If someone ever asks Takeru what's interesting about working as a bodyguard to a Guide, especially considering that people believe Espers would be strong enough to protect their respective Guide and hence nullifying the role of a bodyguard, then Takeru would say that person has very little idea how the profession truly works. There's something vulnerable about serving as a walking battery to these extremely powerful lots; making these people more powerful in the long run, and yet you gain almost nothing in return; perhaps exposing yourself to more vulnerabilities and making you an open target.
It was not too long ago that Neo Japan's Guide Association built a separate, yet co-existing, organization called The Guide Protection Council. In fact, it was only formally established just over a decade ago. If the Association is the formal representation of all Guide Agencies existing within Neo Japan, the Protection Council is a whole Organization with the proper structure, funding, and regulations whose purpose is to minimize the mistreatment of Guides. They provide protection service, legal counsel and representation, health services, and even research.
Takeru is part of its protection team and in his years of doing this line of work, he has seen enough; from harassment all the way to kidnappings. Just a month before he was given this current mission, he was chasing a Guide who was being taken by an Esper who wanted to marry her abroad, with or without the Guide's consent.
That Guide was a B-Class.
Takeru's eyes slowly meander to the back of Hinata Ren's head. Now, he doesn't know what guarding an F-Guard would entail; but he knows enough that the news of Ren's recruitment has reached the ears of everyone involved with the Council.
In the week of Ren's arrival in the Office Building the Council and the Association share, everyone seems to be constantly on their feet. Takeru notices more and more of their legal staff roaming the hall to their meeting rooms throughout the day, moving from one meeting to the next. Segawa Yasuo is probably tied down to a chair in one of those meeting rooms, revising papers and signing some, because he hasn't shown much of his face ever since he dropped Ren in Han and Takeru's care.
As for the Guides, a lot of them who are visiting the offices seem to be much more attentive to their environment; looking right and left to find the 'special new-recruit'. They're informed enough to be aware that the Association has welcomed a 'Super Guide', but is not involved enough with the administration to know the who, the what, and the why.
To Takeru and Han's concern, only a few selected staff know Ren's appearance. Still, they are advised to take Ren in through the back door and to keep away from the main lobby so as to not have the young Guide in close contact with any Esper.
Furthermore, Takeru heard that there were a couple of Espers who knew Ren's face.
"They're around, you know? You should watch out for those pesky Espers!"
Takeru squints at the voice behind him. Miu, a senior healer and doctor in the adjoining clinic and research center, sits behind a large desk facing the one-way mirror separating them and the room where Ren is having his desensitization therapy towards needles. Takeru sighs.
"Healer Miu, aren't you forbidden from seeing Ren?"
The green-haired healer's smile is cat-like, "But I'm the Head Researcher, you see? Plus, Yasuo surely didn't mean it. He can be a little prissy - like a tiny animal, that Yasuo".
The comparison makes Takeru uncomfortable, "I don't think you should ignore his orders".
"I don't think you should concern yourself with where I'm sitting," there is a spark in her playful gaze, "You should watch out for naughty naughty Espers. Yasuo and the team are working extra hard to fend them off your little Teddy Bear. But you know how they are~~~".
Her sing-songy voice gives him the shivers but he doesn't have the choice but be there because he has to watch the door. Lucky Han is in charge of being with Ren in the therapy room. The boy is sitting on a recliner with his eyes covered by a silk eye mask. The therapist is gently tapping the boy's stretched arm with various objects, moving slowly from blunt objects to pointy ones. Near the end of the therapy, the therapist will start using a real needle to gently prick the surface of the skin at multiple points in the arm, but not in a way that would penetrate the flesh. The therapy should help the boy get used to needles and, hopefully, be able to have his blood extracted.
"Stop calling Ren Teddy Bear. It's weird," He hisses half-heartedly. He knows Han secretly calls Ren the same name, but it's wholly a different experience hearing it from this creepy woman.
"D'awww, but he is a Teddy Bear. And how about you, huh? On a first-name basis now?"
