Inner Peace Manga

The forest was silent. Not peaceful — silent. As if the trees themselves were holding their breath. Team 0 stood in the aftermath of the rift battle, the air still humming with residual energy. The creature they had faced was gone, shattered into fragments of light and static. But the feeling it left behind lingered like smoke. Shawn stood at the center of the clearing, his black mask cracked slightly from the strain. Beneath it, his right eye glowed faintly — the 1-Tomoe Hoshigan now fully awakened. 🌌 The Hoshigan Revealed The eye was unlike anything the others had seen. A deep violet iris, with a single tomoe orbiting a star-shaped pupil. It shimmered with cosmic energy, as if the night sky had been trapped inside it. Shawn blinked slowly, and the world around him bent — not visibly, but perceptibly. Gravity shifted. Time slowed. He could feel the weight of space itself responding to his gaze. “I can see… everything,” he whispered. “Not just chakra. Possibilities.” Jaden stepped beside him, his own eyes glowing pale white. 👁️ The Byakugan in Full Force Jaden’s Byakugan was fully active now. Veins bulged at his temples, and his vision extended in every direction. He could see chakra threads tangled in the trees, the faint residue of the rift’s energy, and even the subtle pulse of Shawn’s Hoshigan. “You’re warping the field,” Jaden said. “Even your chakra flow is bending.” Shawn nodded. “It’s like… I’m not just seeing the world. I’m shaping it.” Isaiah stood nearby, silent as always. His fur collar was singed, and his dreadlock-like hair was damp with sweat. But his eyes were sharp. “That thing wasn’t from here,” he said. “And it wasn’t alone.” Return to the Village The team moved quickly, returning to the Hidden Leaf under cover of dusk. The Hokage was waiting. He listened silently as they described the rift, the creature, and the battle. When they finished, he turned to Kuroda, who stood in the shadows. “They’re progressing faster than expected,” Kuroda said. “The Hoshigan has awakened. The Byakugan is adapting. And Isaiah’s mutation is stabilizing.” The Hokage nodded grimly. “Then we’re out of time.” He looked at the three Genin. “You’re no longer students. You’re weapons. And the world is about to remember why it feared the Riftborn.” Elsewhere… In a dark chamber beneath the earth, a masked figure knelt before a glowing rift fragment. “The Hoshigan has awakened,” he whispered. “The seal is breaking.” A voice echoed from the void. “Then the Rift will open again. And this time… they won’t be ready.”
Role / Style Instruction (keep at top): You are a professional black-and-white manga artist illustrating a finished manga page. Follow panel composition, camera direction, tone, and pacing exactly. Do not redesign characters or alter story content. PAGE GOAL Establish a calm fantasy village where magic is ordinary, subtly introduce social distance around the main character, and clearly define his relaxed, grounded personality. The page should feel warm and normal, with an underlying sense of quiet separation. PAGE LAYOUT One large horizontal establishing panel at the top Two stacked panels beneath it Clean gutters Natural left-to-right reading flow No extreme angles, no dramatic effects PANEL 1 — ESTABLISHING THE WORLD Wide village street in the morning. Warm light. Lived-in fantasy environment. Show everyday magic, treated as routine: A baker flicks a small controlled flame from his fingertip like striking a match Water floats smoothly into jars, shaping itself gently A woman calmly pulls glowing thread from thin air; it spins briefly before wrapping neatly onto a spool No one reacts to the magic. This is normal life. Dialogue placement (light, unobtrusive): Villager 1: “Morning already? Wind’s lively today.” Villager 2 (smiling): “Better than yesterday. Fire mage nearly burned the stall again.” Magic should feel subtle and practical, not flashy. PANEL 2 — THE WATCHING EYES Kaisen Lorenin walks down the street with dual swords crossed on his back. He is centered, walking calmly. Villagers are half-hidden: Faces peeking from doorways and windows Eyes visible before mouths Whispering posture Composition should isolate Kaisen within the crowd. Dialogue (small, quiet speech bubbles): Villager 3 (whispering): “That’s Lorenin’s boy.” Villager 4: “He got time magic, right?” Villager 3: “…Yeah. Something like that.” PANEL 3 — KAISEN’S RESPONSE Close-medium, three-quarter view of Kaisen. Relaxed posture Genuine, casual smile Small wave No visible magic Clean background with fewer villagers This panel belongs entirely to him. Dialogue: Kaisen: “Morning.” CHARACTER NOTES (DO NOT ALTER) Kaisen Lorenin: calm, approachable, grounded, no visible magic use Dual swords on his back at all times No dramatic expressions yet TONE & STYLE Black and white manga style Clean linework Minimal effects Subtle shading Realistic proportions Calm pacing Magic integrated into daily life IMPORTANT CONSTRAINTS Do NOT add extra characters Do NOT change dialogue Do NOT add dramatic magic effects Do NOT make villagers openly hostile Do NOT change panel layout This page should feel peaceful, normal, and quietly distant.
