Raito slowly opened his eyes. His vision blurred at first, but then he noticed a nurse standing at his right side, checking over him. On his left, Ayane and Kaizuki were seated, their faces filled with worry.
"What’s going on...? Why am I in the hospital?" Raito muttered weakly.
At the sound of his voice, Ayane’s eyes widened. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face.
"I knew you’d survive! I knew you wouldn’t leave me!" she cried, holding onto him tightly.
Raito winced at the pain still lingering in his body but managed a small smile. Newest update provıded by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖•𝗇𝗲𝘁
Just then, the doctor walked into the room. The nurse stepped aside as he approached Raito’s bed.
"Strange... your muscles and bones show signs of extreme strain, but there are no lasting injuries. Not even a single wound remains," the doctor said, clearly baffled.
"Well... I don’t understand it either," Raito admitted softly.
The doctor frowned, then turned and left the room. Kaizuki moved closer, lowering his voice.
"Raito, I need to ask you something. That power you used back there... were you hiding it all along? Pretending you weren’t strong?"
Raito shook his head. "To be honest, I don’t know how it happened. My power just... manifested all of a sudden. I didn’t even know I had it."
Kaizuki gave him a long, serious look. "It’s dangerous... but also incredible."
Raito tried to sit up, but Kaizuki quickly stopped him. "Hey, don’t push yourself. Rest first."
Ayane wiped her tears and moved closer, her tone shaky but urgent.
"Raito, something else happened... When you defeated the monster, it suddenly vanished. No corpse, no remains—nothing. It was as if it had never existed."
"What...?" Raito whispered, stunned.
"It’s true," Kaizuki confirmed. "We don’t know why, but there wasn’t a single trace left behind."
Raito looked down at his hands, silent for a moment. Finally, he exhaled. "I don’t understand it either. But what matters is that we’re alive."
Kaizuki nodded, but then added firmly, "You need to realize something, Raito. The power you displayed... it gives you the potential to become one of the strongest not just in the country—but in the entire world."
Raito’s eyes widened slightly. He lowered his head, thinking deeply, then slowly lifted his gaze again.
"Don’t tell anyone about this," he said firmly. "Please. I need to find my own path first. I’m not ready... but I will be.
Raito lay on the hospital bed, his body still aching. Ayane stood close, her eyes soft with a hopeful smile.
"But isn’t this what you always wanted?" she said gently. "With your strength, we can finally fulfill our promise."
Raito lowered his head, his expression hard.
"Please, Ayane... stop this. Stop all of it. Why now? Why do you suddenly want to be a hunter with me? You should be thinking about your companions. Touzuki and Maikito are dead... and yet it feels like you don’t even care. You’re... inhuman."
Ayane froze, her smile fading as if the words had struck her across the face. Even Kaizuki was stunned into silence. She had always believed Raito loved her, believed he was willing to do anything for the dream they once shared.
Her hands trembled. She turned and ran from the room in tears.
Kaizuki clenched his fists and looked at Raito. "How could you say that? She’s been worried sick about you. We were all relieved you survived—and you cut her down like that while you’re still lying in a hospital bed?"
Raito closed his eyes tightly, his jaw clenched. "I know... I know it was cruel. But even if I pretended to hold on to that dream, the truth is—I don’t anymore. My ambition has changed. I won’t share it with anyone, not even her. From now on, I’ll walk this path alone. I alone will become strong."
Tears stung his eyes as his mind drifted back to the moment everything changed—about a year ago.
He remembered how he’d saved money from cleaning gear, spending it on nice clothes once in a while. Each time, he invited Ayane to join him for tea like they used to when they were kids. And each time, she declined—always saying she was "too busy."
That very same day she had refused him, Raito saw her with Touzuki. At first he tried to excuse it, telling himself they were just on a dungeon mission together. But then he followed them—followed them into the same tea shop he had invited her to.
And there, in that very place... she kissed Touzuki on the cheek.
Raito had walked away that day with his heart shattered. Soon after, he realized they were dating. His dream of sharing the future with Ayane was crushed.
And now, a year later, she dared to speak of being hunters together again—only after seeing the strength he had awakened. She had long since abandoned that dream, abandoned him, abandoned everything about their dreams.
But now that she saw hispotential, she wanted to come back.
His fists tightened, and tears finally slipped down his cheeks
"You jerk, how could you make her cry like that?" Kaizuki shouted, grabbing Raito by the collar and shaking him. "I don’t know what you went through, but I thought you always liked Ayane.