Takeru grits his teeth. Agents like him have no choice because they do go by codenames. Eru, Han, and even Miu are all codes they address themselves within the Council, and a lot of their staff have similar codes. In special cases like Segawa Yasuo, their fame has far exceeded their career in the Council for them to go by codes and so they stick to their real name.
Takeru admits that he, Han, and Ren have grown closer in the weeks of watching over the latter. Naturally, Hinata-kun becomes Ren-kun, and Ren has grown more comfortable asking for help with the most menial things like studying or walking to a nearby convenience store. One might say it is rather unprofessional of him, but, really, Ren is a kid who barely understands how their part of the world works and it's hard to not treat him just like any other kid.
"He doesn't mind," Takeru grumbles.
"D'aww, that's cute," the healer coos, "Really though, you have to watch for Espers. We've been getting a lot more visits from them since Teddy Bear joined us".
"They won't be able to do anything. Haven't you heard? Ren's contracted by Narukami Ryuu and one of the conditions states that Ren's next contracts should go through Narukami Ryuu's vetting first".
"Like that would ever stop them. A Guide like Teddy Bear has to be shared, Narukami Ryuu can't protect him forever. Have you heard that Sora rejected the offer?"
Takeru swears his heart stops, "… What?"
"Takenouchi Sora was here in the Office the same day Narukami Ryuu visited. He and Yasuo were having a secret meeting, and Sora technically said no".
Who would say no to having a powerful Guide with a guarantee of 100% matching rate with anyone? That is especially valuable to an S-Class whose matching rate with Guides of other Classes is close to nothing.
"Not a hard no, though. Yasuo is still pursuing him with the offer of his second son. Not sure, but do you know what that means?" Miu teases, "That means, the offer is open for anyone! Even for those Yasuo negotiated with before Sora".
"... Before Sora?"
"Yes! He told you that he considered offering the contract to Sora last, right? He negotiated Ren's contract offer with other Espers, but he later found them to be uncooperative. One of them is Matsuzaka Kei. And you know who I saw in that Cafe across the road this morning?" Without waiting for Takeru's response, she continues, "Matsuzaka Kei in the flesh! Drinking coffee!"
Is that true? Takeru questions. If these Espers are still pursuing Ren even after he is contracted semi-exclusively by Narukami Ryuu, then Takeru's work will be tough. He turns his head towards the one-way mirror to check his young ward, only to find the therapist jumping happily as she shows the syringe to Ren, who is slowly lifting the eye mask off of his face.
"Look, Ren! We managed to get a little blood and you're fine!" The therapist cheers in front of a pale-faced Ren. The boy is obviously tense at the discovery that when he thought the therapist was using a dummy, she was actually using a real syringe. A small amount of blood pools inside the syringe, nowhere a significant amount to be used for anything but still is an achievement for a boy who previously refused to have any amount taken from him.
With that realization, a small smile forms on Ren's face though his hands tremble. He did it. He finally did it.
**
The door opens to reveal Segawa Yasuo dressed primly in his signature turtle neck. "Yui. Glad you're finally here, we need to start strategizing".
"I don't know why you even bother inviting me here," The female attorney steps inside the premises of Segawa Yasuo's stylish residence. She's eyeing the large modern chandelier hanging over the lounge; perhaps she should get something similar for her living room. "That boy didn't seem interested in the least".
She is referring to Takenouchi Sora's visit to their Office a few days ago. To be honest, she was a little giddy to see the famous young Esper in the vicinity of their quarters, but she was also taken aback by the lack of a smile on his face. After a few moments of watching the boy, she finally realized, Takenouchi Sora has always been an astute and cunning mind as opposed to the bright cheery child they have always shown him to be on the screen.
"He might change his mind. Felix is an S-Class mentalist. He's hard to pass".
"I don't know, Yasuo. He seems to already have something in mind. I feel like nothing we offer can change that," They stop in a different sitting area with a glass wall facing the contemporary garden in the back of the house. Takenouchi Sora can be seen sitting on a patio with his manager, already treated to an assortment of snacks and drinks brought by Yasuo's brilliant housekeeper. And just like a few days ago, Takenouchi Sora is sporting a calculating look - one you don't normally see on an 18-year-old's face.
