Hibiki's boots crunched against the gravel as she walked across the rugged terrain of the island. Her outfit was a mixture of practical training gear and something just a little too tight in certain places, but it didn't matter right now. She wasn't concerned with appearances—she was here with a purpose.
The cool breeze tugged at her hair, making the pale strands dance in the wind, but her mind was too preoccupied to notice the scenery. She had a task at hand, and it was one that weighed heavily on her chest. She could feel the cold weight of the news she had to share with Karoi hanging on her, and a part of her wished she could just leave it unsaid.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
Her gaze flicked to the sky. Innocence was gone. Killed during the exams. The same exams they were all supposed to be pushing through, proving themselves in front of the world. The same exams Karoi had been kicked out of in the first round, and now Hibiki had to deliver news she wasn't sure how Karoi would take.
It was hard enough to wrap her head around it herself—Innocence, who was like a friend, gone in an instant. But if there was one thing Hibiki knew about Karoi, it was that the girl could take some dark news with a certain grim satisfaction, especially if it was a blow to someone she considered a rival. Would she laugh? Would she cry? Hibiki had no idea, but she had to say it.
A deep breath. She had been trying to push it down, but it wasn’t working.
But there was another reason she was searching the island, and that reason made her focus her thoughts even more. Doton jutsu. Karoi had done that dome thing back in a prevision training session. Hibiki hadn’t gotten to see the full extent of it, but what she did see had impressed her. It would help in the finals, make her an even tougher opponent.
"Where is she?" Hibiki muttered under her breath, glancing around the rocky expanse. She had no idea where Karoi would be hiding out after her early exit from the exams, but she had a feeling the girl would be lurking somewhere close by.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings, her body stilling as she tried to listen for any sign of movement. There was no reason to rush this; she just had to find Karoi, and once she did, well… then everything would come spilling out, whether she was ready for it or not.
[1]
The cool breeze tugged at her hair, making the pale strands dance in the wind, but her mind was too preoccupied to notice the scenery. She had a task at hand, and it was one that weighed heavily on her chest. She could feel the cold weight of the news she had to share with Karoi hanging on her, and a part of her wished she could just leave it unsaid.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
Her gaze flicked to the sky. Innocence was gone. Killed during the exams. The same exams they were all supposed to be pushing through, proving themselves in front of the world. The same exams Karoi had been kicked out of in the first round, and now Hibiki had to deliver news she wasn't sure how Karoi would take.
It was hard enough to wrap her head around it herself—Innocence, who was like a friend, gone in an instant. But if there was one thing Hibiki knew about Karoi, it was that the girl could take some dark news with a certain grim satisfaction, especially if it was a blow to someone she considered a rival. Would she laugh? Would she cry? Hibiki had no idea, but she had to say it.
A deep breath. She had been trying to push it down, but it wasn’t working.
But there was another reason she was searching the island, and that reason made her focus her thoughts even more. Doton jutsu. Karoi had done that dome thing back in a prevision training session. Hibiki hadn’t gotten to see the full extent of it, but what she did see had impressed her. It would help in the finals, make her an even tougher opponent.
"Where is she?" Hibiki muttered under her breath, glancing around the rocky expanse. She had no idea where Karoi would be hiding out after her early exit from the exams, but she had a feeling the girl would be lurking somewhere close by.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings, her body stilling as she tried to listen for any sign of movement. There was no reason to rush this; she just had to find Karoi, and once she did, well… then everything would come spilling out, whether she was ready for it or not.
[1]
