The training field smelled like old sweat, fresh blood, and burnt air.
Kouji sat on the edge of a concrete step, still dressed in his regular school clothes. They were a little torn from the fight the night before. Around him, Hunters moved through drills — some throwing spears, others shaping Kyokai into colored waves or short bursts of force.
Kouji watched in silence.
Yuusuke sat next to him, legs stretched out in front of him like he didn't have a care in the world. He munched on something out of a foil packet — chips, maybe. Or dried squid. Hard to tell.
"Looks fun, right?" Yuusuke asked between bites. "The burning, the screaming, the guy over there crying after getting slammed into the wall?"
"I've had worse days," Kouji muttered.
Yuusuke smirked. "That's the spirit."
They'd spent most of the morning walking around the facility. Yuusuke gave the most half-assed tour imaginable.
"This is the dorm. Don't go in there unless you want to hear weird things after midnight."
"This hallway leads to the 'Do Not Enter' rooms. So obviously we're going in there someday."
"Over there's the cafeteria. Don't eat the curry."
Now they were here.
Kouji leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Do you ever... get used to it?"
"Used to what?"
"The idea that the world is worse than you thought."
Yuusuke didn't answer right away. He finished chewing, wiped his fingers on his pants, and leaned back.
"Nah. You don't get used to it. You just learn to keep moving."
"That's comforting."
"I'm full of life advice," Yuusuke said with a grin. "Like this one: Never trust anyone who says they love Nightmare hunting. They're either lying, or way too far gone."
Kouji was quiet for a while.
Then, carefully: "Why are you here?"
Yuusuke looked up at the sky. His red eyes reflected the overcast clouds.
"Same reason everyone is, I guess. Something broke."
Kouji turned to him, but Yuusuke didn't elaborate. After a second, Kouji nodded — not understanding, but accepting.
"I'm not planning on breaking," Kouji said.
Yuusuke looked at him again and nodded with concern.
"But," Yuusuke added, "if you're lucky, someone will be around to help glue the pieces back together."
They sat in silence again. One of the trainees below got blasted into a wall and let out a long, pained groan.
"I think that guy's spine is in the wrong timezone," Yuusuke said casually.
Kouji cracked a small smile. "Think we'll be down there tomorrow?"
"Yup. They'll want to test your Kyokai control. Don't worry though — I'll take bets on how fast you get knocked out."
Kouji rolled his eyes. "And if I win?"
"Then I get to lie and say I trained you."
The wind shifted.
Somewhere far off, bells rang faintly. Kouji glanced over the courtyard — the way the shadows moved here felt different. Not evil. Just... heavy.
He wasn't sure what this place would turn him into.
But for now, at least — he wasn't alone.