, memory manipulation, precognition...But the strongest branch, the one you descend from, specialized in telekinesis."
"Telekinesis...so that was my father's power?"
"Well, your father was a special case...Originally a telekinesis user, he found a way to inherit the other branch's abilities as well...No one knows how since each branch strictly passes through to their own descendants, but...I guess that doesn't go for someone like him."
There was then a moment of silence as Kurashi took in this newfound knowledge.
"Toss it to the ground."
Kurashi tossed the blade to the ground and awaited Hikari's next direction.
"Now, visualize the blade coming back to your hand," Hikari said with his arms crossed over his chest.
Focusing, Kurashi sensed a stable connection form between his mind and the katana, like an invisible thread weaving through the fabrics of reality. Hikari's gaze widened as he watched the katana arise from the ground, defying the laws of gravity as it drew toward Kurashi's outstretched hand. The blade then settled into Kurashi's grasp, sliding it back into the sheath once more.
"Alright, let's call it a day...Good work, Kurashi."
Kurashi nods his head in agreement, his hands tucked deep in his pockets.
"It's been a long time since I've seen that..." Hikari thought.
Back at the house, Hikari tended to the stove, the flickering fire casting a warm glow over his features. There at the kitchen table, Kurashi sat patiently for the food to be done. After Hikari finished cooking, he placed the steaming dish in front of Kurashi.
"Here, this was my favorite as a kid."
The meal, a bento box, consisted of grilled chicken, sushi rolls, steamed veggies, and rice.
"So how'd it look? Your inner world, I mean."
"It was completely dark..."
Hikari paused to think for a moment.
"Completly dark? That's not right..." Hikari thought.
The inner world is the place that reflects the user's soul. It is shaped by experiences, emotions, desires, and fears. Unlike the vast, unsettling darkness Kurashi experienced, the inner world tends to manifest into a natural setting, mountains, forests, fields, and rivers being the most common.
Hikari decided not to bring this up to him, and the two of them ate in peace. After finishing their meals and heading to bed, terrible news would emerge the following day.