Kaiho Koshiro

After an hour had passed, Mikoto stretched and let out a sigh. She looked around the academy with a distant, nostalgic smile.

Mikoto: "It's been a while since I've been to this place. How about we take a walk, Kaiho?"

Kaiho: "Sure."

The two wandered through the corridors of the academy. Mikoto's gaze softened as she pointed to a specific spot in a classroom they passed.

Mikoto: "I used to sit right there by the window. Koshiro, your father, used to sit in the seat right behind me."

Kaiho raised an eyebrow. "Dad sat behind you? Let me guess—he was the quiet, diligent one while you were causing trouble."

Mikoto chuckled, running her hand along the edge of a desk. "Oh, he was definitely the quiet and diligent one. But don't think I caused trouble! Well… not all the time."

Kaiho smirked. "Not all the time, huh?"

As they continued walking, Mikoto began recounting her academic life—her fierce rivalries, the pranks she'd pull, and the moments where Koshiro's calm, steady presence kept her grounded.

Mikoto: "There was this one time I got into an argument with one of the seniors. They thought they could boss me around just because they were older. I wasn't having it, so I threw them into a training dummy."

Kaiho blinked. "You threw them?"

Mikoto: "They were asking for it. Anyway, Koshiro came in right after, apologized on my behalf, and somehow managed to talk the senior into not reporting me. That man's talent for diplomacy is something else."

Kaiho: "Sounds like Dad did a lot of damage control for you."

Mikoto laughed. "Maybe. But I wasn't all bad, you know. I worked hard too, especially in combat training. And Koshiro? He was already a prodigy back then, so it was impossible not to push myself harder when he was around."

Kaiho listened intently, watching as his mother's usually fiery demeanor softened with every memory she shared. They eventually made their way outside, standing in the same courtyard where Mikoto and Koshiro had trained as students.

Mikoto paused, looking at the sparring grounds. "It feels like just yesterday we were here. Life moves fast, doesn't it?"

Kaiho: "I guess it does. I mean, you've got me now, so… you're old."

Mikoto turned sharply, punching him lightly on the arm. "Watch it, kid. I've still got enough energy to take you down in one move."

Kaiho grinned, rubbing his arm. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Mom."

As the sun began to set, Mikoto and Kaiho stood together in the warm glow, the stories of the past mingling with the present.

Kaiho stretched and stood up. "Ok, I gotta go to the washroom. I'll be right back."

Mikoto waved him off with a small smile. "Don't take too long."

Left alone, Mikoto wandered through the academy hallways, her footsteps echoing faintly in the quiet. Memories of her student days came flooding back, and her lips curved into a nostalgic smile. As she walked past the training room, a sharp, rhythmic sound caught her attention-the unmistakable clash of a wooden sword.

Curious, Mikoto peeked inside. There, in the center of the room, stood Athena, her crimson hair glowing in the dim light. Her strikes were swift, precise, and relentless, her movements a dance of discipline and power. Athena's eyes burned with a fierce intensity as she practiced, her focus unyielding.

Mikoto lingered quietly, watching the young warrior.

Suddenly, Athena froze. Without warning, she hurled her wooden sword straight at the door, aiming to pin whoever was watching. But Mikoto's reflexes were sharp. She stepped into the room and caught the sword mid-air, her grip steady.

"You've grown quite strong... Athena," Mikoto said calmly, her voice carrying both approval and challenge.

Athena turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Mikoto."

Without hesitation, Athena grabbed another wooden sword and lunged forward with astonishing speed. Her blade sliced through the air, aimed directly at Mikoto. But as the strike was about to connect, Mikoto disappeared.

Athena's eyes widened. "Where-?"

"Behind you," Mikoto's voice came, calm and unbothered.

Athena spun around, but Mikoto was already behind her. "You've improved.

But.." Mikoto flicked her finger casually.

A powerful gust of air erupted from the gesture, striking Athena head-on. She managed to block it with her sword, but the sheer force sent her flying backward. She slammed into the wall, the impact leaving a crack behind her.

"..you're not strong enough to defeat me," Mikoto finished, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Athena stood, gripping her sword tightly. Her breathing was heavy, but her resolve was unshaken. She glared at Mikoto with pure hatred.

"I swear.." Athena's voice trembled with fury. "One day, I'll kill you. I'll take revenge for what you did."

Mikoto's confident expression faltered, replaced by a flicker of sadness. Her gaze softened. "Athena..."

"Save your pity!" Athena barked, her voice cold and sharp. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her footsteps reverberating with rage.

Mikoto stood in silence, her hand clenching the wooden sword she had caught earlier. Her eyes lingered on the doorway where Athena had vanished, a mix of regret and pain in her expression.

Moments later, Kaiho burst into the room, looking confused. "Oh, there you are! I've been looking all over for you.

Wait-what the heck happened here?" His eyes darted to the cracked wall and the wooden sword in Mikoto's hand.

Mikoto smiled lightly and patted his head. "How about we head back home?"

Athena stormed down the corridor, her fists trembling with rage. Her breathing was ragged, and her vision blurred with unshed tears of fury. She stopped abruptly in front of a blank section of the wall, her chest heaving.

"Damn it!" she roared, slamming her fist against the wall. The impact sent a small shockwave through the hall, cracking the surface.

She hit it again. And again. Each blow was harder than the last, her knuckles splitting open, blood smearing across the stone. The pain in her hands was nothing compared to the storm raging in her chest.

"Damn it! Why?!" she screamed punching with both hands now, each strike fueled by her overwhelming frustration. Blood dripped onto the floor as she pressed her forehead against the wall, her shoulders trembling.

Her voice dropped to a bitter whisper.

"Why is she still so much stronger? I thought l'd trained enough... I thought I'd finally be able to defeat her."

Her fists tightened, fresh blood oozing from the open cuts on her knuckles. "I'll kill her,"

she growled, her voice venomous. "One day, I swear, I'll kill Mikoto. She won't look down on me ever again."

The words echoed in the empty corridor, her hatred filling the space like a suffocating cloud. She pushed herself off the wall, her hands throbbing but steady. Athena stared down at the blood staining her skin and smirked darkly.

"This isn't over," she muttered, her voice cold and sharp. "Not even close."

Turning on her heel, Athena marched away, leaving behind a battered wall smeared with her blood and the lingering promise of vengeance.