The morning atmosphere in Tenguu City seemed much calmer than the day before. Although some streets were still littered with the debris of damaged buildings and emergency vehicles occasionally passed by, life was slowly returning to normal. The local government had issued an official statement to the public: the damage that occurred last night was caused by a large-scale spacequake.
For most people, this explanation was quite reasonable. Spacequakes were nothing new in this city. People were used to hearing warning sirens, taking shelter, and then returning to their lives after it was over. Therefore, most residents simply accepted this explanation without further question.
But for the few who knew the truth behind the event—those who had seen mysterious spirits, AST special forces, and creatures that shouldn't exist in the human world—this explanation was merely a thin veil. A veil deliberately put up to cover something far more dangerous.
On the other side of town, Arashi Kaito chose to step away from it all for a while.
After the chaos of yesterday, he felt the need for a quiet day. No fighting, no strategizing, no calculating power. Just another normal day for any normal person.
His footsteps led him to a fairly large city park. Shady trees lined the path neatly, casting soft shadows on the ground. A gentle afternoon breeze blew, carrying the soothing scent of grass and flowers.
The park wasn't overly crowded. A few small children ran around chasing each other, laughing merrily. An elderly man read the newspaper on a wooden bench. In the distance, two college students sat on the grass, chatting casually.
Kaito walked slowly along the stone path.
"Sometimes a simple life like this is also enjoyable..." he murmured softly.
His gaze then fell on a pastel-colored ice cream truck parked at the side of a small road near the park. Its distinctive, cheerful music played softly from its small speakers.
The sweet aroma of vanilla and sugar immediately greeted his senses.
Kaito smiled faintly.
"I haven't had ice cream since... I don't know."
He approached the truck.
"Good afternoon," the truck attendant greeted him pleasantly.
"One vanilla cone, please."
Shortly after, Kaito received his ice cream. He thanked her and resumed his leisurely stroll, savoring the cool, sweet taste on his tongue.
However, his steps stopped when his eyes caught a very familiar figure.
On one of the park benches, a girl with long, blue hair sat holding a strawberry ice cream cone. Her long hair fell softly down her back, glistening in the afternoon sunlight. Despite her casual attire of a light jacket and a casual skirt, she radiated an air of elegance and confidence.
Kaito recognized her immediately.
Takamiya Mana.
The figure who had stood on the battlefield yesterday, clad in AST armor and a sharp gaze, now looked like an ordinary girl enjoying the afternoon.
Kaito watched her for a moment from a distance.
"…Interesting."
He then walked over.
"Excuse me… may I sit here?"
Mana, enjoying her strawberry ice cream, turned her head. When her eyes met the figure of the young man standing before her, she was momentarily stunned. The young man's silvery white hair glistened in the afternoon sunlight, while his clear blue eyes stared at him with a calm yet friendly expression. The aura he exuded was distinct—strange but not threatening.
"E-eh?" Mana blinked a few times before finally realizing. "Ah… yes, of course. Please." She shifted slightly on the park bench, making room for the young man to sit.
Kaito sat down casually beside her. A few seconds passed in light silence, filled only with the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the laughter of children playing nearby. He then glanced at the ice cream in Mana's hand and smiled faintly.
"Strawberry ice cream, huh? Good choice."
Mana stared at the cone in her hand before smiling slightly too. "Yeah… it tastes refreshing." She then glanced at Kaito's ice cream. "Is that vanilla?"
"Right." Kaito lifted his ice cream cone slightly as if to confirm. "A classic flavor. Sometimes the simple choice is the safest."
Mana chuckled at that. "It's strange, isn't it? We just met, and our first topic is so serious about ice cream flavors."
Kaito chuckled softly. "Isn't choosing an ice cream flavor a major life decision?"
That statement made Mana hold back a laugh, then burst out laughing more freely. "You're funny."
Kaito smiled casually and introduced himself. "My name is Arashi Kaito. Nice to meet you."
Mana blinked briefly before nodding. "Takamiya Mana. Nice to meet you too." Although she usually boasted a high level of confidence, for some reason, she felt a little nervous introducing herself.
Their conversation then flowed more naturally. They began to talk about lighthearted things like the pleasant weather that day, the peaceful atmosphere of the park compared to the bustle of downtown, and even small stories about their favorite ice creams.
"This place is quite peaceful," Kaito said, leaning back on the bench. "I didn't expect the park to be this comfortable."
Mana nodded slowly. "I also sometimes come here when I need a break from… work." She paused, almost saying something she shouldn't. "Anyway, when I need a relaxing atmosphere."
