40 minutes had passed since the tumultuous match of the spring season. Kuroshi, now fully healed, blinked awake into an eerie landscape. Standing before a colossal open door, the team found themselves in an otherworldly realm, where the sky bore a haunting shade of purple and the grass beneath their feet was as dark as midnight.
Ryoshi wrinkled his nose, detecting a pungent odor that hung heavy in the air. "Why does it smell like... sniff sniff burned corpses here?"
Fuyu, their guide, offered a grim explanation. "Because, my dear Ryoshi, this is the Negative Point jail. A place where we confine invaders, corrupted souls, and past enemies. They're locked away here for eternity."
Toruri piped up, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But why are we here?"
Fuyu's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he gestured toward the looming structure. "Because, my friends, beyond this prison lies the domain of the fall season."
Ryoshi's brows furrowed with concern. "Isn't it risky being so close to a prison full of dangerous individuals?"
Fuyu chuckled darkly. "Believe me, the members of the fall season team are far more terrifying than any prisoner you'll find in there. I've had the pleasure of observing them for a day."
Toruri's voice quivered with uncertainty. "So, what do we do now? Just... walk in?"
Fuyu nodded, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Precisely."
With hesitant steps, they ventured into the prison, greeted by a cacophony of noise and an overwhelming stench.
"I suggest you ignore them and keep moving," Fuyu advised, his voice barely audible over the din.
As they traversed the labyrinthine corridors of the prison, they were bombarded by a chorus of threats and curses. Toruri shuddered as he heard promises of gruesome violence, of eyes being gouged out and tongues torn asunder.
"Are we nearly there?" he asked, his voice trembling with apprehension.
Fuyu nodded, his expression grim. "Very close. We're approaching the last cell."
Ryoshi groaned in frustration. "About time. We've been walking for ages."
Toruri's eyes widened with relief. "Look, I can see the exit!"
Fuyu's voice echoed with urgency. "And there's the last cell. Run, children, I'll meet you outside."
Without hesitation, Ryoshi, Toruri, and Kuroshi bolted towards the door, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the prison. But as they hurried past the final cell, Toruri caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar face — Huenae, confined within its confines.
"Hey there!" Fuyu's voice rang out, breaking the tense silence.
Ryoshi gazed up at the sky, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a mountain in the shape of a crow's head. "This must be it."
"We're literally standing on the arena," Fuyu remarked, his tone tinged with amusement.
Toruri's question was cut short by a sharp impact against his head. "Ow!"
Turning around, the trio spotted three figures standing nearby. One, a male with short black hair and piercing green eyes, stood clad in a white scarf and a blue jacket. Beside him stood a female with long purple hair, draped in a black overcoat. And finally, a muscular man with black hair and a grey shirt, his back turned to them.
The stage was set, the players assembled. The fall season awaited their arrival.
Toruri's eyes widened in disbelief. "Waaaaaaait, did you...throw that at me?" he said, his finger accusingly pointing at the girl with purple hair.
She nodded, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
"I haven't seen you since I was 8! And I wish it stayed that way," Toruri declared, his tone dripping with disdain.
The girl, Haiamu, chuckled darkly. "You can't escape me, Toruri Doragane!"
Toruri recoiled. "Ah! You still remember my name!"
"And you don't remember mine?" Haiamu countered.
"Yeah, I don't want to," Toruri retorted.
"My name is Haiamu Hokaku," she announced proudly.
Toruri's face contorted into a frown at the mention of her name.
"Hey Arasu, isn't that your twin sister?" Haiamu prodded, tapping the guy with the grey shirt's shoulder and pointing at Kuroshi.
Arasu whipped around, his eyes widening in surprise. "WHUH?!"
"Oh hey there, sis!" Arasu greeted, his grin revealing rows of sharp teeth. With a thud, he stomped his foot on the ground, sending tremors through the earth.
"I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FIGHTS PLAY OUT!!!" he bellowed with excitement.
"Woah, I never knew you had a brother," Ryoshi remarked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Ryoshi," Kuroshi replied cryptically.
"So, where's your master?" Fuyu inquired.
"She's coming! But hey Fuyu, who's that guy beside you?" Arasu asked, pointing a finger at Ryoshi.
"Oh, that's Ryoshi Taisaku," Fuyu replied casually.
"HEY YOU!" Arasu suddenly directed his attention towards Ryoshi. "DON'T YOU DARE GAIN A CRUSH ON MY SISTER! IF YOU DO, I'LL CRUSH YOU WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS!!!"
Ryoshi shook his head. "Never have, never will."
Arasu's eyes flashed with intensity. "Hey, you're supposed to say, 'NO, I'LL FIGHT YOU AT DAWN FOR HER! SHE'S MY JOY AND PRIDE!!!'"
"No, that's just weird," Ryoshi responded bluntly.
"HOW DARE YOU CONTRADICT ME?!" Arasu roared.
"Woah, you're kind of being a bit-" Ryoshi started, but Arasu cut him off.
"EXTREME?!" Arasu finished the sentence for him.
"Mhm, you're like the complete opposite of Kuroshi," Ryoshi observed.
"I'LL SHOW YOU THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE WHEN I BURY YOU IN THE GROUND LIKE A PLANT!!!" Arasu shouted angrily.
"So you're just gonna dig up a hole, gently place me in the hole, and refill the hole?" Ryoshi quipped.
"ARE YOU CONTRADICTING ME AGAIN?!" Arasu seethed.
"Not exactly-" Ryoshi began, but before he could finish, a black portal opened behind the group.
Fuyu's voice cut through the tension like a sharp blade. "Aki Tsuki, my favorite witch."
From the depths of the swirling black portal emerged a woman draped in all black, a classic witch hat perched atop her head.
"Hey there," she greeted casually.
"Where were you?" Fuyu demanded, his tone tinged with impatience.
"Making potions. Anyway, let's hurry this up. Did everyone introduce themselves?" Aki replied, her gaze sweeping over the assembled group.
A man with black hair and piercing blue eyes stepped forward. "My name is Osoi Tsuki. I'm the inheritor," he announced with a sense of authority.
Ryoshi's thoughts raced. So that guy is my enemy.
"Thanks for reminding me, Osoi! I'm the assassin," Arasu declared with a smirk.
"And I'm the mage," Haiamu added, her voice dripping with confidence.
Fuyu nodded in acknowledgment. "Oh, so Osoi must be the child."
Aki chuckled. "Yeah, my child. I adopted him!"
"That's not what I meant, but I think you knew what I was talking about," Fuyu remarked dryly.
"Yep, I do. Let's get the battles started. May the Mage and the Trapper step into the open field, please," Aki announced, gesturing towards Toruri and Haiamu.
Toruri's heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. "I didn't process the fact that I'm fighting this chick... This sucks," he muttered under his breath.
"Don't worry, Toruri. You'll be mine after this battle," Haiamu taunted with a smirk, her eyes glinting with anticipation.
With a resigned sigh, Toruri and Haiamu stepped into the open field, their nerves on edge.
"Okay, time to work my magic. Defensive Magic: Perimeter," Aki intoned, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as she conjured a large box of shimmering purple magic around them.
"This match shall start in 3," Aki announced.
"Woah, this is going by fast," Toruri muttered to himself, his heart pounding in his chest.
"2," Aki continued, her voice echoing in the enclosed space.
"Let me just..." Toruri began, taking a step back from Haiamu, his mind racing with strategies.
"1," Aki counted down, her voice commanding attention.
"Okay, I'm ready," Toruri declared, steeling himself for the battle ahead.
"Go," Aki commanded, unleashing the beginning of their clash.