"Takumi..." His mother said in a soft voice. "Please... I want you to promise me one thing."
"Mom, I-"
"I want you to promise me that... someday when you grow up... I want you to get to the top... no matter what."
"...Why? Why are you asking me that?"
She coughed out blood.
"Mom..."
"Listen... There are two types of people... The gifted and the lucky... You..." She wiped the sweat off of her forehead, her face turned pale as the tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. "You... are..."
She gently brushed his cheeks.
"You're one of them... You are... You're gifted."
"Mom! Mom!"
"Please... Be careful... Promise me... That you'll be safe... Remember... That..."
*ZAP!*
Takumi woke up with a jolt, his body tingling from a slight, sharp shock.
"Ow!" he muttered, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the morning light.
His little sister, Hikari, stood at the edge of his bed, grinning mischievously, tiny sparks of electricity flickering between her fingers.
"Come on, wake up already! You were gonna sleep through your alarm again," Hikari said, clearly enjoying the reaction she got.
Takumi sighed, rubbing his arm. "Did you really have to zap me?"
"It's more fun that way," she giggled, turning to leave the room. "Besides, don't you have plans today? Meeting someone?"
That's when it hit him. Takumi hastily grabbed his phone to see the time was currently 13:00pm and his face went pale to realise how long he slept.
Today, he was supposed to meet up with Ayame, his old friend. He shook off the sleepiness and got up quickly.
Downstairs, his aunt and uncle were already up, having breakfast in the kitchen.
"Morning, Takumi!" his aunt greeted him. "You're off to see your friend today, right?"
"Yeah," he said, slipping on his shoes.
"Have a good one, kiddo," his uncle added with a nod, eyes still on his newspaper.
___
Walking down the street, Takumi barely paid attention to the passing cars as he went through the news feed on his phone.
He glanced up occasionally at the various Aetherian shops along the sidewalk, making sure he knew where he was going.
As he walked passed a park he could see several kids playing with their Aetherian powers. They created watery dragons and splashed each other with water beams. Takumi slowed his pace as he saw a group of people watching the kids.
Takumi had always wondered about something, ever since he was a child.
"What is it that makes humans so special? Is it our physical body? Our brain? Or is it our emotions?"
His mother would remind him of one thing, the same words she repeated from his father every time he asked:
"There are two types of people in this world, Takumi, the gifted and the lucky."
Those words had stayed with him, a guiding principle through his childhood.
Now, as he looked out across the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets of District 101, he couldn't help but reflect on them.
"Only when you reach beyond your grasp will you find a world greater than your hands can touch..."
Takumi once had a dream. A dream of standing among the strongest, competing in the legendary Eclipse Festival.
The Eclipse Festival was not a celebration of fallen heroes or cowardly villains but a testament to power, a competition where only the strongest survived. Held annually across the six elite academies, it had become the ultimate proving ground for those who wielded Aetherian powers.
For Takumi, though, it remained an impossible dream. He wasn't an Aetherian, and without an Aether mark, his chances of competing were nonexistent.
About fifty years ago, the world had been turned upside down by a meteor shower that bathed the earth in a blood-red light. Soon after, strange gases and auroras were discovered emanating from the meteorite impact sites.
At first, scientists feared it was dangerous, but within a week, hospitals began reporting the impossible humans displaying supernatural abilities.
People could now create flames, control water, and bend the wind to their will all with a simple thought.
These people were called Aetherians.
Their powers came with a mark, a symbol resembling ancient runes that appeared on their bodies on arms, legs, shoulders, and necks.
Since that day, 98% of humanity has developed at least one Aetherian ability, and the world has transformed in every way imaginable.
The Aetherians were now at the top of society, ruling everything from politics to the economy.
Unfortunately for Takumi, he was part of the 2% left behind.
For someone like him, a normal human, life had become harder than ever. Without powers, there were no elite academies, no prestigious jobs, and no place in society where he could stand out.
He had no gift, no luck, just himself, struggling to make sense of his place in a world dominated by those born special.
Still, he had dreams.
"Jiraiya-san!"
A voice called his name, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned and saw a familiar face, a girl with long silver hair tied up in a ponytail, with two white bangs framing her face.
It was Ayame Miskito, his childhood friend.
