The group of four had now become a group of five, Kyutaro slotting into the fold with Rean, Elliot, Gaius and Machias quite well, able to bring up the front of the group with Rean, allowing for Elliot to fit comfortably in the middle of the group surrounded by all of the other boys, shielding their support member.
Machias' eyes were zeroed in on Kyutaro's back, his mind rushing with thoughts. Out of all of them, he seemed to be the most relaxed. Though Rean and Gaius weren't particularly panicked either, the feeling he got from Kyutaro was a little different. It was like…Machias couldn't place what it was exactly, but he knew he would be keeping a close eye on him for now.
Kyutaro for his part, didn't say anything about the extra attention Machias was paying him, but the slight tense to his shoulders would give the trained eye a sign that he could sense the other boy's eyes on him. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, feeling that could wait until they were out of here before he started worrying about it.
"Looks like the paths diverge," Kyutaro said.
"Which way do we go?" Rean asked.
"I can feel the wind blowing from the east," Gaius informed them, "I'm willing to bet the exit's that way."
"Let's take the right path then," Machias put forward.
The four boys shared a nod, then took the turn, pressing on deeper into the area. Another thing Machias noticed was that Kyutaro's eyes never seemed to remain in the same place. Sure, it wasn't like the rest of them were ignorant of their surroundings but there was something… off about how fast the other boy's eyes were darting around the place.
"Head's up," Kyutaro said, indicating a group of enemies in the distance. The blond-haired boy zeroed in on the sight of the enemy, more of the flying felines this time. Rean immediately charged forward with Gaius and Kyutaro in tow. Machias watched on as he effortlessly dealt with the furthest two enemies one after another.
He'd tried to push it from his mind earlier, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. It was as if an external force were repeatedly telling him that something was wrong and not to avert his eyes from the truth even if he desperately wanted to in favor of getting through the old schoolhouse and back to the surface.
"Machias!" Rean shouted, just in time for the bespectacled boy to see one of the felines rapidly coming toward him. He adjusted the orbal rifle he was holding and hit the trigger. The shot rang out through the old schoolhouse and as the shot connected, the enemy exploded into black and white particles before dissipating into nothingness.
"You alright?" Rean asked.
Machias nodded, adjusting his grip on his rifle. "Yeah, just got a bit sidetracked."
Rean frowned slightly but let it go, turning his focus back to the path ahead. Machias exhaled, trying to shake off the nagging unease that refused to leave him.
Kyutaro was ahead again, leading the charge without hesitation. Every move was smooth, calculated—almost clinical. He fought like someone who had been doing this for years, far beyond what any normal student should be capable of.
It didn't add up.
Machias had assumed he was just another student with a strong background in combat, but this wasn't just skill. This was something else entirely.
And no one else seemed to notice.
He watched as Kyutaro effortlessly weaved between attacks, cutting down another pair of monsters before they could even react. The way he fought, it was almost like... like he wasn't even trying.
"Alright, let's keep moving," Gaius said, nodding toward the next passage.
Rean took point, and the others followed, but Machias lingered for a moment, eyes narrowing as he studied Kyutaro's back.
He wasn't imagining it. Something was wrong with this guy.
They pressed forward, deeper into the ruins of the old schoolhouse. The air grew heavier, thick with a strange pressure that made Machias' skin crawl. The deeper they went, the more it felt like they were being watched. He wasn't sure if it was the schoolhouse itself or just the tension thrumming in the back of his skull, but either way, he didn't like it.
"Something bothering you, Machias?"
The voice was calm, almost too neutral. Kyutaro had slowed his pace just enough to match his, his golden eyes unreadable.
Machias stiffened but didn't break stride. He wasn't about to admit he'd been staring, but he also wasn't about to lie outright.
"I just don't get it," he muttered.
Kyutaro raised a brow. "Get what?"
"All of this. The schoolhouse, the way the layout keeps changing, the monsters. And you."
Kyutaro's expression remained unreadable, but Machias didn't miss the subtle flicker in his gaze—brief, almost imperceptible, but there. He was watching him now.
"You think there's something strange about me?" Kyutaro asked, his voice carrying the same neutrality as before, but Machias wasn't fooled.
He knew he was onto something.
"You fight like you've done this a thousand times," Machias pressed. "Not just training. Real fights. Like you've had to kill before."
Kyutaro didn't answer immediately. His expression didn't shift, but there was a pause—just long enough for Machias to notice.
"And if I have?" Kyutaro said finally, voice quiet, measured. "Does that change anything?"
Machias frowned. "It does when you're in a school full of people who haven't."
There was a weight to the silence between them. Kyutaro didn't look away, didn't offer an excuse or deflection. Instead, after a moment, he simply smirked.
"You sure you're not just imagining things?"
Machias scowled, but before he could answer, Rean's voice cut through the tension.
"Guys! We've got movement up ahead!"
