After enjoying dinner at Mitsumi's house, Hikari had gladly offered to help clean up, but as expected, Mitsumi's mother had politely refused.
Though he had anticipated the rejection, a small part of him had been disappointed—helping out would have made an even better impression. Still, the warmth in her tone softened the letdown.
"You are our guest. Why would I accept that you clean? Thanks for offering anyway. For now, just enjoy the rest of the night. You can turn the television on if you want."
"Ah, eh… alright," Hikari muttered, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
Mitsumi's mother suddenly shifted the topic with a knowing smile. "Mitsumi, why don't you show him your room? You can show him your books there if you want."
A sudden rush of heat spread across his face. "Eh?!"
Mitsumi, unfazed, tugged on his sleeve. "Yes, let's go, Hikari."
Before he knew it, he was standing in her room, taking in its sleek, modern design. The color scheme matched the living room—monochrome black and white—but it carried a more personal touch.
A pristine white bookshelf stood in the farthest right corner, meticulously arranged with books of varying sizes, some clearly aged while others seemed newly purchased. Across from it sat a black, polished study table that looked expensive, its surface so reflective that the glow from an intricate ceiling lamp bounced off of it elegantly.
The soft, immaculate carpet beneath his feet was so plush it almost made him hesitate to step further.
He had to admit—her room was better than his.
"Here, look at this," Mitsumi said, pulling a book from the shelf and handing it to him.
Hikari carefully took it, feeling the worn texture of its cover. Despite its age, it was well-preserved, far nicer than most history books he had encountered.
"Wow! Where did you get this?" he asked, turning the pages with care.
"My dad used to read it to me when I was little," Mitsumi answered, her voice laced with nostalgia. "He told me how the Shadow Manipulator helped him when he was fighting Irregulars before."
"He would always tell me about his missions while reading this book to me. Before I knew it, I had memorized the whole history of the Shadow Manipulator." She smiled fondly, eyes gleaming with admiration.
Hikari's eyes widened. "Really?! Your dad fought irregulars?!"
Mitsumi nodded, a hint of pride in her expression. "Yeah, he used to fight villains alongside other irregulars like the Shadow Manipulator. But those days are over now. As far as I know, he's been on a business trip for three months." Her voice softened slightly.
"He was really cool whenever he appeared on the news back when I was a kid."
A thought struck Hikari, his curiosity flaring. "Wait, is your dad an irregular too?"
Mitsumi's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "That, I can't tell you."
"What?!"
"It's a secret," she said playfully. "A secret that you need to find out for yourself. And that means you have to visit us again when Dad returns." She giggled, clearly enjoying the mystery.
Hikari felt an odd warmth settle in his chest. Visit again? The thought was strangely… comfortable.
A voice interrupted them from behind. "It's getting late, Hikari. Are your parents okay with you being out this late?"
Turning swiftly, he found Mitsumi's mother standing at the doorway, a concerned yet gentle look on her face.
His gaze darted toward the clock. 12:01 a.m.
What?! It was already past midnight?
Oh no! Mom's going to kill me!
"I didn't even notice the time," he admitted. "I'll be going, ma'am. My parents might be worried."
"That's fine. We'll look forward to inviting you again next time."
Mitsumi's face lit up at her mother's words, her smile growing even brighter. It was clear—she expected him to return.
Strange. The idea didn't seem so bad.
Wait. What?! What was he thinking?! He shook his head quickly, trying to clear the sudden thought.
"I'll be going then, ma'am. Bye, Mitsumi."
As he turned toward the door, Mitsumi suddenly grabbed his hand. "I'll walk you out."
There was no way he could refuse with her mother standing right there. So, with a small sigh and an amused smile, he let Mitsumi lead the way.
The cool night air brushed against his face as they stepped outside. The street was quiet, the gentle hum of crickets filling the air. The streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement, stretching toward them as if trying to reach out.
Mitsumi's mother stepped forward and, to Hikari's surprise, bowed deeply. "Thank you again for saving Mitsumi from those thieves," she said sincerely.
The unexpected gesture caught him off guard. He stood frozen for a moment, panic creeping in. What was he supposed to say? What was the appropriate response to something like this?! His brain scrambled for an answer.
"T-Thank you as well for the food, ma'am."
Seriously?! That's your response?! Come on, brain, you're better than that!
But before he could mentally berate himself further, something caught his eye. Something unusual.
A flicker of red in the darkness.
It wasn't the streetlights. It wasn't a reflection. It was—
His heart lurched.
The air wavered like a mirage, heat rippling through the street. A distant crackle reached his ears, soft at first, then growing louder. The smell of something burning invaded his senses, acrid and unmistakable.
Then, suddenly—
A burst of red flames erupted, shaping itself into the form of a man. The fire roared to life, casting jagged, flickering shadows across the pavement. The figure's eyes burned like embers, glowing with raw hatred as it charged forward at terrifying speed.
The heat slammed into Hikari like a physical force. His breath hitched, skin prickling from the intense temperature radiating off the approaching inferno. The air shimmered wildly, distorting the street like the surface of boiling water.
Mitsumi's grip on his hand tightened. He could hear the sharp intake of breath from her mother behind them.
The fiery figure wasn't slowing down. He was coming straight for them!
Hikari's mind raced. Was this an Irregular attack? Who was this person? His pulse pounded in his ears as he instinctively stepped in front of Mitsumi, shielding her from the impending threat.
"Stay behind me!" he ordered, voice sharper than he expected.
The flames flared, illuminating the street in an eerie red glow. The fiery figure raised an arm, embers swirling violently around his hand before condensing into a flaming projectile.
Hikari braced himself as adrenaline coursed through his system in a split second. The heated battle was about to begin.