🎭 "The Relay Robbery" — A Love Story Gone Wrong A Manga Short Story featuring Alice & Bob PANEL 1 — THE DISCOVERY [Scene: Tesla showroom, bright lights, shiny cars everywhere] Alice walks past the Tesla showroom window holding her coffee ☕ She spots Bob inside, talking to a salesman, signing papers, looking very serious. Alice (internal monologue, sparkle eyes): "Awww he looks so cute when he's being responsible with money—" Bob hands over his credit card. Alice (eyes go wide): "Wait..." Salesman wraps a big red bow on a Model Y. Alice (jaw drops to floor, coffee falls in slow motion): "HE'S BUYING A TESLA????" PANEL 2 — THE BETRAYAL [Alice dramatically pressed against the window like a sad anime character in rain] Alice (thinking): "Tomorrow is March 8th. International Women's Day. MY day." Alice (thinking): "And this man... THIS man... is buying himself a Tesla??" Bob is seen laughing with the salesman, completely unaware. Alice (single dramatic tear): "I raised this man." [Close up on Alice's face — the expression of someone who has decided something dangerous] PANEL 3 — THE PLANNING PHASE [Alice at home, 2AM, lying on the ceiling like a sad anime character, staring at nothing] Alice: "It's fine. I'm fine. He just forgot Women's Day. It's FINE." [Cut to: Alice aggressively eating chips in bed, laptop open] Alice: "I'm not even mad. I'm just... " YouTube autoplay kicks in. YouTube Ad: "🔴 HOW HACKERS STEAL KEYLESS ENTRY CARS IN 60 SECONDS —" [Alice slowly stops chewing] [The chip hangs in midair] Alice (eyes slowly light up like a villain origin story): "...Go on." PANEL 4 — THE TUTORIAL [Alice watching the video, taking notes in a Hello Kitty notebook] YouTube: "The attacker simply extends the LF signal from the key fob using two radio devices—" Alice (writing intensely): "...two... radio... devices..." YouTube: "—the car believes the key is present even from miles away—" Alice (underlining three times): "KEY. DOES. NOT. NEED. TO. BE. THERE." Alice (slams notebook shut, stands up dramatically): "Neither does Bob." [Lightning strikes outside for dramatic effect] PANEL 5 — THE ACCOMPLICE [Alice staring at her cat "Cipher" who is sitting on the bed licking his paw, completely unbothered] Alice: "Cipher." [Cat ignores her] Alice: "Cipher I need you." [Cat slowly blinks once — the absolute minimum acknowledgment] Alice (pulls out hand-drawn diagram): "Okay so Bob's key fob must be on his bedside table. His bedroom window is on the ground floor. I need Device Two close to the key. You are small. You are silent. You are perfect." [Long pause] [Cat knocks her Hello Kitty notebook off the bed and walks away] Alice: "CIPHER THIS IS FOR WOMEN'S DAY." PANEL 6 — THE RECRUITMENT [Alice holding Cipher up like Simba from Lion King, looking him dead in the eyes] Alice: "You have been eating my food for 4 years." Alice: "Free of charge." Alice: "Tonight. You pay rent." [Cipher stares back with the dead eyes of a creature who feels absolutely nothing] [Cut to: Alice taping the relay device to Cipher's collar with excessive amounts of tape] Cipher (internal monologue, absolutely disgusted): "I should have stayed a stray." PANEL 7 — THE OPERATION BEGINS [3AM. Bob's house. Alice crouching in the bushes outside, dressed in full black, wearing night vision goggles she definitely bought from Amazon same-day delivery] Alice (whispering into walkie talkie): "Cipher. Do you copy." [Cipher sits next to her, device taped to collar, staring into the void] Alice: "Cipher. The window is open. The key fob is 2 meters inside on the nightstand. I need you to go in, get close to it, and hold position." [Cipher yawns so wide his whole face disappears] Alice: "Cipher this is a stealth mission." [Cipher meows. Loudly. Into the night.] Alice (grabbing him): "CIPHER—" PANEL 8 — THE PUSH [Alice holding Cipher up to Bob's open bedroom window on the ground floor] [Inside: Bob sleeping peacefully, key fob glowing on the nightstand, completely unaware] Alice (whispering): "Okay. Nice and easy. Just... walk to the nightstand. That's all I need." [She places Cipher on the windowsill] [Cipher turns around and stares at Alice] Alice (whispering): "Go. Go go go. Shoo." [Cipher does not move] Alice (through gritted teeth): "CIPHER. I WILL BUY YOU THE GOOD TUNA." [Cipher takes one step inside] [Alice exhales] [Cipher immediately sits down directly on Bob's face] Bob (muffled, half asleep): "...wha... Cipher? ...how did you—" [Alice freezes outside the window] Bob (eyes still closed, half dreaming): "...s'okay buddy... go sleep..." [Bob moves Cipher to the side directly onto the nightstand next to the key fob] [Alice's eyes go wide] Alice (internal monologue, whispering): "...He just... placed him... perfectly." Alice: "Cipher you absolute genius." [Cipher is already asleep on top of the key fob, completely by accident, perfectly positioned] PANEL 9 — THE RELAY [Alice outside with Device One pointed at the Tesla parked down the street] [Device Two on Cipher's collar, 30cm from the key fob inside] [The signal bridge is complete] Alice (hands shaking, pointing device at car): "Signal extended... key fob excited... car thinks key is present..." [Tesla down the street goes: 🔓 CLICK] [Alice's mouth falls open] Alice (barely breathing): "...It worked." [Long pause] Alice (forgetting to