"I still need to get used to that face," She tells Yasuo as the man hands her a drink. It's bourbon, just how she likes it.
"Sora?"
"Yes," She takes another chug, "How are you even not surprised? Isn't he supposed to be Neo Japan's biggest cheerleader?" Yui is a huge Sora fan, as are most Japanese mothers. Sora is the epitome of the Japanese idea of a cartoon hero; happy-go-lucky, always victorious, witty, a little naive.
"Hardly surprised. His uncle has always said the kid is a little psychopathic".
Oh, that is just too much. "The Prime Minister?"
Yasuo nods. They both enjoy the view in silence for a short moment.
"You're right. It takes a little psychopathy to turn down such an offer. He's being handed the perfect Guide! A Guide like that would be an asset in his team of S-Class members. I don't understand why he'd reject that".
"You don't," Yasuo has one hand in the pocket of his pants, "Because politics don't work that way".
"Politics? Since when are we speaking politics??"
"Since dealing with Takenouchi Sora. That boy is born into a family of politics. So when you're dealing with him, you have to think like a politician," The man finishes his drink, "Takenouchi Sora has a vision for his team, that is true, but it's not something he can't change to accommodate a few new members and a Guide. He can, and he knows he can. It's not like he doesn't want the deal, he simply wants to be convinced. Politicians like to have people beg and get on their knees for them," He turns to Sora, "They like the be put in the position of power in deals like this".
"Then kneel if you have to!" Yui doesn't speak the language politician speaks, unlike Segawa Yasuo who often brushes elbows with those people. To her, things are very clear. Their latest Guide would make the perfect addition to Sora's team. Not only are they all around the same age, but Sora's team is also visioned for bigger things in the future. And a team like that would need the perfect Guide to support the whole team.
But of course, it's not that easy, because, according to Segawa Yasuo, there are tiny communicative stepping stones they will have to take.
Politics. Yui hates it.
"Why don't you admit that you're only doing it for your kids?" Yui suggests, "Just like what you admitted to Narukami Ryuu. Admit that you're doing all these extra steps because you want to hook your kids up with the perfect Guide! That'll set things straight, because, y'know, it's true. And you see what happened to Narukami Ryuu. He appreciates that kind of honesty and I'm sure Takenouchi Sora would too!" Perhaps Takenouchi Sora would then see that it is Segawa Yasuo who will feel indebted to him if he accepts this deal.
"To that kid?" Yui sees Segawa Yasuo scoffs, "No".
Ah. How can she forget? Segawa Yasuo has long left his throne as a Guide and has been working as the Council's lobbyist for years. Here in front of her, she is no longer speaking to Segawa Yasuo the Guide; she is speaking to Segawa Yasuo the Negotiator. He too is a politician at heart.
Yui rolls her eyes and decides to keep her comments to herself now before she gets her hands dirtier with this political mumbo jumbo. She hides her face behind her drink, making sure to drink until the last drop in her glass.
"We'll go out there, I'll introduce him to Felix, and Sora will want to recruit Felix," The man's eyes bore into the sight of that patio, all white and concrete, under a large white flat roof.
"Why don't you also involve Hide? Isn't that who Sora wants, your eldest?"
Yasuo's face scrunches up as if he just bit into something sour. "Uh, no?" Yui wonders if something happened between Yasuo and his oldest son.
"We'll go there when it's time to deal with that punk," The man grunts, "For now, let's go outside and meet our guests". He takes her glass and puts it next to the tray full of empty glasses. On their way out, Yasuo asks his housekeeper to summon his youngest son out of his room. They then walk side by side to the backyard, already putting on their widest smile the moment the YES manager turns around to see them.
"Hey, hey, hey! Here's the owner of the house! It's a nice place you've got here; I have to say I much prefer this over the Association's Office," Arilio Banks says.
