After a while, Kaoru's smartphone vibrated in his pants pocket. The screen showed a call from Asuka. He quickly withdrew his hand from Inage's grasp, making the woman, for some reason, look slightly displeased.
Despite her advanced age, Inage was able to use her ninja arts, the art of the soul, to rejuvenate her body. With this technique, she could switch between her younger and older forms at will. And in her youthful form, as she was now, she had a tendency to act mischievous, especially toward young men like Kaoru standing before her.
Kaoru answered the phone and heard Asuka's worried voice on the other end.
[Kaoru! Where are you right now?!]
"Well, I'm at a stall. She said she was a fortune-teller, so I got curious and decided to give it a try," Kaoru replied casually, glancing at Inage, who was still wearing her mysterious smile.
[What!? Kaoru, you're not getting scammed, are you?!] Asuka's voice grew even more anxious.
Kaoru turned to look at Inage, her teasing smile still playing on her face. From her demeanor, Kaoru was sure this wasn't an ordinary scam.
"No, and even if I were being scammed, I'd be the one scamming them back," he said confidently.
[Oh my gosh… Just hurry back, okay? You don't want me watching the fireworks without my favorite guy, do you?] Asuka's voice softened at the end, sounding sweet but firm.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be back soon."
Kaoru ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. He then turned to Inage and said, "I need to get back now, Inage-san. Thank you. Do I need to pay?" Kaoru pulled out his wallet, ready to pay, but Inage quickly stopped him with her hand.
"Hohoho~ No need. I did it just for fun. Besides, I'll welcome you nicely the next time you visit my ice cream shop," Inage replied, winking playfully.
"Yeah, yeah," Kaoru responded in a flat tone, though he couldn't help but smile a bit inside at the woman's attitude. After giving her a nod of farewell, he walked out, leaving Inage still smiling mysteriously.
When he returned to the meeting spot, Kaoru saw the three girls already waiting for him—Shiranui, Rinko, and Asuka. Asuka was still hugging her fluffy fuwa-fuwa doll.
"Ready, girls?" Kaoru asked with a relaxed smile, looking at each of them in turn.
Rinko, who could never resist making a sharp comment, immediately crossed her arms and gave him a cynical look. "For some reason, you sound like a player who's flirting with a bunch of women at once," she remarked sarcastically, clearly annoyed by Kaoru's overly casual demeanor around the three of them.
Kaoru chuckled lightly, shrugging with a nonchalant expression. "A player? Well, maybe I do seem that way. But don't worry, I'm a loyal guy." He replied while glancing at Asuka, who gave him a small smile from beside him, as if assuring him she still trusted him.
"Huh, it seems Asuka-chan is too quick to forgive you," Shiranui teased with a mischievous grin on her face.
Asuka just sighed, though a soft smile remained on her face. "Well, he's like that... But if he ever goes too far, I'll be the one to teach him a lesson." Her words sounded sweet, but there was a hint of threat in them, making Kaoru suddenly feel a shiver run down his spine.
"Alright, alright, I'll behave," Kaoru said in a playful tone, raising his hands in mock surrender.
The three of them just stared at Kaoru, then burst into laughter together, as if they all understood the strange yet enjoyable dynamic they had—a relaxed style filled with laughter and simple camaraderie. Not long after, they finally reached the spot they'd been aiming for. It was a bit secluded, not too crowded, but perfect for watching the fireworks without any disturbance.
The night sky was beginning to glow with shades of orange as the sun sank below the horizon. Kaoru looked around, making sure they'd secured the best spot to watch the upcoming fireworks display.
"Ah, this spot is perfect! We can see everything from here!" Asuka exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
"Agreed!" Rinko chimed in with enthusiasm. "This place is far from the crowds, but the view is still perfect. Kaoru, you really know all the best spots!"
Kaoru simply smiled, feeling a bit proud. "Well, of course. I always know the best places."
The moment they had been waiting for finally arrived. The atmosphere grew quiet as an announcement echoed, signaling that the fireworks display was about to begin. Asuka and Rinko couldn't hold back their excitement and began counting down eagerly.
"Five, four, three…!" they shouted in unison, their voices full of anticipation and excitement.
Kaoru and Shiranui, who were a bit more composed, simply chuckled at their friends' enthusiastic behavior. They exchanged glances and smiled, as if understanding that this was what made the moment so special—their bond of laughter and shared joy in the simple things.
When the countdown reached zero, the night sky exploded with dazzling bursts of colorful light. Fireworks erupted above them, creating beautiful shapes that painted the sky. Red, blue, green, and gold blended together, illuminating their faces as they were mesmerized by the beauty of the scene.
"Wow...!" Asuka whispered in awe, her eyes wide as she gazed up at the sky.
"Amazing," added Rinko, a wide smile spreading across her face.
Kaoru silently enjoyed the moment, a faint smile on his face as the sky filled with fireworks dancing in the air. Beside him, Shiranui also appeared calm, taking in the display with slightly narrowed eyes, reflecting a warmth she rarely showed.
But the peace felt too perfect—as if something was wrong, a nagging feeling disturbing the calm of the night. And that feeling proved true.
Without warning, a sharp sound sliced through the air, utterly different from the beautiful explosions of fireworks. Kaoru's eyes widened as he saw a long metal object streaking rapidly through the colorful bursts in the sky.
"What is that?!" Rinko screamed, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Kaoru felt a surge of heat flowing through him as the wall of energy he created blocked the impact of the explosion. The terrified screams from around him slowly faded as the dust and smoke began to clear. The ground near the explosion site was strewn with bodies—some injured, some no longer moving. Even though Taimanin Village was home to warriors with supernatural abilities, they were still human, and no one was ever truly prepared for a missile attack in a situation like this.
Kaoru looked coldly at the blast site in the distance, his body trembling not with fear, but with a burning rage. "Cowardly attack..." he muttered quietly, his eyes narrowing sharply. The aura of energy surrounding his body slowly faded, but his blood boiled, full of uncontrollable anger.
He recognized this pattern of attack, this sneaky and unannounced method of destruction, showing no regard for those nearby. There was only one organization infamous for tactics like this—Nomad.
Kaoru gritted his teeth, his sharp gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He had once faced the leader of this organization, Edwin Black, a vampire and daywalker he had taken down with his own sword. But Edwin Black never truly died, he thought. The man was cunning and full of ambition, wanting to create a world under his control.
"Nomad..." Kaoru whispered with venom in his voice. Even though he was certain Edwin Black was still alive somewhere, the one behind this attack wasn't the leader himself but rather the dirty hands of the organization the vampire had once left behind.
Guilt and helplessness briefly crept into his mind. Kaoru hadn't been fast enough to protect everyone. Though he managed to save those closest to him, there were many innocent lives he couldn't reach in time.
"Kaoru!" Asuka's voice broke through, snapping him back to reality. The girl stood, trembling slightly but still intact thanks to Kaoru's protective aura. "What happened?! Who did this?!"
Kaoru clenched his fists tightly. "Nomad… They're back."