"You let the Reikon kill me," a voice whispered to Ryoka.
Ryoka turned back, "What?"
What stood behind him was his grandpa, who was wearing the kendo armor they used for training. His grandpa reached out a hand to offer him another piece of armor. Ryoka thought it was so fuzzy, as if something significant had happened. He took the armor and put it on.
He walked to a corner to pick up a bokuto (wooden katana). Then, walked back to the middle and held a stance. The bokuto was turned towards himself on the side while the handle was pointing at his grandpa. He also holds a stance.
His grandpa smiled, "Don't hold back, Ryo. I'll also do my best," he gripped the bokuto harder.
Ryota nodded and cracked his neck to prepare. He'd waited for this day to come where they'd be fighting with their best might without holding a punch.
His grandpa seemed to bow as he took a stance, preparing to dash forward. The old man charged at Ryota, but Ryota stood his ground. "Heh, I've already figured out your counter, old man," he said. Just as Grandpa's bokuto was about to hit him, Ryota stretched out his arm and clashed their bokuto together.
His grandpa's bokuto was indeed almost thrown but he gripped it and crouched and tried to slash again. This time, it'll surely hit.
But it didn't.
Ryota felt the touch but it was too gentle. It was as if, the- the sword's tip was in pieces. He turned to his grandpa and he looked genuinely scared. His grandpa took a step back.
Ryota felt he needed to take action so his grandpa wouldn't feel intimidated. He stretched out his hand to grip him and bring him closer. Suddenly, cards began to fly from behind Ryota toward his grandpa. One by one, the cards pierced through his body—one hit, then two hits, and before long, there were too many hits to count. Ryota screamed in desperation and tried again to hold his grandpa, but another card passed right by him.
It split his grandpa's head and body.
Ryota lost his strength to stand up and he fell to the ground. He closed his eyes while tears started to leak.
When he opened his eyes, it was dark. Now that he remembered, this was his new room in the Reikon Responder Agency facility. "Oh, I'm crying?" said him as he wiped his watery eyes. But no wipe could stop a tear, it would only dry it for a moment. Before long, he can't stop crying. More and more tears are wetting the blanket.
"Sorry Grandpa, I took your death so lightly."
"Not that I know how to respond. Mum and Dad's death were too sudden and still today I- I can't process it. Your's too- I- "
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"Did you show his room?" a man asked.
"Y- Yes, of course," a female voice said in a tremble.
"Did I see this wrong, are you shaking?" the man approached the girl.
"No, you didn't. Ju- Just what did you bring into our facility here?"
"A devil? No, he'll be my successor. Maybe- No, he will surpass me. He'll surpass The Reikon's Terror," the man announced.
"I saw his mana, I flowed like a never-ending breached dam. It's so dense and intimidating that I- I had to open up my gate," the girl confessed.
"I see, he's starting to reach my expectations. That's great news!" the man coated himself. He twisted the knob, "For the starter, let him join your squad," he exited the door frame and gently shut the door.
The girl left behind with a puzzled and frustrated look, "Great, he's joining the 3rd Squad. Did he say 'for the starter'?"
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"Knock, knock, sleepyhead," a girl's voice said as knocking the door twice.
She almost jumped when almost immediately, the knob was twisted and the door waved open. Ryoka seemed different from what he was yesterday. He seemed gloomy.
The girl observed Ryoka's face and a memory passed through her head, "By the way, that kid just lost his grandpa on that incident. His last relative was now no more," the voice belonged to Miyamoto.
She chose to take the happy route by trying to lighten up his mood by saying with a playful voice, "Hey Ryota! Guess what, you're joining my squad, the 3rd Reikon Responder Squad."
Ryota mustered a smile and replied, "Then I'll be in your care from now on."
Something clicked in the girl's mind, "Oh, I haven't introduced myself to any extent right? The name's Aiko. I'm looking forward to working with you," he offered a handshake.
Of course, Ryota accepted it. With that, he's part of the Reikon Responder.
Above all, he's joining the strongest squad, the 3rd Squad.