I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

Chapter 275 - 269 – Kaen Return

The noon sun draped Veyl Academy in sheets of gold, its towers catching the light like polished spears pointed toward the heavens. Students lounged in the courtyards, some training, some gossiping, some half-asleep beneath the shade of the Echo Trees.Khael had just finished a quiet walk back from the inner gardens, his mind deep in tomorrow's arc, the Kaen Eclipse arc. His thoughts were heavy, his expression serious.

Then

A faint ripple of Shinrei brushed his senses.

Warm. Fierce. Familiar.

Followed by another steady and precise, like a perfectly measured blade.

And last, a soft, radiant pulse of hope.

Khael froze.

His eyes widened.

"They're back."

Ceyla, who was chatting beside him, blinked. "Huh? Who's back?"

Even Juno, towering with his bandaged arm and calm Taishin presence, turned in curiosity.

Khael's lips curled into a slow, rare grin, the kind that only appeared when something truly good happened.

"Our friends have returned."

The wind shifted.

And in the far distance three figures walked across the bridge leading toward the academy gates.

He was in front, stride loud and confident, a smirk plastered across his face like he owned the place. His dark crimson jacket fluttered behind him, wrapped loosely around his waist. His eyes burned brighter than before a deeper, richer red.

A flame that had matured.

His muscles were more defined, his presence heavier, like his Shinrei pressure had doubled.

Students whispered:

"Is that Kaen Suro?"

"No way… he looks different."

"That aura, did he open another Gate?"

Kaen raised a hand in greeting, his grin wild.

"Yo! Miss me, idiots?"

Walking beside Kaen with perfect posture and an air of nobility was Rael.

His spirit blade, Seraphis, glowed faintly at his side. The weapon had clearly evolved, its core now shining with a multi-layered green-gold resonance. Rael had a calm smile on his lips, but his eyes were sharper, clearer.

More refined.

His steps were measured, precise.

A warrior who had returned from a battlefield with newfound purpose.

Students murmured again:

"Rael looks… stronger."

"That's the Verdant Judicator for you."

"Is it true Seraphis awakened a new form?"

Rael simply closed his eyes and exhaled a slow breath.

"It feels good to be home."

Trailing slightly behind the boys, dressed in a flowing pale-blue coat, was Lira.

Her eyes gleamed with pure hope, her smile soft yet almost luminous. The air around her pulsed with a gentle Bloom aura, soothing enough that surrounding students felt lighter, calmer.

She waved both hands excitedly.

"Ceyla! Khael! Juno! Everyone!"

She practically bounced forward and somehow, she looked stronger too. Her aura had stabilized, radiating something deeper, greater.

A true senior Veinwalker's presence.

The moment they stepped into the courtyard, the three halted.

Because Khael was standing there, arms crossed, grinning like he knew everything.

Kaen squinted at him.

"Why do you look like that? What did you sense this time, future boy?"

Khael shrugged, unfazed.

"I sensed your Shinrei. You're all stronger than before."

Kaen scoffed proudly.

"Obviously. I nearly died three times. Which means I grew three times."

"That's not how growth works" Rael sighed.

"Let him have it," Lira giggled.

Ceyla stepped forward, arms folded, eyeing them suspiciously.

"You're really back. What happened on your mission? Your aura's different."

Kaen slung an arm around Rael.

"Long story! Rael nearly got eaten by a Voidborn the size of a building—"

Rael elbowed him.

"Because someone lured it with a fireball."

Kaen pointed dramatically.

"It was tactical provocation!"

"It was idiocy."

"IT SAVED OUR LIVES."

"It nearly got me killed!"

Lira raised her hand timidly.

"Um… technically, Kaen's provocation and Rael's counter-judgment and my healing all combined to save us, sooo…"

Kaen snapped his fingers.

"See? TEAMWORK."

Rael pinched the bridge of his nose.

Khael watched them bicker.

His grin softened.

"They're stronger… but also the same."

"Good. I need them like this whole. United."

Because soon…

The Eclipse arc would begin.

And Kaen was at the center of it.

Juno approached with his relaxed Taishin aura, one hand casually in his pocket.

"You three look like you wrestled a small nation."

Kaen raised a thumbs-up.

"We did."

Lira: "Kaen… it was a village. And the Voidborn wasn't that big"

"IT COVERED THE SKY, LIRA."

Rael: "It was ten meters tall."

Kaen: "TEN METERS OF PURE TERROR."

Khael laughed quietly.

Even Ceyla smirked.

Juno shook his head. "Well, good to have you back. We managed to survive without you."

Kaen puffed his chest.

"But now you'll survive even harder."

Ceyla muttered, "What does that even mean?"

Lira brightened. "Did you guys eat already? I bought sweets from the Bloom Nation!"

Kaen perked.

"SWEETS."

Rael nodded gratefully.

"Your food saved us more than once, Lira."

Kaen raised a brow.

"It saved you more than once. I don't need sweets. My flame."

Lira:

"Kaen, remember when you fainted from Shinrei overuse and I revived you with Bloom sugar water?"

Kaen froze.

Everyone stared at him.

He looked away.

"…I don't recall such events."

Finally, Khael stepped forward.

He placed a hand on Kaen's shoulder.

The flame user paused serious for once.

"Welcome back."

Kaen smirked.

"Missed me?"

"Not even once."

"Liar."

Then Khael turned to Rael.

"Seraphis evolved?"

Rael nodded, expression proud but humble.

"It responded to my resolve."

"Good. I'll need your judgment soon."

Rael raised a brow.

"You sensed something?"

"…Something's coming."

Rael didn't push further. He trusted Khael's instincts.

Then Khael met Lira's gaze.

She smiled.

But there was something beneath it.

A small tremble.

A quiet memory of whatever she'd seen during the mission.

Khael's tone softened.

"Welcome home, Lira."

Her smile steadied, warmth blooming around her.

"It's good to be back, Khael."

Suddenly, Kaen stretched his arms.

"Alright! Enough mushy reunion talk. Who's ready to SPAR?"

Rael: "No."

Ceyla: "Absolutely not."

Juno: "My arm is resting."

Lira: "Kaen, rest first!"

Kaen:

"But my flame demands bloodshed"

"SIT."

Lira pushed him down onto a bench with surprising strength.

Kaen blinked up at her.

"…She got stronger too?"

Rael nodded.

"She lifted Kaen Suro with one hand last mission."

Kaen pointed.

"LIRA USED ME AS A WEAPON!"

Lira:

"YOU WOULDN'T MOVE."

KHAEL'S FINAL THOUGHTS

As the academy courtyard filled with laughter, banter, warmth, and familiar noise…

Khael watched.

The sun reflected off the academy's white stone walls, casting long shadows over the group.

"Good…"

"Stay strong."

"Stay loud."

"Stay yourselves…"

His fingers curled slightly.

"…because the next arc will try to break you."

A breeze rustled the leaves.

Kaen punched his palm, ready to fight the world.

Rael's Seraphis hummed, sensing coming danger.

Lira's Bloom Shinrei pulsed in gentle waves.

His friends were back.

Stronger.

United.

And the storm was coming.

To be continue