When they arrived, the impact hit them like a sledgehammer to the chest. Yui's house was completely destroyed: the walls turned to rubble, the furniture reduced to ash, everything that had once been her home was now nothing more than a field of ruins. And in the middle of it all, a note pinned to what remained of the door, written in arrogant and cruel handwriting:
"You shouldn't have interfered with my plans. Now you'll never be safe again.
Sincerely, Gares."
Kouta felt rage boiling in his blood. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He knew exactly who Gares was; Haruto had explained to him about the three worlds and their rulers. But now, that name wasn't just a story, but a direct threat.
Yui, for her part, was paralyzed. She stared at the rubble, unable to fully process it. Her home, her refuge... destroyed. And the person responsible had done it with complete coldness. A shiver of anger ran through her, and her sadness turned to pure hatred. She didn't know who Gares was, but in that instant, she hated him with every fiber of her being.
Without hesitation, they went to Haruto to tell him what had happened. They arrived just as he and Tetsuya were preparing to leave for their homes. Kouta pulled them both aside and, frowning, handed them the note.
Tetsuya read it quickly, and his expression hardened.
Tetsuya: "I-It can't be..."
" he whispered, his face grim. "
Tetsuya: Gares knows about them... I think we've involved them too much in this, Haruto."
Haruto snorted, closing his eyes for a moment as if making a crucial decision. Then he opened them again with determination.
Haruto: "Maybe... but if it weren't for them, I wouldn't even be alive. So it's my turn to return the favor."
—He turned to Kouta and Yui.—
Haruto: I'm going to train you. I'll make you strong enough to defend yourselves against those bastards.
Kouta crossed his arms and smiled slightly.
Kouta: I like the sound of that.
Yui, although still shaken, nodded determinedly.
Yui: I'm not going to be a victim again.
Haruto threw them a key.
Hruto: For now, you can stay in one of my houses. It's this way. Rest well, because I'll see you tomorrow night in the western mountains. Understood?
Tetsuya crossed his arms and smiled approvingly.
Tetsuya: You know what, Haruto... I'll help too. It's not fair for them to be harmed by helping us do our job.
Kouta looked at them both and, with a spark of defiance in his eyes, said:
Kouta: How about we form an alliance and go after Gares, huh?
Haruto gave a short laugh and shook his head.
Haruto: I like your enthusiasm, kid, but if it were that easy, he'd be gone. He's protected by demons with over 3000 powers. It's not that simple to even touch him. We'll have to go step by step.
Tetsuya nodded.
Tetsuya: With Kouta's potential, Yui's skills, and our experience, we could give Gares quite a headache. Don't you think so, girl?
Yui clenched her fists.
Yui: Let's do it. That jerk has to pay for what he's doing to us all.
The deal was sealed. They would train, grow stronger, and eventually face Gares. With that decision made, Kouta and Yui headed to their new home. But while Yui tried to rest, Kouta, with the fire of determination in his chest, decided to go out and train more, until...
To be continued...