By the fourth week, Yumi had finally done it — full Kensei activation.

  Her movements glowed faintly white at every strike, her balance was precise, and her stamina was near limitless. She could now handle full sparring sessions with Kaizo — something that, at the start, had seemed impossible.

  The early rounds were… rough. Kaizo didn’t hold back much, and Yumi spent most of the first session dodging air and falling into dirt. But her progress was undeniable. Every day, she got faster, stronger, and more in sync with Zenshin. By the end of the week, Kaizo had to admit — she was on track to reach his level by summer’s end.

  That should’ve been the main thing on his mind.

  But… there was a different kind of problem developing.

  They were mid-training one humid afternoon when Kaizo decided to test her focus.

  Kaizo (serious): “Alright, Yumi — track movement above you. Go.”

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  Yumi (obediently): “Got it!”

  She tilted her head to the sky, gaze following a bird darting between branches.

  Three seconds passed.

  Kaizo blinked… and realized he was the one who’d lost focus.

  Kaizo (internal, groaning): Fucking hell, this is crazy, it it even possible for them to grow so fast?

  He tried to redirect his attention, but the observation only confirmed what he’d been trying to ignore the past couple weeks — Yumi’s training results were, well… visible. In every way.

  Kaizo (sitting down, staring intently): “….”

  Yumi (lowering her gaze, suspicious): “There was nothing up there.”

  Kaizo (walking off, hands in pockets): “No… there most definitely was.”

  Yumi squinted, cheeks puffing.

  Yumi (pouting): “Kaizo!”

  Kaizo (grinning, glancing at the ‘camera’): “Ah, I don’t want to hear it.”

  Infinity (snickering in the background): “You're having a hella of a good time, aren't ya?”

  Kaizo sighed, realizing once again — teaching Yumi was dangerous in more ways than one.