"You're drifting away again," she chided, pausing beside him.
They strolled along a busy avenue in District 101. A few years ago this was part of the old Toyko metropolitan area before the Eclipse divided the city into sectors due to it being built on a large meteor crater.
As the sun set, neon signs flickered to life on the skyscrapers.
Takumi and Ayame continued walking through the city, Skyscrapers adorned with bright holographic advertisements reached high into the sky, and advanced vacuum tube trains zipped across overhead rails. It was an extraordinary sight, an urban jungle of glass, steel, and light.
"Sorry," Takumi said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just thinking."
"About what?" Ayame asked her tone light and teasing. She knew exactly what was on his mind.
"Just… stuff," he shrugged, trying to play it off. But Ayame wasn't buying it.
"You were thinking about the Eclipse Festival again, weren't you?" she pressed.
Takumi chuckled. "Maybe." They continued walking toward the mall, where they had planned to spend their last weekend together before summer ended.
Ayame had been accepted into Azora Academy, one of the six elite schools that participated in the Eclipse Festival. She was leaving this week to begin her life as a student.
Takumi, on the other hand, had no such luck. Despite his best efforts, he had been unable to find an institution willing to take him in as a student, but luckily there was one school in the suburban district which allowed him to take him in.
Azora Academy was different from most schools: only students with exceptional grades and superior athletic ability were allowed to enrol.
Only those who received acceptance letters were accepted into the prestigious school. It was a prestigious institution, and Ayame had earned her place thereby mastering her water-based Aetherian abilities and the Aetheian Exam.
Takumi, on the other hand, was heading to a regular high school, with no powers, no prestigious tournaments, just an ordinary life.
"You know, it's not like I'm leaving for good," Ayame said, sensing his melancholy. "Azora Academy isn't that far. Well, okay, it's on an artificial island outside the coast of Japan, but I'll still visit."
Takumi forced a smile. "I know. I'm just… proud of you, Ayame. You're going to do great things."
Ayame beamed at the compliment, though there was something sad in her eyes. "Thanks. But don't sell yourself short, Takumi. You're capable of more than you think."
He appreciated her words, but deep down, a part of him couldn't help but feel jealous.
Ayame was everything he wanted to be powerful, confident, and on a path to greatness. She is a water Aetherian, able to bend water to her will easily. She had already secured her place in a world without room for people like him.
"Anyway," Ayame continued, "I wanted to tell you… I met someone at the entrance exams."
Takumi raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"His name's Hajime," she said, her cheeks reddening slightly. "He's… well, we're kind of dating now."
Takumi gave a light chuckle. "Really? That's great! I'm happy for you."
Ayame grinned back.
"Thanks," she said, her voice full of happiness. "I'm really glad I got into Azora Academy. But I wished you could come too..." She paused, looking away.
"You know, they say that there's always someone stronger than you, someone you can't beat, so you should aim higher than where you think you can go."
"Hey look you are great. I have faith in you." She placed her hand on his shoulder giving him a warm smile.
"Even without Aetherian powers, you are brilliant. You are intelligent and smart enough to handle anything they throw at you." She shook her head before running her hand through her hair.
"Nah, compared to you, I am stupid. But you are super smart and you can do great things too, just trust in yourself and you will see I'm right."
Ayame grinned as she gave Takumi a quick hug. "Thanks for being here for me...and for putting up with me."
"Yeah yeah." Takumi rolled his eyes at her but smiled. "Come on... We only got a day to spend before you have to get leave."
Takumi couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, but he was still proud of her. He brushed off his own dreams of the Eclipse Festival, calling them childish fantasies, but Ayame knew better.
"Hey look it means you can try out for the Festival."
"You always wanted to compete in the Eclipse Festival," she reminded him. "I remember when we were kids, you would talk about it nonstop."
Takumi smiled wistfully. "Yeah, well, I was a dumb kid back then. Things are different now. I just want to help people, even without powers. Maybe I can use my machines for good. Proves a few things along the way."
Ayame looked at him, a mix of admiration and concern in her eyes. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Jiraiya-san. You're already amazing."
Takumi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked up at the city skyline, the neon lights reflecting off the glass buildings.
