The air in the training hall shifted.

  Masaki stood at the center now, one hand on the hilt of his bde, the other gesturing to the five wooden constructs lined up across the room.

  Each one shaped like a humanoid form, reinforced with Tamashkii—Reishiki.

  The same kind the squad had used on Day Nine.

  Masaki’s voice was calm.

  “Your test is simple.”

  He motioned toward the dummies.

  “Break the Reishiki. That’s it.”

  Watari raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you were being serious about that the other day?”

  Masaki nodded. “Seriously. When Ryuko and Ren first arrived here, they couldn’t even put a crack in it.”

  Ryuko scoffed under his breath. “You said you weren’t gonna bring that up anymore.”

  Masaki ignored him.

  “This is the standard First Gate final evaluation. Nothing more, nothing less. If you can’t break it—”

  Watari was already walking forward.

  Masaki blinked. “We’re still talking.”

  Watari held up a hand. “Yeah, yeah. I get the rules.”

  He stopped in front of the first Reishiki, drew his bde in one smooth motion—and without a word—

  SLAM—!

  Split it clean in two.

  Masaki’s eye twitched.

  “…Beginner’s luck.”

  Watari turned back, smiling. “You said it, not me.”

  Masaki grunted. “Next.”

  Yumi stepped forward, silent as ever. She didn’t even draw her bde—just summoned a fme in her palm and touched the chest of the Reishiki.

  FOOM.

  The core burst open and colpsed in on itself.

  Masaki raised an eyebrow.

  “…Alright. Jūmonban. Expected.”

  Yumi walked back without a word. Watari offered her a fist bump. She pounded it.

  Masaki sighed. “Next.”

  Kaito stepped up, cracking his neck.

  He stared at the Reishiki like it had personally insulted his fashion sense.

  “Alright, you pnk of spirit wood,” he muttered. “Time to see if Captain Hiroto actually taught us anything.”

  Masaki squinted. “What does that—”

  CRACK—!!

  Kaito drew and struck in one smooth, cocky arc—splitting the entire left side of the dummy before it hit the ground.

  Masaki just stared for a long second.

  “…Guess the Kyūmonban isn’t scking these days huh? If I had known, I would’ve forged a better dummy.”

  Kaito bowed sarcastically. “We aim to confuse.”

  Masaki pointed. “Next.”

  Akira stepped forward.

  Masaki narrowed his eyes.

  “You’re not even assigned to a gate, are you?”

  Kaito leaned to the side. “Nope. That’s our Gairei.”

  Masaki sighed. “Of course he is. Always one. You’re not even on the registry, are you?”

  Akira didn’t answer. Just held up his spirit arm.

  No bde.

  No stance.

  Just pressure.

  He stepped toward the Reishiki. And with a calm exhale, pressed his palm against its chest.

  A pulse of Tamashkii surged through the construct—and then:

  BOOM.

  The Reishiki folded in on itself like a crushed can.

  Masaki’s hand slowly dropped from his hilt.

  He blinked twice.

  “…Oh.”

  Akira walked back.

  Masaki looked at the pile of broken dummies.

  Then at the squad.

  Then at the two standing off to the side.

  “…You two.”

  Ren and Ryuko straightened.

  Masaki pointed at the wreckage.

  “…What monsters have you brought to me?”

  Ren scratched the back of his neck. “Um, just know we’re really good senpai.”

  Ryuko nodded. “They wouldn’t be here without us.”

  Masaki stared at them for a long second.

  Then drew his Reibaku with one clean motion.

  “Come at me, boys.”

  “I have some anger to take out.”

  CUT TO BLACK.