The distant wail of police sirens cut through the night, growing louder with each passing second. The rhythmic flashes of red and blue painted the darkened streets, casting long shadows over the chaos that had unfolded. The weight pressing against Hikari's chest eased slightly.
The irregular was unconscious, sprawled on the pavement, and with the police here, the threat of him waking up was no longer an immediate concern. His breathing steadied, but his heart continued to hammer against his ribs. The night's events replayed in his mind, a mess of fear, adrenaline, and uncertainty.
Master Ryu melted into the darkness, his figure dissolving into the very shadows that had birthed him. His voice, laced with amusement, whispered, "I can't let anyone see my famous face in the local newspaper. I'll be heading off first." A thumbs-up flashed briefly before he vanished entirely, leaving only the sensation of lingering power in the air.
Hikari exhaled, his grip on Mitsumi tightening as she clung to him. Tears still wet her cheeks, her body trembling in his arms. The investigator wasted no time, stepping forward with a hard, scrutinizing stare. "What happened here?"
Hikari straightened his posture, forcing calm into his voice. "We were attacked by the irregular."
Even as he spoke, Mitsumi's sobs hadn't completely subsided. The ordeal had shaken her badly, and Hikari knew the feeling all too well. The sheer terror of nearly being crushed, of watching an unstoppable force bearing down on them, was something neither of them would forget anytime soon.
Then came the cameras. Reporters swarmed the scene like vultures, their voices overlapping, their questions fired like bullets. The harsh glare of flashing lights illuminated their faces, but Hikari refused to answer, and Mitsumi kept her face buried in his shoulder.
An overwhelming sensation of being watched, dissected, was suffocating. He knew, without a doubt, that they were already on local television. This was exactly the kind of spectacle news stations thrived on.
His suspicions were confirmed when he spotted over a dozen reporters speaking into their microphones, their expressions ranging from excitement to calculated professionalism. Each one represented a different news station, their logos plastered on their equipment.
Through the sea of chaos, a pair of figures shoved their way forward with an urgency that sent a chill down Hikari's spine. His gaze snapped toward them, and as soon as recognition struck, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
His parents.
His mother's tear-streaked face twisted with raw emotion as she rushed forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His father, on the other hand, was less subtle, shouldering past reporters without hesitation. When his sharp gaze landed on Hikari and Mitsumi, he exhaled heavily, relief breaking through the rigid lines of his face.
For the first time that night, Hikari allowed himself to smile.
His mother's arms enveloped both him and Mitsumi, holding them as if afraid they might disappear. The warmth of the embrace grounded him, reminding him that they had survived. That they were still here. His father rested a firm hand on his shoulder, his usual stoic demeanor cracked by the intensity of the moment.
"Thanks for protecting Mitsumi, Hikari," his father murmured. "If you hadn't, I don't even want to think about what would have happened. I was already coming up with an excuse in case her parents arrived before us."
His mother, still clinging to them, sniffled. "Now do you understand why you need to walk her to school and bring her home after?"
Hikari didn't argue. He simply nodded, allowing his mother's quiet sobs to fill the silence between them.
Then came the inevitable question.
His father's eyes darkened with suspicion as they flicked to the unconscious irregular. "Son… were you the one who took that thing down?"
Hikari tensed. His mind raced for an answer, but before he could speak, Mitsumi beat him to it.
"Yes, Hikari protected me," she said, her voice still shaky.
No! Don't tell them! Hikari's stomach twisted.
Mitsumi, oblivious to his internal panic, continued. "He tripped the irregular and hit it on the head with something hard."
Relief surged through him. She hadn't exposed his shadow abilities. It was a close call, but he let out a breath, grateful for the half-truth. His father's narrowed eyes lingered on him a moment longer before shifting away, his expression unreadable.
The police officers, satisfied with their capture, were practically glowing with pride. This was a major victory for them, a criminal of this magnitude taken down without further casualties. They would have asked more questions, but his father took charge, placing himself between them and his son.
"They've been through enough," he said firmly. "They're coming with us."
The weight of the reporters' gaze bore down on them as they pushed their way out of the crowd. Some tried to press in, but with cameras rolling, no one dared to physically block them. One of the officers, catching the exchange, offered them a ride.
Hikari hesitated, but Mitsumi, still shaken, tugged at his sleeve. "Mr. Hikari, can I stay at your place tonight? My parents aren't home… and I don't want to be alone."
His father smirked, giving him a knowing look before nodding. "Of course. Just make sure to call your parents first. They're probably watching this on the news right now."
"You can stay in the guest room," his mother added. "You're always welcome."
"Thank you…" Mitsumi sniffled, clutching Hikari's sleeve a little tighter as they climbed into the police car.
The drive home was quiet. The flashing lights that had filled the night gradually faded into the distance, and the weight of everything that had happened pressed onto Hikari like an avalanche. The fear, the uncertainty, the sheer magnitude of what he had done.
If he had been a second too late in shifting to his shadow form, Mitsumi would have died. He would have died.
The realization settled deep in his bones, chilling him far more than the night air ever could.
He had to get stronger.
The thought burned itself into his mind, unwavering in its resolve. There was no room for hesitation. If he was going to survive in this world—a world that was far more dangerous than he had ever realized—he needed to master his abilities. To understand the true depths of what it meant to be a shadow manipulator.
Because tonight had been just the beginning.
His father, sitting beside him, watched him carefully. Though he said nothing, the slight furrow in his brow spoke volumes. He didn't entirely believe the story Mitsumi had told. He knew his son wasn't ordinary. But for now, he let it be, waiting for the truth to reveal itself.
His mother, resting her head against the seat, let out a tired sigh. "We're just glad you're safe, Hikari… but whatever happened back there, you need to be careful."
Hikari stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past.
Careful.
That was the thing, wasn't it?
From now on, nothing would ever be normal again.