Raiba stretched his arms as he leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling for a moment before exhaling. Sitting around had never been his thing, but with the tournament happening tomorrow, there wasn't much else to do. He had trained, prepared, and stretched enough times that doing it again would just feel excessive. He thought about heading outside, but there was nothing particularly exciting going on in the courtyard either.
He reached into his bag, pulling out a small cloth-wrapped bundle, untying it to reveal a handful of roasted nuts and dried fruit. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him occupied while he figured out what to do next. He popped a few nuts into his mouth, chewing slowly as he listened to the faint hum of voices drifting through the hall.
The inn had settled into a slower rhythm now that evening was approaching. Fighters were either tucked away in their rooms reviewing strategies or lingering in the common areas, talking about past tournaments and predictions for the upcoming matches. Every now and then, a laugh echoed through the hallway, breaking through the otherwise quiet atmosphere, but things still felt steady—balanced.
Raiba glanced toward his bag again, debating whether to grab more, but decided against it. He wasn't hungry, just restless. After a moment, he tied up what was left of his snack, tucked it back into his bag, and decided to move.
Tokira came to mind, and after sitting around for long enough, Raiba figured he might as well check in. He hadn't seen Tokira much since they arrived, and knowing him, he had probably spent most of the day in his room, avoiding unnecessary conversations.
Raiba stretched once more before pushing himself up, dusting off his hands as he stepped into the hallway. The walk to the lower floors wasn't far, but as he moved, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
The hallways weren't as quiet here. Fighters stood near the walls, talking in lower tones than usual, some pausing mid-conversation as Raiba passed. He frowned slightly, adjusting his stride as he noticed the attention.
By the time he turned the final corner near Tokira's door, the stares became more obvious.
It wasn't just passing glances. Fighters near the hallway turned their heads slightly, tracking his movements as he walked. Some whispered just as he moved by, their words dropping low enough that they assumed he wouldn't hear. Others exchanged glances, nudging their friends before flicking their eyes toward him again.
Raiba wasn't the kind to get caught up in rumors, but this was different. He wasn't the reason for this attention—someone else was.
Then, he heard it.
Think he knows the Silent Slayer?
Raiba exhaled through his nose, stopping in front of Tokira's door.
So, that was it.
He knocked once before pushing the door open.
Tokira sat near the window, his posture relaxed, fingers lightly resting against the edge of the table beside him. He barely glanced up when Raiba entered but studied him for a second, like he already knew why he was here.
Raiba leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Alright, what did you do?"
Tokira blinked. "Do?"
Raiba sighed, shaking his head slightly. "People are staring at me like I just walked into the wrong room. Whispering. Silent Slayer. What happened?"
Tokira exhaled, resting his fingers against the wood of the desk. "Someone picked a fight earlier."
Raiba raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Tokira glanced toward the ceiling for a second, as if deciding whether it was worth explaining fully. "He had opinions about our dojo. I gave him better ones."
Raiba stared at him for a moment before letting out a short laugh, shaking his head. "That's what this is about?"
Tokira didn't respond, just adjusted his stance slightly, resting his arm against the table.
Raiba shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "They think you're some kind of legend now. Silent Slayer. People are watching, wondering if you're actually dangerous or if it was just luck."
Tokira sighed, rubbing his temples. "That's excessive."
Raiba chuckled, pushing off the wall. "Hey, I'm just telling you what's happening."
Tokira leaned back against the window frame, watching the streets below. He was quiet for a moment before exhaling. "They'll get over it."
Raiba smirked. "Or they'll make it worse."
He stepped back into the hallway, and the moment he did, the stares returned.
Raiba sighed, shaking his head as he moved toward the upper floors.