The conversation dropped instantly. Kyutaro turned without hesitation, already stepping forward to regroup. Machias lingered for just a second longer, jaw tight.
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Machias let his irritation simmer for now, forcing himself to focus. Ahead, the corridor opened into a wide chamber, dimly lit by old orbal lanterns embedded into the walls.
A trio of Flying Felines hovered near the ceiling, their bat-like wings flapping silently, eyes glowing in the dim light. Below them, Coin Beetles scuttled across the stone floor, their golden, metallic shells gleaming under the faint glow. Their legs clicked rhythmically, a sharp, unnatural sound that sent an unpleasant chill up Machias's spine.
Rean took a step forward, raising his sword. "Stay sharp. We handle this together."
Kyutaro exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. "I'll take the Felines. Gaius, control their movement. Rean, Machias, keep the beetles from spreading."
Without another word, he moved.
Not like a normal charge—not like someone wielding a blade. His foot barely touched the ground before he closed the distance, weaving between the beetles with effortless precision. One of the Flying Felines flapped higher to escape, but Kyutaro was already in the air.
He twisted, bringing his arm down like a hammer. The impact alone sent the creature crashing into the stone floor, breaking apart into particles on impact.
Machias barely had time to register it before another enemy lunged at him.
"Machias, keep them at a distance!" Rean called.
Tch. Right. He raised his orbal shotgun, tracking the erratic movement of the beetles. One scuttled toward him, mandibles clicking, but he fired—direct hit. The bullet slammed into its glowing underbelly, splitting the shell apart before it vanished into thin air.
Another beetle lunged. Machias pulled back, adjusting his grip. Before he could shoot, Kyutaro swept past him, grabbing the creature mid-air.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he hurled it across the room, slamming it into the stone wall. The beetle barely had time to react before its body collapsed into scattered light.
What…?
Machias didn't have time to think. Another beetle charged. This time, he aimed fast and pulled the trigger, sending it crashing back.
Above, Gaius forced the remaining two Flying Felines downward, limiting their movement. Kyutaro barely even looked at them before stepping forward and driving his fist into the air.
The wind pressure alone cracked through the chamber, and both creatures disintegrated on impact.
Machias narrowed his eyes, adjusting his glasses.
He'd seen strong fighters before. Rean was one of them. Gaius had his own kind of skill. But this…
Kyutaro wasn't even trying.
Rean exhaled, lowering his sword. "That's the last of them."
Gaius nodded, scanning the room. "No more movement."
Kyutaro dusted his hands off, rolling his wrist like nothing had happened. "We good to move?"
Machias lowered his gun, his mind still processing what he'd just seen.
He'd handled his share of monsters before. He knew what a tough fight looked like. But what Kyutaro had done wasn't normal.
The guy hadn't even drawn a weapon. Hadn't needed to. Before he could dwell on it further, Rean suddenly came to a stop.
Machias frowned. "What's up?"
Elliot tensed beside him. "More monsters?"
Rean and Kyutaro both looked over in the same direction and a soft laugh broke through the silence.
"You're pretty sharp," a girl's voice said.
"Oh!" Machias said as Fie walked out from behind one of the stone columns.
"It's the silver-haired girl," Elliot observed.
"I'm glad to see you're all right, though it looks like there was nothing to worry about in the first place," Rean said.
"Nope," the girl said.
Machias narrowed his eyes slightly, studying the girl as she approached. There was something about her—something that reminded him of Kyutaro. Not exactly the same, but close enough that it set off the same instinctive unease. The way she moved, the way she carried herself—it was like she was barely paying attention, yet completely aware of everything around her at the same time.
Too relaxed. Too natural. Like fighting wasn't just something she did, but something she was used to.
Just like him.
Machias cast a quick glance at Kyutaro, but the blond was unreadable, his expression as calm as ever. If he noticed the similarities, he wasn't showing it.
Tch. Figures.
Fie tilted her head, her sharp green eyes flicking lazily over the group. "You guys are slow," she remarked, stretching her arms behind her head.
Machias' brow twitched. "Excuse me?"
She blinked at him, unimpressed. "Took you long enough to get here."
He bristled. "We had monsters in the way!"
She shrugged. "So?"
Machias ground his teeth. Who the hell is this girl?
"You're telling me Kyutaro struggled?"
"Not using much effort because the enemies down here are weak and struggling are not the same thing, Fie," Kyutaro corrected, his tone even.
Fie gave a lazy shrug, clearly unbothered. "Oh, that reminds me," she said, glancing at the other three boys. "Fie Claussell's my name. You're just over halfway through—keep it up." She turned, waving a hand over her shoulder as she walked away. "Later. Try not to fall asleep, Kazetaro."
Kyutaro scoffed. "You calling someone out on that is the literal definition of pot, kettle, black."
"H-hey, wait!" Machias called after her, fists clenched.
