The training ground was still now, broken only by the hiss of cooling metal and the gentle whirr of the EXO-Ω suit's internal systems. Kaito laid on the ground, still and silent, until a low voice resonated in his ears.
His eyes fluttered open. Pain thudded in his chest, and his vision was foggy, but he heard it loud and clear:
"Vitals stabilizing. Consciousness restored. Reboot complete."
He groaned, slowly sitting up. "What the hell. happened?" His voice was coarse.
Rin was crouched beside him, eyes sharp but obviously relieved. "You fainted in the middle of the fight," she said curtly. "And then. something else took over."
Lio crossed her arms, standing over them with a serious face. "That thing moved like a ghost, you beat Veyron down like he owed you money darling."
Yuisaka interrupted with her typical perky tone, crouching beside him with a grin. "It was kinda cool! Well, also terrifying. You didn't speak and your eyes glowed and you clashed swords—like, clang!" She mimed the action excitedly. "Seriously, where do I sign up for ghost-mode?"
Kaito blinked. "Wait, glowing eyes? Sword-clashing? ghost-mode?"
"I intervened," a voice echoed within his aware.
It was cold, crisp, and feminine—like winter wind on metal. The others didn't seem to hear it, but Kaito stiffened.
"Who—what are you?" he muttered to himself.
"I am A.I.C.E. — Artificial Intelligence Combat Element. My purpose is your survival. My actions prevented termination."
Kaito's brows creased. An AI? In the suit? Since when…
Rin noticed him look change suddenly. "What is it? Are you hearing something?"
He glanced at her, then the others, then back at his gauntlet where a faint light pulsed from a panel. "Yeah," he said slowly. "There's. something in the suit. Some kind of AI."
Rin stepped forward, her curiosity getting the better of her usual scowl. "An AI? Since when does the EXO-Ω come with a pre-installed personality?"
"It shouldn't," Lio said confused. "Haro never mentioned this in any of the core files. And I've read all of them."
"Incorrect," Aice's voice said, but to Kaito only. "Core security prevents unauthorized entry to my partition. Only the Prime Link—your DNA—is permitted to activate me."
Kaito grew cold. So only I can hear her? Great. Just what I need—another voice in my head.
"What does it say?" Yuisaka leaned forward, smiling very amused at the new information. "Is it, like, affectionate? Does it do tricks? Does it have a mute switch?"
Kaito smiled. "She's. very chatty. Frosty. Not so much the Siri type of girl. More a 'kill now, questions later.'"
"I like her already," Rin grinned slightly.
Yuisaka bobbed her head. "She's like a robot ex-girlfriend. You have issues, Kaito."
He grinned, running the back of his neck. "Tell me something I don't know."
Just then, the door to the training room creaked open. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.
Veyron.
He was still bare-chested, bandaged across his chest, the bruises beginning to form on his jaw. But his posture was firm, defiant as always.
The room tensed.
"I did not come all the way here to fight," he said to him bluntly. "You landed your hit. Pretty sure I'm still coughing up blood. So. congratulations."
Kaito blinked, then saluted him lazily with two fingers. "Aw, you came to apologize? I'm flattered."
"I'm not apologizing," Veyron snapped embarrassed. "I'm... just saying... I didn't expect that. That wasn't training. That was an execution."
Yuisaka whispered dramatically, "Ooooh, someone's jealous."
Rin folded her arms. "It wasn't Kaito. Something else took it over."
Veyron's gaze flicked to him. "So you're telling me the suit fought me? Not you?"
Kaito shrugged half-heartedly. "I mean. I was there in spirit?"
He stood, groaning as he stretched. "Look, whatever the hell happened... that wasn't how I wanted to win. You're strong, Veyron. Very damn strong. One day I'll earn a real victory—one where I beat you. Fair and square."
Veyron wore that expression on his face like he was dying to say something. Instead, he just let out a grunt and grinned. "I'll be waiting for it."
And with that, he went out.
Lio clapped her hands. "Aw, was that bonding? Did we just share a shounen rival moment?"
Kaito grinned. "I don't know. But I'm looking forward to a friendship power-up next episode."
Rin shook her head, but there was a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
As people dispersed and tension dispersed, Kaito lingered, laying a hand on the suit's chestplate.
"Aice," he whispered.
"Yes?"
"Why did you save me?"
There was a silence.
"Because you are my priority."
He frowned. "That's not an answer."
"No. It isn't."
And on that point, the voice ceased speaking.
Kaito glanced down at his image in the suit—himself, distorted. Twisted a bit. The weight of the EXO-Ω was more than technology and steel. Legacy, mystery. and now, a passenger.
One who might not always agree with him.