whisper): "IT ACTUALLY WORKED." [Bob shifts in his sleep] [Cipher opens one eye, judges her, closes it again] Alice (running to the car in slow motion like an action movie): "CIPHER EXTRACT YOURSELF WE ARE LEAVING—" [Cipher does not move] [Alice drives away without him] [Cipher watches from the windowsill] Cipher (internal monologue): "Good. I live here now." PANEL 10 — GANGSTER MODE ACTIVATED [Alice in the Tesla, door closes, engine hums silently because it's electric and that's somehow funnier] [She sits in silence for exactly 3 seconds] [Then slowly... she puts on her sunglasses] [At 3AM] [In the dark] [She connects her phone to the Tesla's Bluetooth] [An extremely dramatic song starts playing — something like "HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar or "Power" by Kanye] Alice (one hand on wheel, leaning back, full villain arc complete): "Hm." [She pulls out of the street at exactly the speed limit because she is not stupid] [Windows down. Music up. Single finger tapping the wheel.] Alice (internal monologue): "This is the best car I have ever driven." Alice: "This is also the best thing I have ever done." [She merges onto the highway heading south] [The GPS says: "Destination: Mexico — 14 hours"] Alice: "Perfect." PANEL 11 — BOB WAKES UP [7AM. Bob's bedroom. Sunlight streaming in.] [Cipher is sitting on Bob's chest staring at him from 2cm away] [Bob opens eyes. Sees cat. Confused.] Bob: "...Cipher how did you get in here." [Bob reaches for phone. Notification on screen:] 🚗 Tesla App: Your vehicle is currently in ARIZONA. Estimated speed: 78mph Playing: "HUMBLE." — Kendrick Lamar Climate control: 72°F *Driver seat adjusted: -4 inches ← (Alice is shorter than Bob) [Bob stares at the notification] [Bob looks at the empty key hook on the wall] [Bob looks at Cipher] Bob: "...Cipher." [Cipher meows] Bob: "Did Alice—" [Cipher meows again, louder, and headbutts the relay device still taped to his collar] [Bob stares at the device on the cat's collar] [Bob stares at the Tesla app showing his car in Arizona] [Bob stares at the date on his phone: March 8th] Bob (very slowly): "She thought I bought it for myself, ohh lord have mercy" [Long pause] [Bob lies back down and pulls the blanket over his face] Bob (muffled): "...I spent three months planning this." [Cipher sits on his face again in solidarity] PANEL 12 — ARIZONA. THE DISCOVERY. [Alice, sunglasses on, one arm out the window, absolutely living her best life, somewhere in the Arizona desert] [Sun is setting. Sky is orange and pink. The Tesla purrs silently.] Alice (singing along to the radio, zero regrets): "This is MY car now. I earned this. Eight years of Women's Days and he finally—" [The glove compartment pops open slightly on a speed bump] [A small white envelope slides out onto the passenger seat] [Alice glances at it] [On the envelope in Bob's handwriting, with a small heart:] "To my precious Alice 🌹" [Alice's sunglasses slowly slide down her nose] PANEL 13 — THE REALIZATION [Alice pulled over on the side of the highway. Engine still running. Card in hand.] Inside the envelope: "Happy International Women's Day💕 — Your Bob 🌹" [The Arizona wind blows dramatically through her hair] [A tumbleweed rolls past] [A coyote howls in the distance] Alice: "..." Alice (very small voice): "I stole my own car." [Beat] Alice: "Heading to Mexico." Alice: "In my own stolen present." [She looks at herself in the rearview mirror] [Her own sunglasses stare back at her] Alice (to her reflection): "You studied cybersecurity for four years.you deserve it" PANEL 14 — THE PHONE CALL [Alice calls Bob. It rings twice. He picks up immediately, which means he was waiting.] Bob (eerily calm): "Hello Alice." Alice: "Hypothetically." Bob: "Mhm." Alice: "If someone... relocated a vehicle... by accident—" Bob: "By accident." Alice: "Using a technique they learned from YouTube—" Bob: "At 2AM." Alice: "...You knew?" Bob: "Cipher still has the relay device on his collar Alice." [Silence] Alice: "...The card was very sweet." Bob (sighing): "WHERE ARE YOU." Alice (tiny voice): "...Arizona." Bob: "ALICE." Alice: "THE TACOS ARE REALLY GOOD HERE—" Alice: "I PANICKED OKAY I SAW YOU BUY A TESLA AND I—" Bob: "IT HAD A BOW ON IT—" Alice: "I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR YOU—" Bob: "WHY WOULD I PUT A BOW ON A CAR FOR MYSELF—" Alice (pause): "...Men do things, Bob." [Bob makes a sound that is half laugh half cry] Bob (exhausted): "...Are you safe?" Alice (small voice): "...Yes." Bob: "Is my car safe?" Alice: "...Also yes." PANEL 15 — THE MORAL [Final panel. Alice sitting on the hood of the Tesla on the side of an Arizona highway at sunset, eating a gas station burrito, looking simultaneously guilty, grateful, and completely unbothered] PANEL 16 — THE END "Bob bought Alice a second Tesla the following Women's Day." "With a GPS tracker, a note taped to the steering wheel, and zero ambiguity." "Cipher got the good tuna. He earned it."
