Part 1: Hikaru and Teshii vs Smokewraith
Hikaru stood face to face with Smokewraith.
But this time–
He wasn't alone.
Teshii cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Sunshine, what's the plan?"
Hikaru glanced at him. "You're asking me? How do we beat this guy?"
Teshii shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?"
Hikaru froze. "What do you mean you don't know?!"
Teshii sighed. "Look, I'm just a guy who punches things. We're fighting a mutant."
Hikaru blinked. "A what?"
Mutant? What did he mean?
"Never mind, it doesn't matter right now – WATCH OUT!"
"SMOKE TENDRILS!"
Smokewraith roared, and the smoke around them twisted, morphing into massive tendrils.
Two of them lashed out.
Teshii dodged, flipping backward and obliterating one with a roundhouse kick.
Hikaru–
Didn't dodge in time.
The tendrils wrapped around him, tightening like a constricting snake.
"COME ON, HIKARU! USE THE ELEMENT OF LIGHT!" Teshii shouted.
Another tendril slashed toward Teshii.
He countered.
Then – another.
And another.
More tendrils kept coming.
And Hikaru was trapped.
Meanwhile in the cafeteria
Aoi wrapped Hikari's ankle.
Then – she smirked. "So… you like Teshii, huh?"
Hikari blushed furiously. "N-no! I mean… maybe… I – shut up!"
Aoi laughed.
Then, Yami approached.
His expression was serious.
"Hikari."
Hikari turned toward him.
Yami was Hikaru's childhood best friend.
And he wasn't here for jokes.
"What happened?" Yami demanded. "And tell me the truth."
Hikari took a breath.
"Smoke."
Yami and Aoi stared at her.
"Smoke?" Aoi repeated.
Hikari nodded. "It wasn't fog. It was smoke surrounding the university."
Yami and Aoi exchanged glances.
"And the smoke… it turned into people. They attack me."
Aoi gasped. "The smoke turned into people?! How is that possible?"
"I don't know." Hikari shook her head. "I ran, but I tripped. Then… Teshii appeared out of nowhere."
Yami narrowed his eyes. "Teshii?"
Hikari nodded. "He saved me and took them all out."
Then – her voice softened.
"And after that…"
Yami and Aoi leaned in.
"After that?"
Hikari covered her face with both hands.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"I fell in love with him."
Yami and Aoi stared at her in disbelief.
Back to the Fight
Teshii was still dodging the tendrils.
More and more kept attacking.
Hikaru struggled against the one wrapped around him.
"SUNSHINE!" Teshii yelled.
Hikaru looked up in distress.
"ANY TIME NOW WOULD BE GREAT!"
"I'M TRYING!" Hikaru shouted back.
"TRY HARDER!"
Hikaru gritted his teeth.
He had no idea how to activate the Element of Light.
How had he done it before?
Then–
Teshii shouted something.
"STOP OVERTHINKING IT!"
Hikaru froze.
"HUH?!"
"STOP OVERTHINKING IT, SUNSHINE!"
Teshii jumped back, avoiding another attack.
"STOP FORCING THE LIGHT TO COME OUT!"
"TAKE A DEEP BREATH–"
"AND BE ONE WITH THE LIGHT!"
Hikaru stared at him.
Be one with the light…?
Then–
"STAY OUT OF MY WAY!"
Smokewraith raised his hand.
The smoke tightened around Hikaru.
Hikaru choked.
He couldn't breathe.
He was suffocating.
He closed his eyes.
Teshii's words echoed in his head.
Be one with the light.
Then–
BOOM!
A shockwave of energy exploded outward.
A blinding light.
Teshii and Smokewraith both shielded their eyes.
When the light faded.
Hiaru stood there.
His entire body glowing.
The Element of Light Awakens
Hikaru's golden aura flared around him.
He stared at his hands.
The light pulsed like a heartbeat.
For the first time…
He felt in control.
He lifted his hand.
Aimed at Smokewraith.
"RADIANT BLAST!"
A beam of light surged from his palm.
BOOM!
Smokewraith was sent flying.
Teshii grinned.
"LET'S FUCKING GO, SUNSHINE!!!"
For the first time–
They had the advantage.
Well – Hikaru did.
Teshii was just holding back.
Because he wanted Hikaru to have his moment.
Part 2: Light of Hope
Smokewraith rose from the rubble, his eyes burning with fury.
His teeth clenched. "FOOLS."
He charged forward.
But this time–
Hikaru wasn't afraid.
He had control of the Element of Light.
And Teshii was by his side.
Smokewraith lunged at Hikaru.
Suddenly–
Hikaru's entire body lit up.
A blinding flash.
Smokewraith shield his eyes–
POW!
Teshii's uppercut slammed into his gut.
Somewraith gagged, blood flying from his mouth.
Then–
BAM!
Teshii followed up with a roundhouse kick, sending him stumbling back.
Hikaru took his shot.
"RADIANT BLAST!"
BOOM!
The golden energy wave sent Smokewraith flying.
Blending into the Smoke
Then–
Smokewraith vanished.
"Where did he go?" Hikaru asked.
Teshii frowned. "I don't know, Sunshine."
The two of them stood in the thick smoke, tense.
Then–
BAM!
Hikaru coughed up blood.
"SUNSHINE?!" Teshii turned toward him. "You good?"
BAM!
A fist slammed into Teshii's, kocking him to the ground.
Teshii spat out blood, eyes narrowing.
Damn it – he's blending in with the smoke!"
Hikaru staggered back, trying to spot their enemy.
