Ryonan vs. Toyotama (Part One)

The moment Chi Tong brushed past Sendoh, Sendoh sensed that something was wrong. His easy stride stopped short, his pupils contracted, and he turned to look at Chi Tong. Was I imagining it?

For an instant, Chi Tong had seemed different from before.

Chi Tong felt both strange and familiar to him. The unsettling feeling suddenly reminded Sendoh of something he had experienced once in middle school.

During a game back then, Chi Tong had briefly given off the same disturbing aura, though it had quickly vanished.

"Chi Tong." Sendoh came up beside him and called his name, a trace of caution in his voice.

At Sendoh's call, Chi Tong stopped and slowly turned. Light shone from behind him, casting a small shadow across his face and blurring his expression.

The instant their eyes met, Sendoh felt as though an invisible force had struck him. His heart sank. He felt himself falling into an abyss, his blood turning to ice, a biting chill spreading from his fingertips to his chest.

Chi Tong's gaze remained calm, yet it was like a bottomless black hole, threatening to swallow anyone who looked into it.

"You..." Sendoh's voice faltered. He quickly steadied himself before asking, "Are you all right?"

Chi Tong's gaze was still undisturbed, and his expression looked much as it always did. There was even the faintest curve to his lips. Yet deep in those calm eyes, Sendoh caught a fleeting, savage smile.

Chi Tong's smile was slight, almost gentle, but to Sendoh it was deeply unnerving.

When Chi Tong spoke, his voice was as steady as ever, though some of its warmth was gone.

"Of course I'm all right."

Sendoh said nothing more. He only nodded, his expression growing grave.

He watched Chi Tong turn and continue toward the center line,