BAM!
A searing impact crashed against Hikari's head, sending him staggering backward. The fireball had struck with enough force to make his vision blur for a split second. Heat pulsed against his skin, the lingering burn forcing him to react immediately.
Instinct took over. His body melted into the pavement, morphing into a shadow. The moment his form stretched beneath his opponent, he surged upward, his hands reforming just in time to hook around the man's ankle. With a swift pull, he sent the fiery assailant off balance.
Thud.
Hikari didn't waste a moment. The instant his opponent hit the ground, he transitioned his movement, straddling the man's torso and pressing his blade against his throat. Shadows coiled around the hilt of his sword, a dark mist bleeding from its edges. The legendary weapon pulsed in his grip, resonating with the energy coursing through him.
But then—a surge of blistering heat.
A flash of pain ignited through his body as his opponent's temperature skyrocketed. The intense heat seared his skin, forcing him to recoil. Hikari cursed under his breath, withdrawing his grip before his flesh could burn. Just as he stepped back, the man lunged forward again, fire bursting from his fists as he aimed a relentless strike at Hikari's torso.
He barely had time to react. His body instinctively melted back into the shadows, slipping away just in time to avoid the blazing assault. As soon as he reformed behind his opponent, he lashed out, sweeping the man's legs out from under him once more.
Why was this happening?
His mind raced even as his body moved on instinct. Had he done something to provoke this attack? Did he unknowingly cross paths with this man before? No matter how hard he searched for an answer, none came to mind.
A gust of heat surged past him as another fireball narrowly missed. Hikari barely had time to raise his sword before the man launched himself forward, delivering a brutal kick aimed directly at his ribs. He blocked the attack just in time, but the sheer force of the impact rattled through his bones. Without hesitation, he countered, lowering his stance before slamming his head into the man's stomach.
It was like colliding with a furnace.
A growl tore from the man's throat as he shoved Hikari back. Without missing a beat, he unleashed a barrage of fireballs. The air rippled with heat as they tore through the space between them, each blast aiming to scorch Hikari into submission.
He had to think fast. His form flickered, shifting between solid and shadow as he evaded the attacks. Every time he reappeared, another fireball came hurtling toward him. Then, in a single calculated move, he maneuvered behind his opponent, landing in just the right position to execute what he had been attempting earlier.
The Shadow Bind.
A silent plea echoed in his mind.
Come on, work this time!
Darkness surged at his command. Tendrils of shadow shot from the ground, snaking around his opponent's body. But something was different. Instead of only binding the man's legs, the shadows enveloped his entire form, restraining his movements completely.
For a moment, the man struggled against the binds, his muscles tensing as he attempted to break free. The temperature around them spiked dangerously, heat radiating from his body in an attempt to burn through the bindings. Hikari gritted his teeth, focusing all his remaining strength into fortifying the hold. He wasn't going to let him escape that easily.
Then, realization struck... granted that Hikari was much too slow to think about it.
Mrs. Yukine's words resurfaced in his mind—the time she mentioned that he wasn't the only Irregular she knew.
His heart pounded against his ribs.
The fight had started abruptly, without warning or reason. But now, it was becoming clearer.
Hikari released his hold on the shadows and immediately dropped to his knees. Without hesitation, he bowed his head low, his forehead making sharp contact with the pavement. A jolt of pain shot through his skull, warm blood trickling down from the impact. But he didn't care.
"I concede Mr. Yukine! Whatever it is that I did, I apologize!" HiIkari let out as he performed a dogeza. In retrospect, he had a vague idea as to why Mr. Yukine asked for a rematch.
A beat of silence followed. Then—laughter. A deep, hearty laugh echoed through the street.
"That was a good rematch! You've got potential, kid." Mr. Yukine's voice rang with amusement as he rose to his feet, his body still radiating residual heat.
"You're... you're the Blue..." Hikari finally put the pieces together, glancing up just in time to see the man cooling down.
"Dad! Stop it already!" Mitsumi's voice cut through the air as she rushed forward, placing herself between them. "He's my friend, and Mom invited him over for dinner!"
Mr. Yukine's brows lifted. His expression shifted from amusement to shock. "You're telling me he's the one who protected you from that Irregular? Are you serious?!" His voice wavered, disbelief etched into his features. His complexion visibly paled. "I-I-Is he the…?"
Mitsumi simply nodded.
Instantly, the man dropped to his knees. Without hesitation, he slammed his forehead against the pavement, mirroring Hikari's earlier bow. A pool of crimson formed beneath them, two stubborn heads pressed to the ground in apology.
Hikari stared in disbelief. A double dogeza?
This was definitely a first.
Moments passed before Mr. Yukine finally stood, extending a hand toward Hikari. His palm was rough, calloused from years of experience.
"You're strong, kid," he said with a smirk. "A shadow manipulator, huh?"
Hikari took the offered hand and stood. "Yes, sir. I'm really sorry for attacking you like that."
"It's fine. I enjoyed myself." The man rolled his shoulders, stretching out the tension from their fight. "It's been a while since I had a real battle. Though, I suppose I've gotten a bit rusty."
Hikari tilted his head. "You've fought a shadow manipulator before?"
Mr. Yukine chuckled. "Back in my prime, yeah. Went head-to-head with one. But ever since I started traveling for work, I haven't had much time to spar."
Hikari nodded, taking in the information. This man wasn't just Mitsumi's father—he was a formidable fighter in his own right.
"I forgot to introduce myself properly," Hikari said, straightening his posture. "My name is Kurayami Hikari."
Mr. Yukine's eyes narrowed slightly before a grin spread across his face. "Hikari, huh… That's a unique name."
Hikari nodded. "It's nice to meet you, sir."
"The pleasure's mine." Mr. Yukine crossed his arms. "Is it alright if I call you Hikari?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Then you can call me Mr. Yukine. Or sir. Or dad—whatever you prefer."
Hikari blinked.
Wait… what?
Did he just say "Dad"?
A strange sense of dread crawled up his spine. What had he gotten himself into?