Episode 1: The Encounter The story begins with Kenshin, a lively and energetic boy in a neatly pressed school uniform, sprinting down a quiet residential street. The morning sun filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. Kenshin greets the neighbors as he zooms past, his cheerful “Good morning!” bringing smiles to their faces. His pace quickens as he checks his watch, realizing he’s dangerously close to being late. Spotting a shortcut through a narrow alley, he hesitates briefly before deciding to take the risk. **“This has to save me at least five minutes,”** he mutters to himself, dashing into the alley. As Kenshin exits the alley, the atmosphere shifts. A group of bullies is cornering another boy, their jeers and threats cutting through the otherwise calm morning. Kenshin instantly recognizes the boy being harassed— “That sounds like- “ “SHIN!?” a quiet but sharp-witted student. Shin meets Kenshin’s eyes and grins despite the situation. Kenshin smirks back and calls out, **“Again huh”** “Oh, hey kenshin” One of the bullies turns, his face twisted in annoyance. **“Who the hell are you supposed to be?”** he snarls. Kenshin steps forward with a confident swagger, cracking his knuckles. **“you guys don’t learn at all,so what’s the point in telling you”** he replies, they’re annoyed now and take their attention to kenshin. **“ I’m the guy who’s going to help kick your ass. Remember this face ,if you even can?”** said kenshin The bullies exchange glances before charging at Kenshin, their fists swinging wildly some actually hitting kenshin and landing some clean shots this gave shin some time to take some out from behind. Kenshin now catches his footing and ducks and weaves however, his movements fluid and precise. He lands a solid punch on one bullies, sending him stumbling back. Shin, seizing the opportunity, blocks another’s strike and counters with a sharp jab. The fight is over quickly as the bullies, bruised and humiliated, retreat. Kenshin looming over them all on the floor, his eyes narrowing. **“Here’s your choice: ya leave my friend here alone, or next time i’ll make sure there won't be a next time.”** “Tch y- yea whatever” they leave begrudgingly not really taking kenshin seriously but backing off for now As the dust settles, Shin dusts himself off and chuckles. **“Well that’s done with. I honestly didn’t expect to see you this morning’.”** Kenshin grins, shaking his head. **“I could say the same to you shin. Nice work back there”** Curious, Kenshin asks, **“Where’d you learn to fight like that?”** Shin hesitates, his expression unreadable. **“My roommate taught me a few things, he’s a karate student”** he replies casually. Kenshin frowns slightly. **“Roommate? I don’t think I’ve ever been to your place.”** Shin quickly changes the subject, glancing at his watch. **!“We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”** Scene: School arrival Realizing the time, Kenshin panics, tugging Shin’s sleeve. **“We’re going to miss the opening ceremony!”** Shin places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. **“Relax. We’ve still got time . Can you still run?”** Kenshin smirks, the fire of competition igniting in his eyes. **“They used to call me ‘The Flash’ for a reason-.”** Shin slaps the fuck out of kenshin Shin stares with an unimpressed look on his face. **“no one calls you that -_- .”** The two race through the streets, weaving through pedestrians and leaping over obstacles. As they near the school gates, the warning bell echoes through the air. With one final burst of speed, they slide into the assembly hall just as the final chime sounds. Breathing heavily, they find seats near the back of the room. A shadowy figure watches from a distance, their face obscured. They mutter under their breath, **“He hasn’t changed one bit.”** A ceremony was held to welcome the students to another academic year as the principal introduced herself and shared a few remarks. She went on to introduce the student body president Saiyaka Ichidori and dismissed the ceremony telling everyone to find their homerooms. After the ceremony, the students are instructed to find their homerooms. Kenshin and Shin scan the assignment board, their names listed under Class 11A. Excited to be in the same class, they make their way to the classroom. Along the way, Kenshin playfully nudges Shin. **“Ready to tackle another year together?”** Shin smirks. **“Always.”** As they enter the classroom, Kenshin immediately approaches a group of students, his natural charisma drawing their attention. **“Hey, I’m Kenshin! What’s up?”** He’s just beginning to exchange names when a voice cuts through the chatter. **“Is this your attempt at making friends, Kenshin?”** Kenshin freezes, recognizing the mocking tone instantly. The source of the voice steps forward, a sly grin on their face, and Kenshin groans. **“Oooof course, it’s you…”** Scene: Arrival of Dante and Karin As the class settles in, the door swings open, and Dante Koruiyu, an old classmate of Kenshin’s, strides in. His confident smirk instantly draws attention. Dante's eyes land on Kenshin, and his smirk widens into a grin. **“Yooo, Kenshin! How’s it goin’? Feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen ya,”** Dante exclaims, walking up to him. Kenshin leans back slightly, pretending to size him up. **“Danteee ,hahaaa, you look like even more of muscle head >:)”** he teases, making a mock lifting gesture.and nudging shins arm Dante bursts into a laugh but quickly pulls Kenshin into a friendly hug, lowering his voice. **“That’s not funny,”** he grumbles, though there’s no real heat *behind his words. Kenshin chuckles, patting him on the back. **“i’m sorry ;-;”** Before their reunion can go any further, a blur of movement catches Kenshin off guard. A student suddenly appears behind him, aiming a kick at his head. Kenshin ducks just in time, laughing. **“WHAT THE-! H-HEY WATCH IT WILL Y-!”