"I was surprised when he called to say the meeting place had been changed to his house. But you have to admit, it is the better choice," Yui sits down on the seat across from Banks and Yasuo follows suit in the seat right next to hers, "Is it hard to find this place on the map?"
"Oh, we met up with Guide Segawa at the Association's Office and then he took us here".
"I see, so he changed the place on a whim," Yui sends the Guide a look. She isn't sure if the manager and Sora know that Yasuo is planning to introduce them to his son today.
"The weather's nice, so I suggest we enjoy the day in my backyard. And Ms. Yasumoto makes delicious sweets," Yasuo takes one small pudding bowl from the arrangements of sweets and other treats on the table. His housekeeper truly knows how to please the tummy.
They share more pleasantries, mostly between herself, Yasuo, and the manager. Sora, however, mostly keeps to himself as he trains his gaze on Yasuo. It's almost unsettling, especially coming from someone who is barely an adult.
Yasuo's housekeeper, Ms. Yasumoto, appears next to Yasuo not long after to whisper something to the man's ear. From where she is, Yui can hear bits of their exchange. "I've looked everywhere," the woman says.
Yasuo excuses himself into his house, tailed closely by his housekeeper, leaving Yui smiling awkwardly at Banks as Sora raises an eyebrow at the unfolding scene. It doesn't take long until they all hear the Guide's enraged scream from inside the large concrete block of a house.
"FEEEELIIIIIIXXXXXXXX!!!"
And not far from where they are, a young blonde teenager runs towards an oncoming car. He waves his hands madly in the air. The car stops next to him with just a squeak on the asphalt road, to which the blonde rushes to enter from the front passenger side door. "Segawa Felix?" The driver chirps as he checks the name listed on the app.
"Yes, yes! Now, turn around and drive ahead! Do not look back!!"
The car does a sharp U-turn with a screech before it dashes to where it came from. "Kabukicho, right?" The driver confirms.
"Yes!" The blonde checks if anyone is following them, "Hurry!"
**
"It has a nice camera," Ren comments as he tries out his new phone. The Council just purchased the boy one to contact him with ease. And as Takeru watches the boy's reaction, he recognizes something.
"Hmm? Ren, you never had a phone like that before?"
"No. Tetsu and I shared an old phone that used to be one of the Orphanage carers'. Tetsu would be so jealous the day he finds out I got my own," The boy says wistfully. He always speaks of his childhood friend like they're going to see each other again one day. He is still holding out hope, while almost everyone else believes the missing students of Shun-En have probably perished for good.
"Hmm," Takeru watches the parking lot in the back of the clinic directly connected to the Guide Association and the Guide Protection Council. It appears that there are more cars parked there today. He is suddenly reminded of Miu's warning. "Oi, Ren. Wear this".
"Ye - Ow!"
Takeru pushes the bucket hat he was wearing onto Ren's head and makes sure it provides enough cover for Ren's face, leaving Ren a little disoriented from the forceful movements. "And where the hell is Han? That guy is taking so long just to do a little paperwork," all he has to do is check out of the building and do a little report. It shouldn't take this long.
A strong gust of wind suddenly blows, tipping the bucket hat off of Ren's head and high to the sky. The hat is blown far; enough that Ren has to chase it out of the shade they're sheltering in and into the middle of the car park. "O-oi, Ren!" Takeru calls out.
Ren looks behind him to see Takeru, hence completely missing a tall figure rising up to reach for his hat behind the lines of idle cars in the parking lot. Takeru, however, sees the man. Tall with long-ish wavy hair; the man is out of his usual getup of all blacks and is wearing white jeans and a white shirt under a light-colored long cardigan. But no matter what he wears, there is no mistaking who he is.
It's Matsuzaka Kei.
Noticing Takeru's line of sight, Ren turns his head to look at the person in front of him, and true enough, Matsuzaka Kei is already walking towards him with the hat in hand. The boy stops his pace. No one can help but feel awkward when they're around someone with the tall hulking figure of Matsuzaka Kei, the leader of the National Legion of Esper and perhaps the highest-ranked Esper in Neo Japan at the moment.
