Taimanin: The Prototype Chapter 13 13: Time Skip

8 years.

Eight years since the Fuuma Clan first learned about the strange power inside Leo—

and eight years of the Elders stubbornly convincing themselves it was his Demon Mark awakening early.

Even now, despite the evidence, despite Ryuji insisting otherwise, despite the fact Leo's "Black Light" never behaved like any demon trait in the clan's history…

The Elders still clung to that explanation.

"It's easier to believe the boy carries a mutated Fuuma trait than admit we have no idea what he is."

—Elder Genzo, several tis during council etings.

But in those seven years, sothing else changed—

The Elental Ninja Arts.

What started as Leo accidentally inventing sword-breathing techniques had beco a full, clan-recognized system.

The Elders renad them:

"Elental Ninja Arts"

(Because if you call them "Breathing Styles," everyone starts asking where the demons are.)

Dozens of Taimanin mbers now trained in them.

So learned one elent, so two—

None matched Leo's natural affinity, but the arts strengthened the Village, and everyone knew it.

Now

In the forest training grounds, two figures blurred across the clearing—

moving so fast leaves exploded behind them.

Leo, now older, taller, and sharper in the eyes, his movents more fluid than ever—

and Asagi, who had taken to these new techniques with terrifying ease.

Their swords clashed, tal ringing like lightning.

Leo pivoted, inhaled sharply—

and water surged along his blade, coiling like a serpent.

"Water Arts—10th Form: Constant Flux!"

His entire form rotated, montum shifting seamlessly from strike to strike, each swing flowing into the next like a river refusing to stop.

Asagi's lips curved, unfazed.

Her own breathing deepened, her stance grounded.

Flas ignited along her sword, then shot upward like a flare.

"Fla Arts—5th Form: Fla Tiger!"

A roaring arc of fire shaped like a tiger lunged forward, crashing against Leo's rotating, flowing defense.

Steam burst everywhere as fire t water—

the forest floor hissing under the clash.

Leo slid back slightly.

Asagi pressed forward.

Both grinned.

This was routine for them now.

Years of growth, pressure, and mastering techniques that shouldn't exist.

The water swirling around Leo rose, spiraling upward—

coiling and compressing—

until it burst outward in the shape of a massive azure dragon, its scales shimring like liquid glass.

Across from him, Asagi's blazing tiger roared in return, flas sharpening into a feral, living beast.

The mont the two elental constructs collided—

BOOOOOOM

Steam, mist, sparks—

but neither creature overpowered the other.

They pushed.

They snarled.

They refused to disappear.

Just like their wielders.

Leo held his stance, blade trembling under the strain, eyes locked on Asagi.

Asagi matched the pressure, sweat rolling down her cheek as the fire tiger roared louder.

And then—

Leo spoke.

Calmly.

Without hesitation.

As if they weren't in the middle of a battlefield-level clash.

"You look pretty today, Asagi."

The fire tiger faltered for half a second.

Asagi's entire mind froze.

Blue screen.

System crash.

Fatal error: Fiancé complints during life-or-death sparring.

Her breathing hitched.

Her face turned a shade of red that could outshine her own flas.

Normally?

Complints between them were common.

Cute, teasing.

Natural.

But right NOW?

Mid-combat?

While they were both drenched in sweat, elental pressure crushing the air, swords locked in a test of strength?

Her brain decided:

'If I die now, it will be because of HIM, not the fight'.

For a terrifying mont, she genuinely thought she might drop her stance, drop her sword, drop her entire existence.

And Leo?

Leo just kept smiling at her like an idiot.

Her tiger's flas sputtered again.

She was going to lose everything—

Her balance, her focus, her cool, her pride—

RIGHT HERE.

Asagi slamd into a thick tree trunk, bark splintering behind her as the Water Dragon smashed into her fla's remnants and detonated in a spray of mist.

Her vision spun.

The world rotated twice.

Her brain rebooted.

When she finally blinked the dizziness away, she found Leo standing over her—calm, composed, smiling.

He extended his hand toward her like so kind of prince.

Asagi's heart skipped.

Then tripped.

Then fell down the stairs.

She grabbed his hand, cheeks still burning.

"You… you cheated," she muttered, refusing to look him in the eyes.

Leo tilted his head. "How?"

"You can't just—say sothing like that—mid-clash!"

She jabbed a finger into his chest. "Elental Arts are not supposed to include sudden romantic attacks!"

Leo blinked, genuinely confused. "But you did look pretty."

Her face heated again.

She crossed her arms, trying to steady the flutter in her chest.

"…Also… thanks for the complint," she added, voice dropping to a soft murmur.

Leo smiled warmly.

Asagi imdiately regretted saying anything because it made her heart do the flutter again.

They both glanced around the clearing.

Silence.