** Turning to face the attacker, he sees Karin Haruno “KARIN!?”Kenshin says, another familiar face from his past. she swiftly delivers a kick to his stomach catching him off guard. Kenshin doubles over, coughing, **“hhrgnn, oow.”** Shin chimes in after the kick “ Well I wasn’t expecting to see her?!” Dante also chimes in “ You said it, thought she was never coming back” Karin crosses her arms, leaning forward slightly. **“You’ve gotten rusty, Kenshin. Keep this up, and I'll even start feeling sorry for you.”** “That was a cheap shot, You always have to beat me up?ugrh”* kenshin says, groaning in pain from the kick* , the door to the classroom slides open with authority. Their teacher, Mr. Abarai, steps in. His sharp gaze silences the chatter, and he claps his hands once. **“Alright, everyone. Take your seats and Let’s get started for today.”** Shin helps Kenshin to his seat as the murmurs start up among the students. **“what was that all about?”* one mutters. “I dunno, kick looked like it hurt though ,”** another adds, prompting a few chuckles. Kenshin rolls his eyes but grins. Scene: Hollow appearance The roll call begins, with each student introducing themselves. Names like Dante Koruiyu, Shin Kuchiki, and Karin Haruno come up, each met with varying reactions. Finally, it’s Kenshin’s turn. He stands, giving a small wave. **“Kenshin Takahashi. Nice to meet you all,”** he says confidently. Class proceeds uneventfully at first, but as Mr. Abarai begins outlining the year’s schedule, Scene Continuation: Hollow Disruption Shin kicks back in his chair, balancing effortlessly on its rear legs, folding a piece of notebook paper with a bored expression. Kenshin side-eyes him, whispering, "Seriously? You look like you’re about to nap." Shin smirks without looking up. "I’m multi-tasking. You should try it sometime, Kenshin." *”i hope you fall. -_-” said kenshin you're always on about something." said karin as she writes in her book Kenshin blinks, taken back. "What did I do ?" he asks under his breath, confusion written across his face as he turns to her. Shin remains leaning and keeps his eyes down, snickering softly at the exchange; he says, " she really got it out for you, Kenshin," muttering, he folded another piece of paper into a small, firm triangle. Dante, having listened to the teasing, snickers from his desk. "You knoww, when a girl acts like that, that means she likes ya kenshin" He grins, nudging Shin with his elbow. Shin chuckles at the thought Karin now “WHAT!” Slightly flustered, Kenshin can't help but laugh "BAHAHAHAHA." “Oh shut it KENSHINN!!” she says flustered and enraged. “ALRIGHT QUIET DOWN OR I’LL KICK YOU ALL OUT OF MY CLASS YOU HEAR ME” said Mr. Abarai tired of the annoying yapping He looks behind eyeing everyone in silence as kenshin gestures to shin The room falls even quieter, the chalk pressing against the board being all that’s heard. the air in the classroom shifts. a faint rumble disturbs the calm. At first, it’s subtle—like a distant vibration. Then it grows louder, shaking the walls and rattling the windows. Students exchange uneasy glances as Mr. Abarai tries to dismiss it. **“Oh? Well that’s odd , an earthquake maybe? ”** But the shaking intensifies, and Shin’s eyes narrow, his instincts flaring. Suddenly, he shouts, **“GET OUT OF THE WAY!”** The ceiling collapses in an explosion of dust and debris. Chaos erupts as students scream and scramble for cover. Acting quickly, Shin pulls Kenshin out of harm’s way, while Dante grabs Karin and shields her. **“Everyone okay?”** Kenshin yells, his voice hoarse. The students shout back, confirming they’re fine—except for one girl who’s pinned under a large piece of rubble. Kenshin and Shin rush to her side, struggling to free her. As they lift the rubble, Shin’s senses prick with unease. He looks around, his heart pounding as he spots something monstrous emerging from the ceiling. A huge, grotesque Hollow peaks its head out and observes, looking for something almost. Shin’s expression hardens. **“Kenshin, we need to move—now!”** Kenshin glances at the terrified students behind them and shakes his head. **“We can’t leave them. That thing could hurt someone!”** The beast now finds what it wanted. kenshin. Shin curses under his breath. **“Fine. We’ll lure it away.”** It slams down onto the floor raising it’s spiritual power causing most of the students to fall asleep, now inching towards the two They come up with a desperate plan: distract the creature and lead it toward a weak section of rubble to create an escape route. Shin taunts the Hollow, drawing its attention, while Kenshin positions himself. But it doesn’t seem to care and locks eyes with kenshin only and pounces towards kenshin Kenshin moving out of the way just in a nick of time It attacks him again, sending him crashing into the classroom door **“AGCKH!”