"U-um, s-sorry, that's my ha -," and before Ren finishes his words, the Esper is already putting the hat on the younger's head, surprising both the boy and his guard, who is watching from just outside the clinic building. Shit, shit, shit, Takeru cusses silently. Matsuzaka Kei is one of the Espers Yasuo has offered Ren to, and there is a high chance that is why he is here today.
They need to get out of there. You know what they say about S-Class Espers in their 30's; they're either crippled or insane. And seeing that Matsuzaka Kei is still kicking, he is probably the latter.
Takeru is about to get Ren and scram before he hears a second voice coming from the opposite side of the parking lot. "Ooooi, Keeeei! Is that you!?"
Walking towards them is someone of almost equal height to Matsuzaka Kei himself. The newcomer is carrying a blue suitcase and a teddy bear with him. From where he is, Takeru cannot see the person's face, but that curly hair and the tattoos on his arms are the signature of one person who frequents this clinic.
There's really no one else that person could be but Abe Koukichi, the person behind the masked mecha Esper, Tungsten.
"It is you!" The younger Esper exclaims as he comes closer to Matsuzaka Kei and Ren, "Yo, look, you won't believe it but Sora just left me here! And I just got released from the hospital too. I need help really bad dude and I would appreciate it if you'd give me a ride - my phone's dead and I have no money at the moment, and I really really need a nap. None of the Guides think I need any guiding too, they're being so mean - Ah! You!" Abe Koukichi points at Ren, "You're that boy from the hospital!"
Double and triple shit, Takeru cusses mentally. He doesn't know what he did in his past lives to anger the Gods, but how is his one client that he should keep out of any Esper ended up facing not one, but two powerful S-Class Espers of the physical type who could just grab his client and run with him, and not even Han's ability to track them down could help them get him back.
I need to get him out of here without provoking those two. Takeru silently looks around for a way.
"You!" Takeru hears Ren shouting back at Abe Koukichi, "You're a liar!"
What the - Takeru turns to the three again. The two Espers seem oblivious to Takeru's presence.
"You're not who you said you were," Ren can be heard saying as he points at Abe Koukichi, sounding almost annoyed, "You're fooling everyone".
"I am?"
"Yes, in fact, I know exactly who you are!"
Takeru catches the nervous glance Abe Koukichi is sharing with Matsuzaka Kei. The former's identity as an Esper is known only among top-ranked Espers and a few from the Guide Association who have worked closely with him. To everyone else, Tungsten's real identity is still a well-debated mystery.
"You're that rich heir, Abe Koukichi!"
Abe Koukichi appears stunned for a full second, before he laughs merrily, "You're right! You caught me! My family doesn't want to gain more unnecessary attention, you see, so they asked the hospital to give me a false name. Actually, I was more surprised you didn't recognize my face from the start". Abe Koukichi bends down to be at Ren's eye level, then he squints closer at the shorter teen, "And anyway, I think you're keeping a secret too".
Takeru's heart thumps harder. What if Abe Koukichi has figured out that Ren is a Guide? The taller teen is looking - not at Ren, but the space around him. Abe Koukichi is not inspecting Ren, he is inspecting Ren's energy. And Ren being Class F would mean he is seeing nothing around Ren.
True enough, Abe's serious expression soon morphs into something less as he laughs, "Nah. I think I'm wrong. You must just be rich, just like me!"
Takeru's guess must be right. If that's the case, then Abe Koukichi is still in the dark about this whole F-Class Guide thing.
"I'm not rich," Takeru hears Ren rebutting.
"Well, you have to be if you're coming to this clinic to get a Guide or a Healer to help you. They cost an arm and a leg for civilians like us. Now, if you're a top Esper like Kei right here, then it's a different story!" Abe Koukichi hooks an arm around Matsuzaka Kei, who hasn't let go of his stare towards Ren.
