The Mytho Chronicles: Eclipse Of Faith

Chapter 44: New Threat

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm and tranquil light over the school grounds. The air was still, and the garden was peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos and loss that had recently shaken everyone. Ren Nakamura sat alone on a bench, lost in thought as he replayed the events of the past few days. The battles, Kazuki's death, and Ryota-sensei's breakdown weighed heavily on his mind. Everything felt surreal, like a dream that he couldn't wake up from.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Aiko Kuroda approaching until the other boy flopped down on the bench beside him with a grin. "Thinking deep thoughts again, Ren?"

Ren glanced at Aiko, then back at the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. "Yeah. Just trying to make sense of everything."

Aiko nodded, his usual lighthearted demeanor fading slightly. "I get it. It's been... a lot. We've lost people, and seeing Ryota-sensei like that... it's hard to believe."

Ren didn't respond immediately, his thoughts drifting back to Kazuki. The man had been a mentor, a guiding figure for all of them. Losing him felt like losing a piece of the foundation that had held them up. "Yeah," Ren finally said, his voice quiet. "I still can't believe Kazuki-sensei is gone. And Ryota-sensei... I've never seen him like that."

As they talked, the door to the garden creaked open, and Yumi Takahashi and Miyu Tanaka entered. Yumi was speaking softly to Miyu, who seemed more reserved than usual. The moment Miyu's eyes landed on Ren, a soft blush spread across her cheeks, and she hesitated before approaching.

Ren, noticing Miyu, felt his own face heat up. The memory of their conversation—and that unexpected kiss on the cheek—flashed through his mind. He quickly looked away, trying to focus on anything but the fluttering in his chest.

Aiko, ever the observer, noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere and smirked. "Well, well, look who's here. Hey, Yumi, how are you holding up?"

Yumi smiled, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I'm managing, Aiko. It's hard... I still think about Kazuki-sensei a lot. But we have to keep going, right?"

Aiko nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, we do. He wouldn't want us to stop fighting."

Miyu, standing a little apart from the group, mustered the courage to speak. "Ren... thank you. For the other day."

Ren looked at her, his blush deepening as he remembered the Snickers bar she had given him after that kiss on the cheek. "Uh, you're welcome. And... thanks for the Snickers."

Miyu's lips curved into a small smile. "I'm glad you liked it."

Before the moment could get too sentimental, Aiko, sensing the opportunity to lighten the mood, clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough of this serious stuff! Let's talk about something fun—like how I managed to embarrass myself yesterday."

Yumi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What happened?"

Aiko grinned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, I might have tripped and fallen right into Kazuki-sensei's old training dummy. Knocked it over and sent it rolling all the way down the hill."

Ren and Miyu couldn't help but burst into laughter at the mental image. Aiko was usually so graceful and in control, the idea of him stumbling so clumsily was hilarious.

Yumi giggled, her spirits lifted by the lighthearted story. "I wish I'd seen that!"

Aiko shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It was pretty embarrassing, but hey, it gave me a good laugh afterward."

But Aiko wasn't done. He shot a mischievous glance at Ren and Miyu, his grin widening. "Speaking of embarrassing moments, should I tell Yumi what happened in the garden yesterday?"