Kasai leaned forward, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the sleek, futuristic interior of the vehicle.
Soft aqua lights glimmered across the control panel, and holographic displays flickered with information.
"This thing can seriously fly?" He exclaimed, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe, as he ran his fingers over the polished interior.
Hikaru let out a soft chuckle, clearly entertained by Kasai's astonishment, as the corners of his mouth lifted in a knowing smile.
"Yep, and this baby can do more than just fly. It's equipped with a lot of other features too," Hikaru said, his fingers dancing over the sleek digital functions glowing in front of him.
With a swift tap, another hologram sprang to life, casting a vibrant light in the dimly lit interior of the vehicle.
The air buzzed with anticipation as he activated the car remotely, the hum of the engine echoing like a distant thunderclap.
Kasai could hardly contain his astonishment as he watched Hikaru manipulate the shimmering display that hovered just above the console.
The sophisticated technology left him spellbound—how could a car be powered on without a single physical touch?
He could pull up a hologram for spells, but that was much different than controlling an entire vehicle.
The scene felt almost magical, with streams of light and sound enveloping them as the vehicle came to life, sparking Kasai's curiosity further about what else the holograms could be used for. "You don't even need to touch the car itself for it to turn on?"
"Yeah, most of the features in this car are controlled through voice command or this hologram interface." Hikaru gestured with an animated hand toward the shimmering hologram that illuminated the space around them, leaning back slightly in his seat as a look of pride crossed his face.
"It's all very advanced technology, so it makes things much easier in the long run."
Kasai let out a sudden sigh, his shoulders drooping as he glanced away, the tension in his face returning almost instantly. A cool mask replaced the momentary positive vulnerability, his expression hardening like tempered steel.
"Yeah, yeah, rich boy," he muttered, a hint of sarcasm lacing his voice. "I suppose I shouldn't be too shocked that someone like you would have one of those. Anyway, if you crash and kill us both, I'm definitely keeping my word with that window writing."
Hikaru rolled his eyes at the man's comment, the corners of his lips curling up slightly as if he were suppressing a laugh. "Don't worry, I'm a pretty damn good driver," he retorted, his voice light, yet confident.
Leaning back in his seat, Hikaru felt the smooth leather mold to his form, and he gripped the steering wheel with a relaxed intensity.
The sensation of cool metal beneath his fingers anchored him as he prepared to navigate the stormy sky ahead, his energy shifting from casual to focused as he eyed an obstacle in the distance.
"And besides, I have no intention of crashing anytime soon."
"You absolutely sure about that?" Kasai questioned, his brow furrowing as he leaned in closer, his intense gaze searching for the truth behind those words.
The dim light of the interface flickered, casting shadows that danced across his face, accentuating the seriousness of the moment. "You did try to off yourself just earlier, after all. How am I supposed to believe that you won't just crash us into the swarm of underworld creatures to finish the job?"
Hikaru's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel, his grip tightening with growing tension as Kasai casually mentioned the earlier incident.
The words sliced through the air, striking a nerve that resonated deep within him. He took a sharp breath, the sound escaping his lips like a sigh of frustration, as memories flooded back, each one more vivid and unsettling than the last.
"I..." Hikaru's voice trailed off as he thought about how to respond. Then, he let out a bitter laugh.
"Look, I'm not going to purposely crash us into the swarm, alright? That was just a moment of weakness. And even if I did, you'd probably survive anyway. You seem pretty damn durable after the way you slaughtered those creatures a bit ago."
Kasai fought to suppress a playful smirk that danced at the edges of his lips. He shifted his gaze toward the window, where soft moonlight filtered through, casting delicate patterns on the walls of the car.
Resting his palm against his cheek, he allowed his thoughts to drift, the cool touch of his skin grounding him in the moment as he watched the outside world unfold. "If you're so sure about it, your highness. Then sure. I guess I'll trust you on this one."
Hikaru rolled his eyes at the boy's snarky remark, the corners of his lips also twitching into a reluctant smirk despite himself. The playful arrogance in the other man's voice was almost infectious, and for a moment, he couldn't resist the humor in the situation, despite how naturally infuriating Kasai was.
"Don't get too comfortable. I never said I'd be gentle or anything." Hikaru let out a soft scoff, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes, as he pressed the glowing pedal icon on the holographic control panel.
The car responded instantly, its engines revving as its sleek frame cut through the air with effortless ease, accelerating even faster.
Beside him, Kasai felt a rush of exhilaration and trepidation flood his senses. His eyes widened in disbelief as the outside environment morphed into a blur around them, his stomach tightening with an unfamiliar thrill.
The sensation of ascending into the sky churned his stomach, and he struggled to acclimate to the light dizziness that swirled in his head, his heart racing in sync with the car's ascent.
