Yukiko let out a deep sigh as they began to walk inside the base.
"Let's continue..." she said, her voice laced with determination. Misuki nodded, her eyes fixed on Yukiko.
"You said you want me to train you?" Yukiko asked, raising an eyebrow. Misuki nodded again, her expression serious.
"Our climax states are almost the same," Misuki explained.
"And it might help me think of new ways I can be useful to the team."
Yukiko's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Misuki sighed and looked up at the sky, her eyes clouding over. "Kaito, he's always there to save me," she began.
"Always there to help me."
"Ever since we were little."
Yukiko's gaze stayed fixed on Misuki, her expression empathetic.
"I would be bullied, and he'll come out of nowhere and just stand in front of me," Misuki continued.
"He'll look like a hero most times, standing in my front, even though he's an idiot."
Yukiko's lips twitched, a small smile playing on her lips.
"But then he always gets beaten," Misuki said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"He'll come and just get his ass whooped like the weakling he is."
Misuki began to laugh, a hint of tears in her eyes. "Coming in to get his ass whooped."
Yukiko's smile grew, but then Misuki's expression turned serious again.
"But then..." Misuki's voice softened.
"He'll still say... 'I'm right here, nothing will happen to you!' And he'll always be there for me."
"Every single time..."
Misuki's eyes welled up with tears, and she faced down, letting them fall to the ground.
"I hate the fact I couldn't help him in the last battle," she whispered.
"I saw him pierced all over his body and i couldn't do anything but stand, "
"It's eating me up inside."
"I don't want him to die."
"But i'm useless... I wasn't able to help him"
Misuki's body shook with sobs, her tears falling harder now.
"I want him to live and find what he's fighting for," she cried out.
"But I don't want to be a burden on him! So please!"
Misuki fell to the ground, her body wracked with sobs.
"Please!" she begged.
"I'll do anything."
"I don't want to be a burden on anybody. "
"I don't want to be a burden on him!"
Yukiko looked down at her, her expression softening. "You knoq we have different states"
"I am Ice and you're water..."
"Even if it is a bit similar, there's a lot each cant do that the other can "
"I know, i'm ready to accept that" Mizuki yelled,
Yukiko looked at her 'Not like I'm one to talk, ' She thought
'He was in front of me and i couldn't do anything much'
'If i wasn't weak, he wouldn't have entered that battle,'
She clenched her fists,
'I need to become stronger '
She sighed out loud "We have a meeting at headquarters soon," she said gently.
"After that, I'll try my best..."
Misuki jumped up, her eyes red from crying, and hugged Yukiko tightly.
"Thank you, Yukiko!" she exclaimed.
Yukiko looked at her and smiled, "Let's get stronger, okay?" She said
"Yeah" Mizuki yelled,
After they hugged, they walked inside the base.
They walked to Kaito's room, but as they approached, they saw smoke billowing out.
Yukiko and Misuki exchanged a worried glance.
"Huh?!" they exclaimed in unison, rushing towards the room.
As the smoke cleared, Kuro came into view, still standing in a blocking position, his body covered in bruises and scratches.
Yukiko rushed towards him, concern etched on her face.
"Kuro?!"
Kuro tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse and barely audible.
He fell to his knees, then laid flat on the ground, exhausted.
Misuki's eyes widened in shock. "Whoa... What happened here? Better question, what did you do...?"
Akari walked to him and stood over him, a hint of surprise on her face.
"You survived it?!" She put her hand on her neck.
"Even for a weak attack... I'm impressed!"
"Maybe you are strong enough. Next time, I'll use more than 10% in that blast."
Kaito's face was frozen in shock. "A weak attack...?"
Ryujin's eyes were wide with fear, sweat dripping down his face. "That could destroy a forest with ease..."
Misuki's anger flared. "Why would you try to fight her, huh? You can't be serious!"
Kuro weakly coughed, his voice barely audible. "I wanted to fight Kaito..."
Yukiko and Misuki's faces turned red with anger.
"You what?!" they exclaimed in unison.
Akari smiled. "Isn't this amusing?"
Yukiko's eyes flashed white. "Icy Shard Barrage!" She released a volley of sharp, icy shards, surrounding herself and aiming them at Kuro.
Misuki summoned a powerful wave of water, standing on it and swinging her hand towards Kuro. "Tidal Surge!"
The two attacks collided, engulfing the scene in an explosion.
Ryujin stumbled back, eyes wide. "What happened in that cave...?"