Then–
The attacks kept coming.
Punches.
Kicks.
Strikes from all angles.
Neither of them could see where Smokewraith was attacking from.
Teshii gritted his teeth. "Damn… it's like fighting an invisible opponent."
"Good luck blocking this," Smokewraith sneered, preparing another attack.
But–
Teshii smirked.
Then–
He suddenly moved.
His hand shot up–
And blocked the attack.
Before countering with a devastating punch!
Smokewraith recoiled.
And then – disappeared again.
Hikaru stared in shock. "Teshii… how did you know he was there?"
Teshii adjusted his crimson glasses. "I can sense him."
Hikaru blinked. "How though?"
Teshii shrugged. "Don't ask me, Sunshine. Ask the writer."
Hikaru tilted his head. "What?"
Teshii grinned. "Nothing."
Then – an idea sparked in his mind.
"I've got a plan, Sunshine."
A Final Plan
Smokewraith emerged from the mist, spotting Hikaru alone.
"You're finished, Element of Light."
He rushed toward Hikaru.
Suddenly–
Hikaru lit up again.
A brilliant light flooded the area.
Smokewraith covered his eyes.
Then–
Teshii appeared behind him.
"Gotcha."
He grabbed Smokewraith's arms, locking him in place.
"SUNSHINE, DO IT!"
Hikaru turned.
His fist glowed with golden energy.
He charged forward.
"SUNRISE PUNCH!"
He slammed his fist into Smokewraith's chest.
BOOM!
Aftermath
Hikaru's punch detonated on impact, causing an explosion.
The smoke began to clear.
But–
Smokewraith wasn't gone.
He had reformed.
Only–
He was no longer in human form.
Now, he was pure smoke.
Hikaru stiffened. "We… didn't beat him."
But – he was weakened.
Smokewraith glared at Hikaru.
"This isn't over, Element of Light."
Then – he turned to Teshii.
Teshii grinned.
Smokewraith stared at him for a moment.
Then–
He smirked.
And disappeared.
Post-Battle Banter
Teshii stretched. "Well, that was fun."
Hikaru exhaled. "Yeah, it was."
Then, he turned to Teshii.
"Thank you."
Teshii raised an eyebrow behind his crimson glasses. "For what?"
Hikaru hesitated.
Then–
"For helping me control the Element of Light. And… I guess you're not as annoying as I thought."
Teshii grinned.
"Awwww, you like me now."
Hikaru immediately shook his head. "Nope. You're still annoying."
Teshii laughed.
Then–
"Alright, time to go."
"Go where?"
"The bathroom."
Hikaru blinded.
Teshii nodded. "I told Yami I was in the bathroom. And you know we have to keep all this a secret."
Hikaru's eyes widened. "Wait… I told him the same thing."
Teshii grinned. "See? We can have fun in the bathroom together."
Silence.
Hikaru stared. "What… the… hell."
Teshii's eyes widened.
"WAIT – NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"
Hikaru smirked. "Sure, buddy."
Part 3: Whenever There Is Light, There is Darkness
Aoi stared out the window.
"Look." She pointed outside. "The fog – no, the smoke – it's gone."
Yami, Aoi, Hikari, and the other students gathered near the cafeteria windows.
The thick smoke that had blanketed the university… had vanished.
Then–
The cafeteria doors swung open.
Two figures stepped inside.
Hikaru and Teshii.
Teshii stretched dramatically, rubbing his stomach.
"Damn. I didn't think I'd develop a special relationship with the toilet today."
Hikaru rolled his eyes.
Teshii grinned at him. "Though, I didn't expect to see you there in the bathroom, Sunshine."
Hikaru groaned. "Oh, for the love of – stop saying that!"
Then–
"Hikaru! Teshii!"
Hikaru and Teshii looked up.
Hikari waved at them from across the cafeteria.
She was standing with Yami and Aoi.
Hikaru and Teshii walked over.
Reunion
Hikaru's expression softened.
"Hikari, are you okay? I heard what happened from Teshii."
Hikari smiled. "Yes. I'm fine. It's nothing serious."
Hikaru hugged his younger twin.
Hikari blinked in surprise.
Then – she looked past Hikaru and saw Teshii.
Her face turned red.
She quickly looked away.
Teshii noticed. He smirked.
"Teshii, thank you for saving my sister." Hikaru said.
Teshii shrugged. "It's what I do."
Then–
"Hikaru."
Hikaru turned.
Yami.
His expression was unreadable.
"What is it, Yami?" Hikaru asked.
Yami stared at him.
He had questions.
About Teshii.
About Hikaru's disappearance.
About the smoke.
He remembered when Hikaru had told him he was going to the bathroom.
Yami never believed him.
Hikaru was hiding something.
But–
Yami glanced at Teshii.
Something about him felt… off.
Then–
"Yami?" Hikaru said.
Yami snapped out of his thoughts.
He looked at Hikaru.
Then–
"Actually. Never mind."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"Okay then…"
Teshii watched the interaction closely.
He could see it.
Yami was sharp.
Too sharp.
Hikaru might not have noticed it yet…
But Teshii did.
A Thought
Teshii crossed his arms, smirking to himself.
"The Order of the Elements' journey has officially begun."
Hikaru – the Element of Light – was just the first step.
There were nine more Elements left to find.
But maybe…
Just maybe…
They already had another Element standing right in front of them.
Teshii's eyes flickered toward Yami.
Then–
A single thought crossed his mind.
Whenever there is light…
There is always darkness.
TO BE CONTINUE!!!