Elliot frowned, watching her go. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"
Fie barely glanced back. "I'll be fine," she said simply. "I'm used to this."
Machias barely suppressed a scowl as he watched Fie disappear into the darkness above. The way she moved, the way she spoke, the complete lack of hesitation. They carried themselves far too similarly.
His gaze flicked toward Kyutaro, who was already turning back toward the path ahead, as if none of this had mattered.
No, that wasn't quite right. It had mattered. He'd seen the faintest flicker of something in the blond's expression before he smoothed it over again. Recognition? Amusement? Either way, he wasn't reacting the way someone should when an absolute stranger read them like an open book.
Machias clenched his fists. "You know her."
Kyutaro didn't look back. "Not personally."
"That's not an answer," Machias shot back.
Kyutaro exhaled softly, as if this conversation was already growing tedious. "I don't know her," he repeated, his tone measured, careful. "But it's not hard to recognize when someone's been through similar training."
Machias felt something sharp settle in his chest. "So you're admitting it, then."
Kyutaro's pace didn't slow. "What exactly am I admitting?"
"That you're not just some random student who happens to be good at fighting," Machias snapped. "That you—"
"You talk too much," Kyutaro interrupted, his voice calm but edged with something firm enough to cut through Machias' words. He turned slightly, just enough for Machias to catch the sharp glint in his crimson gaze. "If you're this distracted by me, you won't last long in a real fight."
Machias stiffened, his grip tightening around his orbal rifle. "What was that?"
"Focus on the enemies ahead, not the ones you think you see in me," Kyutaro said, and then, without waiting for a response, he moved forward, leaving Machias behind.
Machias ground his teeth, but he didn't argue. Not because he agreed—far from it—but because the nagging feeling in the back of his mind had finally settled into something clear.
He had been right about Kyutaro.
And now, he just needed to prove it.
Kyutaro didn't seem the least bit bothered by the exchange. He kept walking, glancing briefly over his shoulder. "I'm not a noble, just in case you wanted to bitch about that."
Machias bristled. "Like hell I care about that."
Kyutaro shrugged. "Sure. Just like you didn't abuse Jusis earlier, like noble hate is your entire personality."
Machias' scowl deepened, his grip tightening around his rifle. "You don't know a damn thing about me."
Kyutaro let out a soft breath, shaking his head. "I know enough." He kept walking, hands in his pockets, tone infuriatingly casual. "You're an open book, Regnitz. It's almost impressive how easy you are to read."
Machias took a step forward, fists clenched. "You think you're better than me? That you've got me all figured out?"
Kyutaro didn't stop. "No, I think you think you've got everyone else figured out." His gaze flicked to the side, catching Machias' glare out of the corner of his eye. "But you don't, do you?"
Machias grit his teeth, the words hitting deeper than he wanted to admit.
Kyutaro sighed, rolling his shoulders like this whole conversation was an inconvenience. "Look, if you want to fight me, I won't stop you. But you better make sure your first punch puts me on my ass."
Machias narrowed his eyes. "And why's that?"
Kyutaro finally stopped, turning just enough to face him fully. His crimson gaze was calm—too calm. Dangerously calm.
"Because I won't need a second one."
Rean sighed. He could feel the tension radiating between the two, and if he let this go any further, fists were going to start flying.
"Alright, that's enough," Rean said, stepping between them before Machias could lunge after Kyutaro. His voice was firm but not harsh, the kind of authority that didn't demand but expected to be listened to. "We don't have time for this. If you want to fight, save it for the monsters."
Machias huffed, crossing his arms. "You're seriously letting him just walk off after that?"
Rean gave him a pointed look. "We're all on the same team, remember?" He turned slightly, glancing up at Kyutaro, who had already landed smoothly on the level above, not even bothering to look back.
Machias scoffed. "Yeah. Sure feels like teamwork."
Rean exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Look, I get it, but arguing isn't going to help us get out of here any faster. You want to prove something to him? Fine. Then let's finish this exercise and do it where it counts."
Machias grit his teeth but didn't argue. He knew Rean was right, but damn if it didn't make his blood boil to just let that go.
"Whatever," Machias muttered, adjusting his grip on his rifle. "Let's just get this over with."
Rean nodded, relieved at the small victory, and turned to Elliot and Gaius. "Let's move. We still have a long way to go."
Kyutaro didn't seem the least bit bothered by the exchange. He walked forward, glancing at the others. "Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead. Later."
Before anyone could react, he jumped. A single, precise movement. No wasted energy, no struggle. One step onto the stone, then another, launching himself upward in a near-perfect mimicry of Fie's escape.
The moment he landed, he barely even slowed before walking off.
Machias clenched his jaw.
That confirmed it.
Kyutaro hadn't struggled at all. He hadn't even been trying.
Of course not. Because Kyutaro was just like her.