It had been a week since Kurata took them in, but the memory of the fire still haunted Takeshi. Every night, he saw their house consumed by flames, his parents' faces flickering in the blaze. He could feel the heat closing in and hear his father's distant, teary-eyed voice just before everything exploded.
No matter how hard he tried, the guilt stayed with him—he wasn't fast enough. If only he had been stronger, faster… maybe he could have saved them.
Kurata kept them busy with rigorous training every day. There was no room for slacking off, no time for distractions. It was a relentless schedule meant to keep their minds and bodies sharp, but it wasn't enough for Takeshi. The ache in his heart remained.
"Get up!" Kurata's sharp voice cut through the early morning silence, yanking the children out of sleep. Takeshi, Kori, and Raiden groaned but obeyed, dragging their tired bodies out of bed.
The day began with stretches and laps, followed by strength and combat drills. Punch after punch, kick after kick—they worked until they could barely stand. Kurata kept pushing them, correcting their stances, demanding more effort.
For Kori and Raiden, it was exhausting. They collapsed on the floor after each session, grateful for any moment to rest. But for Takeshi, it wasn't enough. The weight of his guilt pressed down on him, forcing him to push harder than anyone else.
While Kori and Raiden went home after practice, Takeshi stayed behind. Alone on the training ground, he drilled himself mercilessly. Sweat soaked his clothes as he ran sprints until his legs felt like lead. He punched the air, kicked at wooden stumps, and fought imaginary enemies late into the night.
The sound of his fists hitting wood echoed in the empty field. Each strike was filled with frustration and regret. "If I had been stronger... if I had been faster…" he muttered, voice cracking with every hit.
His hands throbbed, and his feet bled, but the pain didn't matter. Nothing was enough to make up for what he'd lost.
One night, Takeshi stumbled into the house after another long, exhausting session. Kori and Raiden were waiting for him, concern etched on their faces.
"Takeshi," Kori began softly, "why do you keep training so much? Kurata says we're already working hard enough."
Takeshi sat down, his breath shaky. "Because I failed them," he whispered. "I wasn't strong enough to save Mom and Dad."
Raiden scooted closer, resting his head on Takeshi's arm. "You didn't fail them."
Takeshi shook his head. "I should've done more. I should've been faster."
Kori placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did everything you could. We're here because of you."
Takeshi's fists tightened. "It's not enough."
Raiden looked up at him, his voice soft but steady. "Then we'll keep getting stronger. Together."