He recalled his conversation with his aunt and uncle, how they'd urged him to focus on his studies instead of chasing some crazy dream.
But, Takumi wanted to be part of that fight, even if he had no powers. He had an inner drive, a determination to prove that people like him, people without Aetherian abilities could still make a difference.
As they reached the arcade, Takumi and Ayame decided to spend their last day together having fun.
They played various games, collecting tickets and laughing as they competed for the highest scores. For a while, Takumi forgot about his worries and just enjoyed the moment.
"Hey Jiraiya-san!" Ayame spotted a cute plushie in one of the claw machines. She turned to look at him.
Takumi didn't notice the silly grin on her face until he looked up from his phone and saw her pointing at the machine. It was a claw machine with an adorable doll of a blue-haired girl dragon holding a sword. It had a wide smile and its hands were in a victory pose.
"Blu-Chan! A limited edition one!"
He nodded at her and inserted a coin in the slot. Ayame grinned in anticipation as she watched the claw move back and forth. The claw slowly descended, closing in on its target.
Takumi watched with bated breath as it hooked onto the doll, lifting it up with ease. But her heart sank as the doll slipped out of its grasp just as it was about to reach the prize slot.
She turned to face him with a disappointed expression. "No! It dropped it!"
"Well, at least you tried." Takumi consoled her. "Come on, let's play a different game."
"No! That is a Limited edition prize! You must get it for me!" Ayame declared as she stubbornly held her ground. Her eyes were set on the doll inside the machine.
"No means no! I am not gonna waste any more money on these stupid machines."
"Jiraiya-san!" Ayame growled.
"Argh fine!" Takumi gave in and took out another coin.
He inserted the coin into the machine and carefully manoeuvred the claw. It hovered over the plushie and slowly descended. The claw clamped down and lifted the doll up, but the weight was too much for it to carry and it fell.
Ayame shook her head in disappointment and glared at Takumi. "No, try again."
"Ayame, come on. I don't want to waste any more money on a stupid doll," he said, turning his back.
"But it's the Limited edition of my favourite anime!" she complained, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes. "I want Blu-Chan! Pleaseeee."
"Okay, Okay. Stop doing that face. You're going to make me go blind," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Ayame's grin widened, knowing she had won the argument.
"Alright, fine. Just promise me you'll never do that again."
"Promise!"
Takumi inserted a coin in the slot. Ayame grinned in anticipation as she watched the arrow slowly approaching its destination.
One of the claw's parts suddenly moved out of place, causing the arm to fall halfway. Ayame's heart sank as she saw her beloved doll slip out of its grasp just as it was close to reaching the goal.
She turned to face him with a disappointed expression. Her eyes narrowed as she stared back at Takumi, looking like she had just tasted something sour.
"Ok, that's it!" Takumi stepped in between and inserted a coin in the slot before his friend could complain. "Time to bring it back!"
Ayame grinned, her mood brightening again. "I believe in you, Jiraiya!
Takumi quickly scanned the area as he inserted a small device into the claw machine prize slot. He smiled to himself as he got into position.
Ayame tilted her head, "Takumi, what was that?"
A mischievous smile spread across Takumi's face. "Magic..."
Ayame crossed her arms, suspicious. "Takumi, Come on! That's not a good joke. We can get kicked out for this!"
"You want Blu-Chan or not? It's a limited edition, you can't just let it go!" Takumi pointed at the blue stuffed animal inside the claw machine prize slot.
"God damn it..." After receiving a smug look from Takumi, Ayame's face twisted into a bitter frown, "I'll not forgive you if you don't get her for me."
"Hehe.."
Takumi pulls out his phone and presses an app which brings up console control on the screen. Suddenly the metallic robot sprung to life as it straightened itself.
The thing, the size of a softball, was one of Takumi's robotic prototypes, before turning into a centipede-like shape crawling onto the machine and moving to the plushie.
"Oh my god, Takumi..."
"I'm amazing right?"
"You're insane..."
"Now let's get your damn plushie!" Takumi smirked as the robot started climbing up the claw machine.
The device then latched onto the plushie and carried it to the prize slot. The claw dropped the stuffed doll into the slot.
Ayame quickly opened the box and hugged her beloved Blu-chan tightly.
"Yes! I got my Blu-Chan!"