The m sun bathed Konoha in warm, golden light as Kuro, Reika, and Xero approached the Ninja Academy. The air was electric with anticipation, the streets alive with young ninjas from different vilges, all verging on one pce for the in Exams. It was a csh of talent, ambition, aerminatioly the kind of stage Kuro had been avoiding. But now, with Reika and Xero at his side, retreat wasn’t an option.

  Reika adjusted her dark red jacket, her expression calm, but her eyes were keenly the surroundings. “We o find Room 301,” she said, her tone practical.

  Xero grunted, his massive frame making him an imposing presence even in the bustling crowd. “How hard it be? Just follow the noise.”

  Kuro, who had been unusually silent, stayed a few steps behind, his wooden sword strapped to his back. The weight of it was a stant reminder of the stakes. They ehe Academy, the corridors bustling with ninjas from all over the ti. The building’s familiarity tugged at Kuro's memory, but the atmosphere was entirely different. Today, it wasn’t just a pce for learning—it was a battleground for the ambitious.

  Reika’s voice broke the silence. “You alright?” she asked, gng over her shoulder at Kuro.

  Kuro didn’t immediately respond. He felt her gaze, but the question wasn’t one he had the ao. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about being here. All he knew was that every er of the Academy felt like it was watg him, waiting for him to prove something, to bee something. The thought made him uneasy.

  “I’m fine,” he muttered, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. He had perfected this response over the years, pushing away anything that might show weakness. But Reika wasn’t buying it.

  “Don’t lie to me,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “You’re not fine, Kuro. I tell.”

  Kuro flinched, annoyed by how easily she could see through him. But Reika wasn’t just perceptive; she had a way of making him feel vulnerable, whether he liked it or not. It wasn’t something he could ignore.

  Xero, notig the tensioweewo, snorted. “You’re making too big of a deal out of it, Reika. Kuro’s tough. He’ll survive.”

  Reika shot Xero a sharp look. “That’s not the point.”

  Kuro gnced up, meeting Reika’s gaze. “What is the point, then?” he asked, his voice tight. “You think I’m just going to colpse the moment things get tough? I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “I know you’re here,” Reika said, her toler now. “But that’s not what I meant. I meant that you’re carrying something. You’re ag like nothing matters, like it’s just another day, but I see the weight you're putting on yourself. I’m worried about you, Kuro. You don’t have to face this alone.”

  Kuro was taken aback. He wasn’t used to this kind of hoy. People didn’t talk to him like that, not without some sort of agenda. But with Reika… it was different. She wasn’t just ed for his well-being; she was *genuinely* worried about him.

  However, even if he talks about Fire Fly, she won't uand anything. It's better not to discuss it with them; he will reveal it wheime is right.

  “I’m fine,” Kuro repeated, this time more quietly, his gaze flig to the floor. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

  Reika shook her head slowly. “You don’t have to face everything by yourself. You have us. We’re not just here to help you fight. We’re here to help you *live* through it, too.”

  For Kuro, Reika was just a temporary rade, but for Reika, he was a long-time friend. She is always ed about him, as he is one of the most careless people she has ever known.

  Xero, who had been quiet for a moment, leaned down to pat Kuro on the back. “And if things go sideways, I’ll be there to smash anyone who gets in your way. Don’t worry about it. You’ll get through this.”

  Kuro looked up at both of them, their faces ear, their genuine. For the first time in a long while, the walls he’d built around himself seemed to crack, just a little. He didn’t know how to accept this kind of support, didn’t know how to lean on ahout feeling weak. But maybe Reika was right. Maybe this wasn’t something he had to face alone.

  He let out a long breath. “I appreciate it, you know,” he said, his voice quieter than before. “But I still don’t like this whole in Exam thing. I don’t want to be a part of the system, not like this.”

  Though she didn’t uood fully whatever he was saying, Reika smiled softly. “I uand. But this is your ce to show who you really are, Kuro. You don’t have to bee something you’re not. Just show them who you’ve always been, and that will be enough.”

  Kuro was referring to Fire Fly's attad his dimensional slip that sent him to another world, something he doesn't like. However, he won't correct them.

  Xero grinned, showing his teeth. “Yeah, and if aries to stop you, they’ll have to deal with me first.”

  Kuro g both of them, his heart a little lighter than it had been before. Maybe this wasn’t as hopeless as he thought. With Reika and Xero by his side, he might just be able to walk into this world, face whatever was waiting for him, and still e out standing. He wished they could unleash their full power. He knows just how strong Kenpachi Zaraki and Rias Gremory are.

  “Thanks,” Kuro said quietly, the weight of his thoughts feeling a little less heavy. “Really.”

  Reika gave him a knowing look. “Anytime. Now, let’s get to Room 301 before you decide to run off again.”

  Kuro chuckled despite himself. “No promises.”

  As they turned down another corridor, the noise of the other partits grew louder, and Kuro couldn’t help but feel a surge of exg energy. The in Exams were about to begin.

  As they asded the stairs toward the supposed third floor, a otion caught their attention. Two youheir faces torted with arrogance, blocked the way, their mog ughter eg through the hallway. A small crowd of onlookers had gathered, their eyes fixed oeandoff.