No villagers.

No students.

No instructors.

Just the two of them… and the fading mist from their clash.

Leo and Asagi slowly leaned forward, inches from each other, breaths mingling, hearts racing—

RUSTLE.

Both froze.

Another rustle.

Leo's mood shattered instantly.

"...Seriously?"

Without hesitation, he extended his arm—Blacklight tendrils bursting out like dark serpents—and snatched the intruder from the bushes.

"Kya—ahh~!"

Leo flinched. That was not a normal scream.

The tendrils squeezed a little too tight.

"OH—SORRY—SORRY!" Leo panicked, loosening his grip.

He carefully lowered the poor victim to the ground.

And there she was.

A young woman—early twenties—short blond hair in twin braids, sharp blue eyes, wearing a red jacket, yellow tank top, and denim shorts… and currently very red in the face.

[Insert image of Shinganji Kurenai here]

Shinganji Kurenai.

Upperclassman.

Problem child.

Chaos gremlin.

Asagi's cheeks flared bright pink.

"K–Kurenai-senpai!!"

Kurenai, who was still recovering from the accidental squeeze, weakly pointed a finger at Leo.

"I—I wasn't spying on purpose—! I just saw the water dragon, then the fire tiger, then the sparkles—then the two of you leaning in and—AND I GOT CURIOUS, OKAY?!"

Leo opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

"…Senpai, did you just moan when I pulled you out of the bush?"

Kurenai's soul left her body.

"THAT WAS A PAIN NOISE, YOU LITTLE—!!"

Asagi buried her face in her hands.

"Please stop talking, both of you…"

Leo blinked twice, still holding Kurenai by the tendril, though he loosened the grip so she stopped… making those noises.

'Great. Perfect. Amazing. I grab soone out of a bush and of course she moans like it's a damn doujin panel. This world is actually an H-ga. No one can convince otherwise.

He studied her face, the short braids, the bright jacket, the unmistakable aura of soone important.

And she's not just anyone. That's Shinganji Kurenai. Protagonist of her own route. Demon hunter. Big sis type. Motivated. Determined. Vampire blood guilt…

He frowned slightly.

But she feels off. Softer? More… embarrassed? The wiki Kurenai is supposed to be "crushing demons with righteous fury," not "getting tendril-grabbed and moaning like I pressed a weak spot."'

Kurenai's cheeks were pink as she tried to regain composure.

Asagi: "K-Kurenai-senpai?! What were you doing in the bushes!?"

Kurenai: "I— I thought you two were training! Not—"

She looked anywhere except at them.

"—whatever this was…"

Leo internally sighed.

'Yep. Plotlines crossing, character personality bleed, and the world chanics acting like they're coded by a hentai writer who got bored halfway through. If her route starts now, I'm going to have three different apocalypse flags overlapping'.

Kuroinu looked at them as she spoke. "Anyway, I was not here to spy, I wanted to ask Leo, if he wanted to co with on a mission".

Leo raised an eyebrow as he spoke. "You want , a 15-year-old, to co on a Mission?"

Kuroinu looked at him, as she spoke. "Yes, Aya and I were called on a mission, and I thought with your powers, you could help us".

Leo looked at them, already rembering from her ga where this might be going. "What's the Mission about?".

Kuroinu looked at him as she spoke. "Investigate the cri group House of Greed and its boss, Tendo Kazuma".

Leo had a cawm face as then inside of him. 'Fuck! Her ga's plot started, well, better to go than allow the bad end where she is sold as a Sex slave to play out'.

Leo looked at her pretending to think. "I am in".

Kurenai nodded, relieved. "Good. We leave in an hour. Aya is already preparing."

Asagi blinked hard. "House of Greed…? That group?"

Her expression tightened. Even she, who avoided most underworld gossip, knew their reputation.

Leo kept his face calm, steady… but inside?

'Yep. Called it. Plotline just hit the Start button. And if I don't go, the "Bad End Speedrun%" begins, ending with Kurenai getting captured, drugged, and auctioned off like she's a prize cow. Not letting that happen. Not on my watch'.

He gave Kurenai a small, confident nod. "Alright. Count in."

Asagi puffed her cheeks slightly—only soone who knew her well would catch the subtle I don't like that he's going sowhere dangerous without energy.

…Leo definitely caught it.

Kurenai smiled just a little, though she tried to hide it behind her tough façade.

"Good. With your abilities, this should be a lot smoother."

Leo folded his arms. "Just tell the details once we et up with Aya."

Kurenai turned to leave, but paused.

"…And sorry for interrupting your… mont."

Her face turned red as she coughed into her fist.

"Asagi, you—uh—carry on."

Asagi almost combusted on the spot.

"W–We were not—! It wasn't—!!"

