Shoko Ieiri entered her office with a sigh, noticing the accumulated fatigue. Her day had just begun, and she already felt the need for a smoke. However, before she could take another step, something caught her attention. Sitting on the floor, right at the door's threshold, was a young woman, her head tilted slightly to the side and a bright smile on her lips. It was her student from the past few months: Rika.
The young woman's eyes sparkled with a contained, childlike enthusiasm, as if she couldn't wait to tell her something. Seeing Shoko, Rika gave an agile jump, standing up in an instant. Her energy radiated as she rushed toward her teacher.
"Sensei, I did it, I did it, I did it!" Rika shouted, almost bouncing around Shoko like a puppy who just learned a new trick. Her steps were quick and clumsy, making small circles around her as her hands waved.
Shoko raised an eyebrow. It wasn't the first time Rika had surprised her with some odd display of youthful energy. She let out a long sigh, wishing for a moment to have a cigarette between her lips to calm herself.
"What did you do this time?" Shoko asked with a half-smile, trying to moderate her tone, though she couldn't help but be interested. Something in the sparkle of Rika's eyes told her this time was different.
Rika, instead of answering directly, reached into her pocket and pulled out a small scalpel that seemed to shine under the office light. Shoko frowned, anticipating what was coming, but before she could stop her, Rika removed the cap and slid the sharp blade over the palm of her left hand in a deep cut. Blood started to flow immediately, staining her skin.
Shoko was about to scold her. She knew Rika was prone to making small cuts for experiments and tests, but this was more serious. She usually limited herself to superficial cuts on her fingertips, never anything so dramatic.
"What's wrong with you? Why such a deep cut?" Shoko began, but the words died on her lips when something incredible happened. The cut, which should still be bleeding profusely, began to close before her eyes. Rika's skin was regenerating at an impressive speed, as if the very cells were rushing to merge again, closing the wound without leaving a trace. Within seconds, not even a scar remained.
Shoko blinked, surprised. Her frown relaxed, transforming into a genuine expression of amazement.
"You did it..." she finally whispered, her blue eyes shining with a pride she rarely showed. Rika had managed to master reverse technique at a quality level that surpassed her own.
Upon hearing those words, Rika burst with joy. Her enthusiasm was such that, without thinking, she threw herself at Shoko, hugging her tightly. Shoko, who wasn't the affectionate type, remained momentarily stiff, but then, seeing the sincerity of her student, returned the hug with a gentle pat on the back.
But suddenly, Rika's body tensed. A sharp pain pierced her head, like a jab that made her quickly release her teacher. She brought her hands to her temple, clenching her teeth as she remembered what her mistress had warned her.
Shoko observed her, confused by Rika's sudden change in mood. From euphoria and the enthusiastic hug, she now seemed to be dealing with an internal pain. However, instead of pressing her, Shoko simply smiled, though questions began to arise in her mind.
"Well, we'll... have to celebrate this later, eh?" Shoko said, trying to ease the tension in the air. Her instincts told her there was something more behind her student's behavior, but for now, she decided to let it go. Rika returned a weak smile, still a bit dizzy, and nodded.
Makima was running at full speed across the campus, feeling her muscles tense and relax in perfect sync with each step. The fresh morning air hit her face, revitalizing her. Running had become a fundamental part of her routine since Rika began her private classes with Shoko Ieiri early in the morning. Makima valued those moments of calm and solitude, where she could clear her mind and organize her thoughts without interruptions.
However, that morning, something unusual happened. Hearing hurried footsteps behind her, Makima glanced over her shoulder and was surprised to see Kirara, one of the students, trying to keep up with her pace.
"What are you doing here?" Makima asked in a flat tone, though slightly puzzled. Rarely did anyone dare interfere in her personal time.
Kirara smiled, though she was already beginning to pant a bit. "I see you every morning from my window, always running alone. I thought about adjusting my schedule to join you. It's always easier to keep a routine if you have company, don't you think?"
Makima looked at her from the corner of her eye as she maintained her steady pace. The situation was, to say the least, strange. As far as she knew, Kirara shouldn't have such a marked inclination toward her. Her control technique hadn't yet fully taken effect on the girl, making her behavior unexpected.
"Really?" Makima replied with a slight tone of skepticism, without fully turning her head toward her. The wind softly moved her hair as she mentally calculated how much longer Kirara could keep running at that pace.
Kirara, however, seemed enthusiastic. "Yes, of course. It's just that... well, I feel like if I run with you, I'll motivate myself more. Besides, I've been wanting to improve my endurance. You always seem so disciplined."
Makima didn't respond immediately. In her mind, she processed the information. It could be true that Kirara wanted to improve her endurance, but her instinct told her there was something more. She could feel that her technique hadn't affected Kirara's will enough for her to be so inclined to approach her. Not yet.
"Keeping motivated, huh?" Makima said, slowing her pace a bit, allowing Kirara to breathe a little easier. "I must admit, running with company can have its advantages... though I rarely do it."
Kirara laughed between pants, grateful that Makima had slowed down. "Well, then maybe I can be the exception, right? Besides, I could get used to it. And who knows, maybe we'll end up being good running partners."
Makima tilted her head slightly, without losing focus. She knew something was going on with Kirara. It wasn't just the company she was seeking. She decided she couldn't risk underestimating her, so she thought of testing something.
"Running partners? We'll see..." Makima said in a soft, enigmatic voice. "Kirara, tell me... how far are you willing to go to improve?"
Makima's tone became almost hypnotic, a hint of her technique beginning to seep into her words, subtle but present. Kirara, though tired, noticed the change in the conversation, and her smile faltered slightly.
"What do you mean?" Kirara asked, with a mix of curiosity and caution in her voice.
Makima carefully observed Kirara's reaction. It was still early, but she was intrigued to see how much she could influence her and how far her new "partner" would go without even realizing it.