The sun was beginning to set as Aoiro and Kurata returned to Bulham. Their journey back had been long and filled with thoughts of their father, Hikari. They had been wounded, but thanks to the islanders' kindness, they were healed. The island leader's generosity had saved their lives, and they had expressed their gratitude before leaving. Now, as they reached the small house where they once lived with their father, a strange stillness filled the air.
The door creaked as they pushed it open. Inside, the place looked untouched, save for one chilling sight: their father, Hikari, lay on a bloodstained bed. His face was pale, and his breathing was shallow. A shock ran through the twins as they rushed to his side.
"Father! What happened? Who did this to you?" Aoiro asked, his voice trembling.
Hikari's eyes flickered open. A weak smile crossed his lips as he looked at his sons. "You're back… I was waiting…"
Kurata clenched his fists, guilt and anger boiling inside him. "We failed you, Father. We couldn't complete the mission…"
Tears welled in Hikari's eyes, but he shook his head slightly. "You didn't fail… You fought… you survived… And that's all I ever wanted."
The twins could barely hold back their tears. They had always looked up to their father, a man who dedicated his life to stopping the cruelty of the world. Now, seeing him like this was unbearable.
"Who did this to you?" Kurata asked again, his voice choked with emotion.
Hikari smiled faintly, but didn't answer. It was as if he knew that knowing the answer wouldn't change anything.
With a trembling hand, he reached out and placed it on Aoiro's shoulder. "Promise me… you will never give up. No matter how hard it gets, no matter what you face… promise me you'll fight. For each other. For a better world…"
The brothers nodded, their hearts heavy.
"I named you both after the lightning... because I knew you were destined to bring light to this dark world…" Hikari's voice grew softer. "Carry that light… for me… for your mother…"
And then, with one last breath, Hikari's hand fell limp. The room fell silent as his spirit passed, leaving the twins alone in their grief.
Aoiro and Kurata fell to their knees beside their father's bed, weeping. They had fought so hard, endured so much, but now, they had lost the one person who meant the world to them.
The next day, they buried Hikari next to Mary's grave. Only Jun, their father's oldest friend, attended the burial. The three of them stood quietly, the wind carrying the scent of rain as they said their final goodbyes.
"I'm sorry," Jun whispered, his eyes filled with sorrow.
The twins said nothing. There were no words left to express the depth of their pain. As they stood at their father's grave, Kurata looked at Aoiro, and Aoiro looked at him. They both knew that this moment would change everything. After the burial, they parted ways, each one seeking to find their path in the world without their father.
But no matter where they went, Hikari's final words echoed in their hearts: Never give up.