"Oh, are you an Esper, Sir?" Ren, ever the polite child, asks Matsuzaka Kei. Takeru wonders how he doesn't recognize Matsuzaka Kei when his childhood friend is a true Esper junkie, but then again Tetsu is mostly a fan of older heroes like Narukami Ryuu.
"He's not just any Esper, he's an S-Class Esper. The strongest of the strongest!" Abe Koukichi introduces.
"Ah, like Sora?"
Takeru cringes, and so does Abe Koukichi, at the comparison. Granted, Takenouchi Sora is strong in his own right. Yet, there's something a little rude about comparing someone of Matsuzaka Kei's rank and status to someone over 10 years his junior. Matsuzaka Kei flinches at the mention of Sora's name. He looks somewhat constipated.
"Bwaaahahahaha! Yea yea, just like Sora - but Sora's deeefinitely better, isn't he?" Abe Koukichi continues to put salt to the injury, perhaps enjoying embarrassing his senior like the kid he is, "You know what, he should join Sora's team!"
"You should. Sora has a team of all S-Class Espers, just like you. They'll make good use of your talents there," Ren adds as Abe Koukichi's laughter grows louder and louder. "It's amazing to be an S-Class," Ren adds, "You can do a lot of great things. A lot of people you can save".
Without realizing it, Ren has complimented not only Matsuzaka Kei but also the curly-haired young man next to him. "Hey, I have a present for you," Abe Koukichi hands Ren the teddy bear he's been holding.
Once he has it in his hold, Ren tilts his head, "A Teddy Bear?" He sounds a little confused. After all, it is not the norm for boys to gift each other stuffed dolls.
"Yeah! Don't you think it looks like you?"
"... haa?"
A large hand goes to the doll and takes it away from Ren's hold. Han inspects the doll with grim eyes. "What is this?" He asks Abe Koukichi darkly. Abe Koukichi raises his palm in a defensive posture, sweat-dropping a little at the sudden appearance of Ren's bodyguard.
"A tiny little gift… for a friend," Abe Koukichi explains with an awkward laugh.
Han looks down at Ren. "Have they been mean to you?"
"Mean?" Ren asks dumbly, "No?"
Han hums, before looking at the two Espers suspiciously. He then turns to Ren, eyes looking between the doll and the boy. His stern face softens before he returns the doll to Ren along with a box of strawberry milk. "For you," the guard says with his usual flat voice.
"O-oh. T-thank you".
After another hum and another sharp look at the other two men, he gently grabs Ren's wrist and pulls the boy with him, "We should go".
"All right," Ren looks back at Abe Koukichi, "Thank you for the… present".
The two walk towards the building, where another guard is waiting.
Abe Koukichi turns to his fellow Esper, "Oi, Kei, are you mad I gave the Teddy Bear to him? I thought you didn't want the bear any more".
The older Esper grunts and turns around, leaving Abe Koukichi behind him. To no avail, the younger of the two follows him like a shadow, "Wait, seriously, are you mad!? Maaan, I'll buy you a new bear, I promise. You'll still give me a ride won't you?"
They both end up in Matsuzaka Kei's car. "Damn, I forgot to ask for his name!" Abe Koukichi exclaims suddenly once he clasps the belt of the car seat.
"It's Ren".
"What?"
"His name," Matsuzaka says silently, "It's Hinata Ren".
**
Hidden within Kabukicho, Club Sugarfoot is bustling with life. At the end of its long dwindling hallways, its infamous fighting ring is the street's best-hidden entertainment. Their first fight starts as early as 5 pm; and today, they serve their entree with their best fighter.
Kitsune stands in one corner of the ring, in casual clothes and his mask covering his face. Around the ring, people are roaring in excitement, fisting their money in the air as they put their bets on Sugarfoot's unbeatable fighter.
The MC is looking down at his cue cards, looking unsure as he puts his mic away and asks the other employees. "Hey, are you sure you're going to put this person against Kitsune?"
"Yes," says one of them, though they too seem to hesitate.
"I don't know if this is a good idea".
