ShadowSword

The sun was high, casting golden streaks through the forest canopy. Team C was gathered under their usual tree, lounging like they had no worries in the world.

Yuzuki was trying hard to cook up another excuse to skip today's training.Rukito was resting his head on Akito's lap, half-asleep, while Akito idly stared at his ear.

Akito muttered to himself, poking lightly at Rukito's earlobe,"Why can't this idiot ever hear anything properly… does he even have eardrums?"

The three looked around, hoping maybe they could avoid training altogether."Should we just pretend to be sick or something?" Akito asked lazily.

But suddenly, they all froze.

Captain Rikuya appeared in the distance—sweat on his brow, jaw clenched, walking toward them ahead of schedule.

Yuzuki gasped. "Oh no... he's early today."

Akito's face went pale. "We're dead."

The three scrambled to their feet, trying to look serious in an instant.

Captain Rikuya's voice boomed before he even reached them,"Where the hell were you all yesterday?"

They stood in awkward silence. Rukito, as always, didn't hear the question at all.

Akito stepped up, clearing his throat nervously."Uh… Captain, we actually came early yesterday… yeah…"

"Oh really?" Captain narrowed his eyes. "Didn't see any of you."

Akito scratched the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. "Well… we were playing hide and seek…"

A long, cold wind blew through the trees.

Silence.

Captain Rikuya stared them down with an expression that could freeze fire.His voice turned dangerously low,"Who was seeking?"

They all stood still like statues.

Akito thought: "Obviously you, sir..." but didn't dare speak aloud.

"You think I'm a fool?" the captain snapped. "You think this is a joke?"

The three tried to speak, but words failed them.

Captain barked, "Why are you still standing there?! Start training! Where's Sumiyoshi?!"

Yuzuki replied timidly, "He hasn't shown up yet…"

Captain's eyes darkened.

"Good. That's it. Today, I'm going to bury that brat."

He stormed off toward the village.

Scene Change – Sumiyoshi's House

Sumiyoshi lay in bed, fast asleep, snoring slightly. A peaceful breeze moved the curtains.

Suddenly—SPLASH!A bucket of water hit him square in the face.

"Wha—?!" Sumiyoshi shot up, furious.

Captain Rikuya stood over him, arms crossed.

Sumiyoshi, fuming, picked up his pillow and hurled it at the captain's face.

But Rikuya tilted his head effortlessly, the pillow missing him by inches.

"Training ground. Now," he said flatly.

Sumiyoshi yelled, "Like hell I'm coming!"

He leapt out of bed, dashed toward the window, and tried to escape.

But the captain was faster.

He stepped outside, leapt into the air, and hurled his weapon down—a flash of steel, striking just inches from Sumiyoshi's leg.

Sumiyoshi tripped mid-air and fell face-first into the ground, groaning in pain.

Moments later, the others saw Captain Rikuya dragging a furious, soaking-wet Sumiyoshi through the training field, leaving a trail of mud behind.

Back at the training grounds…

Yuzuki, Rukito, and Akito were still lying lazily under the tree.

When they saw the captain dragging Sumiyoshi like a sack of potatoes, their blood turned cold.

Captain Rikuya dropped him to the ground with a thud.

Then he turned to the group.

His voice thundered across the silent field.

"You think this is a game?! You're lying under trees while I drag your teammate here?!"

They all sat upright instantly.

"Seven days," he continued, his voice fierce and raw. "You have seven days of training left before your first mission."

They were silent. The air grew heavier with every word he spoke.

"Seven days… and you're lying around like fools. Like this is some school camp."

He paused, then added grimly, "Do you know what our current success rate is?"

They looked at each other nervously.

"Zero. Not even a single form of the spirit has been defeated so far."

Yuzuki whispered, "What…?"

Akito's throat went dry.

Captain Rikuya walked closer, looking each one of them in the eyes.

"If you think I'm going to save you out there… think again. I'm not your safety net. I'm not your shield. I've watched too many comrades die. If you die out there, it's on you. And if you try to run, you'll still die. That's your fate."

They were speechless. Frozen.

The silence was broken only by the wind whistling through the trees.

"Seven days," he repeated, more quietly this time. "If you want to live these last seven in peace, go ahead. Relax. Sleep under the trees. But don't expect mercy on the battlefield."

He turned his back and walked away, his footsteps echoing like thunder in their minds.

He didn't look back.

A long pause. No one said a word.

Finally, someone whispered.

"…Seven days?"

Akito clenched his fists.

Yuzuki looked down, eyes wide with fear.

Rukito, for once, didn't joke. His ears twitched. He had actually heard that part.

Sumiyoshi sat up, dripping wet, staring at the horizon.

They all understood.

This wasn't about fighting anymore.

This was about survival.