**kenshin groans **“KENSHIN!”**shin yells Kenshin looks up at the creature one more time realizing what it’s after and decides. **“SHIN! CHANGE OF PLANS, IT’S ME THAT IT’S AFTER I’LL DISTRACT IT,AND YOU GET EVERYONE TO SAFETY!”** kenshin now runs off into the hall WHAT?! NO! YOU IDIOT YOU’LL DIE! Shin runs to the doorway worried but he trust’s Kenshin will be ok with how fast a runner he is. “Damnit ok” he looks at the other students and goes to help them out of the room. Kenshin and the hollow rush through the hall turning every corner until a dead end The hollow approaches kenshin **“Finally, *it lets out a barking noise as laughter* you’ve got legs boy, BUT NO BRAIN”** Kenshin shook by its voice and ability to speak. it rushes in to attack, kenshin now looking for ways to dodge knowing it’s probably futile but then time seems to slow only for a blur of movement to intercept the attack. A man in a bucket hat stands between Kenshin and the Hollow, effortlessly blocking the creature’s fist. **“Who… who are you?”** Kenshin stammers. The man doesn’t look back, his voice calm but firm. **“Now’s not the time for introductions.”** Turning his attention to the Hollow, the man addresses it directly. **“A Hollow this bold inside the living world? What are you doing here?”** Kenshin blinks in confusion. **“ a Hollow?”** he mutters to himself. “RrrrGhrr YOU’RE IN MY WAAAY!”the hollow growls The creature lunges again, but the man counters with a devastating blow from behind, sending it flying towards kenshin crashing through the wall and outside the building. **“W- woah”** Kenshin ducks and exclaims. the man jumps out of the hole in the wall disappearing into the wind “He- he’s gone” says kenshin Kenshin sees the hollow fall to the ground and dart off now disappearing into the bush cover behind the school Kenshin is now filled with more questions than answers Kenshin! Shin says as he rounds the corner “Phew your safe”shin says relieved Outside, emergency responders arrive, ushering the students to safety. The students outside are talking about the “earthquake” and about how faulty and weak the school building must be Shin pulls Kenshin to his feet, both of them visibly shaken. **“We should get out of here before anymore weird stuff happens”** Shin says, his tone serious. The school is dismissed for the day, with students sent home as repairs begin. Kenshin walks alongside Shin out of the building, his mind racing with thoughts about the strange man and the monstrous creature. **“What the hell was that thing?”** Kenshin finally asks. Scene Aftermath of hollow As the remaining students leave the school grounds, Shin realizes that Kenshin has disappeared. Concerned, he begins searching through the nearby streets, scanning the area for any sign of his friend. His worry grows as he remembers the strange events of the day—the Hollow, the mysterious man, and Kenshin’s shaken demeanor. Just as Shin rounds a corner near the school, he bumps into Karin, who is also on her way home. She raises an eyebrow at him. **“What’s the rush, Shin? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”** **“It’s Kenshin,”** Shin replies, slightly out of breath. **“He wandered off somewhere. I thought he might’ve been with you.”** Karin frowns, crossing her arms. **“No, I haven’t seen him.he still does that?”** Shin tilts his head. **“What do you mean?”** Karin sighs, leaning against a nearby wall. **“ It’s his way of dealing with things—getting some air, being alone with his thoughts. It’s been like that since we were kids. Just leave him be”** Shin blinks, surprised by her insight. **“You’ve known him that long?”** **“Yeah,”** Karin replies, her tone softening. **“He’s always been like this, especially after his dad… you know…”** Shin’s eyes widen slightly. **“What happened to his dad?”** Karin hesitates, looking away. **“He grew up without him but this isn’t my story to tell It’s a tough subject, Kenshin doesn’t like talking about it,but you should take that up with him your self.”** Shin absorbs this information, feeling a new layer of respect and understanding for his friend., “You know karin, you’re not too bad when your not kicking somebody ’” said shin gratefully Her soft expression shifts to a more stern and annoyed one “oh bug off” “ehehehe” Later that evening, Kenshin sits in his dimly lit room, the soft hum of the evening breeze drifting through his open window. His mind races, replaying the chaos from earlier—the Hollow, the mysterious stranger, and the ominous voice in the alley. He stares at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists. **“Was it real? Or am I losing it?”** he mutters. His gaze drifts to his reflection in the window. **“No… it had to be real. There’s no way I imagined all of that.”** The muffled sounds of his family moving about the house draw him back to reality. With a deep sigh, he gets up to grab a snack from the kitchen, hoping to distract himself. Scene: Shin Arrives As Kenshin heads downstairs, a knock at the front door interrupts him. Confused, he hesitates for a moment before opening it. Standing there is Shin, his expression serious but tinged with worry. **“Shin? What are you doing here?”** **“We need to talk,”** Shin replies, his tone leaving no room for argument. **“Come outside.”