The Girl Behind the Stone

Raizen, flying confidently, grinned. “Let’s go! To the Ninth Town!”

As Raizen flew through the skies, his thoughts lingered on a boy he’d met that day—one with whom he was supposed to share a bond. His mind drifted further into memory.

“Shiori, huh?” he murmured to himself. “I still remember how I met her.”

Backstory

In a secluded forest, a middle-aged Raizen stood amidst shattered stones, arcs of electricity crackling around him. Sweat glistened on his brow as he panted.

“Tch! This attack is so difficult to learn. If I can’t do this, how am I supposed to reach the 10th magnitude?”

Unbeknownst to him, a girl with violet hair peeked from behind a stone. Her wide, curious eyes followed his every movement.

“Divine Thunderstorm, Magnitude 6: Taurus!” Raizen roared.

A massive, horned electric bull materialized and charged through a stone wall.

“Not again!” he groaned. Charging toward the beast, he caught its horns and slammed it into the ground. The force sent a shockwave of electricity through his own body.

The girl flinched and ducked behind cover. Moments later, she peeked again to see Raizen washing his face, his bare torso shimmering under the droplets.

Her face turned scarlet.

“He’s... attractive?” she muttered. “No! He’s dangerous! A walking nuke!”

Suddenly, Raizen appeared beside her.

“Do you need something?” he asked.

Startled, she shut her eyes. “N-No! I didn’t see anything!” She peeked at his toned form, blushed furiously, and ran away.

Raizen scratched his head. “Huh?”

The next day, Raizen sat peacefully as sparrows landed on his fingers and shoulders.

“So many sparrows,” he whispered. “You’re the only ones who don’t fear me... You’re my brothers now.”

From afar, the girl watched.

“Poor Raizen,” she thought. “He’s always alone.”

Suddenly, Raizen leapt to his feet. “Damn! I forgot something!”

The birds scattered. Curious, the girl followed him to his home.

A chase ensued—Raizen versus a cat that had stolen his only fish.

“That was my meal!” he yelled, barreling through the woods.

The cat disappeared into a tunnel. Raizen peered in and saw kittens devouring the fish.

“Oh,” he softened. “It was for your kids... Lucky you. You’ve got a mom and dad.”

From a distance, the girl smiled. “He’s... kind.”

Later, Raizen sat hungry in his hut. A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. No one was there, but a handkerchief-wrapped box lay on the doorstep.

Inside—three perfect rice cakes.

His eyes sparkled. “Whoever did this... thank you!”

He devoured them joyfully.

Raizen resumed training. “Static Shield!”

A golden electric barrier formed, shattering spikes launched from every direction.

From the shadows, the girl watched again.

But danger struck—bandits grabbed her and muffled her scream.

Raizen’s instincts flared. “Someone’s in trouble.”

He bolted through the forest, leapt from tree to tree, and used Thunderstep to gain speed.

“Electro Bind!”

Rings of lightning shot from his fingertips, paralyzing bandits mid-stride.

“Spark Torrent! 100 Volts!”

One by one, they fell.

He caught the girl just as she began to fall, ripping the cloth from her mouth.

“He’s holding me...” she thought, heart pounding.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Y-Yes!” she stammered.

“Run. I’m dangerous.”

“That’s not true,” she argued. “You saved me. You’re kind.”

“You’ve been watching me, haven’t you?”

“N-No! I was just passing by!”

“Liar. That food—was it you?”

His eyes lit up. “Those rice cakes were amazing!” He grabbed her hands, shaking them excitedly. “Can you make them every day?”

She turned crimson. “S-Sure, if you insist.”

A rustle. Kenzo—calm, powerful—stepped out from the shadows.

“You saved me the trouble,” he said. “I was here to kill them.”

Raizen readied for battle.

Kenzo caught his punch effortlessly.

“You’re still inexperienced,” he said. “Flow like water. Be like water. Discipline with power makes a man strong.”

The girl bowed. “Respect to the Shogun of Justice.”

“So you’re Raizen, Hiroshi’s brother?” Kenzo asked. “I defeated him once. He grew stronger.”

“You? Defeated my brother?!”

“He’s Kenzo,” she whispered. “The strongest swordsman in the world.”

“I want to fight you!” Raizen declared.

“Not yet,” Kenzo replied. “Grow stronger. Then we’ll meet again.” And with that, he vanished.

Raizen stared into the trees. “Damn... I’ll defeat him one day.”

“I’m sure you can,” she said.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

She hesitated. “It’s... Shiori.”

He smiled. “Shiori, huh? It’s a good name. And... you’re kind of cute too.”

She blinked, face flushed. “Did... did he just say...?”

Shiori flushed bright red, steam practically pouring from her ears and cheeks. “I-I think I should go now... umm, thanks for saving me!” she stammered and dashed away.

Raizen stood frozen, his face a touch red, watching her disappear into the trees. (She dared to stay near me... she's kind of cute too.)

From that day on, Shiori left him food daily just as promised. Raizen ate each meal with genuine delight. Days passed. Then weeks. And eventually months.

One day, Raizen lay on the grass, injured after intense training, his shirt torn and eyes fixed on the sky. (A girl who suddenly came and kept feeding me...) Her face appeared in the clouds.

(I think about her all day.)

Shiori approached, dressed in a black and grey outfit. “Hello! Aren’t you training today?”

“I finished early,” Raizen replied, sitting on a stone.

She set the food down in front of him.

“There’s something I want to tell you,” Raizen said. She listened intently

“My mom and dad... I saw them get murdered when I was young. My brother took all the burden and left to fulfill his dreams.

Shiori leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing in realization. "He's talking about Hiroshi...? I heard his bounty has recently been raised to four stars..." she whispered, the weight of Raizen's story settling in her chest.

Raizen continued, "Since then, I’ve been alone. I’ve always wanted someone to hear me out... but no one dared come close, but someone finally came close to me.”

Shiori’s eyes widened.

“Now I can share my feelings. I was happy and shocked at the same time that you didn’t run after being saved.”

(His words are filled with sorrow... but how can he smile like that?) she wondered.

“I’m tired. Can we meet tomorrow?”

“Sure,” she nodded.

The next day, Raizen lay in bed, looking up at the fan.

“She’s just too cute! I like her!” he laughed. “Should I confess? But how?”

Standing before a mirror, he cleared his throat dramatically. “Shiori... I am Raizen.”

Outside, Shiori peeked through his window, worried. (He wasn’t in the forest today. Is he home?)

She heard him continue.

“Shiori... I think I’ve started loving you, because you quenched my thirst for loneliness. I really love you from the bottom of my heart.”

A breeze blew her hair. Her eyes widened in stunned silence.

—To be continued