"W-well, this person insists".
The MC swallows thickly before returning to the ring with his mic, "We have a new challenger!"
The roaring intensifies. If there's anything, they enjoy seeing someone getting pummeled by Kitsune. Because when Kitsune wins, he doesn't only win. He wins to entertain. He wins BIG.
"Please welcome, PINK!"
The curtains on the stage on the opposite side of the ring open to reveal a girl no older than 18. She is wearing a black school uniform and is holding a bat. A pink mask might be covering her face, but Kitsune easily recognizes her by her long strawberry-blonde hair.
As she walks to the ring, Kitsune raises his two hands and turns around towards his exit. "Wait a minute?? Is Kitsune withdrawing from the match??" The MC's voice blares from the speaker, inciting loud boos and disappointed jeers that follow the masked fighter as he jumps down from the ring and walks away. His teammate puts a hand on his shoulder, "Dude, are you sure?" Mirai asks, but all Kitsune does is push that hand off of his shoulder before he continues to the exit.
The hallway past the exit is dark, but he knows the door to the locker by heart at this point. He enters that door and takes a seat on the bench facing the small screen that shows the ring. Kitsune takes one towel from the folded pile next to him. He lifts his mask, revealing the face of Segawa Hide.
Segawa Hide wipes his face with the towel and watches the screen with cold eyes. "Oi, the fuck are you doing here?"
He doesn't need to look at the blonde to know that he is indeed in the room with him. Segawa Felix is sitting cross-legged on the cupboard, also watching the screen with great attention. "I didn't know you could be such a gentleman," Felix mocks his brother because, of course, Hide would give up the fight the moment a girl steps in the ring.
"What's that to do with this?" Hide grouches as he throws the towel to his lap, "I don't trust that chick". In fact, out of anyone he has fought in that ring, she is probably the only one who might match him in terms of abilities. If the circumstances are different, Hide wouldn't mind fighting her. But at the moment, her presence feels like an insult.
"And?"
"Hmm?"
"You haven't answered, you little shit. What are you doing here? Aren't you grounded?"
Segawa Felix turns to Hide with a scowl, "How did you know that? You haven't even been home for the last few days!" His eyes then widened, "Ah! It has to be Yasumoto-baa-chan! You're still in contact with her!"
"Yea, yea, whatever," Hide waves his hands to ignore Felix, "Just answer my question".
Felix pouts, "The old man is acting weird".
Hide snorts, "Tell me about it".
"He's been on and on about introducing me to new friends".
The screen is now showing the next fighter entering the ring to replace Kitsune. As 'Pink' has yet to be defeated, the next fighter is going to face her. It appears that the whole stadium is against her because she has caused their favorite fighter to leave the ring before the fight. These people are up for a surprise.
"Mm-hmm, and so? I think you'll do with few friends".
"Yeah, but then he brought that weird dude who used to stalk you".
Hide leaves the sight of Pink beating her opponent mercilessly to look at his brother, "What do you mean?"
"You know, that weird guy. What's his name?" Felix's brows wrinkle, "Sora".
"Sora!?"
Hide jumps from his bench and stands close to his brother, "Did you say Sora?"
Felix looks questioningly at his brother, "Yeah". He then continues watching the fight on the screen, "Look, I think she's winning".
She is. Her fighting moves are close in style to many physical-type Espers that Hide has studied. Her tackle in particular is close to Tungsten's, but then again, she works closely with him. "Oh, shit, look at that - Shit!" Felix grimaces as the other fighter finally manages to stand up. He grabs a hold of Pink's ankle and spins her around before throwing her off of the ring.
Then something surprising happens.
She stops herself in midair before she falls into the crowd.
She is floating.
Hide turns to the screen, "H-how does she...?"
No physical-type abilities can fly nor control an element such as air to help them fly. Flying is more an elemental-type skill, but she has proven herself to be a physical-type.
He watches her not only float but also maneuver around midair. She is flying. It should be impossible, but she is.
"What the actual fuck..."
**
To be Continued.