Leo thought to him self. 'This world is literally trying to kill AND embarrass '.

Kurenai sprinted off, almost tripping over a root in her fluster.

Asagi finally turned back to Leo with a resigned sigh.

"Of all the ways to end a romantic mont…"

Leo shrugged. "Could be worse. At least she didn't walk in during the kiss."

Asagi's face burned again.

"Don't say that—!"

Leo smirked slightly, then softened.

"I'll be fine, okay? And I promise: I'll bring her back safe. Both of them."

Asagi nodded slowly, trusting him.

"Just… co back safe, too."

Ryuji rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You say that like you're going on a field trip, not hunting a criminal syndicate with human-trafficking ties."

Leo fastened the last strap of his outfit. "Dad, relax. It's not like I'm going alone. Kurenai and Aya will be there."

Aoi stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her expression wavered between motherly fear and the proud calm of a veteran kunoichi.

"Leo… you're strong. Stronger than you should be at fifteen. But missions like this aren't about strength."

Her voice softened.

"They're about cruelty. Humans are sotis worse than demons."

Leo gave a small, confident smile. "That's why I'm going—so I can stop those types."

Ryuji crossed his arms, eyeing him. "And what does the Elder say? He approved this?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah. He said sothing like 'the boy needs experience and the story needs to progress', which… honestly worries ."

Ryuji blinked. "He said what?"

Leo avoided eye contact.

'Okay, maybe the Elder didn't say it exactly like that, but the old man did have that "ta-narrative smirk" again.'

Aoi sighed, pulling her son in for a tight hug. "Just promise you'll co back in one piece."

Leo hugged her back, gently. "I will."

Ryuji placed a hand on Leo's head and ruffled his hair — sothing Leo absolutely pretended not to like.

"Rember," Ryuji said calmly, "if things get bad, you run. You hear ? No hero moves, no dramatic sacrifices, none of that protagonist crap."

Leo smirked.

'Dad, I literally am the protagonist.'

"Sure. No dramatic protagonist monts."

Neither parent believed him for a second.

Aoi sighed again. "At least let see your equipnt."

Leo showed his sword, kunai, comms device, and a few special items Asagi secretly packed for him.

Ryuji nodded. "Alright then… go. And co back. That's an order."

Leo stepped out of the estate grounds as both parents watched, Aoi holding onto Ryuji's sleeve.

'Okay… ti to make sure Kurenai doesn't get Bad Ended by the plot.'

At the edge of Gosha Village, Leo walked up the dirt path and spotted Kurenai waiting—arms crossed, a bit impatient. Beside her stood another woman he hadn't officially t yet.

She had long, curly, turquoise-green hair that reached her lower back, tied loosely so it bounced with every small movent. Her eyes were a bright erald green, sharp and alert. The purple two-piece Taimanin suit she wore looked both modern and traditional, fitted for agility.

[Insert image of Makishima Aya]

Leo blinked.

'Makishima Aya… yep, another main heroine. Great. More plot flags.'

Kurenai waved him over. "Leo, you're finally here. Good—ti's wasting. Let's head out."

Leo glanced between the two won. "Right. So where exactly are we going?"

Aya stepped forward, offering him a polite bow—much more formal than Kurenai's casual attitude.

"Makishima Aya. Nice to et you, Leo-kun. Our mission request ca from headquarters. We are to leave for the Docks of the Tokyo Kingdom."

Leo nodded slowly, rembering the ga events.

'The docks… yeah, that's where the House of Greed's first operation started. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Nothing traumatic happens there at all.'

Kurenai stretched her arms behind her head, relaxed despite the severity of the mission. "We'll catch a transport caravan from here to the kingdom border, then make our way to the docks by nightfall."

Aya checked a small mission tablet. "Our orders are to investigate quietly. If the House of Greed has infiltrated the trade routes, we need evidence before we take action."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "So stealth. No kicking doors down? No beating information out of people?"

Kurenai grinned. "Oh, we'll get to the door-kicking eventually. Just… after we confirm they deserve it."

Aya sighed. "Kurenai-san, that's not what the instructions—"

Kurenai shrugged. "It's what they ant."

Leo internally winced.

'Yep. Definitely protagonists. Amazing fighters. Terrible with protocol.'

Aya turned to Leo again. "You don't need to force anything. Assist us, watch our backs, and if things turn dangerous… we depend on your demon transformation."

Leo nodded. "Got it."

'…Or my Blacklight, but let's not bring that up unless soone's life depends on it.'

Kurenai started walking down the forest path. "Alright, team! To the docks we go!"

Leo followed beside them, adjusting his sword.

'Okay, Leo… ti to officially dive into soone else's storyline. Let's try to keep the hentai flags at zero if possible.'

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give Power stones and enjoy. This is the last Ch for this Week, see you all next week