Kaito simply nodded, as if not particularly bothered by the pause. "It sounds like your work is quite tiring."
"Not bad," Mana replied with a small shrug. She then looked at Kaito curiously. "What about you? Do you also work around here?"
Kaito pretended to think for a moment before replying casually, "Right now… I'm practically unemployed."
Mana immediately looked at him with a confused expression. "Huh?"
Seeing her reaction, Kaito chuckled. "I mean, I'm not that busy. So I have plenty of time to wander around like this."
Mana stared at him for a few seconds before finally chuckling. "You're weird."
"Thanks."
"That's not a compliment."
"For some people, maybe it is," Kaito replied lightly.
Their conversation continued unnoticed. The topic moved from one topic to another effortlessly, as if they had known each other for a long time. Mana occasionally laughed at Kaito's casual comments, while Kaito himself seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere.
Unbeknownst to them, the sun was slowly setting in the western horizon. A golden orange glow enveloped the park, casting long shadows across the trees.
Mana finally glanced at her watch and was a little surprised. "Ah… it's getting late."
She slowly stood up from the park bench. "I guess I should head home soon."
Kaito stood beside her. "I have to go too."
There was a small pause before he continued with a relaxed smile. "But before that… how about we exchange contacts? So we can talk again another time."
Mana was silent for a moment. Her cheeks felt a little warm, but she quickly nodded. "Y-yeah… of course."
They each took out their phones and exchanged numbers. After that, Kaito put his phone back in his pocket.
"Well, see you later, Mana."
He walked away slowly down the park path. Mana just stood there, watching the young man's retreating back in the sunset.
For some reason, her chest felt warm. It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling.
Her hand unconsciously clutched the melting ice cream cone.
"Why do I feel this way…" she muttered softly, touching her reddened cheek.
She shook her head quickly as if to dispel the strange thought, but the image of Kaito's smile kept flashing in her mind.
Finally, Mana turned and walked home, though her heart was still filled with an inexplicable feeling.
One thing was certain—that brief encounter wasn't something he'd easily forget.
Kaito's footsteps paused for a moment as a familiar mechanical sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Main mission released]
[Mission: Confront the Witch]
[Status: Incomplete]
[Reward: Limitless (S), 1x rare ticket, 3000 XP, 1000 PS]
His crystal blue eyes widened slightly. Limitless. The name alone was enough to make his chest tremble. He never expected the system to offer something so extraordinary.
Kaito knew exactly what that technique meant. In his memory, Limitless was a space manipulation art nearly unmatched in the world of jujutsu. With this technique, space was no longer a boundary, but a tool for dominating the battle. Anything that approached could be slowed to a halt, pulled to pieces, or deflected with devastating force.
He could imagine his opponent attempting to slash or fire bullets at him, but they would all stop before they could actually touch him, as if there was an infinite distance separating them. And beyond that, Limitless was capable of creating a pull that crushed everything around it, as well as a push that leveled the terrain in an instant. At its peak, there was an annihilation technique that didn't just destroy, but erased something from reality, as if it never existed.
The thought of mastering all of this made Kaito's blood boil. There was a passion he couldn't hide, a desire to truly go further than anyone else. Limitless wasn't just a technique; it was the pinnacle of control. A power that would ensure he stood tall no matter who stood before him.
He took a deep breath, calming his rapidly beating heart. His gaze gazed up at the dusk sky, which was beginning to turn golden. The world around him remained the same, but to him, everything seemed to appear differently.
The name the system had mentioned was familiar to him: Witch. A witch spirit with the powers of illusion and disguise, Natsumi Kyouno. A girl known for being elusive, not because of her combat prowess, but because of her cunning and deceit.
Kaito knew that she would soon appear. Not just to Shido, but to anyone involved in the vortex of spirit destiny. And now, the system was asking him to face that witch.
His lips curled into a faint smile. It wasn't a smile of disdain, but of uncontainable anticipation. Every mission the system gave him had always been a stepping stone, and this time the reward was so great that he couldn't remain calm.
"Limitless…" he murmured softly, barely audible.
His steps regained their firmness. He left the deserted park behind, while the last rays of sunlight cast orange hues across the city streets. The wind blew gently, but his thoughts were preoccupied with only one thing: how he would face this new mission.
Kaito knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy. But his conviction was unwavering. If the system truly gave him the opportunity to acquire Limitless, then he couldn't waste it. It wasn't just power, but a future that would change everything.
Step by step, he moved in the direction his heart had determined. Night would soon fall, and with it a new chapter.
Somewhere, the witch was waiting. And Kaito, with all his calm and burning passion, prepared to meet her.