Chapter 22 : Hidden scars

Night wrapped the capital in a thick veil of silence as Sakura passed through the shadowed gates of the Fujimoto territory. The guards were tired and half-distracted under the moon’s watchful gaze, and Sakura, draped in her blood-stained black robe, moved like smoke between the cracks. Her breath trembled, but her steps were quick.
She didn’t belong out here. Not tonight.

The towering gates of the Fujimoto estate stood just ahead, looming like stone giants. Sakura slipped inside and made her way through the outer courtyards, ducking beneath windows and hugging walls where the moonlight didn’t reach. Servants lit lanterns in distant halls, unaware of her presence.

Her face was pale, her expression unreadable—but beneath that calm mask was a storm of worry and exhaustion. Blood—Haru’s and hers—still dried on her cheek. Her arm ached, but she pressed forward.
She had to get to her room before Shin found her.

She entered the castle silently, heart pounding louder than her steps. Her boots hit the polished floors like whispers as she bolted through the corridors, avoiding open doors and curious eyes.

But then—
A figure turned the corner.
Sakura froze in place.
Shin.

Tall and composed, his hair catching the moonlight through the corridor’s high window. He walked toward her hallway.
Her breath caught.
If he reached her room before she did—if he saw she wasn’t there—

Her mind screamed. There was no time to think. She turned on her heels and rushed up the emergency stairway behind the servants’ quarters. Her legs burned, and she nearly slipped, but she kept going until she reached the roof.

Cold air kissed her skin as she climbed out onto the dark tiles. One wrong move and she'd fall. But she didn't hesitate. Her hands gripped the stone ridge, and she inched across the roof before crouching at the edge above her window.
She jumped.

Barely managing to grasp the window frame, she pulled herself in, stumbled onto her bedroom floor just moments before—
Knock. Knock.

Her room was dark, the lights off, only the moon pouring in.

“Sakura,” came Shin’s voice, calm as always. “Can I come in?”

Before he could say more—
“I’m sleepy!” Sakura called out hastily, voice strained. “Really sleepy. Can we talk tomorrow?”

A pause.
“You didn’t eat dinner.”
“I’m not hungry,” she mumbled. “It’s okay.”

Another pause.
Then—
“…Alright.” His voice was quiet, gentle. “Goodnight.”

Her chest loosened. She heard his footsteps fade.

Sakura sat on the floor by the door, hand against the wood, guilt and pain crashing over her like waves. She stayed like that for a long moment.
Then, slowly, she got up.

She went to the basin and splashed cold water on her face, washing off the blood and dirt. Her hands shook slightly as she unwrapped her sleeve, revealing the cut across her hand. She cleaned it and wrapped it with fresh bandages from her drawer.
But her thoughts weren’t on the pain.
They were with Haru.

Far from the capital, in the quiet old mansion outside the village, Haru stirred.
His eyelashes fluttered.
“Haru?” a voice whispered.

His vision cleared.
Kai. Emi. Hana. Ryo. Ren. They all stood there. Hana and Ryo were crying, but smiling.

“Haru!” Emi cried and quickly hugged him. “You’re awake! Are you okay?”

Haru blinked, confused, then—
“…Where’s Sakura?” he asked quietly.

Everyone froze.
Kai’s expression darkened.
“Forget her,” he said coldly. “She left. Like always. She’s the reason you were taken.”

“No, she’s not!” Haru shouted, tears rushing to his eyes. “She saved me!”

Silence.
Everyone looked at him in shock.

“She… she came,” Haru whispered. “When those soldiers grabbed me… she found me. She tried to fight them. She got hurt. Because of me!”

His small fists trembled. “She bled for me. And she carried me back. She never left me.”

Kai’s eyes widened.
Blood.
He remembered the blood on Sakura’s cheek when she returned. The blank expression. The silence. The pain she never explained.
He looked down, guilt clenching his heart like a vice.

“I hate you!” Haru screamed at Kai. “Why did you told her to leave! I hate you!”

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Emi and Hana tried to comfort him, arms wrapping around his shaking shoulders.
Kai didn’t move.
He turned and walked away, silently disappearing into the hallway.

Moments later, he stood alone on the rooftop of the mansion, staring up at the stars, eyes distant, filled with regret.

Morning sunlight bathed the Fujimoto Castle in soft gold. Birds chirped quietly as the world slowly stirred.

Sakura stood before the training hall, her wounds bandaged, her body aching—but her heart steady.

Inside, Shin was already training.
He looked at her and gave her a warm, rare smile. “Morning.”

“Morning,” Sakura replied, her smile small but real.

Shin paused.
His sharp eyes noticed the black training gloves she wore.

“You’re wearing gloves now?” he asked.

Sakura laughed nervously. “Thought they looked cool.”

He tilted his head slightly. But didn’t press.

They began training. Sword swings. Movement drills. Then Shin stepped back.

Shin lowered his blade slightly, the tip pointed to the ground as he watched Sakura wipe the sweat from her brow.
“You’ve gotten faster,” he said, a small nod of approval in his voice.

“But still not fast enough to beat you,” Sakura muttered, panting lightly.

Shin gave a rare smile. “You’re getting there. But you’ll need more than speed. The Grand Magic Battle is only two weeks away. You have to be ready—for anything.”

Sakura’s eyes flickered with determination. “I will be. I promise.”

“Try your magic again,” he said gently.

Sakura focused, extending her hand.
Nothing.

Shin watched her carefully, but simply said, “It’ll come. We’ll work on it.”

They took a break, sitting near the edge of the courtyard, the warm sun on their backs.

“There’s something I forgot to tell you,” Shin said casually.

Sakura looked over. “What?”

“The reason Father called me yesterday…” Shin adjusted his grip on his water flask. “He told me we’re getting visitors.”

Her eyes lit up a little, curiosity returning. “Who?”

“Lord Jinnosuke Raijin. Lady Misaki Raijin. And their daughter, Ayame Raijin.”

Sakura’s jaw dropped. “What?! The Raijin Clan?!”

“They’ll arrive today.”

“Today?!” Sakura sprang to her feet, practically spinning in panic.

Shin chuckled softly—a rare sound—and ruffled her hair with his gloved hand.
“Calm down, dummy.”

Sakura blinked, stunned by his smile.
“It’ll be fine.”

She slowly smiled back.
But beneath that smile, hidden beneath her gloves and her silence, the scars still throbbed.
And the day had only just begun.