"Let's try it," Axamu said quietly.
The girl looked up, blinking. "Longinus… now?"
He nodded. His voice was calm, but his fingers were slightly stiff.
"Yeah. I want to see how it moves in the stadium."
They walked into the simulation room.
The Beyblade X stadium gleamed beneath the lights, faint reflections rippling across its surface. The girl stepped forward, Longinus clutched carefully in her hands. She looked excited—like a child about to release a wish into the sky.
Axamu stood behind her.
Calm on the outside.
Lightning-anxious on the inside.
(…If the link still exists…)
(…if damage still returns to me… then the moment it clashes—)
His chest tightened.
He had felt bones crack. Organs twist. Pain tearing through him from every collision.
He did not want that again.
But he had to know.
The girl placed Longinus on the launcher.
A faint white mist wrapped around the Beyblade, almost invisible, like breath in winter.
She took a small breath.
"Launching."
The ripcord snapped.
Longinus shot forward like a white comet.
It screamed across the stadium, carving wind as it moved, every impact of contact with the stadium rails ringing sharply.
The simulation opponent blade activated.
Longinus charged.
Axamu's body reacted first — faster than thought.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
His breath broke.
Here it comes— that stabbing chain of agony— the familiar invisible knives—
…nothing.
Silence.
No tearing nerves.
No burning organs.
No phantom bones breaking.
Nothing.
(…huh?)
He slowly opened his eyes.
Longinus was rampaging in the stadium like a living beast, scattering wind, forcing the simulation bey back with overwhelming force. The girl laughed softly in amazement, hair lifting slightly in the wind the Bey generated.
Axamu put a trembling hand on his chest.
No pain.
Not even a sting.
"I… didn't feel it," he whispered. "No damage… nothing at all…"
Relief washed through him so hard his knees almost weakened. He exhaled slowly, tension draining from his shoulders for the first time in what felt like forever.
(The damage feedback… is gone.)
Inside the stadium, Longinus struck the simulation Bey with a ruthless hook of force and sent it flying, the echo ringing like thunder.
The girl's eyes sparkled.
"It's amazing…"
Axamu smiled.
This time it wasn't forced.
"Yeah," he said softly. "It is."
---
Longinus howled around the stadium.
Each clash sent sharp gusts of wind brushing Axamu's hair and clothes. The girl leaned slightly forward, eyes shining as she guided the Bey along the rails, timing its movements with uncanny instinct. The simulation level ticked upward.
Level 3.
Level 5.
Level 8.
And Longinus kept dominating.
Axamu folded his arms, watching closely.
"…Hey," he finally asked, a little stunned, "is this really your first time playing?"
The girl blinked, still focused on the stadium.
"Yes."
No hesitation. Just honesty.
Axamu stared.
(First time… and she's already reading the rails…?)
(Tracking angles… responding to rebounds… and she's not panicking when the opponent rushes her either…)
(…she's a monster talent.)
The difficulty increased again.
Simulation Beys began to move like wolves in a pack — trap routes, sudden bursts, baiting moves.
Longinus cut through all of it.
Clean. Fast. Merciless.
Axamu felt a chill.
(Hint of Fate: Extra Character…)
He smiled faintly.
(…she's terrifying.)
Hours drifted by in spinning steel and roaring rails.
At last, the girl sagged slightly, shoulders rising and falling. Longinus stopped in the stadium, still shining faintly.
"You're exhausted," Axamu said gently.
He walked over and handed her a bottle of water. She accepted it with both hands and drank carefully, like she was afraid to spill even a drop.
"How was your first time playing Beyblade?" he asked.
She looked at Longinus. Her lips trembled, then curved.
"…So fun," she said softly — then brighter, "So amazing!"
Her eyes were glowing.
Axamu couldn't help smiling back. He placed his hand gently on her head, ruffling her hair just a little.
"I'm glad you had fun."
Warmth filled the room like quiet sunlight. For a moment, there was no underworld, no system, no blood or battles — just the simple joy of a girl spinning a star-shaped dream.
(Now I understand why the system gave such a reward… )
She was talent.
Pure and frightening.
A blade meant to shine.
He blinked.
(…ah. I never asked—)
"You." Axamu said, tilting his head, "I can't just keep calling you 'you' forever, right? What's your name?"
The girl looked down.
"I… don't have one."
The answer was quiet. Too quiet.
Something tugged in Axamu's chest. He lifted his hand and gently patted her head again.
"Then," he said softly, "want me to give you one?"
Her eyes widened, shimmering.
"Can… I really have a name?"
"Of course," Axamu replied with a small laugh. "Everyone deserves one."
He thought for a moment, gaze drifting — then his expression brightened slightly as an idea settled.
"Shirayuki," he said. "Because your hair and eyes remind me of the old story — snow-white, mysterious, and beautiful."
He paused, then added:
"And… Hoshino."
She blinked. "Hoshino…?"
"Yeah," Axamu nodded. "Because you love stars. And you called me one. So… a girl who belongs to the stars."
He smiled gently.
"Shirayuki Hoshino."
Silence.
Then—
Her lips parted.
"…Shirayuki… Hoshino…"
She repeated it again.
"Shirayuki… Hoshino…"
Again.
Her voice began to tremble.
"…My name…"
Then she burst into the brightest smile she'd ever shown, eyes wet but glittering like small galaxies.
"I love it!"
She laughed softly, hugging Longinus to her chest.
"I'm Shirayuki Hoshino!"
Axamu felt something loosen inside him. He didn't realize he'd been holding his breath until now. He reached out and softly patted her head again.
"Yeah," he said. "Nice to meet you, Shirayuki Hoshino."
She leaned into his hand, closing her eyes happily.
Warm.
Soft.
Peaceful.
For the first time in a long while…
Axamu felt like the world wasn't only made to hurt him.