** The two step onto the porch, the faint glow of the moon illuminating their surroundings. They sit side by side on the wooden steps, the silence between them heavy. **“You looked out of it earlier,”** Shin starts. **“I figured you’d need someone to talk to.”** Kenshin hesitates before speaking. **“It’s just… today was a lot, you know? I’ve never seen anything like that creature before. And that man… Who was he? Why did he call it a Hollow?”** Shin percs up at the word hollow. He exhales slowly, his gaze fixed on the ground. **“I can’t answer all your questions but maybe someday the answers will come.”** They lapse into silence again before Kenshin asks, **“What about you? What’s your story, Shin?”** Shin’s expression softens, and he leans back slightly. **“I lost my mom a few years ago. She… she was everything to me. After she died, I felt lost for a long time. But then I realized I had to keep moving forward, for her.”** Kenshin nods, understanding the pain behind Shin’s words. **“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”** I didn’t change much for this part but it felt almost odd and out of place a little awkward too Before Shin can respond, a piercing scream cuts through the night air, sending a chill down both their spines. They exchange a glance before hearing a familiar, guttural growl echo in the distance. Scene: The Chase Kenshin springs to his feet, his heart pounding. **“That’s it! It’s back!”** **“Wait!”** Shin shouts, grabbing his arm. **“You don’t even know what you’re dealing with!”** But Kenshin pulls free, his determination overriding his fear. Exactly! So their's only one way to find out**”** **“THIS FOOL—HE’S GONNA GET HIMSELF KILLED!”** Shin shouts after him, gritting his teeth. Reluctantly, he takes off after Kenshin. The two race through the quiet streets, following the sounds of the growling hollow They skid to a stop at a open empty street where the massive Hollow looms over a terrified young girl. Its glowing yellow eyes snap toward the newcomers, and a chilling grin spreads across its mask. Scene: Confronting the Hollow **“Shin, get her out of here!”** Kenshin orders, stepping forward. **“You can’t fight that thing-”** Shin protests, but Kenshin cuts him off. **“Just do it! Please!”** Reluctantly, Shin moves toward the girl, grabbing her before the hollow could get his hands on her. shielding her as he leads her away from the monster. Meanwhile, Kenshin squares off against the Hollow, his fists trembling but his resolve unwavering. He lunges forward, throwing a punch at the creature’s leg, but it barely flinches. The Hollow retaliates, swiping at Kenshin with its massive claws. He ducks and rolls, narrowly avoiding the attack. **“You’re fast,”** the Hollow growls, its voice guttural and mocking. **“But speed won’t save you.”** as the hollow kicks shin away and grabs the little girl holding her over his head **“Why don’t you try to attack me I’m sure this poor innocent soul would love to get demolished”** Kenshin stops as he grits his teeth, trying to find an opening, but the creature ligers the girl over them using her as leverage. With a laugh, the Hollow speaks again: **“You reek of strength, boy. That’s why I came to your school. To consume your soul. It’s… delicious.”** Kenshin freezes, his mind racing. **“I Knew it. So everyone WAS put in danger because of me.”** The thought shakes him, but before he can react, the Hollow lunges again. This time, its claws graze his side, sending him tumbling to the ground. The revelation leaves Kenshin paralyzed, his mind a whirlwind of guilt and fear. The realization that his very existence might put others in danger weighs heavily on him. Before he can react, the Hollow lunges, its massive claws wrapping around him like a vice. Pinned, Kenshin struggles to break free, the Hollow’s dark energy sapping his strength. Shin watches from a distance, his expression shifting from shock to distress as he sees Kenshin’s anguish. In that moment, Shin recalls a haunting memory—an incident from his past when his inability to act led to devastation. That same suffocating guilt had once consumed him, leaving scars that never fully healed. The image of that day flashes in his mind, reigniting his determination. Shin clenches his fists, muttering to himself, **“I won’t let this happen again. Not this time.”** He reaches into his pocket and pulls out what looks like an ornate candy dispenser. He pops one of the capsules into his mouth, and in an instant, a dramatic transformation occurs. His physical body collapses lifelessly to the ground, but standing above it is Shin in a black robe, his Zanpakutō gleaming in hand. Kenshin stares in disbelief, his voice trembling. **“Shin… What… what are you?”** Shin steps forward, his resolve clear. **“I’m a Soul Reaper,. And I’m going to end this now.”** The hollow now grabs a distracted kenshin The Hollow lets out a guttural laugh, mocking Shin’s bold declaration. **“You? End me? What could a brat like you possibly hope to achieve?”