Maybe even proud. That thought alone... it’s enough for ."
Aiko wiped her tears with trembling hands. "Thank you, Raito. I... I’ll think about it."
"You better," Raito said gently, smiling at her.
Then he walked toward his bed, sitting down near the southern side. He lay back, staring quietly at the ceiling as a faint smile lingered on his face.
Aiko’s voice lingered softly in the air.
"I still can’t believe this. It’s like I’m dreaming... Thank you, Raito. I really appreciate it."
Raito lay on the bed, one hand behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
He gave a small shrug, his tone calm. "Use it well. You’ve earned it."
Aiko smiled faintly. "You’ve really changed."
Raito exhaled quietly. "No. I’ve just started becoming who I was ant to be."
The room went still. The ceiling fan humd softly above them.
The next morning.
A faint chi echoed.
Raito blinked as a soft blue light flickered before his eyes — not from his phone, but from the system.
A translucent interface unfolded in front of him, glowing with arcane runes.
[Unknown Observer Quest Progressed: 90%]
(Previously 70%)
Cause: User cleared "Undead Castle."
Raito sat up, frowning slightly.
"...So it increased again."
He swiped through the floating text, scanning each glowing line.
The Observer Quest wasn’t complete — but it had advanced, aning soone, or sothing, was still tracking him.
"The Observer..." he murmured. "You’re still watching ."
Another line appeared beneath the quest log, pulsing like a heartbeat.
[The Observer is pleased by your growth.]
[Hidden paraters have been unlocked.]
Raito’s eyes sharpened.
He could feel it — a faint pressure, like soone unseen was observing him from a distance.
"I’m actually not too sure... but this ’Unknown Observer Quest’—it’s strange," Raito muttered. "Even when I asked the system about it, it didn’t respond. It just... went silent."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, whatever. Today’s a big day. If jiro calls or sends the location, I’ll go et him. I want to see what kind of mission he’s talking about."
Raito looked toward the window, the sunlight breaking through the blinds. "Even if it’s sothing dangerous, it doesn’t matter. I’ve gotten stronger. I can stand my ground now."
He glanced down at himself and frowned. "But first... I don’t even have proper clothes."
He stretched, grabbed his phone, and headed toward the door. "Let’s fix that. I’ll hit the store, get sothing decent to wear, then call Dad."
A small smile crept onto his face. "I’ll tell him I’m doing fine. And maybe... send him sothing too. Even if it’s just eight or ten million yen—it’s nothing now. He deserves it."
Aiko stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Ah, you’re already up—and dressed? Going sowhere?"
"Yeah," Raito replied, slipping on his jacket. "Heading to the store. I don’t have any clean clothes left."
"Shouldn’t you at least eat sothing first?" Aiko asked.
He shook his head. "Nah. I’ll be fine once I brush my teeth."
Then—knock knock.
Both turned toward the door.
"Who could that be?" Raito said. "I don’t really know anyone who’d visit this early."
"I’ll check," Aiko said, walking over. She unlocked the door and froze. "Sakura?"
From the doorway, a tall young man stood, his head slightly lowered.
Raito frowned. "Who’s that?"
"It’s my classmate—Sakura," Aiko said.
Raito stepped forward. As soon as Sakura saw him, he bowed deeply, his voice low and tense.
"Please forgive , Raito. My friend’s also coming to apologize. We didn’t an what we did yesterday."
Aiko blinked in confusion. "What happened?"
Sakura let out a short breath, his fists tightening at his sides.
"Yesterday at the café... there were a lot of girls staring at you." He looked embarrassed, glancing away. "And honestly, it pissed off. I’m usually the one people talk about, you know? So I got carried away."
Aiko stared at him. "Wait—what do you an?"
Sakura sighed. "I knew he was your brother, but I also knew he used to clean hunters’ gear. I thought he was just... a support type. Weak. So I challenged him—with one of my friends."
Raito said nothing, his eyes cool and unreadable.
"But I was wrong," Sakura admitted. "He defeated both of us easily. I didn’t even see his movents clearly." He gave a small, bitter laugh. "I’m an B-rank hunter, and he still made look like an amateur. I didn’t realize he was already a registered hunter."
"You attacked him because you were jealous?" Aiko said sharply.
Sakura lowered his head again. "Yeah. No excuses. I just ca to apologize, man. I let my pride get the better of ."
Raito watched him quietly for a mont before speaking.
"Get up," he said calmly. "As long as you understand what you did was wrong, we’re good."
Sakura lifted his head, surprised. "You’re serious?"
Raito gave a faint smile. "Yeah. Just don’t make it a habit."
For a mont, Sakura was silent. Then, with a nod, he said quietly, "Thanks. I’ll make it up to you one day."
Sakura stood up, sniffing the air. "Whoa... I sll sothing good," he said, stepping forward.
"Hey, where do you think you’re going?" Raito grabbed him by the wrist.
"I’m starving, man. I haven’t eaten since morning. I just ca to say sorry—honestly."
"Then say it and leave," Raito said flatly.
Sakura turned to Aiko with a pitiful expression. "Co on, Aiko, don’t tell you’re kicking out hungry."
Aiko sighed. "Raito, stop. He’s my classmate. He already apologized. Let him eat, then he’ll go right after."
She gently placed her hand on Raito’s arm until he released Sakura’s wrist.
"Fine," Raito muttered, stepping aside.
Sakura grinned a little and walked in, glancing around the modest apartnt. "Huh. Pretty small for a hunter. Most hunters I know live in big places. You sure you’re not just pretending to be humble?"
Raito’s eyes narrowed. "You ca here to apologize or to insult ?"
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