Cycles of Eternity

Several weeks had passed since Shirogami and his friends began training at the Yaegashi family dojo. Koichi observed each person's progress, noting Shirogami in particular, who quickly demonstrated skill with the sword, reaching a level similar to Shizuku's. Eriri and Kaori also made progress, though they were still working on the basics.

"It seems you're more inclined towards Iaijutsu, aren't you, Shirogami?" Koichi observed with a slight smile as the boy completed a movement.

Shirogami looked at him, intrigued. "Iaijutsu?"

"Yes, it's a style focused on drawing and striking quickly," Koichi explained. "I'm more specialized in Kenjutsu, but I can teach you some techniques if you'd like."

The boy nodded, and Koichi showed him some basic Iaijutsu moves, emphasizing speed and precision in attacks. Shirogami absorbed them with surprising ease, impressing both Koichi and Shizuku.

A few days later, at school, Shirogami was walking alone through the halls, which was unusual since he was usually with Eriri or one of her friends. But that afternoon, Eriri and the girls were busy with classwork. During his stroll, something caught his attention: a boy with dark blue hair was crouched in the hallway, covering his face with his hands, visibly embarrassed.

Intrigued, Shirogami approached him and asked in his characteristic tone, "Are you all right?"

The boy let out a small gasp of surprise and looked up quickly. "Ah! Uh… yeah, I'm fine, just…" he murmured nervously, avoiding his gaze.

Shirogami recognized the face immediately. "Ichijō Raku, right?"

Raku blinked, confused. "Yeah… and you're…?"

"I'm Shirogami," he replied simply. "Eriri told me about you."

"Oh! You're her brother, right? My father mentioned your name too," Raku nodded, as if remembering.

"So, what are you doing here, on the floor?" Shirogami asked, curious.

Raku sighed and looked away, a bit embarrassed. "Well… it's a bit complicated."

With a more relaxed tone, Raku explained that because his family belonged to a yakuza clan, many students avoided him. The situation worsened with the clan's behavior, like that day when he forgot his lunch, and a clan member came to school to bring it to him. All this made Raku feel even more isolated and embarrassed.

Shirogami nodded as he listened, processing the story. "So… you don't have many friends."

"Yeah, something like that…" Raku sighed again, lowering his gaze. "Sometimes it feels like everyone at school prefers to keep their distance."

In his direct manner, Shirogami looked at him calmly. "If you want, we can be friends. I don't mind your family."

Raku's eyes lit up with genuine surprise. "R-really?"

Shirogami nodded firmly. "Of course."

Raku broke into a relieved smile and extended his hand. "Then, let's make a promise as friends!"

Shirogami looked at his hand and, after a moment, shook it firmly. "Deal."

In the following days, Shirogami introduced Raku to the rest of his friends. Raku was especially friendly with Eriri, as they knew each other vaguely through their parents. Soon, Raku started joining them at Shizuku's dojo for training, although he leaned towards hand-to-hand combat rather than swordsmanship, where he showed great skill.

The weeks flew by, and soon winter break arrived, bringing with it Raku's birthday. Raku's family hosted a small party for him, attended by both his school friends and members of his clan.

Shirogami arrived with Eriri and her parents, and inside the Ichijō family's hall, they also found Kaori, Shizuku, and each of their parents. The atmosphere was warm and lively despite the imposing presence of some yakuza family members.

While the young ones chatted, their parents conversed in a corner of the room. Adam, Eriri's father, spoke quietly with Raku's father, Issei, a man with graying white hair and a dark suit.

"So, any news from your area, Adam?" asked Issei in a casual tone.

Adam shook his head. "Nothing unusual. It's strange… in recent months, incidents have decreased, not just here in Japan but around the world."

"I've noticed that too," added Tomoichi, Kaori's father. "Although the number of 'awakened' individuals continues to rise, which has me a bit uneasy."

Koichi, Shizuku's father, frowned. "It might be the calm before the storm."

Adam shrugged. "Let's hope it's nothing serious. By the way, Koichi, how have the kids progressed in their training?"

Koichi chuckled softly. "They've done quite well. Shirogami and Shizuku have shown admirable progress."

"And Raku?" asked Issei with interest.

"Raku has talent, though he seems more inclined toward hand-to-hand combat," Koichi commented. "Even so, he's strong and has improved a lot."

The evening passed in cheerful laughter and conversation. Eriri, Kaori, Shizuku, Raku, and Shirogami enjoyed a good time together, talking about their interests, recalling funny school moments, and playing games. Raku thanked them sincerely for joining him on his birthday, feeling more appreciated and understood than ever.

As months passed and time flew by, the group continued to grow and strengthen their bonds of friendship. Elementary and middle school were coming to an end, and they prepared for a new chapter. To celebrate their upcoming graduation, the school organized a mountain excursion where the students could enjoy nature and hike to the summit.

On the bus that would take them to the mountains, the group of friends sat together, with Shirogami and Raku chatting while Eriri, Kaori, and Shizuku talked excitedly about the trip.

Eriri looked at Raku and Shirogami with a smile. "Are you ready for the hike?"

"Of course!" Raku replied with a determined expression. "It won't be that hard."

Shirogami just nodded, looking out the window.

Eriri smiled, feeling the excitement in the air. "It's going to be an unforgettable trip!"

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I guess it's about to start…

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Additional Notes:

Gates: A term used to describe portals that appear due to ##$$%&, through which dangerous creatures can emerge if not dealt with in time.

Awakened: People who acquire special powers following unexplained incidents.

Incidents: Cases where individuals are transported to another dimension or reality.