** *Shin readies himself* Now tell me rrunt, which do i devour first, so delicious how about both at the same time” * the beast opens it’s jaws and brings the two closer to it’s mouth* Without hesitation, Shin moves with blinding speed at the hollow, But the hollow uses his hand with the girl in a flash clenching tightly and waving her in from of shin, “NUH UH UUUUH”,it says like a true troll but shin acted quickly and slammed his sword to the ground causing him to ricochet toward’s the hand kenshin was in and severe the hollow’s hand clean off freeing kenshin. The hollow was bewildered and caught off guard yelling in pain but tried to maintain his composure It the directs it’s shriek toward shin paralyzing him mid air for a few seconds The monster uses this time to get the jump on shin and slams him to the ground near kenshin with arm that had a severed hand. one knee. A wave of weakness washes over him—his energy is fading fast.**”what’s happening, somethings wrong”** , coughing violently as blood drips from the corner of his mouth. Kenshin rushes to his side, desperation etched across his face. **“Shin! Are you okay?”** Struggling to stand, Shin looks up at Kenshin, his voice weak but determined. **“There’s only one way to stop this thing now… Kenshin, I have to transfer my Soul Reaper powers to you.”** Kenshin’s eyes widened. **“What? That’s insane! What will happen to you ?”** Shin nods solemnly. **“I don’t know But right now, you’re the only one who can finish this. Kenshin expression turns to a mix of emotions as he struggles to think properly on what to do If we don’t do this,not just us. But hundreds…”** He grips his sword. And kenshin looks back at the hollows as it licks it’s wound**“ no….”** said shin, “thousands” kenshin wincing at the thought of knowing what comes next. “Will die” said shin hopelessly. Kenshin only imagining is already frustrated”ALRIGHT! I’LL DO IT COME ON WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME!” . Shin nods with determination places the hilt of his Zanpakutō against Kenshin’s chest, and a radiant light engulfs them both. Kenshin gasps as an overwhelming surge of energy floods his body. His school uniform transforms into a black Soul Reaper robe, and in his hand materializes a sword, pulsing with spiritual energy. The Hollow, sensing the shift in power, hesitates “Hrnmm?” Kenshin gives a rough look at the beast not saying a word but a thousand were spoken with just that short glance. The tension builds on the battlefield … **“GGRAAAUUUGHHHH”** the creature sends it arm with no hand and kenshin but he just on top of the arm and sends a wave of energy slicing it’s other arm with gir inl it setting her free she now runs to shin to feel safe , Now i can end i end you for real this time The creature now knowing it’s out of options uses it’s technique from earlier at the school creating a mist surrounding itself and kenshin hoping to cause him to sleep so it can eat him and get away Kenshin sends a wave of energy directly at the hollow’s torso through the smoke however, causing an explosion clearing some of the fog but not all and the hollow submerges itself into mist once more, the creature now sends a kick from the mist but kenshin avoids it and slashes it’s leg off causing the hollow to lose it’s balance and fall over kenshin jumps out of the smoke directly in front of the full moon he charges his blade up once more and sends a big wave of energy down on the dastardly hollow ending it once and for all. Shin utterly gobsmacked his useless ass couldn’t believe how cool it was to see Kenshin fight like that. Kenshin falls to the ground panting heavily as he lands on his feet “Kenshin you did it! that was incredible!”shin said happily in admiration Kenshin turns to shin who’s behind him giving a thumbs up hiding his want to collapse to the ground. “Now come on let’s deal with this litte girl, quickly” shin says He gestures toward the spirit of the young girl who had been held captive by the hollow**““You need to perform a konso on her.”** Kenshin raised an eyebrow, confused. “A… what?” Shin sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s a konso. You use the end of your sword’s guard to send good spirits over to the Soul Society. Basically, it’s like sending them to what you people call heaven.” Kenshin blinked, still processing the explanation. “You just… tap them on the forehead or something?” Shin nodded, motioning toward the girl. “Exactly. Use the guard, press it to her forehead, and say konso. It’ll help her move on.” Understanding now, Kenshin walked over to the spirit of the girl, kneeling beside her. His expression softened as he spoke gently, comforting her. “It’s okay. You’re going to a better place. Somewhere peaceful. I promise.” He gripped his Zanpakuto and rested the end of the guard softly against her forehead. “KONSO!” a soft light envelops her form. “You’re free now,” he says softly, watching as her spirit fades into the sky. As the light dims, Kenshin collapses, his body finally giving out. Shin, with the last of his strength, drags himself toward Kenshin’s side. Together, they lay on the ground, battered but alive. Shin’s voice echoes in Kenshin’s mind as shin looks to the stars above him : **“This is just the beginning, Kenshin. The world you’ve stepped into… it’s far greater than you or I could ever imagine.”** The words linger as the episode concludes with the caption: TO BE CONTINUED.