"Watch it, or I might just use my elemental ability on you." Kasai let out an exasperated huff, his breath escaping in a cloud of frustrated energy as he tightly gripped the edges of his seat, knuckles whitening with the strain.
Hikaru, unable to suppress his reaction, watched as laughter danced in his eyes, thoroughly entertained by the way Kasai's face contorted in a mix of sickness and trepidation at the jarring burst of acceleration.
"Oh, yeah? What are you going to do, melt the seat or something?" Hikaru's eyes glinted mischievously as he cast a sideways glance at the other man, before keeping his attention firmly fixed on the sky path.
"Tsk. Don't try me. Just hurry and get us to the destination. Flying in the air is making me nauseous." Kasai responded with a fierce glare, his expression simmering with defiance.
As he clenched his fist, a crackling spark flickered to life in his palm, its brightness cutting through the twilight as he made sure it was clearly visible.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow at the spark in Kasai's hand, impressed by the display of his elemental ability. He chuckled softly and continuously increased the speed of the car, causing the vehicle to fly even faster.
"Don't be such a baby. Flying is the fastest way to get to the destination, and we'll be there soon enough."
Finally he could get back at that annoying prick.
"A baby? As I recall, just half an hour earlier, you were crying in the rain and trying to off yourself at a bridge. I think that says quite a bit." Kasai shot back, a wince of discomfort crossing his face as Hikaru tapped the accelerator faster, urging the car to lurch forward.
The engine roared in protest, the vehicle swaying slightly as the wind whipped fiercely against the windows, adding to the frantic rush of adrenaline that coursed through them.
Hikaru's knuckles tightened aggressively around the steering wheel as the black-haired man's words cut through the air, a flicker of anger igniting in his otherwise calm eyes. The tension in his posture intensified, the muscles in his arms coiling like tightly wound springs, ready to snap at any moment.
"Just.. Shut up. That was a moment of weakness, it doesn't define me. Don't make me freeze your sassy mouth shut" Hikaru clenched his jaw, determination etched across his face as his gaze fixed intently on the vast expanse of sky ahead.
The car continued to surge forward, its engine roaring like a wild beast, as it sliced through the billowing clouds. With each passing moment, the speed intensified, forcing Kasai to lurch forward in his seat, the sudden accelerations clearly overwhelming, and possibly dangerous.
His seatbelt pulled taut, the only thing preventing him from being thrown out into the dizzying heights.
"Oh, shiver me timbers, I'm so scared. I doubt you'd actually do shit to me. You're a softie." Kasai smiled coyly at the prince's blustering threats, an amused glint dancing in his eyes.
He reclined casually in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head in a relaxed pose, as if he were the one in power rather than the one being threatened. "Go ahead and do it then. I dare you to."
Hikaru clenched his jaw, the annoyance and anger building inside of him. He was getting really fed up with Kasai's snarky remarks and taunts.
He regretted even being saved by him.
Without any hint of hesitation, Hikaru lunged forward, gripping the collar of Kasai's shirt with a firm, unyielding hand. The sudden pull drew Kasai closer, their faces nearly touching, as Hikaru momentarily set the car to auto-flight, the soft hum of the vehicle's systems enveloping them in a cocoon of mechanical safety.
The tension in the air crackled, charged with unspoken words and electric intensity, as they hovered in that fleeting moment—suspended between chaos and control.
"I don't know who you think you are, speaking to me this way, but you really don't want to test me. I could easily shut your mouth in an instant if I wanted to."
Kasai appeared momentarily taken aback.
That whiny crybaby from earlier actually had a backbone?
He felt a wave of pleasant surprise wash over him.
This guy, when he wasn't frantically attempting to launch himself off bridges, actually seemed remarkably composed and put-together. There was a newfound strength in his demeanor that was unexpected and intriguing to Kasai.
"Seems like you're a feisty one." Kasai responded with a straightforward declaration, and the wave of mockery was immediately gone.
Hikaru let out a derisive scoff, a flicker of amusement dancing at the corners of his lips as he observed the unexpected surprise etched across the man's face.
All it took was a bit of firmness to get his clownery to end?
"Feisty, huh? I suppose you could say that."
Hikaru finally let go of the other man's shirt, leaning back in his own seat.
"Believe it or not, I'm not always the crybaby you saw earlier. I just…had a rough night, that's all." Kasai arched an eyebrow, curiosity bubbling within him as he contemplated asking Hikaru about the events that had just unfolded.
Yet, before he could voice a single word, a deafening crash reverberated through the air, sending a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Instantly, he felt the car tremble violently, the walls groaning as if they were succumbing to an unseen force, the metal creaking ominously around them as it began to cave in.